Draught of Living Death

> "*The Draught of Living Death brings upon its drinker a very powerful sleep that can last indefinitely. This draught is very dangerous if not used with caution ... This is an extremely dangerous potion. Execute with maximum caution.*"
> ― Abstract from *Advanced Potion-Making*[source]
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The **Draught of Living Death** is an extremely powerful sleeping draught, sending the drinker into a deathlike slumber. Its effects are similar to suspended animation. This draught is an advanced potion, taught to sixth year N.E.W.T. students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

## History

A wizard prince once used the Wiggenweld Potion to awaken a princess who had been given the Draught of Living Death by the Hag Leticia Somnolens. The prince first put some of the Wiggenweld Potion on his lips and then kissed the princess, causing her to awaken from her death-like slumber.

At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry students are required to attempt this potion in their sixth year N.E.W.T. class. In 1976 Severus Snape and his classmates attended this potion, as in 1996 Horace Slughorn commented on the excellent job he did. In 1996 Harry Potter's attempt at brewing this potion went rather well, as at the time he had the assistance of the Half-Blood Prince's copy of *Advanced Potion-Making*. Harry succeeded in turning the potion to the idealistic shade of pale lilac that signals the half-way stage. None of his other classmates succeeded in this, which hints at the complexity and advanced nature of the potion.

## Difficulty

The potion is difficult to concoct, since Hermione Granger, a very talented potion-maker, who managed to concoct Polyjuice Potion (which was in no small way a difficult potion to make) in her second year, had trouble doing it in her sixth. Indeed, Horace Slughorn states that only once before in his career was a student (presumably Severus Snape, the Half-Blood Prince whose bookmarked instructions deviated from the potion-making process made a far more effective draught than any other student, though this was never confirmed) able to brew a mostly finished draught in only a single hour.

## Brewing instructions

> "*The Draught of Living Death is a very powerful sleeping potion that can be made by adding powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood*"
> ― Description[source]
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The following recipe can be followed to brew this potion:

1. Add the Infusion of Wormwood.
2. Add the powdered root of asphodel.
3. Stir twice clockwise.
4. Add the sloth brain.
5. Add the Sopophorous bean's juice.
6. Stir seven times anti-clockwise.

### Severus Snape's notes

* The Sopophorous bean should be crushed with a silver dagger, not cut, releases juices more efficiently.
* The juice from 13 Sopophorous beans should be used, rather than 12.
* Stir anticlockwise seven times and clockwise once instead.

## Notable examples

The Wiggenweld Potion is capable of reversing the effects of the Draught. The Hag Leticia Somnolens used the Draught in an attempt to kill a princess who made her jealous. A prince who placed Wiggenweld Potion on his lips revived the princess with a kiss.

Gethsemane Prickle brewed a Draught of Living Death to help subdue a Mountain Troll that had escaped from Percival Shacklehorn's tent into London, England.