Potions (class)

Potions
Class information
Professor	Bartholomew (formerly) Swoopstikes (formerly) Severus Snape (formerly) Horace Slughorn
Required textbooks	Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore Advanced Potion Making by Libatius Borage
Required equipment	Cauldron Brass scales Phials Mortar and pestle Various ingredients Wand Textbooks Parchment Quill

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through the human veins, bewitching the minds, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

— Professor Snape's introduction of the subject

Potions is a core class and subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this class, students learn the correct way to brew potions. They follow specific recipes and use various magical ingredients to create the potions, starting with simple ones and moving to more advanced ones as they progress in knowledge. A standard potions kit includes plant ingredients such as Belladonna and supplies such as glass phials and weighing scales, along with a standard cauldron that all students are expected to bring with them to lessons.

The Professor of this subject is referred to as a Potions Master. The Potions Master at Hogwarts for many years was Horace Slughorn and later Severus Snape. By 2016, Professor Slughorn had retired for a second time, and an unidentified teacher had taken over.

Class information

"When they arrived in the corridor they saw that there were only a dozen people progressing to N.E.W.T. level."

— Harry Potter on the very few people who were able to advance

A potions class

At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Potions is a required subject for students, from first year to fifth year. Potion recipes can be found in many books, including the books the students at Hogwarts use in their classes, but the intricacies of timing, ageing, stirring techniques, and bottling which are much more difficult to learn without the mentoring of the experienced masters. Certain ingredients can be found in the cupboard in the classroom, but others have to be bought before the start of the year at the apothecary. Around 1981, Severus Snape became the professor of Potions at Hogwarts. Snape served as the school's potions professor through 1996, until he became the DADA professor and was replaced by Horace Slughorn.

AN.E.W.T.- level potions class

Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations are taken at the end of a student's fifth year; as such students are spent learning Ordinary Wizarding Level potions and possibly revisiting the past four years of lessons. As part of their Potions O.W.L., students must sit a written exam one of the questions asks to describe Polyjuice Potion and its purpose and after students must complete a practical exam. Professor Snape mentioned that achieving a high mark at Ordinary Wizarding Level is difficult., which was later demonstrated in 1996, when only twelve students reached the required level to advance to N.E.W.T.

When Severus Snape was the professor, students had to achieve an 'Outstanding' on their O.W.L. in order to take his advanced class. As Head of House, Professor Snape tended to favour students from Slytherin House more than other students, so Slytherins tended to do better than others at the subject. On the other hand however, Horace Slughorn was more lenient; Harry and Ron were both allowed to continue to the N.E.W.T. class with an 'Exceeds Expectations' O.W.L. He also did not grant Slytherins special treatments, thus having them lose their advantage in good classwork.

Location and time

Potions lessons take place in the Dungeons.

Classroom layout

The classroom used to be squared-sized, very large, with large tables and windows. In the corner resides a stone basin used to wash students' hands and ladles. From 1992-onwards, the classroom was of an oval shape and relatively smaller, with small work tables. In 1996, the classroom was extended, adding space for more work tables.

Lesson times

Year	Day	Period
First	Monday	first
	Wednesday
	Friday	first/second
Second	Monday	Third
	Wednesday
	Friday
Third	Monday
	Tuesday	afternoon
	Thursday	third
	Friday	first
Fourth	Tuesday	third
	Friday	fourth/fifth
Fifth	Monday	second (last half)
Sixth		afternoon
Seventh	unknown	unknown

Curriculum

First year

"Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness Potion."

— First year exam in 1992

Besides potions and their ingredients other information is covered in first year as well. Students are informed of the basic details on preparation of the Draught of Living Death, such as what would be created if powdered root of asphodel was added to an Infusion of Wormwood and the difference between Monkshood and Wolfbane. They class also covers the twelve uses of dragon blood, the types of cauldrons, and the types of phials used in potion-making. Bezoars are briefly mentioned and the standard ingredient is also discussed and often used.

Potions Cure for Boils Forgetfulness Potion Herbicide Potion Wiggenweld Potion Antidote to Common Poisons Pompion Potion

Ingredients Infusion of Wormwood Flobberworm Mucus Aconite Asphodel Dittany Dragon blood Moly Wiggentree bark Moondew

Second year

Second year students are set an essay on Flobberworm Mucus and its uses in potions. Also homework includes something that involves Hair-Raising Potions. This year appears to focus more on actual potion brewing then the previous one.

Potions Fire Protection Potion Strengthening Solution Sleeping Draught Swelling Solution Wiggenweld Potion (theoretical) Hair-Raising Potion Girding Potion

Ingredients Wiggentree bark Flobberworm Mucus Lavender Valerian Nettles Puffer-fish eyes Bat spleen Rat tails

Third year

Third year students learn about Undetectable Poisons and are instructed to write an essay on Shrinking Solutions.

Potions Wiggenweld Potion effects Girding Potion Confusing Concoction Antidote to Common Poisons Antidote to Uncommon Poisons Shrinking Solution Wideye Potion Doxycide Undetectable Poisons

Ingredients Daisy roots Shrivelfig Rat spleen Leech juice Chizpurfle carapaces Graphorn horn Flying Seahorses Fire Seed Billywig sting Doxy egg Fairy wings Dragonfly thorax

Fourth year

Fourth year lessons includes information on Poison Antidotes. It is unknown what type of poison these potions refer to, common or uncommon. Also this lesson is most likely a theoretical one. Mixing antidotes is complex and advanced, which are also covered in sixth year as well as this one.

Potions Wit-Sharpening Potion Calming Draught Shrinking Solution Pepperup Potion Ageing Potion Weedosoros Skele-Gro Antidotes

Ingredients Bezoar Ginger root Armadillo bile Scarab beetle

Fifth year

"I think it appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting a important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions."

— Professor Snape regarding the Potions O.W.L.

Fifth year homework includes writing an essay on the properties of Moonstone and its uses in Potion making and to write an essay on how to properly brew the Strengthening Solution. Also potions and other classwork this year is O.W.L.- level in preparation for the upcoming exam.

Potions Draught of Peace Invigoration Draught Strengthening Solution Wit-Sharpening Potion Hair-Raising Potion Everlasting Elixirs Deflating Draught Befuddlement Draught Erumpent Potion

Ingredients Moonstone Syrup of Hellebore Porcupine quills Unicorn horn

Sixth year

"...These are the kind of things you ought to be able to make after after completing your N.E.W.T.s."

— Professor Slughorn referring to the potions that will be covered in sixth and seventh year

In sixth year, Golpalott's Third Law is covered in class. The Law appears to say that the antidote for a blended poison cannot simply be created by finding the antidotes to each separate poison in the blended whole and mixing them together. Students have to write an essay on Everlasting Elixirs, using their textbooks Advanced Potion-Making as a source of information.

Potions Elixir to Induce Euphoria Wit-Sharpening Potion (Revision) Cure for Boils (Revision) Love Potions Felix Felicis Amortentia Hiccoughing Solution Draught of Living Death Polyjuice Potion Garish pink blended poison Antidote to garish pink blended poison Wound-Cleaning Potion Cheese-Based Potions

Ingredients Bezoar Sopophorous bean Sloth brain Powdered Root of Asphodel Infusion of Wormwood Valerian root Lacewing flies Horn of Bicorn Fluxweed Knotgrass Shrivelfig Porcupine quills Peppermint Wormwood

Known professors

Swoopstikes †

Horace Slughorn (1942-1981); (1996-2016)

Severus Snape † (1981-1996)

• Bartholomew †

Required textbooks

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage

Grades

Passing Grades Outstanding [O] Exceeds Expectations [E] Acceptable [A]

Fail Grades Poor [P] Dreadful [D] Troll [T]

Known O.W.L.s

Swoopstikes †

Severus Snape †

Horace Slughorn

Blaise Zabini

Draco-Malfoy-promo-draco-and-slytherin-22383964-1919-2560.jpg

Draco Malfoy

Theodore Nott

Ernie Macmillan

Michael Corner

Terry Boot

Padma Patil

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

1Ron-Harry-Potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-potterhead-29292270-299-400.jpg

Ron Weasley

Percy Weasley

Bill Weasley

Nymphadora Tonks †

Alastor Moody †

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Kingsley Shacklebolt

Alice1.jpg

Alice Longbottom

Frank Longbottom

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Rufus Scrimgeour †

John Dawlish

Tom Riddle † (possibly)

Vindictus Viridian † (possibly)

Arsenius Jigger † (possibly)

Glover Hipworth † (possibly)

Gregory the Smarmy † (possibly)

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Hesper Starkey † (possibly)

Sacharissa Tugwood † (possibly)

Gunhilda de Gorsemoor † (possibly)

Lily J. Potter † (possibly)

Molly Weasley (possibly)

Bilius Finbok (possibly)

• All Healers and Aurors, as an O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. at Exceeds Expectations or Outstanding is a compulsory requirement in this subject in order to apply for their relevant training.

Media

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Potions with Slughorn

Potions With Slughorn

Behind the scenes

Padma Patil, Dean Thomas, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Ron Weasley, Lavender Brown, Leanne and Seamus Finnigan in Potions class.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, many more students are shown to be in Harry's N.E.W.T. level Potions class than are mentioned in the book. The book specifically names Harry, Ron, and Hermione to be the only Gryffindors to have moved on to N.E.W.T. level, but the film shows Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Lavender Brown to be in the class as well. Katie Bell and Romilda Vane are also in the class in the film, although they are actually a seventh year and a fourth year student respectively.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Severus Snape claims that there will be no "wand waving" in his class, though potion-making spells are always needed to complete the brewing process.
• In Hogwarts Mystery, If players take Jacob's sibling to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least an A, even if they fail to answer every question and make every potion.

Author's comments

Chemistry was my least favourite subject at school, and I gave it up as soon as I could. Naturally, when I was trying to decide which subject Harry's arch-enemy, Severus Snape, should teach, it had to be the wizarding equivalent. This makes it all the stranger that I found Snape's introduction to his subject quite compelling ('I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death...'), apparently part of me found Potions quite as interesting as Snape did; and indeed I always enjoyed creating potions in the books, and researching ingredients for them. Many of the components of the various draughts and libations that Harry creates for Snape exist (or were once believed to exist) and have (or were believed to have) the properties I gave them. Dittany, for instance, really does have healing properties (it is an anti-inflammatory, although I would not advise Splinching yourself to test it); a bezoar really is a mass taken from the intestines of an animal, and it really was once believed that drinking water in which a bezoar was placed could cure you of poisoning.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
• LEGO Harry Potter (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery