Liquid Luck

"*Mine own invention, my masterpiece; the crowning achievement of my career. Bottled good fortune. Brewed correctly the drinker of this potion will be lucky in all their endeavours, but be warned ... excessive consumption is highly toxic and can cause extreme recklessness. Fans of Quidditch were quick to protest that a potion which gives the drinker good luck was hardly fair and use of my potion was banned, quite rightly, from all competitive events ... except potion-making tournaments.*"
— Zygmunt Budge[src]

**Felix Felicis**, also called "**Liquid Luck**", was a potion that made the drinker lucky for a period of time, **during which everything they attempt would be successful**. It turned an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.

It was meant to be used sparingly, however, as it caused giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence if taken in excess. Felix was highly toxic in large quantities and was also a banned substance in all organised competitions, such as Quidditch, along with all other methods of cheating. It was very difficult to make, disastrous if made wrong, and required six months to stew before it was ready to be consumed.

## History

"*Trust me, I know what I'm doing... or at least, Felix does.*"
— Harry Potter after drinking Felix Felicis for the first time[src]

Zygmunt Budge invented this potion in the 16th century and deemed it his greatest accomplishment ever, dubbing it "*the crowning achievement of [his] career*".

Horace Slughorn claimed that he used the potion twice in his life: once when he was twenty-four years old, and again when he was fifty-seven, each resulting in a perfect day.

During the 1989–1990 school year, Beatrice Haywood, following Ismelda Murk's advice, stole Ashwinder eggs, Murtlap Tentacles and Occamy Eggshells from Professor Snape's personal stores in order to secretly brew Felix Felicis in Classroom 3C, with Merula Snyde and Penny Haywood as well, as they believed it would be necessary for the Circle of Khanna to possess and use if needed.

In September of 1996, Harry Potter won a small vial of Felix Felicis from Professor Slughorn for brewing the best Draught of Living Death potion in the class (using the instructions of Severus Snape's textbook). **The bottle would give Harry twelve hours of luck.**

Harry later pretended to add a small amount to Ron Weasley's drink at breakfast before a Quidditch game so that Ron would feel more confident about his abilities. Hermione noticed what Harry did, and believing that he had actually put something in Ron's drink, warned Ron not to take a drink. He ignored her and drank the pumpkin juice, and he then went on to play a nearly perfect game. Following the game, Hermione berated Harry for what he had done, and Harry told her and Ron that he had not given Ron the potion at all, and that Ron played that well all by himself.

The first real use of the potion by Harry was in attaining an important memory from Slughorn when Ron suggested it; he was originally hesitant in using it, as **he wanted to use it to win Ginny Weasley's affections. He took only a small dosage, for roughly three hours worth**. The second use was distributed between Ron, Hermione Granger, and Ginny in the battle against the Death Eaters in their invasion of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

In between the potion's first and second use, Harry suggested using some to discover what Draco Malfoy was up to in the Room of Requirement, but Hermione advised against it as it would be a waste on using it on a powerful defensive location such as the Room. When Ron suggested they brew more for themselves, **Harry found the potion's complexity and time-consumption to be too much of a hassle.**

## Recipe

1. Add Ashwinder egg to a cauldron, then add horseradish and heat.
2. Juice a squill bulb, add to the cauldron and stir vigorously.
3. Chop up anemone-like growth on the back of Murtlap, add to mixture and heat.
4. Add a dash of tincture of thyme and stir slowly.
5. Grind up Occamy eggshell and add to mixture.
6. Stir slowly then heat the cauldron.
7. Add a sprinkle of powdered common rue.
8. Stir vigorously then heat the cauldron one last time.
9. Wave wand over potion in a figure of eight and say incantation ‘Felixempra!’

## Physical appearance

"*It is the colour of molten gold, and large drops leap like goldfish from its surface, never spilling.*"
— Description of its appearance[src]

This potion had been stated to greatly resemble molten gold, with droplets leaping out at intervals like goldfish soaring from their bowl. It was noted that the drops of potion that leapt across the surface never spilt and that the potion splashed about merrily when in a cauldron.

## Effects

"*Felix Felicis is liquid luck, which makes the person who drinks it lucky for a certain period of time.*"
— Description of the effects of the potion[src]

Felix Felicis caused the drinker to have a limited period of good luck, during which they were likely to to succeed in all endeavours in which success was possible. They had a strong perception of this effect, including a high level of confidence and a "*sensation of infinite opportunity.*" This was accomplished not through direct application of force or granting the drinker any extraordinary powers, but by **inspiring the drinker with a favourable pathway through the circumstances.**

When Harry Potter took the potion, he had the sensation that 'Felix' knew what it was doing and that he needed only follow its inspiration, however unlikely the approach seemed as a means of accomplishing his goal. It indeed led him into a near-freakish but plausible set of circumstances in which all the right choices seemed obvious to him. Along the way, without even meaning to, he also accomplished some minor side goals, such as breaking up Ron Weasley's bad relationship with Lavender Brown, and destabilising Ginny Weasley's relationship with Dean Thomas to give Harry more of a chance with her.

A person under the potion's inspiration would likely **prove highly adaptable to any unexpected change in the circumstances. There were always infinite possibilities in any situation, some of which doubtless lead to the desired outcome, and Felix could highlight them no matter what happened.**

Though Felix Felicis **conferred no extra powers on the user, it seemed capable of drawing out the best reserves of their ability if needed**. Harry was able to use Refilling Charms non-verbally, even though he had not yet managed it in his previous classroom practice.

**There was a period of 'coming down' when Felix Felicis wore off. During this time, the user's sense of confidence faded, and unlucky circumstances could quickly catch up to them if they were not vigilant. It was unclear whether Felix wearing off actually increased the user's bad luck in a small overbalancing period (though obviously not so great as to undo whatever they had just accomplished), or whether the user simply keenly perceived the return of 'ordinary' levels of luck and all the subsequent challenges and dangers.**

### Limitations

"*Luck can only get you so far, Harry... Luck is not powerful enough to get through a powerful incantation.*"
— Hermione Granger, giving an explanation of the limits of the luck induced by the potion[src]

As Hermione Granger pointed out, **the potion was not able to better the chances of the drinker against particularly powerful enchantments, since members of Dumbledore's Army were not able to bypass the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder that Draco Malfoy used. Hermione also claimed that Harry's usage of the potion to help discover what Draco was up to in the Room of Requirement would be a waste, as the Room was too powerful for the potion to help penetrate.**

**The potion's effectiveness seemed to wane after a certain amount of time, as it did in Harry Potter's situation when he made his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room and he ran into Peeves, but was only just barely able to dodge him with the potion's influence.**

**Overdosing was dangerous, as it was highly toxic in large quantity, and over-reliance on it may have led to dangerous overconfidence, giddiness, and recklessness. The potion was very difficult and time-consuming to brew, and disastrous if concocted incorrectly. Due to its effects, it was considered a tool of cheating and therefore prohibited in organised events such as Quidditch and academic examinations.**

## Known uses

**Michael Corner**: "*Have you ever taken it, sir?*"
**Horace Slughorn: "*Twice in my life. Once when I was twenty-four, once when I was fifty-seven. Two tablespoonfuls taken with breakfast. Two perfect days.*"**
— Horace Slughorn telling Michael Corner about his experiences with Felix Felicis[src]

### Harry Potter's use

"*Harry did not answer for a moment. Then, **slowly but surely, an exhilarating sense of infinite opportunity stole through him; he felt as though he could have done anything, anything at all... and getting the memory from Slughorn seemed suddenly not only possible, but positively easy... He got to his feet, smiling, brimming with confidence.*****"**
— Harry Potter under the effects of Felix Felicis[src]

**When Harry Potter used Felix Felicis, several events occurred that were beneficial to Harry and his friends; the main being Harry obtaining the memory from Slughorn. Harry only took a small portion, for roughly two-to-three hours of effect.** Harry obtained the uncorrupted memory from Horace Slughorn about Horcruxes. During this adventure, evidence of luck was following him.

Harry was able to keep his word to his friend Rubeus Hagrid and attend Aragog's funeral. Filch had left the front doors of the castle unlocked, so he was able to wonder the grounds. Slughorn was tempted to accompany Harry to Hagrid's by the possibility of obtaining valuable Acromantula venom.

**Harry was able to use a nonverbal Refilling Charm, even though he had not completely mastered this charm nonverbally, so Slughorn would not run out of drink (in order to get him drunk).**

Harry bumped into Ginny as they passed each other at the portrait entryway, making Ginny think that her boyfriend Dean Thomas was trying to help her into the portrait hole. This incident, compounded by others, eventually resulted in them breaking up with each other.

Harry also initiated the break up of Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown by donning his Cloak of Invisibility before leaving the boys' dormitory. When Ron descended the stairs after him with Hermione Granger, Lavender assumed the worst about the pair of them and dumped Ron.

**Harry was able to sneak out and back into the castle undetected by unwanted forces; even when the potion's effect was about to dissipate, he was able to evade Peeves.**

### Battle of the Astronomy Tower

Before leaving with Dumbledore to search for one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, Harry gave the rest of the Felix Felicis to Ron and Hermione with the instruction that they were to share it with Ginny, as he believed Draco Malfoy was ready to act on his mission from Voldemort. **Ron, Hermione, and Ginny split the potion between themselves and effectively used it in the ensuing battle to dodge the curses sent their way by Death Eaters, many of which were Unforgivables.**

## Etymology

Felix is the Latin word meaning happy or lucky. 'Felicis' is from the same root, but declined in the genitive case. It is translated as 'of luck'. Therefore, Felix Felicis means 'Luck of Luck', 'Lucky Luck' or 'Luck's Luck'. Another translation might be 'Happy Luck'. In Latin, nouns and adjectives are usually cited by saying their nominative followed by their genitive, so a dictionary entry for the word "felix" could start as "felix, felicis ..."

## Behind the scenes

* In *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, Felix Felicis is **described as looking like liquid gold. In the film it has only a light gold hue.**
* **Also, as the Battle of the Astronomy Tower did not take place in the film, Harry did not provide the Felix Felicis to his friends, and instead, drank the entire bottle for his mission to get the memory.**
* In the book, the **prize is merely given to the person who brews the best potion, and Slughorn even says he does not expect perfection from any of them. However in the film, Slughorn mentions that only a perfect Draught of Living Death will win the prize of Felix Felicis, and that only one person prior to Harry had ever won it, possibly Severus Snape since his instructions are what caused Harry to brew a "perfect" concoction. Slughorn also taught Voldemort and Lily Evans, both of whom were brilliant at potions, so they may also have been the anonymous winner of the potion mentioned in the movie.**
	+ **If Riddle was the student that won the first vial, it is possible that he may have used it when asking Slughorn about Horcruxes, as Harry notices how much better Riddle was at persuading Slughorn than he was when he first attempted to obtain the memory of that conversation from him.**
* Although the *Advanced Potion-Making* **claims that the potion requires six months of stewing, Horace managed to produce some for his first N.E.W.T. class, less than two months since he accepted the job offer in July. This makes it possible for a skilled potioneer to brew the potion in a shortened amount of time unless Slughorn already had some prepared *prior* to accepting the career. It is also possible that Slughorn did not brew it himself, and bought it from someone else.**
* In the video game, Harry fights a duel with Crabbe and Goyle which is **unlosable after taking Felix Felicis. Their spells miss you no matter what. When using Depulso to obtain "Mini-Crests", a considerable amount appears from every Depulso target. Additionally, the Dragon dung Fertiliser you brew in Potions Club cannot overheat and pouring too much of an ingredient in will have no effect.**
* In the video game adaptation of *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, Harry asks '**Dumbledore if he has ever taken Felix Felicis. Dumbledore responds, "*Only recreationally. You see, I believe one creates one's own luck.*"'**
* In *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2*, '**Slughorn is seen drinking something out of a flask before the Battle of Hogwarts begins. This could be Felix Felicis, or some sort of fortifying pick-me-up.**
* "Felix Felicis" was one of three chapter titles revealed in advance of the release of *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*. Most fans assumed that it would be the name of a character.
* This potion was featured in the Beta testing of *Harry Potter: Wizards Unite*, but failed to meet the final cut and was not released in the game, along with many other potions and ingredients.