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"A Sleeping Draught causes the drinker to fall almost instantly into a deep, dreamless sleep."
— Description[src]

The Sleeping Draught,[2] also known as the Sleeping Potion,[6] was a potion that caused the drinker to fall almost instantaneously into a deep but temporary sleep.[2][1] A standard Sleeping Draught differed from the Draught of Living Death, which was much more powerful, long-lasting, and difficult to brew. Hermione Granger referred to the Sleeping Draught as "simple, but powerful".[7] Its recipe could be found in Magical Drafts and Potions[1] and the Book of Potions.[6]

Its usual ingredients included Flobberworm Mucus, lavender, Valerian sprigs and Standard Ingredient. When brewed correctly, the potion should have turned a dark purple colour.[1]

Brewing instructions[]

Sleeping Draught HM icon

A bottle of completed Sleeping Draught

SleepingDraught

A bottle of Sleeping Draught

  1. Add 4 sprigs of Lavender to the mortar.
  2. Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to the mortar.
  3. Crush into a full powder
  4. Add 2 blobs of Flobberworm Mucus to your cauldron.
  5. Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to your cauldron.
  6. Gently heat for 30 seconds.
  7. Add 3 measures of the crushed mixture to your cauldron.
  8. Wave your wand.
  9. Leave to brew and return in 70 minutes (time depends on cauldron).
  10. Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to your cauldron.
  11. Heat on a high temperature for 1 minute.
  12. Add 4 Valerian Sprigs to your cauldron.
  13. Stir 7 times, clockwise.
  14. Wave your wand to complete the potion.[1]

According to Book of Potions:

  1. Crush the wormwood, add to cauldron. Stir slowly.
  2. Chop the valerian, add to cauldron, and apply a high heat.
  3. Juice your Flobberworm and add its thick mucus to your cauldron.
  4. Stir vigorously, apply a low heat and then give it another stir.
  5. Chop the Sopophorous bean and add to cauldron.
  6. Stir the mixture quickly, then heat.
  7. Add a sprinkle of powdered asphodel petals and a dash of essence of nettle.
  8. Heat the potion a final time, then stir slowly.
  9. Wave your wand over the cauldron to finish the potion.[6]

History[]

At some point in history, the wizard Norville Bezerko spiked the Butterbeer mug belonging to his love rival Perseus Ecklington with Sleeping Draught, so he could marry Daisy Twemlove instead. He was presumed dead, and was buried in a coffin. However, at his "funeral", he awoke as the potion had worn off, and fought and defeated Bezerko in a duel.[6]

1984–1985 school year[]

Mrs Norris drinking Sleeping Draught HM19

Mrs Norris drinking Sleeping Draught

During the 1984–1985 school year at Hogwarts, Penny Haywood helped create a Sleeping Draught for Jacob's sibling to use on Mrs Norris in order to break into a locked room where they were looking for the Cursed Vaults.[3]

Jacob's sibling later successfully used the Sleeping Draught to subdue Mrs Norris outside the locked room, allowing them, Rowan Khanna and another friend of theirs undisturbed entry. Mrs Norris drank the Sleeping Draught in a pool on the floor, and fell asleep immediately.[4]

1986–1987 school year[]

Unidentified Demiguise put to sleep

A Demiguise put to sleep with a Sleeping Draught

During the 1986–1987 school year, Penny brewed a Sleeping Draught to help catch a Demiguise which had stolen sweets from Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. She and her friends used the potion to coat some candies which they used as part of a trap. Putting it to sleep made it visible, allowing its capture.[8]

1992–1993 school year[]

"I've got it all worked out. All you have to do is make sure Crabbe and Goyle find them. You know how greedy they are, they're bound to eat them. Once they're asleep, pull out a few of their hairs and hide them in a broom cupboard."
— Hermione to Harry and Ron[src]
Cakes COS 1

Chocolate cakes containing Sleeping Draught

On 25 December 1992, Hermione Granger spiked two, plump chocolate cakes with Sleeping Draught for use on Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, so they could be impersonated with Polyjuice Potion. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley left these cakes out for Crabbe and Goyle to find, and the two Slytherins greedily ate them, unquestioningly, and soon fell unconscious, with frozen expressions on their faces. Harry and Ron then hid Crabbe and Goyle in a broom cupboard and took some of their hairs for the Polyjuice Potion.[2]

1994–1995 school year[]

The four dragons used in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament in late 1994 were given Sleeping Draught to make the trip from the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary to Hogwarts easier. Charlie Weasley stated that he thought it would be better for the dragons to awake in a tranquil setting, but, upon waking in the Forbidden Forest, the beasts were as vicious as ever. In Charlie's words, the team of dragonologists used "a Sleeping Draught" to knock out all four dragons, suggesting that a normal dose of the potion might be potent enough to have an effect on a creature as large and powerful as a dragon.[9]

2020[]

On 31 August, Ginny Weasley asked Harry Potter if he wanted to take a Sleeping Draught in order to help him get back to sleep.[10]

Unknown[]

"Alright, I've made enough of this Sleeping Draught to knock out ten men... or one troll. Not bad, considering you foraged half the ingredients. A for Acceptable. I've already added the potion into the tea urn, so it should be lights out for our Muggles."
Gethsemane Prickle[src]

Gethsemane Prickle made this potion for Mathilda Grimblehawk and her partner to prevent a band of Muggle construction workers from entering a forest full of magical beasts during their search for Bethany Harrison.[11]

Appearances[]

See also[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Potions menu on Pottermore
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12 (The Polyjuice Potion)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 8 (Preparing for the Room) - Private Potions Lesson "Sleeping Draught"
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 9 (Inside the Room)
  5. Pottermore - (see this image)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 Wonderbook: Book of Potions
  7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) - Chapter 20 (Polyjuice Potion)
  8. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, "A SCANDAL IN HOGSMEADE" Achievement
  9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 19 (The Hungarian Horntail)
  10. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act One, Scene Nine
  11. Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World - Case 3: Out of the Woods, Act 2
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