Draught of Living Death (Was: Draco and Narcissa in

[ellecain]

No: HPFGUIDX 140694

>Deb writes:
>  I agree with you Carol! I've been thinking that perhaps The 
>Draught of Living Death creates a state rather like suspended 
>animation....  where the person's life forces are so slow they are 
>barely living... yet living all the same

Elyse: But surely the Death Eaters or Voldemort or whoever the 
murderer is would check to see whether the victim is actually dead.
For instance, if it is Bellatrix who finds Narcissa and Draco's 
bodies in the Malfoy manor, she would maybe shake the two of them,
hold Narcissa's hand in grief as she thinks of their childhood days
(Ickle Bella? what a scary thought!)...maybe she thinks they are 
stunned and tries a few spells on them?

She would notice that their eyes are closed, that their bodies are 
warm and there is a very faint heartbeat. 
If they were pricked with a needle, they would (presumably) bleed. 
They would react to certain spells 
and maybe if she tried to throw the bodies out of the window
like Neville's uncle did to him, their magical power would most 
likely cause them to bounce along the street, not crash down at the 
bottom like a normal Muggle body.

So I believe what Snape said in PS/SS was: 
"For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a 
*sleeping potion* so powerful, it is known as the Draught of Living 
Death" (pg 103,UK edition)

It seems to me that the potion is primarily a *sleeping potion*, but 
a very potent one; I dont see how the drinker would be affected 
beyond being put into a deep sleep.
Maybe I have missed the canon where it says the potion can be used
to fake the effects of death, in which case please remind me of it.