Potions (subject)

This article is for **Hogwarts subject**. You may be looking for **the general topic of a potion**.

## Potions (subject)

### Professor

* Horace Slughorn (1931 - 1981), (1996 - ?)
* Severus Snape (1981 - 1996)

### Taught at

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

### Textbooks

* Magical Drafts and Potions
* Advanced Potion Making

### Equipment

* Cauldron
* Weighing scales

## Book information

### First appearance

*Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*

### Last appearance

*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

"*You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making*"
— Introduction to Potions
**Potions** is a subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Every student in their first year until the fifth year when they sit for O.W.L.s have to take the subject. It is an option for N.E.W.T-level study. The purpose of the subject is to teach students how to brew potions using recipes and the right ingredients which steadily get more advanced each year. They have to bring a cauldron and weighing scales.

## About

Every student has to take Potions in the first-year until the fifth-year, when they take their O.W.L.s. If they achieve a high enough pass grade, they have the option of continuing their study of Potions for their N.E.W.T.s in their sixth-year. The teacher decides how high their grade needs to be for acceptance to the course.

The students have to create potions step-by-step from a book. In the first year, the book is Magical Drafts and Potions. They put the ingredients in a cauldron they have to bring, then get the ingredients, stirring, timing and bottling right. Certain ingredients have to be purchased by the student but others are kept in the storeroom. Achieving a high grade in the O.W.L.s is not easy.

## History

In his first year, Neville Longbottom achieved a very low grade in Potions.

During his fifth year, Harry Potter was told he needed to get an "Outstanding" in his O.W.L.s if he wished to take Potions for his N.E.W.T.s. When he returned for his sixth year, the new Professor, Horace Slughorn changed it. He accepted students who achieved an "Exceeds Expectations".

## Curriculum

### First year

* Cure for Boils
* An unknown potion involving the spine of a lionfish
* Forgetfulness Potion

### Third year

* Shrinking Potion (homework during the summer holidays)
* Undetectable Poisons

### Examinations

* First-year: Forgetfulness Potion
* Third-year: Confusing Concoction

## Books

 Magical Drafts and Potions
* Advanced Potion Making

## Known teachers

 Severus Snape
* Horace Slughorn

## Notes and sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 7
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, Chapter 9
3. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 17
4. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 12
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 16
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 11
7. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 1
8. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 12
9. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 16
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*, Chapter 8
11. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, Chapter 9
12. ↑ *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*, Chapter 10