Post by Prof. Destiny Smith on Apr 25, 2009 23:26:52 GMT -6
Ten-Second Pimple Vanisher
This comes in a small pink pot and is excellent on anything from boils to blackheads. It is sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, as part of their WonderWitch range of products [HBP6].
Truth Potion/Truth Serum
Ingredients: Jobberknoll feathers
When Snape first shows Harry a bottle of Veritaserum and threatens him with it, he calls it "a truth potion", which suggests that other Truth Potions (presumably less powerful) must also exist. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also states that Jobberknoll feathers are used in Truth Serums [GOF27, FB].
Veritaserum
Harry first came across Veritaserum when Snape believed he had been pilfering from his private stores, and threatened to spike Harry's pumpkin juice with it so he'd have to reveal the truth. At the time, Snape described it as "a Truth Potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for the entire class to hear" [GOF27].
The Potion itself is colourless, odourless, and almost impossible to detect. In theory its use is strictly controlled by the Ministry in Magic, according to Snape. In practice, as with many things that the Ministry wish to control, people tend to ignore them and use it as and when they wish [GOF27, HBP9].
Snape never did carry out his threat to spike Harry's drink, although Dolores Umbridge did exactly that when she interrogated Harry about the whereabous of Sirius and Dumbledore after the DA had been betrayed [OOTP28]. Unfortunately for her, Snape had supplied her with fake Veritaserum [OOTP37] and Harry only feigned drinking it anyway, as he suspected it had been spiked.
Umbridge called for further supplies of the potion when she'd caught Harry using the Floo Network via the fire in her office. On this occasion, Snape told her that she'd used his entire supply and, as the potion takes a full moon cycle to mature, he couldn't have any more ready for a month. Snape's actions were designed to prevent her getting her hands on any potion, but it would have been extremely risky to have been lying at this point, and so it is likely that Veritaserum really does take this long to mature [OOTP32].
Genuine Veritaserum was used by Dumbledore to question Barty Crouch Jnr, when he had been unmasked as the fake Moody following the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. He gave Crouch the regulation dose of 3 drops, and sure enough he answered every question put to him with the whole truth. It was one of his last conscious acts, as he received the Dementor's Kiss (against Dumbledore's will) shortly afterwards [GOF35, 36].
Whilst Veritaserum may appear to be an all-conquering truth potion, it does have its weaknesses. In particular, antidotes exist, and any skilled wizard who is expecting an attack will be about to avoid it by having a bottle of antidote at the ready. It was for this reason that Dumbledore did not attempt to use Veritaserum to force Slughorn to reveal the truth of his Horcrux memory [HBP17].
Voldemort's Potion
Ingredients: Bone of the father (unknowingly given), Flesh of the servant (willingly given), Blood of the enemy (forcibly taken)
This is a potion of Voldemort's own invention, which he used to regenerate himself and give himself a new humanesque body. Before the addition of the known ingredients, the potion had been prepared in a massive cauldron and looked like water. When it was heated it sent fiery sparks into the air and gave out large quantities of steam. Voldemort, in his baby form, was placed into it the cauldron. As each new ingredient was added, the potion changed colour (to blue, then red, then white), after which the new, adult-sized Voldemort emerged from a huge cloud of white steam [GOF32].
Wiggenweld Potion
Leticia Somnolens was a spiteful hag who was jealous of the king's daughter and caused her to prick her finger on a spindle tainted with a Draught of the Living Death. A young wizard smeared his lips with Wiggenweld Potion, kissed the princess, and brought her out of her trance [Famous Wizards Cards].
Wit-Sharpening Potion
Ingredients: Scarab beetles, Ginger roots, Armadillo bile
The effect of this is not known, although it is likely to involve sharpening the wit of the drinker (in other words, making them able to think better).
Harry's class were making Wit-Sharpening Potion shortly after the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Rita Skeeter had just published an article in Witch Weekly about a supposed love triangle with Harry, Hermione and Viktor Krum, and Harry, Ron and Hermione were discussing it in their Potions class. Snape responded by splitting them up and reading the article aloud to the entire class. Harry was moved to the front, where Snape threatened him in a quiet voice because he believed Harry had been stealing from his office.
Shortly afterwards, Karkaroff also interrupted the lesson, and Harry deliberately knocked over his bottle of Armadillo bile so that he could sneakily listen to what Karkaroff wanted to talk about [GOF27].
Wolfsbane Potion
A new and complex potion, this relieves the symptoms of lycanthropy (although it does not cure it). If the affected person drinks the potion at full moon, they transform only into a normal wolf (and retain control over their actions) rather than a bloodthirsty out-of-control Werewolf [POA18].
It was invented by Marcus Belby's Uncle Damocles, who received an Order of Merlin for his efforts. Marcus doesn't see much of his uncle due to a family disagreement, however, and as such, Horace Slughorn didn't think Marcus worthy of a place in his Slug Club [HBP7].
When ready to drink, the Wolfsbane Potion smokes faintly and tastes revolting. Unfortunately, the addition of sugar makes it useless, and so there's nothing the drinker can do but brace himself and get it down his neck [POA8].
The potion must be taken for the week preceding the full moon, and Lupin for one believed it best to take it daily for this period [POA8]. Forgetting to take even a single dose results in the entire effect being negated, and the drinker will still turn into a fully-fledged Werewolf at full moon, as Lupin found out when he forgot to take his [POA18].
Severus Snape made this potion every month for Lupin while he taught at Hogwarts, demonstrating Snape's considerable skills in the area [POA8].
Wound-Cleaning Potion
This is a smoking purple liquid that cleans open wounds in preparation for magical healing. Madam Pomfrey used it on Harry when he was injured during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. It stung when it was applied, but she then healed the wound instantaneously with her wand and Harry appeared to suffer no unpleasant side-effects [GOF20].
This comes in a small pink pot and is excellent on anything from boils to blackheads. It is sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, as part of their WonderWitch range of products [HBP6].
Truth Potion/Truth Serum
Ingredients: Jobberknoll feathers
When Snape first shows Harry a bottle of Veritaserum and threatens him with it, he calls it "a truth potion", which suggests that other Truth Potions (presumably less powerful) must also exist. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also states that Jobberknoll feathers are used in Truth Serums [GOF27, FB].
Veritaserum
Harry first came across Veritaserum when Snape believed he had been pilfering from his private stores, and threatened to spike Harry's pumpkin juice with it so he'd have to reveal the truth. At the time, Snape described it as "a Truth Potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for the entire class to hear" [GOF27].
The Potion itself is colourless, odourless, and almost impossible to detect. In theory its use is strictly controlled by the Ministry in Magic, according to Snape. In practice, as with many things that the Ministry wish to control, people tend to ignore them and use it as and when they wish [GOF27, HBP9].
Snape never did carry out his threat to spike Harry's drink, although Dolores Umbridge did exactly that when she interrogated Harry about the whereabous of Sirius and Dumbledore after the DA had been betrayed [OOTP28]. Unfortunately for her, Snape had supplied her with fake Veritaserum [OOTP37] and Harry only feigned drinking it anyway, as he suspected it had been spiked.
Umbridge called for further supplies of the potion when she'd caught Harry using the Floo Network via the fire in her office. On this occasion, Snape told her that she'd used his entire supply and, as the potion takes a full moon cycle to mature, he couldn't have any more ready for a month. Snape's actions were designed to prevent her getting her hands on any potion, but it would have been extremely risky to have been lying at this point, and so it is likely that Veritaserum really does take this long to mature [OOTP32].
Genuine Veritaserum was used by Dumbledore to question Barty Crouch Jnr, when he had been unmasked as the fake Moody following the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. He gave Crouch the regulation dose of 3 drops, and sure enough he answered every question put to him with the whole truth. It was one of his last conscious acts, as he received the Dementor's Kiss (against Dumbledore's will) shortly afterwards [GOF35, 36].
Whilst Veritaserum may appear to be an all-conquering truth potion, it does have its weaknesses. In particular, antidotes exist, and any skilled wizard who is expecting an attack will be about to avoid it by having a bottle of antidote at the ready. It was for this reason that Dumbledore did not attempt to use Veritaserum to force Slughorn to reveal the truth of his Horcrux memory [HBP17].
Voldemort's Potion
Ingredients: Bone of the father (unknowingly given), Flesh of the servant (willingly given), Blood of the enemy (forcibly taken)
This is a potion of Voldemort's own invention, which he used to regenerate himself and give himself a new humanesque body. Before the addition of the known ingredients, the potion had been prepared in a massive cauldron and looked like water. When it was heated it sent fiery sparks into the air and gave out large quantities of steam. Voldemort, in his baby form, was placed into it the cauldron. As each new ingredient was added, the potion changed colour (to blue, then red, then white), after which the new, adult-sized Voldemort emerged from a huge cloud of white steam [GOF32].
Wiggenweld Potion
Leticia Somnolens was a spiteful hag who was jealous of the king's daughter and caused her to prick her finger on a spindle tainted with a Draught of the Living Death. A young wizard smeared his lips with Wiggenweld Potion, kissed the princess, and brought her out of her trance [Famous Wizards Cards].
Wit-Sharpening Potion
Ingredients: Scarab beetles, Ginger roots, Armadillo bile
The effect of this is not known, although it is likely to involve sharpening the wit of the drinker (in other words, making them able to think better).
Harry's class were making Wit-Sharpening Potion shortly after the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament. Rita Skeeter had just published an article in Witch Weekly about a supposed love triangle with Harry, Hermione and Viktor Krum, and Harry, Ron and Hermione were discussing it in their Potions class. Snape responded by splitting them up and reading the article aloud to the entire class. Harry was moved to the front, where Snape threatened him in a quiet voice because he believed Harry had been stealing from his office.
Shortly afterwards, Karkaroff also interrupted the lesson, and Harry deliberately knocked over his bottle of Armadillo bile so that he could sneakily listen to what Karkaroff wanted to talk about [GOF27].
Wolfsbane Potion
A new and complex potion, this relieves the symptoms of lycanthropy (although it does not cure it). If the affected person drinks the potion at full moon, they transform only into a normal wolf (and retain control over their actions) rather than a bloodthirsty out-of-control Werewolf [POA18].
It was invented by Marcus Belby's Uncle Damocles, who received an Order of Merlin for his efforts. Marcus doesn't see much of his uncle due to a family disagreement, however, and as such, Horace Slughorn didn't think Marcus worthy of a place in his Slug Club [HBP7].
When ready to drink, the Wolfsbane Potion smokes faintly and tastes revolting. Unfortunately, the addition of sugar makes it useless, and so there's nothing the drinker can do but brace himself and get it down his neck [POA8].
The potion must be taken for the week preceding the full moon, and Lupin for one believed it best to take it daily for this period [POA8]. Forgetting to take even a single dose results in the entire effect being negated, and the drinker will still turn into a fully-fledged Werewolf at full moon, as Lupin found out when he forgot to take his [POA18].
Severus Snape made this potion every month for Lupin while he taught at Hogwarts, demonstrating Snape's considerable skills in the area [POA8].
Wound-Cleaning Potion
This is a smoking purple liquid that cleans open wounds in preparation for magical healing. Madam Pomfrey used it on Harry when he was injured during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. It stung when it was applied, but she then healed the wound instantaneously with her wand and Harry appeared to suffer no unpleasant side-effects [GOF20].