Changes: Felix Felicis

Revision as of 18:47, 12 January 2015

"Mine own invention, my masterpiece; the crowning achievement of my career. Bottled good fortune. Brewed correctly the drinker of this potion will be lucky in all their endeavours, but be warned … excessive consumption is highly toxic and can cause extreme recklessness. Fans of Quidditch were quick to protest that a potion which gives the drinker good luck was hardly fair and use of my potion was banned, quite rightly, from all competitive events … except potion-making tournaments."

— Zygmunt Budge^[src]

Felix Felicis, also called "Liquid Luck", is a magical potion that makes the drinker lucky for a period of time, during which everything they attempt will be successful.

It is meant to be used sparingly, however, as it causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence if taken in excess. Felix is highly toxic in large quantities and is also a banned substance in all organised competitions, such as Quidditch, along with all other methods of cheating. It is very difficult to make, disastrous if made wrong, and requires six months to stew before it is ready to be consumed.

History

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing. . . or at least, Felix does."

— Harry Potter after drinking Felix Felicis^[src]

Zygmunt Budge invented this potion in the 16th century and deemed it his greatest accomplishment ever, dubbing it "the crowning achivement of [his] career".

Horace Slughorn claimed that he used the potion twice in his life: once when he was 24 years old, and again when he was 57, each resulting in a perfect day.

In September of 1996, Harry Potter won a small vial of Felix Felicis from Professor Slughorn for brewing the best Draught of Living Death potion in the class (using the instructions of Severus Snape's textbook). The bottle would give Harry twelve hours worth of effects.

Harry later pretended to add a small amount to Ron Weasley's drink at breakfast before a Quidditch 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 the pumpkin 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.

Halfblood-03045 — Harry Potter drinking Felix Felicis in 1997

The first real use of the potion by Harry was in attaining an important memory from Slughorn; he was originally hesitant in using it, as he wanted to use it to win Ginny Weasley's affections. He took only a small dosage, for roughly three hours worth. The second use was distributed between Ron, Hermione Granger, and Ginny in the battle against the Death Eaters in their invasion of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Recipe

Add Ashwinder egg to cauldron, then add horseradish and heat.
Juice a squill bulb, add to the cauldron and stir vigorously.
Chop up anemone-like growth on the back of Murtlap, add to mixture and heat.
Add a dash of tincture of thyme and stir slowly.
Grind up Occamy eggshell and add to mixture.
Stir slowly then heat the cauldron.
Add a sprinkle of powdered common rue.
Stir vigorously then heat the cauldron one last time.
Wave wand over potion in a figure of eight and say incantation ‘Felixempra!’

Appearance

This potion is said to greatly resemble molten gold, with droplets leaping out at intervals like goldfish soaring from their bowl.

Effects

Harry sluggy hidef — Horace awarding Harry with a bottle of Felix Felicis

Felix Felicis causes the drinker to have a limited period of good luck, during which they are likely to to succeed in all endeavours in which success is possible. They have a strong perception of this effect, including a high level of confidence and a "sensation of infinite opportunity." This is accomplished not through direct application of force or granting the drinker any extraordinary powers, but by inspiring the drinker with a favorable pathway through the circumstances. When Harry 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 up Ron's bad relationship, and destabilizing Ginny's relationship with Dean to give Harry more of a chance.

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

Though Felix Felicis confers no extra powers on the user, it seems capable of drawing out the best reserves of their ability if needed. Harry was able to use Refilling Charms non-verbally, even though he had not yet managed it in his previous classroom practice.

There is a period of 'coming down' when Felix Felicis wears off. During this time, the user's sense of confidence fades, and unlucky circumstances can quickly catch up to them if they are not vigilant. It is unclear whether Felix wearing off actually increases the user's bad luck in a small overbalancing period (though obviously not so great as to undo whatever they have just accomplished), or whether the user simply keenly perceives the return of 'ordinary' levels of luck and all the subsequent challenges and dangers.

Limitations

"Luck can only get you so far, Harry... Luck is not powerful enough to get through a powerful incantation."

— Hermione Granger explaining to Harry Potter the limits of the luck induced by the potion^[src]

As Hermione pointed out, the potion is not able to better the chances of the drinker against particularly powerful enchantments, since members of the D.A. were not able to bypass the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder that Draco Malfoy used. Hermione also claimed that Harry's usage of the potion to help discover what Draco was up to in the Room of Requirement would be a waste, as the Room was too powerful for the potion to help penetrate.

The potion's effectiveness seems to wane after a certain amount of time, as it did in Harry Potter's situation, when he made his way back to the Gryffindor Common Room and he ran into Peeves, but was only just barely able to dodge him with the potion's influence.

Overdosing is dangerous, as it is very toxic in large quantity, and over-reliance on it may lead to dangerous overconfidence, giddiness, and recklessness. The potion is very difficult and time consuming to brew, and disastrous if concocted incorrectly. Due to its effects, it is considered a tool of cheating and therefore prohibited in organised events such as Quidditch and examinations.

Known uses

Individual taking Potion	Date	Notes
Tertius	16th century	Found a wizarding family to take him to Diagon Alley, gold for a new wand and robes, and a job as a Curse-Breaker
Albus Dumbledore	Unknown	"Only recreationally"
Horace Slughorn	Once at age 24, once at age 57	Had two perfect days
Harry Potter	21 April, 1997	Used the potion to get a memory from Horace Slughorn
Ron Weasley	30 June, 1997	Used the potion to help him escape from Death Eaters' curses
Ginny Weasley		Used the potion to help her escape from Death Eaters' curses
Hermione Granger		Used the potion to help her escape from Death Eaters' curses
Hogwarts potions champion	21st century	Was able to choose the correct lock to open the cage holding the Golden Cauldron

Harry's use

When Harry 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 uncorrupted memory from Horace Slughorn about Horcruxes. During this adventure, evidence of luck was following him.
- Harry was able to keep his word to his friend Hagrid and attend Aragog's funeral.
- Filch had left the front doors of the castle unlocked.
- Slughorn was tempted to accompany Harry to Hagrid's by the possibility of obtaining valuable Acromantula venom.
- Harry was able to use a non-verbal refilling spell, even though he had not completely mastered non-verbal spells, so Slughorn would not run out of drink (in order to get him drunk).
- Harry bumped into Ginny as they passed each other at the portrait entryway, making Ginny think that her boyfriend Dean Thomas was trying to help her into the portrait hole. This incident, compounded by others, eventually resulted in their breaking up with each other.
- Harry also initiated the break up of Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown by donning his Cloak of Invisibility before leaving the boys' dormitory. When Ron descended the stairs after him with Hermione Granger, Lavender assumed the worst about the pair of them and dumped Ron.
- 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 evade Peeves.

The Battle of the Astronomy Tower

Before leaving with Dumbledore to search for one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, 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 believed Draco Malfoy was ready to act on his mission from Voldemort. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny split the potion between themselves and effectively used it in the ensuing battle to dodge the curses sent their way by Death Eaters, many of which were Unforgivables.

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 the words are pronounced by saying its nominative, followed by its genitive.

Behind the scenes

Pic1EEFBD309D6F72F84962DFBF96B72DD8 — Slughorn with the Felix Felicis

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Felix Felicis is described as looking like liquid gold. In the film it has only a light gold hue.
Also, as the Battle 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.
Slughorn mentions in the film 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. In the book, however, the prize is merely to the person who brews the best potion, and Slughorn even says he does not expect perfection from any of them.
In the video game, Harry fights a duel with Crabbe and Goyle which is unlosable after taking Felix Felicis. Their spells miss you no matter what. When using Depulso to obtain "Mini-Crests", a considerable amount appears from every Depulso target. Additionally, the Dragon dung Fertiliser you brew in Potions Club cannot overheat and pouring too much of an ingredient in will have no effect.
In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry asks Dumbledore if he has ever taken Felix Felicis. Dumbledore responds, "Only recreationally. You see, I believe one creates one's own luck."
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Slughorn is seen drinking something out of a flask before the Battle 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 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Most fans assumed that it would be the name of a character.

Appearances

Potions (class)

Potioneers
Arsenius Jigger · Baruffio · Bella Navarro · Bilius Finbok · Blossom Degrasse · Dai Ryusaki · Damocles Belby · Dorothy Sprottle · Erica Stainwright · Fatimah Lawang · Fleamont Potter · Gethsemane Prickle · Gilderoy Lockhart · Glossy · Glover Hipworth · Golpalott · Gregory the Smarmy · Gunhilda de Gorsemoor · Hector Dagworth-Granger · Hesper Starkey · Jalal Sehmi · J. Pippin · Laverne de Montmorency · Libatius Borage · Linfred of Stinchcombe · Mulpepper · Mundungus Fletcher · Nicolas Flamel · Phineas Bourne · Priya Treadwell · Quintia McQuoid · Regulus Moonshine · Rogue alchemist · Rubens Winikus · Sacharissa Tugwood · Skower · Tilden Toots · Dr Ubbly · Vindictus Viridian · Zenith Xeep · Zygmunt Budge
Potions at Hogwarts
Cauldron cupboard · Dungeon Five · Potions basement · Potions Classroom · Potions Club · Potions Staircase · Potion Master's office · Potions Storeroom
Professors	Bartholomew · Horace Slughorn · Severus Snape · Swoopstikes · Unnamed Professor (16th century) · Aesop Sharp (19th century) · 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
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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Wonderpotionsold}}
-{{Wonderpotions}}
 {{Potion infobox
 |name=Felix Felicis
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 |inventor=[[Zygmunt Budge]]
 }}
 {{Quote|Mine own invention, my masterpiece; the crowning achievement of my career. Bottled good fortune. Brewed correctly the drinker of this potion will be lucky in all their endeavours, but be warned … excessive consumption is highly toxic and can cause extreme recklessness. Fans of Quidditch were quick to protest that a potion which gives the drinker good luck was hardly fair and use of my potion was banned, quite rightly, from all competitive events … except potion-making tournaments.|Zygmunt Budge|Wonderbook: Book of Potions}}
@@ Line 38: / Line 37: @@
 Harry later pretended to add a small amount to [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]'s drink at breakfast before a Quidditch 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 the pumpkin 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.
+[[File:Halfblood-03045.jpg|thumb|left|240px|[[Harry Potter]] drinking Felix Felicis in [[1997]]]]
 The first real use of the potion by Harry was in attaining an important memory from Slughorn; he was originally hesitant in using it, as he wanted to use it to win [[Ginerva Weasley|Ginny Weasley]]'s affections. He took only a small dosage, for roughly three hours worth. The second use was distributed between Ron, [[Hermione Granger]], and Ginny in [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower|the battle]] against the [[Death Eaters]] in their invasion of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]].
 ==Recipe==
-#Add Ashwinder egg to cauldron, then add horseradish and heat.
+#Add [[Ashwinder egg]] to cauldron, then add horseradish and heat.
-#Juice a squill bulb, add to the cauldron and stir vigorously.
+#Juice a [[squill bulb]], add to the cauldron and stir vigorously.
-#Chop up anemone-like growth on the back of Murtlap, add to mixture and heat.
+#Chop up anemone-like growth on the back of [[Murtlap]], add to mixture and heat.
 #Add a dash of tincture of thyme and stir slowly.
-#Grind up Occamy eggshell and add to mixture.
+#Grind up [[Occamy]] eggshell and add to mixture.
 #Stir slowly then heat the cauldron.
 #Add a sprinkle of powdered common rue.
 #Stir vigorously then heat the cauldron one last time.
 #Wave wand over potion in a figure of eight and say incantation ‘[[Felixempra]]!’
 ==Appearance==
 This potion is said to greatly resemble molten gold, with droplets leaping out at intervals like goldfish soaring from their bowl.
 ==Effects==
-[[File:Harry sluggy hidef.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Horace awarding Harry with a bottle of Felix Felicis]]
+[[File:Harry sluggy hidef.jpg|200px|thumb|Horace awarding Harry with a bottle of Felix Felicis]]
-Felix Felicis possibly works by providing the drinker with the best possible scenario. This usually registers in the drinker's mind in the form of an unusual urge to take a certain action, or as a voice telling him to do so. The effectiveness of the potion thus depends on the cooperation of the drinker with the voice, for the drinker may for some reason be unable to follow their Felix-induced urges, or can simply choose not to. This is easily remedied, however, as the potion does not single out only one scenario, but changes paths as the situation unfolds. Then again, the chances of the drinker refusing to follow the urge is very unlikely, as it manifests as a "sensation of infinite opportunity" where the imbiber feels supremely confident enough to be infallible for the duration of the Potion's effect.
+Felix Felicis causes the drinker to have a limited period of good luck, during which they are likely to to succeed in all endeavours in which success is possible. They have a strong perception of this effect, including a high level of confidence and a "sensation of infinite opportunity." This is accomplished not through direct application of force or granting the drinker any extraordinary powers, but by inspiring the drinker with a favorable pathway through the circumstances. When Harry 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 up Ron's bad relationship, and destabilizing Ginny's relationship with Dean to give Harry more of a chance.
+A person under the potion's inspiration would likely prove highly adaptable to any unexpected change in the circumstances. There are always infinite possibilities in any situation, some of which doubtless lead to the desired outcome, and Felix can highlight them no matter what happens.
+Though Felix Felicis confers no extra powers on the user, it seems capable of drawing out the best reserves of their ability if needed. Harry was able to use [[Refilling Charm]]s non-verbally, even though he had not yet managed it in his previous classroom practice.
+There is a period of 'coming down' when Felix Felicis wears off. During this time, the user's sense of confidence fades, and unlucky circumstances can quickly catch up to them if they are not vigilant. It is unclear whether Felix wearing off actually increases the user's bad luck in a small overbalancing period (though obviously not so great as to undo whatever they have just accomplished), or whether the user simply keenly perceives the return of 'ordinary' levels of luck and all the subsequent challenges and dangers.
-Felix Felicis also seem to enhance the magical power of the one who imbibed it, since Harry was able to use [[Refilling Charm]]s non-verbally, something he otherwise would have had great difficulty casting.
 ===Limitations===
@@ Line 70: / Line 77: @@
 ==Known uses==
+{| class="wikitable" border="1"
+! align="center" width="10%" |Individual taking Potion
+! align="center" width="10%" |Date
-{|border="1" class="wikitable"
+! align="center" width="25%" |Notes
-!width="10%" align="center"|Individual taking Potion
+|-
-!width="10%" align="center"|Date
+|[[Tertius]]
-!width="25%" align="center"|Notes
+|[[16th century]]
+|Found a wizarding family to take him to [[Diagon Alley]], [[gold]] for a new [[wand]] and robes, and a job as a [[Curse-Breaker]]
 |-
 |[[Albus Dumbledore]]
@@ Line 90: / Line 99: @@
 |-
 |[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
-|[[30 June]], [[1997]]
+| colspan="1" rowspan="3"|[[30 June]], [[1997]]
 |Used the potion to help him escape from Death Eaters' curses
 |-
 |[[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]]
-|[[30 June]], [[1997]]
 |Used the potion to help her escape from Death Eaters' curses
 |-
 |[[Hermione Granger]]
-|[[30 June]], [[1997]]
 |Used the potion to help her escape from Death Eaters' curses
+|-
+|[[Hogwarts potions champion]]
+|[[21st century]]
+|Was able to choose the correct lock to open the cage holding the [[Gold cauldron|Golden Cauldron]]
 |}
-==Harry's use==
+=== Harry's use ===
 When [[Harry 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 uncorrupted [[Pensieve|memory]] from [[Horace Slughorn]] about [[Horcrux]]es. During this adventure, evidence of luck was following him.
@@ Line 110: / Line 121: @@
 **Harry was able to use a non-verbal refilling spell, even though he had not completely mastered non-verbal spells, so Slughorn would not run out of drink (in order to get him drunk).
 **Harry bumped into [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] as they passed each other at the portrait entryway, making Ginny think that her boyfriend [[Dean Thomas]] was trying to help her into the portrait hole. This incident, compounded by others, eventually resulted in their breaking up with each other.
-**Harry also caused the break up of [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Lavender Brown]] by donning his [[Cloak of Invisibility]] before leaving the boys' dormitory. When Ron descended the stairs after him with [[Hermione Granger]], Lavender assumed the worst about the pair of them and dumped Ron.
+**Harry also initiated the break up of [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Lavender Brown]] by donning his [[Cloak of Invisibility]] before leaving the boys' dormitory. When Ron descended the stairs after him with [[Hermione Granger]], Lavender assumed the worst about the pair of them and dumped Ron.
 **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 evade [[Peeves]].
-==The Battle of the Astronomy Tower==
+=== The Battle of the Astronomy Tower ===
 Before leaving with Dumbledore to search for one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, 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 believed Draco Malfoy was ready to act on his mission from Voldemort. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny split the potion between themselves and effectively used it in the ensuing battle to dodge the curses sent their way by Death Eaters, many of which were Unforgivables.
@@ Line 143: / Line 154: @@
 [[fi:Felix Felicis]]
 [[nl:Felix Fortunatis]]
+[[pl:Felix Felicis]]
+[[ru:Феликс Фелицис]]
 [[Category:Potions]]
 [[Category:Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons]]