It's Libatius (Was: News Flash! HBP covers released!)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 125838


Lawless wrote:
> 
> Actually, now that I really look at it, it seems to be Libatius
> Borage.  What I thought was an "l" actually has a little cross for a
> "t" and I'm still sure that it is an "e" at the end.
> 
> Does anyone have any info on the names Libatius or Borage?


Carol notes: 

There's a whole thread (or maybe more than one) on the subject over at
OT Chatter. Borage, it appears, is a plant used in wine to create a
calming effect; Libatius, as other posters have noted, relates to
"libation," which can mean a drink, usually wine, spilled on the
ground in honor of the gods (or a king), or to the wine itself. Maybe
Libatius became "libatious" from drinking too much borage wine? At any
rate, it's the kind of joke JKR usually makes in creating imaginary
authors for her textbooks.

Anyway, the larger scans clearly show that it's Libatius, not Libalius
or Liberius. No connection, probably, with the HBP, but the fact that
a potions text is shown is a pretty good indication that Harry is in
NEWT Potions and is finally recognizing the importance of the Potions
Master's subject. 

Carol, who really hopes we'll see HRH, Draco, and Theo together in
*Snape's* NEWT Potions class. It won't as much fun (for the reader) if
anyone else teaches it.