|
"Are you a wizard, or what?"
The title of this article is conjectural. Although it is based on canonical information, the actual name is a conjecture and may be supplanted at any time by additional information released from canonical sources. If this occurs, please move this page to the appropriate title. |
- "Brilliant. This isn't magic — it's logic — a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven't got an ounce of logic, they'd be stuck in here for ever."
- — Hermione Granger[src]
The Potion riddle was created by Severus Snape to prevent anyone from getting the Philosopher's Stone, featured as the sixth obstacle in the Underground Chambers.[1]
Description
- "Everything we need is here on this paper. Seven bottles: three are poison; two are wine; one will get us safely through the black fire and one will get us back through the purple."
- — Hermione Granger[src]
The clue to solving the physical riddle, was written on a a roll of paper. Seven potions were aligned in front of the reader, who would be trapped between black and purple flames. The reader would have to solve the riddle to figure out the correct antidotes to pass the flames. Upon locating the Fire Protection Potions, one could guess virtually all parameters. It could be logically demonstrated with a few size dispositions. The riddle could be considered as hard but solvable, with enough clues to lead to the right solution. Hermione Granger noted, to get past this obstacle required intelligence and logic, regardless of one's own magical ability and power.[1]
Transcript
"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onwards neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight."[1]
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (DVD 2 - Special Features)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
- Pottermore
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)