- "There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few... Who possess, the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."
- — Professor Snape's introduction of the subject[src]
Potions is a subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this class, students learn the correct way to brew potions, following specific recipes and using various magical ingredients to create the potions, starting with simple ones first and moving to more advanced ones as they progress in knowledge. A standard potions kit includes plant ingredients such as Belladonna and supplies such as glass phials and weighing scales.
Class location
Potions lessons take place in the Hogwarts Dungeons.[1]
Classroom layout
The classroom used to be squared-sized, very large, with large tables and windows. In the corner resides a stone basin used to wash students' hands and ladles. From 1992-onwards, the classroom was of an oval shape and relatively smaller, with small work tables. In 1996, the classroom was extended, adding space for more work tables.
Class information
- "When they arrived in the corridor they saw that there were only a dozen people progressing to N.E.W.T. level."
- — Harry Potter on the very few people who were able to advance[src]
A potions classroom
At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Potions is a required subject for students, from the first year to the fifth year. Potion recipes can be found in many books, including the books the students at Hogwarts use 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. Certain ingredients can be found in the cupboard in the classroom, but others have to be bought before the start of the year at the apothecary. Around 1981, Severus Snape became the professor of Potions at Hogwarts; he served as the school's potions professor through 1996, when he was replaced by Horace Slughorn.
Severus Snape, potions master
Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations are taken at the end of a student's fifth year; as such students are spent learning Ordinary Wizarding Level potions and possibly revisiting the past four years of lessons. As part of their Potions O.W.L., students must sit a written exam one of the questions asks to describe Polyjuice Potion and its purpose and after sudents must complete a practical exam. Professor Snape mentions that achieving a high mark at Ordinary Wizarding Level is difficult.,[2] which was later demonstrated in 1996, when only twelve students reached the required level to advance to N.E.W.T. Potions.[3]
When Severus Snape was the professor, students had to achieve an 'Outstanding' on their O.W.L. in order to take his advanced class. As Head of House, Professor Snape tended to favour students from Slytherin House more than other students, so Slytherins tended to do better than others at the subject.
On the other hand, 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 does not grant Slytherins special treatments, thus having them lose their advantage in good classwork.[3]
Lesson times
- First year
- Monday (first period)
- Wednesday (first period)
- Friday (first & second period)
- Second year
- Monday (first period)
- Wednesday (third period)
- Friday (third period)
- Third year
- Monday (fourth period)
- Tuesday (afternoon)
- Thursday (third period)
- Friday (first period)
- Fourth year
- Thuesday (third period)
- Friday (fourth & fifth period)
- Fifth year
- Monday (last half of second period)
- Sixth year
- Monday (after lunch)
- Seventh year
- Unknown
Curriculum
First year
Cure for Boils
- Aconite, bezoars, some basic details on preparation of the Draught of Living Death such as what would be created if powdered root of asphodel was added to an Infusion of Wormwood, and the difference between Monkshood and Wolfbane.
- Cure for Boils
- Forgetfulness Potion
- Collecting the ingredients for Wiggenweld Potion
- The 12 uses of dragon blood
Second year
Third year
Antidote to Uncommon Poisons
- Effects of Wiggenweld Potion
- Antidote to Uncommon Poisons
- Girding Potion
- Confusing Concoction
- Shrinking Solution
- Undetectable Poisons
Fourth year
Fifth year
Sixth year
- " [...] These are the kind of things you ought to be able to make after after completing your N.E.W.T.s. "
- — Professor Slughorn referring to the potions that will be covered sixth year [src]
Polyjuice Potion
- Golpalott's Third Law
- Draught of Living Death
- Hiccoughing Solution
- Polyjuice Potion
- Amortentia
- Felix Felicis
- Elixir to Induce Euphoria
- Shrinking Solution
Known professors
- Swoopstikes (dates unknown)
- Horace Slughorn (first term, 1942-1981) (second term, 1996-?)
- Severus Snape (1980-1996)
Required textbooks
Advanced Potion-Making required N.E.W.T.-level textbook
- Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
- One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
- Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage
Grades
Pass
- Outstanding [O]
- Exceeds Expectations [E]
- Acceptable [A]
Fail
Known O.W.L.s
- Barty Crouch Jr.
- Bill Weasley
- Blaise Zabini
- Draco Malfoy
- Ernie Macmillan
- Harry Potter
- Hermione Granger
- Horace Slughorn
- Lily Evans
- Michael Corner
- Padma Patil
- Percy Weasley
- Ron Weasley
- Severus Snape
- Terry Boot
- Theodore Nott
Media
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Behind the scenes
Padma Patil, Dean Thomas, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Ron Weasley, Lavender Brown, Leanne and Seamus Finnigan in Potions class.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, many more students are shown to be in Harry's N.E.W.T. level Potions class than are mentioned in the book. The book specifically names Harry, Ron, and Hermione to be the only Gryffindors to have moved on to N.E.W.T. level, but the film shows Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Lavender Brown to be in the class as well. Katie Bell and Romilda Vane are also in the class in the film, although they are actually a seventh year and a fourth year student respectively.
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)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- 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)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World (Mentioned only)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game (Mentioned only)
- Pottermore
Notes and references
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Chapter 9 (Half-blood Prince)
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