Potion

A **Potion** (Latin *potio*, 'beverage') was a magical mixture, commonly brewed in a cauldron which was used to create a number of magical effects on the drinker. Potions can range in effects, nature, and brewing difficulty. Someone who specialised in potion brewing was known as a potioneer or a Potions Master. Potion-making was the equivalent of chemistry.

## Description

### Nature

Potions were brewed from ingredients with magical properties and through manual step-by-step processes not unlike the culinaryarts, requiring the necessary utensils, hands-on skills and, of course, some knowledge of the potion recipe or formula. Potions could be used as: medicines, antidotes, solutions, poisons, or give the drinker any magical effect from strength enhancement to immunity to flames. Potions were not necessarily used by drinking them, as some can be applied by physical contact or create an effect simply by being created, such as the Regeneration potion. According to Potions Master, Professor Severus Snape, potions could be used for numerous different magical purposes.

Potions had a distinct advantage over spells in that they could be used even by the non-magical, provided that they had the potion at their disposal. There were certain effects that could only be induced through the use of potions. Some potions duplicated the effects of spells and charms, but a few (Polyjuice Potion and Felix Felicis) had effects impossible to achieve any other way. Generally speaking, magicals favoured whichever method they found easier or satisfying, to produce their chosen end.

Potions were not for the impatient, but their effects were usually difficult to undo by any but another skilled potioneer. This branch of magic carried a certain mystique and therefore status. There was also the dark cachet of handling substances that were highly dangerous. The popular idea of a potions expert within the wizarding community was of a brooding, slow-burning personality.

Potion brewing always required some degree of magic and in some cases, wand work to complete the brewing process. Hence, non-magic people could not brew them even if given the ingredients and instructions, as it would only result in nasty-tasting (and not to mention poisonous) soup with no magical effect whatsoever.

### Dangers

Potions had to be brewed carefully to achieve the proper effects. In certain cases, those that were brewed incorrectly or in a dirty cauldron could become poisons. In other cases, even potions that had been brewed correctly may in some cases had deleterious effects, even if their intended effect is beneficial; for example, Felix Felicis caused recklessness and overconfidence when used more than sparingly, while the Elixir to Induce Euphoria had side-effects such as excessive singing and nose-tweaking, though these could be countered by adding peppermint to the potion.

### Potioncraft

**Potioncraft** was the magical practice and term within this branch of magicto create potions, with potions being replicated when the user possesses skill and the recipe, or a sample of the potion.

## Related Jobs

A potioneer, also known as a potion-brewer or potion-maker, was a magical who made potions for a living, meaning that their primary source of income came from making potions or in someway related to potions in general. This could include working as a professional brewer, studying or inventing potions, or teaching potions as a subject at a magical school. A N.E.W.T. in Potions was one of the necessary qualifications required to become a Healer and an Auror. A person who taught Potions was sometimes known as a Potions Master, one who had achieved a N.E.W.T. in the subject

## Known Potioneers

* Circe
* Fleamont Potter
* Gilderoy Lockhart
* Horace Slughorn
* Medea
* Nicolas Flamel
* Severus Snape