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"Hirudo medicinalis, the medicinal leech: popular among Muggle healers (who believe that the blood-sucking creatures are able to treat illnesses) and useful to wizards in potion-making."
Zygmunt Budge, Book of Potions[src]

Leeches are small slug-like invertebrates that live in water and feed on human blood or that of other small invertebrates.[6] Leech spit contains an anticoagulant (a substance that prevents blood clotting), allowing them to feed for longer than blood would normally flow.[4]

In potions[]

Leeches

A jar of leeches

Leeches were used in Potion-making. To make the Polyjuice Potion, four leeches were required.[2] Flabberghasted leeches were also used in potion-making.[7] A dash of leech juice was a required ingredient in the making of the Shrinking Solution.[3]

In Diagon Alley, leeches could likely be purchased in the Vietch's Leeches shop.[8]

Behind the scenes[]

  • The use of leeches in the Polyjuice Potion was chosen by J. K. Rowling to represent "[sucking] the essence out of one and into the other".[9] Interestingly, the film prop used for Moste Potente Potions suggests that the leeches used have their suckers removed.
  • Zygmunt Budge uses the phrase "hearts' content" (rather than "heart's content") in regards to leeches in Wonderbook: Book of Potions,[4] properly using plural possession as leeches have two hearts.

Appearances[]

Wiki
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Notes and references[]

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