Acromantula venom

Horace Slughorn with a freshly harvested bottle of Acromantula venom

"Might get a hundred Galleons a pint."

— Horace Slughorn

Acromantula venom is a highly valuable fluid that is secreted from the pincers of an Acromantula. Due to the nature of the Acromantula, the venom is virtually impossible to collect from a live specimen. The venom is therefore easier to collect after the death of the creature, but the venom dries out not long after death, so a Wizard must be swift in collecting it. Because of the rarity of the venom, it may fetch up to a hundred Galleons a pint on the open market.

Harry Potter was afflicted with this venom when he suffered a bite to the leg from an Acromantula in the Triwizard Maze, though Fawkes healed the injury with his Phoenix tears. Seeing how Harry did not suffer any ill-effects during his trial in the maze and the Little Hangleton graveyard, the venom may be largely harmless.

Acromantula venom was the main reason why Horace Slughorn accompanied Harry Potter to Rubeus Hagrid's cabin for Aragog's funeral. Slughorn was able to acquire what is assumed to be a large amount of venom from Aragog before they buried him. Because Slughorn was at the funeral, he drank with Hagrid and soon became drunk. As a result Harry was able to gain the memory he had been tasked to get by Albus Dumbledore.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

Behind the scenes

• In the the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Slughorn went down to see Hagrid preparing to bury Aragog, he requested Hagrid to allow him to collect the Acromantula venom instead of doing so sneakingly, though humourously, Slughorn accidentally pulled off the fang when he placed the bottle to it.