Distillation (was: DD at the Dursleys)

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 158288

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "montavilla47"
<montavilla47 at ...> wrote:
>
> Tonks_op said:
> > One does have to wonder, what is the significance of all of this
> alcohol?  There must be something to it, I can't think that JKR
> would give alcohol to her own children or suggest that a teacher or
> headmaster of a boarding school give alcohol to the students. <snip>
Just seems a bit odd here.
> Maybe JKR just wasn't' thinking it all out in the detail that we
> do.  Still I do wonder
 <<
> 
> Montavilla:
> Now you're making me wonder.  There is SO much alcohol in HBP
> compared to the other books.  Slughorn's party, oak mead, wine...
> 
> Is it to emphasis the "potions" aspect of the book?
> 
> I'm wondering if it has some alchemical significance.  Perhaps
> this is the distillation part of the process?
> 
> Montavilla

Renee:
I'd certainly think so: the sixth stage of Alchemy is called the
Distillation stage, and HPB *is* Book 6. 
This stage is also called the White stage, and as it's very much
Dumbledore's book and Albus means `white', this also fits.