Felix Felicis

Warning! At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in:Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery &Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells &Harry Potter: Magic Awakened &Hogwarts Legacy. As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

Felix Felicis

Felix Felicis, also called "Liquid Luck", was apotion that made the drinker lucky for a period of time, during which everything they attempt would be successful. It turned an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.^[1][2] It was very difficult to make, disastrous if made wrong, and required six months to brew before it was ready to be consumed.^[4]

It was meant to be used sparingly, as it caused the drinker to succumb to giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence if taken in excess. It was also highlytoxic in large quantities. Felix Felicis was a banned substance in all organised competitions, such asQuidditch, along with all other methods of cheating.^[1][2]

History[]

Zygmunt Budge invented this potion in the16th century and deemed it his greatest accomplishment ever, dubbing it "the crowning achievement of [his] career".^[2]

In the19th century,Asuka used Felix Felicis to ensure that she and her friendChiyo Kogawa would flawlessly perform during their try-outs to join theToyohashi TenguQuidditch team. However, Chiyo realized what her friend had done upon noticing that their results far exceeded their usual abilities and felt ashamed that her success was due to Felix Felicis. She thus withdrew from the try-outs, but never revealed that Asuka had cheated and secured her place among the Tengu thanks to Felix Felicis.^[5]

Horace Slughorn claimed that he used the potion twice in his life: once when he was twenty-four years old, and again when he was fifty-seven, each resulting in a perfect day.^[1]

During the1989–1990 school year,Beatrice Haywood, followingIsmelda Murk's advice, stole Ashwinder eggs, Murtlap Tentacles and Occamy Eggshells fromProfessor Snape's personal stores in order to secretly brew Felix Felicis inClassroom 3C, withMerula Snyde andPenny Haywood as well, as they believed it would be necessary for theCircle of Khanna to possess and use if needed.^[6]

On2 September1996,Harry Potter won a small vial of Felix Felicis fromProfessor Slughorn for brewing the bestDraught of Living Death inPotions (using the instructions ofhis textbook). The bottle would give Harry twelve hours of luck.^[1]

Harry later pretended to add a small amount toRon Weasley's drink at breakfast before aQuidditch game so that Ron would feel more confident about his abilities. Hermione noticed what Harry did, and believing that he had actually put something in Ron's drink, warned Ron not to take a drink. He ignored her and drank thepumpkin juice, and he then went on to play a nearly perfect game. Following the game, Hermione berated Harry for what he had done, and Harry told her and Ron that he had not given Ron the potion at all, and that Ron played that well all by himself.^[7]

The first real use of the potion by Harry was in attaining an importantmemory from Slughorn when Ron suggested it; he was originally hesitant in using it, as he wanted to use it to winGinny Weasley's affections. He took only a small dosage, for roughly three hours worth.^[8] Along the way toRubeus Hagrid's hut, he inadvertantly caused the breakup between Ron Weasley andLavender Brown, while also causing the death blow to Ginny Weasley's relationship withDean Thomas. The second use was distributed between Ron,Hermione Granger, and Ginny inthe battle against theDeath Eaters in their invasion ofHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.^[9]

In between the potion's first and second use, Harry suggested using some to discover whatDraco Malfoy was up to in theRoom of Requirement, but Hermione advised against it as it would be a waste on using it on a powerful defensive location such as the Room. When Ron suggested they brew more for themselves, Harry found the potion's complexity and time-consumption to be too much of a hassle.^[4]

Recipe[]

1. AddAshwinder egg to a cauldron, then add horseradish and heat.
2. Juice asquill bulb, add to the cauldron and stir vigorously.
3. Chop up anemone-like growth on the back ofMurtlap, add to mixture and heat.
4. Add a dash of tincture of thyme and stir slowly.
5. Grind upOccamy eggshell and add to mixture.
6. Stir slowly then heat the cauldron.
7. Add a sprinkle of powdered commonrue.
8. Stir vigorously then heat the cauldron one last time.
9. Wave wand over potion in a figure of eight and say incantation 'Felixempra!'^[2]

Physical description[]

This potion had been stated to greatly resemble moltengold, with droplets leaping out at intervals likegoldfish soaring from their bowl. It was noted that the drops of potion that leapt across the surface never spilt and that the potion splashed about merrily when in acauldron.^[3]

Effects[]

Felix Felicis caused the drinker to have good luck for a limited period of time, during which they were likely to to succeed in all endeavours in which success was possible. The more of it the drinker ingested the longer their good luck would last, one small vial would be about twelve hours worth.^[1][2] They had a strong perception of this effect, including a high level of confidence and a "sensation of infinite opportunity". This was accomplished not through direct application of force or granting the drinker any extraordinary powers, but by inspiring the drinker with a favourable pathway through the circumstances.

WhenHarry Potter took the potion, he had the sensation that 'Felix' knew what it was doing and that he needed only follow its inspiration, however unlikely the approach seemed as a means of accomplishing his goal. It indeed led him into a near-freakish but plausible set of circumstances in which all the right choices seemed obvious to him. Along the way, without even meaning to, he also accomplished some minor side goals, such as breaking upRon Weasley's bad relationship withLavender Brown, and destabilisingGinny Weasley's relationship withDean Thomas to give Harry more of a chance with her.^[8]

It could be said that Felix Felicis allowed the drinker to become somewhat in tune with their own fate, enlightening the user with the ability to intuitively tell what actions they need to take in order to lead to their desired consequences.

A person under the potion's inspiration would likely prove highly adaptable to any unexpected change in the circumstances. There were always infinite possibilities in any situation, some of which doubtless lead to the desired outcome, and Felix could highlight them no matter what happened.^[8]

Though Felix Felicis conferred no extra powers on the user, it seemed capable of drawing out the best reserves of their ability if needed. Harry was able to useRefilling Charms non-verbally, even though he had not yet managed it in his previous classroom practice.^[8]

There was a period of 'coming down' when Felix Felicis wore off. During this time, the user's sense of confidence faded, and unlucky circumstances could quickly catch up to them if they were not vigilant.^[10]

A slight alteration to the potion caused the drinker to have bad luck instead of good luck. ProfessorSeverus Snape, aware of how tempting Felix Felicis was to students, kept a vial of this unlucky Felix Felicis and deliberately made the security around it lax so that anyone attempting to steal it would wind up with bad luck instead of good luck.^[11]

Limitations[]

AsHermione Granger pointed out, the potion was not able to better the chances of the drinker against particularly powerfulenchantments,^[4] since members ofDumbledore's Army were not able to bypass thePeruvian Instant Darkness Powder thatDraco Malfoy used.^[12] Hermione also claimed that Harry's usage of the potion to help discover what Draco was up to in theRoom of Requirement would be a waste, as the Room was too powerful for the potion to help penetrate.^[4]

The potion's effectiveness seemed to wane after a certain amount of time, as it did inHarry Potter's situation when he made his way back to theGryffindor common room and he ran intoPeeves, but was only just barely able to dodge him with the potion's influence.^[8]

Overdosing was dangerous, as it was highlytoxic in large quantity,^[1][2] and over-reliance on it may have led to dangerous overconfidence, giddiness, and recklessness. The potion was very difficult and time-consuming to brew, and disastrous if concocted incorrectly. Due to its effects, it was considered a tool of cheating and therefore prohibited in organised events such asQuidditch and academic examinations.^[2]

Brewing the potion itself was also an arguable challenge, since even with the Half-Blood Prince's copy ofAdvanced Potion Making at hand, Harry noted that concocting his own batch of Felix Felicis was "seriously complicated". And given how Hermione reacted when Slughorn confirmed the potion's identity during their first Potions class along with how inadvisable it was to excessively imbibe it, it can be assumed that the potion was indeed very rarely, if ever, successfully brewed even by skilled potioneers - making Slughorn's ability to do so particularly noteworthy.

The potion could also turn foetid if left to sit for too long, resulting in the drinker undergoing wild misadventures rather than its intended purpose.^[13]

Known uses[]

Harry Potter's use[]

WhenHarry Potter used Felix Felicis, several events occurred that were beneficial to Harry and his friends; the main being Harry obtaining the memory from Slughorn. Harry only took a small portion, for roughly two-to-three hours of effect. Harry obtained the uncorruptedmemory fromHorace Slughorn aboutHorcruxes. During this adventure, evidence of luck was following him.^[8]

Harry was able to keep his word to his friendRubeus Hagrid and attend Aragog'sfuneral.^[8]Filch had left the front doors of the castle unlocked, so he was able to wonder the grounds.^[8] Slughorn was tempted to accompany Harry to Hagrid's by the possibility of obtaining valuableAcromantula venom.^[8]

Harry was able to use a nonverbalRefilling Charm, even though he had not completely mastered this charm nonverbally, so Slughorn would not run out of drink (in order to get him drunk).^[8]

Harry bumped intoGinny as they passed each other at the portrait entryway, making Ginny think that her boyfriendDean Thomas was trying to help her into the portrait hole. This incident, compounded by others, eventually resulted in them breaking up with each other.^[8]

Harry also initiated the breakup ofRon Weasley andLavender Brown by donning hisCloak of Invisibility before leaving the boys' dormitory. When Ron descended the stairs after him withHermione Granger, Lavender assumed the worst about the pair of them and dumped Ron.^[4]

Harry was able to sneak out and back into the castle undetected by unwanted forces; even when the potion's effect was about to dissipate, he was able to evadePeeves.^[10]

Battle of the Astronomy Tower[]

Before leaving with Dumbledore tosearch for one ofVoldemort'sHorcruxes, Harry gave the rest of the Felix Felicis to Ron and Hermione with the instruction that they were to share it with Ginny, as he believedDraco Malfoy was ready to act onhis mission from Voldemort. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny split the potion between themselves and effectively used it in theensuing battle to dodge the curses sent their way byDeath Eaters, many of which wereUnforgivable Curses.^[15][12]

Etymology[]

Felix is the Latin word meaning happy or lucky. 'Felicis' is from the same root, but declined in the genitive case. It is translated as 'of luck'. Therefore, Felix Felicis means 'Luck of Luck', 'Lucky Luck' or 'Luck's Luck'. Another translation might be 'Happy Luck'. In Latin, nouns and adjectives are usually cited by saying their nominative followed by their genitive, so a dictionary entry for the word "felix" could start as "felix, felicis ..."

Behind the scenes[]

• InHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Felix Felicis is described as looking like liquid gold. In thefilm adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it has only a light gold hue.
• Also, as theBattle of the Astronomy Tower did not take place in the film, Harry did not provide the Felix Felicis to his friends, and instead, drank the entire bottle for his mission to get the memory.
• In the book, the prize is merely given to the person who brews the best potion, and Slughorn even says he does not expect perfection from any of them. However in the film, Slughorn mentions that only a perfect Draught of Living Death will win the prize of Felix Felicis, and that only one person prior to Harry had ever won it, possiblySeverus Snape since his instructions are what caused Harry to brew a "perfect" concoction. Slughorn also taughtVoldemort andLily Evans, both of whom were brilliant at potions, so they may also have been the anonymous winner of the potion mentioned in the film.
  • If Riddle was the student that won the first vial, it is possible that he may have used it when asking Slughorn about Horcruxes, as Harry notices how much better Riddle was at persuading Slughorn than he was when he first attempted to obtain the memory of that conversation from him.
• Although theAdvanced Potion-Making claims that the potion requires six months of stewing, Horace managed to produce some for his first N.E.W.T. class, less than two months since he accepted the job offer in July. This makes it possible for a skilled potioneer to brew the potion in a shortened amount of time unless Slughorn already had some preparedprior to accepting the career. It is also possible that Slughorn did not brew it himself, and received or bought it from someone else.
  • Again, despite six months of processing,Wonderbook: Book of Potions conflicts with the rule by revealing details of the recipe, as shown above in the article, which apparently did not take as much time.
• In thevideo game adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry fights a duel with Crabbe and Goyle which is impossible to lose after taking Felix Felicis. Their spells miss you no matter what. When usingDepulso to obtain "Mini-Crests", a considerable amount appears from every target. Additionally, theDragon dung Fertiliser you brew inPotions Club cannot overheat and pouring too much of an ingredient in will have no effect.
  • In the same game, Harry asks Dumbledore if he has ever taken Felix Felicis. Dumbledore responds, "Only recreationally. You see, I believe one creates one's own luck."
• InHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Slughorn is seen drinking something out of a flask before theBattle of Hogwarts begins. This could be Felix Felicis, or some sort of fortifying pick-me-up.
• "Felix Felicis" was one of three chapter titles revealed in advance of the release ofHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Most fans assumed that it would be the name of a character.
• This potion was featured in the Beta testing ofHarry Potter: Wizards Unite, but failed to meet the final cut and was not released in the game, along with many other potions and ingredients.

Appearances[]

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2(Possible appearance)
• Pottermore
• HarryPotter.com
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened(Mentioned only)
• Hogwarts Legacy

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• Felix Felicis at theHogwarts Legacy Wiki

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