The Cure - Why not use it Poppy?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 170021

Goddlefrood wrote:
> > 
> 
> > Why, if bubotuber pus is effective against the more stubborn 
froms of acne (p. 172 - GoF, Bloomsbury Hardback), did Poppy  not
apply it to Marietta?
> 
> Pippin:
> It's clear that Eloise Midgen's acne has not been entirely cured,
despite Madam Pomphrey's best efforts, and Marietta's case, according
to Hermione, is much worse: "it'll make Eloise Midgen's acne look like
a couple of cute freckles." 

Carol responds:

Good point. I also agree with Ceridwen that Madam Pomfrey is a
professional who wouldn't pass judgment on a student and deny her a
cure any more than she inquired what Hermione had done to "deserve"
her elongated teeth in GoF or the St. Mungo's Healers inquire into the
details of the family spats that send walnuts (or whatever) up
people's nostrils. They just fix the damage as best they can.

I would add that Marietta is a Ravenclaw, and she and her friends were
probably good students. (that's what Ravenclaws are known for.)
surely, one of them would have remembered learning about the uses of
(diluted) bubotuber pus in their fourth year (which is when HRH
learned about them).

That aside, I suspect that magical acne is different from ordinary
acne, however severe. Possibly acne caused by a (hypothetical) Pimple
Potion or Pustule Potion could be cured by diluted bubotuber pus, or
by an antidote with bubotuber pus as a key ingredient, but acne caused
by a curse can only be cured by the specific countercurse. (Compare
Sectumsempra. Also, spell damage and potion damage are treated in
different sections of St. Mungo's, suggesting that different causes
require different treatments.)

Carol, again suggesting that the solution lies in finding the jinxed
parchment and determining the spell that was placed on it (unless
Hermione herself provides that information)