Potions (class)

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.

Potions

Potions was asubject and core class taught atHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry^[4][11] andIlvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.^[12] In this class, students learnt the correct way to brewpotions.^[4] They followed specific recipes and used variousmagical ingredients to create potions, starting with simple ones and moving to more advanced ones as they progressed in knowledge.^[4]

A standardpotions kit included plant ingredients such asbelladonna,^[8] and supplies such as glassphials and weighing scales, along with a standardcauldron that all students were expected to bring with them to lessons.^[4]

TheProfessor of this subject was referred to as aPotions Master.^[4] The Potions Master at Hogwarts for many years wasHorace Slughorn^[5] and laterSeverus Snape.^[4] By2016, Professor Slughorn had retired for a second time, and by2021,another new teacher had taken over.^[13]

Class information[]

AtHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Potions was a required subject for students, from thefirst year to thefifth year.^[4][14][11] Potion recipes could be found in many books, including the books the students at Hogwarts used in their classes, but the intricacies of timing, ageing, stirring techniques, and bottling which are much more difficult to learn without the mentoring of the experienced masters.^[4] Certain ingredients could be found in the cupboard in the classroom,^[15] but others had to be bought before the start of the year at the apothecary.^[4][8] Around1981, Severus Snape became the professor of Potions at Hogwarts.^[4] Snape served as the school's potions professor through1996, until he became theDefence Against the Dark Arts professor and was replaced byHorace Slughorn.^[16]

Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations were taken at the end of a student's fifth year;^[14] as such students spent time learning Ordinary Wizarding Level potions and possibly revisiting the past four years of lessons. As part of their Potions O.W.L., students had to sit a written exam; one of the questions was to identify the effects ofPolyjuice Potion and its purpose, and after students had to complete a practical exam.^[17] Professor Snape mentioned that achieving a high mark atOrdinary Wizarding Level was difficult,^[14] which was later demonstrated in1996, when only twelve students reached the required level to advance to N.E.W.T.^[7]

When Severus Snape was the professor, students had to achieve an 'Outstanding' on theirO.W.L. in order to take his advanced class.^[18] As Head of House, Professor Snape tended to favour students fromSlytherin House more than other students, so Slytherins tended to do better than others at the subject.^[4] On the other hand however,Horace Slughorn was more lenient; Harry and Ron were both allowed to continue to the N.E.W.T. class with an 'Exceeds Expectations' O.W.L. He also did not grant Slytherins special treatments, thus having them lose their advantage in good classwork.^[7]

According to ProfessorAesop Sharp,Herbology class was just as important to the learning ofPotions as Potions class itself. It was good to have a solid grasp on not only how to combine ingredients, but to have an understanding of the ingredients themselves. The plants nurtured in Herbology class were often essential in Potions.^[1]

Location and time[]

Potions lessons took place in theDungeons.^[4]

Classroom layout[]

The classroom used to be squared-sized, very large, with large tables and windows. In the corner resideed a stone basin used towash students' hands and ladles.^[4] From1992-onwards, the classroom was of an oval shape and relatively smaller, with small work tables. In1996, the classroom was extended, adding space for more work tables.^[7]

Lesson times[]

Curriculum[]

First year[]

Besides potions and their ingredients, other information was covered in thefirst year as well. Students were informed of the basic details on preparation of theDraught of Living Death, along with the nature of various ingredients, such asInfusion of Wormwood,Powdered Root of Asphodel andAconite.^[4] The class also covered the twelve uses ofdragon blood,^[19] the types ofcauldrons, and the types ofphials used in potion-making.Bezoars^[4] were briefly mentioned and theStandard Ingredient was also used in most beginner potions.^[20]

Second year[]

Second-year students were set an essay onFlobberworm Mucus and its uses in potions.^[28] In addition,homework included something that involvedHair-Raising Potions.^[29] This year appeared to focus more on actual potion brewing than the previous one.^[15]

Third year[]

Third-year students learnt aboutUndetectable Poisons^[33] and were instructed to write anessay onShrinking Solutions.^[34]

Fourth year[]

Fourth-year lessons included information onPoison Antidotes.^[41][42] It was unknown what type ofpoison these potions referred to, common or uncommon. Also, this lesson was most likely a theoretical one. Mixing antidotes is complex and advanced, which were also covered in the sixth year^[10] as well as this one.

Fifth year[]

Fifth-year homework included writing anessay on the properties ofMoonstone and its uses inPotion making^[14] and to write an essay on how to properly brew theStrengthening Solution.^[54] Also potions and other classwork this year wasO.W.L.-level in preparation for the upcoming exam.^[14]

Sixth year[]

In thesixth year,Golpalott's Third Law was covered in class. The Law appeared to say that theantidote for ablended poison could not simply be created by finding the antidotes to each separatepoison in the blended whole and mixing them together.^[10] Students had to write an essay onEverlasting Elixirs, using their textbookAdvanced Potion-Making as a source of information.^[67]

Seventh year[]

Known professors[]

Swoopstikes †^[3]

Aesop Sharp (19th century)^[1]

Horace Slughorn^[5] (c.1931-1981); (1996-2016)

Severus Snape^[4] † (1981-1996)

• Bartholomew †^[2]
• Unidentified 16th-century Potions professor^[88]
• Smoky-eyed Potions professor^[13]

Required textbooks[]

Magical Drafts and Potions byArsenius Jigger^[6]

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi byPhyllida Spore^[4]

Advanced Potion-Making byLibatius Borage^[7]

A Collection of Above Three Hundred Receipts in Cookery, Physick, and Surgery by various^[50]

Grades[]

Known O.W.L.s[]

Swoopstikes

Aesop Sharp^[89]

Horace Slughorn

Alastor Moody

Alice Longbottom

Frank Longbottom

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Rufus Scrimgeour

Severus Snape

John Dawlish

Bill Weasley^[90]

Nymphadora Tonks

Percy Weasley^[90]

Theodore Nott^[7]

Harry Potter^[91]

Hermione Granger^[91]

Ron Weasley^[91]

Draco Malfoy^[7]

Blaise Zabini^[7]

Ernie Macmillan^[7]

Padma Patil^[92]

Pansy Parkinson^[92]

Michael Corner^[7]

Terry Boot^[7]

Fay Dunbar^[69]

Jacob's sibling^[70]

Merula Snyde^[70]

Liz Tuttle^[70]

Barnaby Lee^[70][86]

Penny Haywood^[93][86]

• AllHealers andAurors, as an O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. atExceeds Expectations orOutstanding was a compulsory requirement in this subject in order to apply for their relevant training.^[18]

Media[]

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Potions with Slughorn

Potions With Slughorn

Behind the scenes[]

• In thefilm adaptation ofHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, many more students are shown to be in Harry'sN.E.W.T. level Potions class than are mentioned in the book. The book specifically namesHarry,Ron, andHermione to be the onlyGryffindors to have moved on toN.E.W.T. level, but the film showsNeville Longbottom,Dean Thomas,Seamus Finnigan, andLavender Brown to be in the class as well.Katie Bell andRomilda Vane are also in the class in the film, although they are actually aseventh year and afourth year student respectively, along withLeanne, whose year is unknown.Gregory Goyle andVincent Crabbe areSlytherins depicted as attending sixth year Potions class in the film, which also contradicts the novel.
• InHogwarts Mystery, if players takeJacob's sibling to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least an A, even if they fail to answer every question and make every potion.

Author's comments[]

Chemistry was my least favourite subject at school, and I gave it up as soon as I could. Naturally, when I was trying to decide which subject Harry's arch-enemy, Severus Snape, should teach, it had to be the wizarding equivalent. This makes it all the stranger that I found Snape's introduction to his subject quite compelling ('I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death...'), apparently part of me found Potions quite as interesting as Snape did; and indeed I always enjoyed creating potions in the books, and researching ingredients for them. Many of the components of the various draughts and libations that Harry creates for Snape exist (or were once believed to exist) and have (or were believed to have) the properties I gave them.Dittany, for instance, really does have healing properties (it is an anti-inflammatory, although I would not advise Splinching yourself to test it); a bezoar really is a mass taken from the intestines of an animal, and it really was once believed that drinking water in which a bezoar was placed could cure you of poisoning.^[94]

Appearances[]

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone(First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)(Not in console versions)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)(Not in PC version)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)(Mentioned in newspaper)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World(Mentioned only)
• LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Wonderbook: Book of Potions(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Pottermore
• HarryPotter.com
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• The Making of Harry Potter
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite(Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy

Notes and references[]

Potions (class)
Potioneers
Arsenius Jigger ·Baruffio ·Bella Navarro ·Bilius Finbok ·Blossom Degrasse ·Dai Ryusaki ·Damocles Belby ·Dorothy Sprottle ·Erica Stainwright ·Fay Frêne ·Fatimah Lawang ·Fleamont Potter ·Gethsemane Prickle ·Gilderoy Lockhart ·Glossy ·Winifred Haywood ·Glover Hipworth ·Gregory the Smarmy ·Gunhilda de Gorsemoor ·Hector Dagworth-Granger ·Hesper Starkey ·Jalal Sehmi ·J. Pippin ·Laverne de Montmorency ·Leana ·Libatius Borage ·Linfred of Stinchcombe ·Mulpepper ·Mundungus Fletcher ·Nicolas Flamel ·Phineas Bourne ·Priya Treadwell ·Quintia McQuoid ·Regulus Moonshine ·Rogue alchemist ·Sacharissa Tugwood ·Skower ·Tilden Toots ·Vindictus Viridian ·Xiana Bakri ·Zenith Xeep ·Zygmunt Budge
Potions at Hogwarts
Cauldron cupboard ·Dungeon Five ·Potions basement ·Potions Classroom ·Potions Club ·Hogwarts Potions Dept. ·Potions Staircase ·Potions Master's office ·Potions Storeroom
Professors	Bartholomew ·Swoopstikes ·Unnamed Professor (16th century) ·Aesop Sharp ·Horace Slughorn ·Unnamed Professor (1960s) ·Severus Snape ·Unnamed Professor (2021)
Textbooks	A Collection of Above Three Hundred Receipts in Cookery, Physick, and Surgery ·Advanced Potion-Making ·Ingredient Encyclopedia ·Magical Drafts and Potions ·One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
Essays	Abandoned potions of the Middle Ages as compared to the Black Plague ·Essay on invisibility ·Essay on shrinking potions ·Essay on the properties of Hemlock ·The Properties of Moonstone and its Uses in Potion-Making
Potions studied at Hogwarts
Ageing Potion ·Amortentia ·Antidotes ·Antidote to Common Poisons ·Antidote to garish pink blended poison ·Antidote to Uncommon Poisons ·Antidote to Veritaserum ·Babbling Beverage ·Befuddlement Draught ·Calming Draught ·Cheese-Based Potions ·Confusing Concoction ·Cough Potion ·Cure for Boils ·Deflating Draught ·Doxycide ·Draught of Living Death ·Draught of Peace ·Elixir to Induce Euphoria ·Erumpent Potion ·Essence of Insanity ·Everlasting Elixirs ·Felix Felicis ·Fire Protection Potion ·Forgetfulness Potion ·The Famous French Method for the Bite of a Mad Dog ·Garish pink blended poison ·Garrotting Gas ·Girding Potion ·Hair-Raising Potion ·Herbicide Potion ·Hiccoughing Solution ·Invigoration Draught ·Laughing Potion ·Mandrake Restorative Draught ·Memory Potion ·Pepperup Potion ·Polyjuice Potion ·Pompion Potion ·Potion for Dreamless Sleep ·Rat Tonic ·Regerminating Potion ·Scintillation Solution ·Shrinking Solution ·Skele-Gro ·Strength Potion ·Strengthening Solution ·Swelling Solution ·Undetectable Poisons ·Veritaserum ·Weedosoros ·Wideye Potion ·Wiggenweld Potion ·Wit-Sharpening Potion ·Wolfsbane Potion ·Wound-Cleaning Potion

Hogwarts subjects
Core classes	Astronomy ·Charms ·Defence Against the Dark Arts ·Herbology ·History of Magic ·Potions ·Transfiguration
Elective classes	Alchemy ·Arithmancy ·Care of Magical Creatures ·Divination ·Muggle Studies ·Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes	Apparition ·Advanced Arithmancy Studies ·Ancient Studies ·Art ·Flying ·Ghoul Studies ·Magical Theory ·Muggle Art ·Muggle Music ·Music ·Obscurial Studies ·Xylomancy ·Field Studies
Former classes	Beasts ·Dark Arts
Examinations
First year exams ·Second year exams ·Third year exams ·Fourth year exams · Ordinary Wizarding Level ·Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test

Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Ilvermorny Houses
Namesake Founders
Isolt Sayre ·Chadwick Boot ·Webster Boot ·James Steward
Subjects offered
Arithmancy ·Charms ·Creature Care ·Defence Against the Dark Arts ·Potions ·Study of Ancient Runes ·Transfiguration ·Xylomancy
Ilvermorny staff
William ·Rionach Steward ·Eulalie Hicks ·Unidentified Ilvermorny professor ·Agilbert Fontaine ·Karen Crowley
Ilvermorny locations
Ilvermorny Castle ·Ilvermorny's snakewood tree ·Ilvermorny library