Appius' notes

## Advanced potioneering methods

*"**Appius** experimented with several potions and potioneering methods during his first year. The results and conclusions he documented in his notebook. The subsequent collection of notes, instructions and calculations serve as the foundation for his advanced knowledge in potioneering."* - Description of the book and its function.

### Preface & Disclaimer

Reader beware, these methods and conclusions are the result of rigorous experimentation. As such it should be taken into consideration that for proper effectiveness one should possess reasonable skill, everlasting patience and a firm understanding of potioneering. I highly advise the use of **unknowing subjects**, though I firmly maintain one should refrain from causing serious harm.

Furthermore, the usage of adequate tools, measures, ingredients and extracts should be stressed. The specific means of experimentation provided empirical evidence to support the methods when supported through a combination of these factors whereas untested methods may prove harmful.

## Ingredients

Before we try and concoct our own potions with these methods we must familiarize ourselves with the ingredients we will be using. When we understand the ingredients and their individual properties we can substitute, alter or anticipate on them in order to achieve our desired improvement. Listed below are the ingredients and their magical properties as observed through my experimentation.

### Standard ingredients

**Standard ingredient -** Standard ingredient is the primary magical fuel behind most beginner potions. It consists of various herbs known to wizardkind. Without the usage of this ingredient, activated once your wand waves over your cauldron, some of the other ingredients might not acquire their magical properties. It is a very difficult ingredient to work around unless one can can find substitutes for the non-magical ingredients.

**Flobberworm mucus -** Flobberworms are rather boring creatures that are classified as class X. They exert a mucus that we use as thickener. It serves this specific purpose and is great for maintaining viscosity. It's easy to acquire as flobberworms can be conjured, purchased or found. It's easy to find a substitute thickener with magical properties.

**Spines & fangs -** Spines and fangs often carry properties afflicting heath. The versatility of them lend them very useful for substitution, however their precarious and sharp edges warrant caution. Spines & fangs can be crushed, preserved, cut and splintered. Examples include lionfish, porcupine and serpentine. Spines and fangs are not to be confused with ***horns***, which generally tend to carry more magical properties on their own.

**Biofluids -** Like Flobberworms, magical creatures often leave significant quantities of their magical properties in their biofluids. Examples of these include blood and poison. It should however be noted that these are often expensive, difficult to acquire and unsafe to handle. One must understand the creature from which he wishes to extract the fluids in order to do so without harming the process, or himself.

**Magical flora -** The magical alkaloids present in the flora known to wizardkind produce effects we can either emulate, exaggerate, replicate or combinate. While these substances in itself are harmful to predators of the flora, and sometimes to wizards, the dosage is detrimental to lethality. Over or underdosage under supervision and careful calculation may lead to healing properties through reversal of effect.

#### Advanced ingredients

**valerian -** Valerian is a plant with magical alkaloids that has both a base and derived ingredient we can use in potions. The valerian is a dangerous plant that can lend its properties by afflicting a targets senses and mind. Heavy dosage may even be fatal though that question is perhaps best left unanswered for now.

**Fluxweed -** Fluxweed has healing properties utilized during healing magic practices and has a derived ingredient. I've read somewhere that fluxweed is to be picked at full moon in order to alter its properties though I haven't studied those yet. Fluxweed can be made into a syrup which acts as substitute thickener with healing properties.

##### Derived ingredients

Derived ingredients are those we acquire through the manipulation of the base ingredient. An example of this is **Flobberworms**. They can be thrown in as a whole or can be cut up, their **derived ingredient** is the Mucus they produce. Derived ingredients can be used to lessen the effects of a potion or the specific ingredient, altering the balance of the concoction. The availability of the derived ingredients depends on the wizards knowledge as well as their skill with extracting it from the desired base ingredient. It can be dangerous to extract fangs from venomous predators even after they have seemingly passed for quite some time.

##### Other potions

Sometimes the best ingredient is another potion. This may sound dangerous and it most certainly is. It is highly advised to have an unsuspecting victim test this method out in order to spare oneself from harm. The nature and ingredients of the other potion should be taken into consideration and the entire process will become difficult and strenuous. Adding another potion requires constant stirring and should always be calculated as the last step in your process.

## Experimentation

Most of the potions in these notes will have negative effects on its targets. One should be weary not to attract unwanted attention if his experimentation is to continue. It is of importance that one operates within the boundaries of the School if he is to educate himself further without prying eyes. Furthermore, as some of the potions require a significant time to brew and take little disruption to be compromised, one should know *where to operate.* This delightfully malicious guide will help you fester your devious concoctions without interference.

### How to acquire ingredients

There are several ways one can acquire ingredients. The easiest would be to purchase them, though this will leave a trail to you as the owlery may be supervised if suspect packaging reveals harmful ingredients. These and other means will be described more in depth below, as will their specific instructions and pros and cons.

#### Purchasing ingredients & equipment

Purchasing ingredients is dangerous if one wishes to remain incognito while conducting his experimentation. As a rule of thumb one should stick to the standard ingredients as listed above in order to not arouse suspicion. Diagon alley will provide you with most if not all you'll likely need though it'll rather quickly run you out of money. Equipment is safe to purchase though might arouse suspicion.

#### Growing & Harvesting ingredients

Ingredients can be harvested around Hogwarts. One doesn't have to stray into the forbidden forest to acquire many of the standard ingredients and fauna that naturally inhabits the **premises of the castle**. You should always look for **quality**, though natural ingredients tend to be of a higher quality regardless. Some ingredients may appear on a **seasonal basis**, while others may hold specific properties at night. Harvesting can be done with an **accomplice** and is even advised when attempted nightly.

#### Theft

The preferred method. Theft will provide you with both the ingredients and the anonymity required for the experimentation. Fresh ingredients can be stolen **during potions classes** when professor Mordecai is not paying attention. Students in the **potions club** may also carry ingredients one may wish to pilfer. The **house** inhabited by the half giant has a small garden and the **greenhouse** is often unsupervised. If your predilection's petty theft you should be weary to the consequences.

### Where to experiment?

#### Establishing a lab

One should commit to a place of his likings as soon as he encounters one. A great many potions require patience and as more often than not need to remain stationary. The process of the brewing itself may cause spillage and stains may prove harmful or dangerous, if not difficult to clean. Sanitary working conditions provide better results, this is proven so far. When selecting your laboratory you'll need little space, as after the cleanup only a cauldron and heater have to be hidden. It should be a secluded place nonetheless, and away from direct sunlight. Your laboratory should be easily accessible to you, though not easy to find for others. Obscured nooks in the library, haunted bathrooms and dungeon classrooms make great laboratories. **Alohomora** and **Aberto** are useful spells to give yourself access to vacant classrooms.

#### Hiding your cabinet

One should be weary to keep their ever growing collection of potions from prying eyes and possibly vengeful subjects. It's also important to shield yourself from blame if your actions result in a less than positive outcome. Your cabinet should be a permanent hiding location somewhere on the premises, and should be very hard to find for others. You will possibly have to secure it with a charm. Useful charms are **Cistem Aperio** to unlock random chests across the castle.

#### Cleaning and maintenance

One should be ever watchful of his equipment, but may find himself ill prepared while brewing in a less than optimal and hopefully temporary laboratory. If the mess you make may compromise your operation, or if you fear your spillage will lead to structural damage to your laboratory or equipment you will have to clean up. The spell **Scourgify** should be in your arsenal in order to maintain your equipment and clean your laboratory efficiently.

### How to acquire subjects

#### Self-consumption

For those that aren't faint of heart, the option to consume your experimental potions yourself is always at hand. One should be weary to keep a bezoar in arms reach and a prayer between his ears. This also applies to dangerous methods or experiments. If the desired outcome of the potion is beneficial to ones health the risk of harm will greatly be reduced. The why as to why would anyone do this can be answered by stating; it takes one to know one. You may test your own proficiency with potioneering through ingesting your own potions.

#### Bribery

One may hire an accomplice for the purpose of testing dangerous methods and potions in exchange for pecuniary returns. This method is expensive though not out of reach for some, however may leave you legally responsible for the other beings fate. Seek out people in need of money and in a desperate situation to exploit their current state in order to advance your Potion. If you're not as resourceful some minor trickery may be involved but the primary convincer should be the monetary reward, paired with the shared liability through an assumed arrangement.

#### Unwilling/Unsuspecting

The preferred method. Find a target and hold on to them, monitor them, befriend them. Get used to their pattern and observe their habits. Find ways to sneak your potions into their system without them knowing. Maintain your relationship with your target. The premise of this tactic is that you maintain contact with your target and continue building their trust. Targets can be poisoned up to three times before it's likely they'll suspect something and tell on you. It is highly advised to poison them only two times, once to earn their trust and a second time to test your potion. Subjects that discover your plot often become volatile and unpredictable. You're at great risk of being compromised at that point and should dispatch of the subject with great urgency and adequate reactionary measures.

## Security

#### Secrecy

It is of vital essence due to the nature of your research to maintain discretion. There are several means through which one can influence factors originating from himself but it is far more difficult to control subjects and geographic factors. One must maintain personal discretion at all times and should keep track of his charms and DADA classes. He is to master, as quickly as possible, the **unbreakable vow**. He can then impose this on his subjects if they are to be included within the research for a prolonged time. Furthermore, he is urged to seek out knowledge on the **Forgetfulness-potion** to discard of the subjects without risk of compromising himself.

#### For enemies

One may encounter enemies in both his unwilling subjects, on personal levels, or within the professors at Hogwarts. There are several means we can secure not only ourselves but our progress from our enemies. We must keep in mind that we must operate within the boundaries of our current limitations, and we must not wish any lasting harm unless empirically unavoidable.

##### Potions

* **Sleeping draught -** The sleeping draught potion will bring people into a temporary sleep. It can be used to sedate a target for a short time in order to transport them. This potion is useful on already subdued opponents that continue to resist subjugation. Lends itself to edibles such as cakes.
* **Draught of livind death -** Advanced version of draught the sleeping draught potion. Difficult to brew and currently advanced beyond my level. Used to store subjects indefinitely without harming them. Can easily be reversed with an antidote.
* **Angel's trumpet draught -** Final solution for mortal enemies, this potion will deliver them to the sound of Angel's trumpets. Currently advanced beyond my level.
* **Garroting gas -** A potion that exhumes a gas that's toxic for the breather. Used as a deterrent from entering certain locations such as laboratories. Can also clear out laboratories from vermin. Currently beyond my level

##### Spells

* **Rictusempra -** Used to combat enemies on Hogwarts, delivers uncontrollable laughter upon impact. Subjects may continue to resist.
* **Colloshoo -** Immobilizes a subject briefly, can be used to administer a second spell or the ricusempra spell.
* **Scourgify -** Temporarily washes a persons mouth with soap, rendering them unable to pronounce incantations.
* **Periculum -** Fire flammable projectile sparks that may deter enemies from approaching.