Advanced Potion-Making

Advanced Potion-Making
Book information
Author	Libatius Borage
Released	Pre 1947
Publisher	Merge Books
Subject	Potions
Copies	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (N.E.W.T.-level)

"Indeed, from antiquity until well into the Modern Ages, a physics devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a metaphysical devoid of physical manifestation."

— An excerpt from "Different Methods of Potion Preparation", a chapter in the book

Advanced Potion-Making is a book written by Libatius Borage. As the title implies this book contains advanced recipes and various other topics related to potion-making. This textbook has been used for decades in the education of young witches and wizards.

History

This book was released around 1946 or earlier. It was used by students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in their final two years of study. This is a N.E.W.T.-level textbook used in Potions class, students who achieved an 'Outstanding' or an 'Exceeds Expectation' on their Ordinary Wizarding Level, advance to N.E.W.T. where they get the chance to study advanced potion-making and by extension this book.

Known contents

Text

Different Methods of Potion Preparation

Indeed, from antiquity until well into the Modern Ages, a physics devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a metaphysical devoid of physical manifestation. The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into Gold or Silver (less well known is plant alchemy, or “Spagryic”), and the creation of a “panacea,” a remedy that supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely, and the discovery of a universal solvent.

The Right Use of the Ingredients

The Half Blood's Prince's copy scribbled, though original text can still be seen

Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries, though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather it was for their mundane contributions to the chemical industries of the day the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining, metal working, production of ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts & liquors, and so on It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the “water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among Europeans. Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation. For one thing, the lack of common words for chemical concepts and processes, as well as the need for secrecy, led alchemists to borrow the terms and symbols of biblical and pagan mythology, astrology, kabbalah and other mystic and esoteric fields; so that even the plainest chemical recipe ended up reading like an abstruse magic incantation.

Recipes

The book contains many potions, but only a few were mentioned.

• Draught of Living Death (page 10)
• Elixir to Induce Euphoria
• Hiccoughing Solution
• Everlasting Elixirs
• Felix Felicis
• Poison Antidote (Golpalott's Third Law)

Chapters

• Different Methods of Potion Preparation
• The Right Use of the Ingredients

Other topics

• Transmutation
• Alchemy

Behind the scenes

File:Potion making.jpg

Another cover of the book

As seen in Harry Potter Limited Edition, both the second and fourth editions of the book are used for Professor Slughorn's sixth year class.

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 (Indirectly mentioned only)
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)

See also

• The Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making