The Sleeping Draught was a potion that caused the drinker to fall almost instantaneously into a deep but temporary sleep.[1][2] A standard Sleeping Draught differed from the Draught of Living Death, which was much more powerful, lasting, and difficult to make. Hermione Granger referred to the Sleeping Draught as "simple, but powerful".[1] Its recipe can be found in Magical Drafts and Potions.[2]
Key ingredients include Flobberworm Mucus, lavender, valerian sprigs and Standard Ingredient[2].
Brewing instructions
- Add 4 sprigs of Lavender to the mortar
- Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to the mortar
- Crush into a creamy paste using the pestle
- Add 2 blobs of Flobberworm Mucus to your cauldron
- Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to your cauldron
- Gently heat for 30 seconds
- Add 3 measures of the crushed mixture to your cauldron
- Wave your wand
- Leave to brew and return in 70 minutes (time depends on cauldron)
- Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to your cauldron
- Heat on a high temperature for 1 minute
- Add 4 Valerian Sprigs to your cauldron
- Stir 7 times, clockwise
- Wave your wand to complete the potion[2]
History
1992
Hermione spiked two, plump chocolate cakes with Sleeping Draught in her second year. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley left these sweets out for Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle to find. The two Slytherins ate them, unquestioningly, and soon fell unconscious. Their expressions were frozen on their faces.
1995
The four dragons used in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament in 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 big as a dragon.
Harry Potter used it after he saw Lord Voldemort return in Little Hangleton in 1995. It was recommended to him by Albus Dumbledore, and administered by Madam Pomfrey.[3][4].
Behind the scenes
- Given how Harry only drank a small portion of the potion and woke up earlier than had been expected of him, it is likely that the amount of potion drank is proportional to the length of time one sleeps for.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Pottermore
- Wonderbook: Book of Potions
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 12
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Potions menu on Pottermore
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Chapter 36 (The Parting of the Ways)
- ↑ Pottermore - From the Story: Sleeping Draught (Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36)