Libatius Borage

SECOND
EDITION

With 347 Illustrations and Diagrams

London

Merge Books
MCMLXVIII
 CONTENTS

Introduction 04

CHAPTER 1
Dangerous Potions 08
How to Prepare The Draught of Living Dead 10
The Right Use of the Ingredients 13
Preparation of Polyjuice Potion 14
The Use of Shrinking Potion 16
The Right Dosage of Potions 19
Different methods of Potion Preparation 21
A Historical Potions Timeline 24
The Importance of Dragon’s Hair 25
Practical Work 36

CHAPTER 2
Potions and Chemistry 43
10 Basic Steps for a Perfect Potion 49
A Safe Potion Preparation 51
Wormwood Transmuted in Lovage 54
Garroting: Gas or Liquid? 60
Potions for Fun 63
The Potion Making Process, Part I 65

Advanced Potion Making CHAPTER 3

Second Edition
The Fixation of Sulphur 68
Copyright ©1960 by Libatius Borage
Printed and Bound by Merge Books Potions and Philosophy 72
Extraction of African Leeches 78
All quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from
ADVANCED POTION MAKING Second Edition, Copyright A Process for the Purification of Mutlap Essence 81
©1948, 1952 by Merge Books Potions and Alchemy 83
CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 7

A Preparation of the So-Called “Amortentia” 86 How to Fix a Bad Potion 180

The Potion Making Process, Part II 89 The Potion Maing Process, Part VI 184

Rare Ingredients. How to Find Them? 91 A Practical Process in Potions, Part I 186

The Preparation of Veritaserum 94 The Preparation of Bulbadox Powder 188

Percentage and Formulas 99 Every Day Formulas 190

Equations and Runes 101

Ancient Runes and Potion Making 105
CHAPTER 8
Antidotes 194

CHAPTER 5 Possible Side Effects 195

The Mathematics of Potions 112 The Preparation of Wolfsbane Potion 198

Tables of Measures 114 Bezoars 201

The Preparation of Felix Felicis 118 The Perfect Potion 208

Rules of Conduct 124 How to Prepare a Universal Antidote 210

Forbidden Potions. Why? 128 The Use of Martial Regulus in Potions 212

Elixir of Life Explained 131 Frog Parts the Best Bits 217

Ageing Potion as Medicine 135 Potion and Mysticism 221

The Potion Making Process, Parts III & IV 138 The Potion Making Process, Part VII 226

Progress Charts 139 A Practical Process in Potions, Part II 229

Do-It-Yourself Potions Kits 142

The Importance of Medusa’s Hair 143 CHAPTER 9
A Practical Process in Potions, Part III 232
How to Become the Perfect Potion Maker 235

CHAPTER 6 The Potion Making Process, Conclusion 240

South American Potions 150 Review of the Year’s Work 243

Brazilian Green Frogs 155 Progress Charts 253

Potions for Protection 158

How to Extract the Perfect Sneezewort 159
Extraction of Isanthus Brachiatus 163 Potions and Ingredients 260

The Purification of Caxambu Roots 169

The Potion Making Process, Part V 172 This book belongs to Merge Books. You may use the drawings and illustrations for graphics applications free and without special permission,
provided that you include as more than ten in the same publications and projects. Moreover, republication or reproduction of any illustration by any
Six Usual Potions 176 other graphics service whether it be in a book or in any other designs resources is strickly prohibited.
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

Introduction
a potion’s effect complete – and some disasters can even melt the
cauldron you’re brewing in!

Potion brewing in this sense can be dangerous, but some of the

I don’t expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and
exact art that is potion-making. For those select few who posses the
predisposition, this book 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.
strongest potions are highly dangerous to use or drink as well.
Because of this, potions are often highly monitored by both their
brewers and the Ministry. A powerful potion in the wrong hands could
do an immense amount of damage, just like it could do an immense
amount of benefit in the right hands.

It is often asked whether a Muggle could create a magic potion, given Within the book, you can expect to gain an advanced knowledge of the
a Potions book and the right ingredients. The answer, unfortunately, skills and tools required for proper potion making. With practice,
is no. There is always some element of wandwork necessary to make a determination and a willingness to succumb to the ways of potion
potion (merely adding dead flies and asphodel to a pot hanging over a making, you shall be able to wield a power not completely understood
fire will give you nothing but nasty-tasting, not to mention poisonous, by most wizards and witches. Do not deviate from the instructions for
soup). preparing these potions, as the results could be unimaginable and
even deadly.
Some potions duplicate the effects of spells and charms, but a few
(for instance, the Polyjuice Potion, and Felix Felicis) have effects
impossible to achieve any other way. Generally speaking, witches and Good luck!
wizards favour whichever method they find easiest, or most satisfying,
to produce their chosen end. Potions are not for the impatient, but
their effects are usually difficult to undo by any but another skilled
potioneer. This branch of magic carries a certain mystique and
therefore status. There is also the dark cachet of handling substances
that are highly dangerous.

Potions in the modern Wizarding world are defined as “magical

mixtures brewed in cauldrons, used to create various effects on the
drinker”. A wizard or witch who specializes in brewing potions is
called a “potioneer”, but within schools they are often referred to as
“potions masters”.

Potions are brewed from ingredients with magical properties, most

often herbs and plant parts as well as parts of magical beasts such
as the horns, eggs, or mucus. They can be used as medicines, poisons,
or practically any beneficial or malicious effect imaginable. Not all
potions have to be drunk for their effects to take place (an example
being Regeneration Potion.)

Potions are regarded as the most difficult form of physical magic, as

they take plenty of time and precise attention to detail. A single drop
too much or too little, a single moment of too much or too little heat,
etc, can destroy an entire potion. One misstep is all it takes to negate

4 5
ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

CHAPTER ONE

6 7
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING
Dangerous Potions
Potions have been around for as long as Humans can remember.
Potions have many properties associated with them; healing, beauty,
luck, and love. On the other side of the coin you have potions that can
make one ill, forget, hate and even posion.
Within this book, there contains such dangerous potions. That is why
students must brew these under the watcful eye of their Professors,
or else unexpected restults may occure. Damage to ones cauldron,
fellow classmates and yes, even to oneself.
Potions must be brewed carefully to achieve the proper effects. In
certain cases, those are brewed incorrectly or in a dirty cauldron
can become poisons. In other cases, even potions that have been
brewed correctly may in some cases have deleterious effects, even if
their intended effect is beneficial; for example, Felix Felicis causes
recklessness and overconfidence when used more than sparingly.
Below is a list of Dangerous potions:
• Polyjuice Potion
• Veritaserum
• Amortentia
• Draught of Living Death
• Shrinking Solution
• Ageing Potion
Polyjuice Potion (pg. 14)- If not careful, this potion
may transform you into something other than another
person, which in some cases, such a transformation is
always incomplete and occasionally irreversible.
Veritaserum (pg. 94)- A potion to make
the drinker spill their most deepest
and darkest secrects is very dangerous
indeed! It is also very unreliable and easliy tricked.
Amortentia (pg. 86)- The “most dangerous” love potion
due to the fact that it does not create actual love, but
an obsessive infatuation. This potion can be abused by
keeping the drinker in a continuos state of control.
Draught of Living Death (pg. 10) - If not used with
caution, this draught can bring upon its dinker a sleep
so powerful, they may never wake up.
8 9
ADVANCED POTION MAKING
Shrinking Solution - Prepared incorrectly, can produce results far
worse than a fail. In fact, it can produce a power poison instead.
Ageing Potion - If the wrong dosage is taken, this potion can age you
straight to death’s doorsetps. Adminster with extreme caution.
These are just a small portion of the dangerous potions with many
more that exist beyond this book.
One must also take into consideration the ingredients one must use.
Not all of these are flower petals and bicorn horn powders. As all
great potioneers know, the quality of your potion depends healvily on
the quality of your ingredients. However, some of these ingredients
can come with a hefty price and I’m not talking galleons.
Mandrakes - Cruicial to many antidotes,
can be fatal if one forgets to wear earmuffs
as protection from their cries.
The Venomous Tentacula - These can
expell venom from it’s shoots, its spikes
are deadly and its bite is highly venomous
which can easily stun or kill. Even its juice
is a less than lethal poison.
Snargaluff - An innocent looking plant at
first, it will not hesitate to choke you to
death if you attempt to harvest its pods
from the stump. Best if attempted in pairs.
This is just a small sample size of some of the ingredients that can
make even a simple potion extreamly dangerous.
This section is meant to open your eyes to the fact that not all potions
are like the Hiccoughing Potion. Many of these advanced draughts
and solutions have done great harm to other potioneers while in the
process of preparing them. Some were careless and some too bold and
arrogant in their abilites. The instuctions contained within this book
is meant to create the safest way to prepare these potions. Also, heed
all mandates by the Ministry on the usage of the potions contained
here within.
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

Preparation of the  07)  Now with your left hand hold the cauldron at a slightly different
angle and pour another 10 drops of Wormwood Essence.
Draught of Living Death
 08)  Chop three Valerian Roots into small squared pieces.
After cutting, place it in a beaker with water.
Leave it to settle for 6 minutes.

The Draught of Living Death brings upon its drinker a very powerful • Your potion now should he resembling a smooth, blackcurrant colored liquid
sleep that can last indefinitely. This draught is very dangerous if
not used with caution.
Before you begin, ensure that you have all the equipment required
and all the ingredients are available.

Equipment Required:  09)  Carefully pour the Sopophorous Beans’ Juice into the cauldron
making sure that ONLY the juice of 12 beans are used.
• standard size cauldron
• 150 fl.oz. beaker  10)  Add 7 drops of the reduced liquid from the beaker.
• 50 fl.oz. graduated cylinder Make sure there are no traces or fragments of Valerian Roots.
• standard test tube
• 250 fl.oz. measuring cup  11)  Stir the potion 10 times clockwise.
• stirring rod
• dropper
• Your potion should now be turning into a light shade of lilac.
Ingredients:
 12)  With your right hand stir the potion anti-clockwise until the
• Water - standard potioning water; potion turns as clear as water.
• 150 oz. Asphodel Root Powder; Every stir should take approximately 2 1/2 seconds.
• Wormwood Essence;
• Valerian Roots;  13)  Slowly pour 7 square pieces of Valerian Roots.
• l2 Sopophorous Beans.
 14)  Stir the potion 10 times anti-clockwise.
Instructions:
 15)  Add 150fl. oz. of Asphodel Root Powder.
 01)  Cut up one Sopophorous Bean.
 16)  Hold the cauldron with your right hand. With your left hand
 02)  Pour in 250 fl.oz. of water and add 5oz. of African Sea Salt to the gently stir the potion,
beaker. Set the beaker aside after all the Water has been added. 10 times anti-clockwise and 8 times clockwise.
Be very careful not to shake or move the beaker now.
 17)  Leave the potion to settle for 2 1/2 minutes.
 03)  Leave the water and salt to rest for 5 minutes.
 18)  Add one small piece of Valerian Root.
 04)  Slowly pour all the Water into the cauldron.
 19)  Your potion should turn to a plaid pink colour.
 05)  With your left hand use the graduated cylinder to obtain
40 fl.oz. Wormwood Essence.  20)  Your potion preparation is now complete.

 06)  With your right hand hold the cauldron at a slight angle and pour
10 drops (20fl.oz.) of Wormwood Essence.
Note: This is an extremely dangerous p otion.
Execute with maximum caution.

10 11
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING
Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries,
though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and
philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather it
was for their mundane contributions to the chemical industries of
the day the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining, metal
working, production or ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather
tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts &
liqours, and so on. It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the
“water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among Europeans.
Potions, from antiquity until
Life Death
12
ADVANCED POTION MAKING
The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of
common metals into Gold or Silver (less well known is plant alchemy,
or “Spagyric”), and the creation of a “panacea”, a remedy that
supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely
and the discovery of a universal solvent.
The Right Use
of the Ingredients
Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries,
though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and
philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather it
was for their mundane contributions to the chemical industries of
the day the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining, metal
working, production or ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather
tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts &
liqours, and so on. It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the
“water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among Europeans.
Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as
a metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation. For one thing, the
lack of common words for chemical concepts and processes, as well
as the need for secrecy, led alchemists to borrow the terms and
symbols of biblical and pagan mythology, astrology, kabbalah and
other mystic and esoteric fields so that even the plainest chemical
recipe ended up reading like an abstuse magic incantation.
112.3 - The Monogram is a symbol which is composed of written characters
interwoven with one another. The image to the left comes from the Byzantine
Empire in Greece, which are some of the most beautiful examples we have of
designs composed of letters. Their construction bears evidence of great skill
and serious thoughts. The symbol displayed here is Palaeologus, the name of a
Byzantine Greek family, which rose to nobility.
13
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

Preparation of the
 06)  Now with your left hand, hold the cauldron at a slightly different
Polyjuice Potion angle and pour another 15 drops of leeches juice.

 07)  Chop 3 lacewing flies into small squared pieces. After cutting,
place it in a beaker with water. Leave it to settle for 5 minutes.

The Polyjuice Potion transform a person to look exactly like someone  
else. One dose lasts for ONLY one hour, but dosage can be renewed,
with caution.
This potion can be used for cross gendertransformations.
 
Before you begin, ensure that you have all the equipment required
and all the ingredients are available.
 
Equipment Required:
08)  With a dagger, cut up ten fluxweed roots. Make sure you collect
all the pieces released. The grass should be fresh and no more
than two weeks harvested.
09)   Carefully pour the fluxweed roots pieces into the cauldron
making sure that ONLY 32 pieces are used.
10)  Add 7 drops of the reduced liquid from the beaker. Make sure
there are no traces or fragments of valerian root.

• standard size cauldron  11)  Stir the potion 10 times clockwise.

• 150 fl.oz beaker
• 75 fl.oz graduated cylinder • Your potion now should be resembling an even darker mud.
• standard size test tube
• 125 fl.oz measuring cup
• stirring rod  12)  Slowly pour 7 square pieces of boomslang skin. Stir the potion 10
• dropper times anti-clockwise.

Ingredients:  13)  Add 150 fl.oz of bicorn Horn.

 14)  Your potion preparation is now complete.

• Water – standard potioning water;
• Lacewing Flies – stewed 21 days;
• Leeches;
• Powdered Bicorn Horn;
• Knotgrass Essence;
• Fluxweed – picked at full moon;
• Shredded Boomslang skin;
• A bit of who wants to turn into.

Instructions:

 01)  With you left hand, use the graduated cylinder to obtain 175 fl.oz
of water.

 02)  Pour in the water and add 5 oz. of African sea salt to beaker. Set
the beaker aside after all the Water has been added. Be very
careful not to shake or move the beaker now.

 03)  Leave the water and salt to rest for 5 minutes.

 04)  Slowly pour all the water into the cauldron.
 05)  With your left hand, use the graduated cylinder to obtain
75 fl.oz. Knotgrass essence.
Note: This is an extremely dangerous p otion.
This p otion isn’t supp osed to b e used for transforming
humans into animals.

14 15
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

The Use of
Shrinking Potion • The froth will disappear, leaving the dark green potion.

 06)  Add the leech juice, retaining the bodies, and stir slowly and with
caution.

Shrinking Solution, a potion that causes the drinker to shrink in size  
as well as reverse the aging process.
It is bright green when brewed correctly and, if prepared incorrectly,
 
it can be poisonous.
It is not to be used to counter-act the Swelling Solution.
07)  Once the potion begins to lighten to a pale green, add the rat
spleen and the cowbane. Stir slowly.
08)  Heat on a high temperature for 2 hours, stirring occasionally,
until the potion is a vibrant green and has the viscosity of a thin
syrup.

 09)  Your potion preparation is now complete.

Equipment Required:

• pewter cauldron
• wooden stirring rod
• pipette

Ingredients:

• Shrivelfig – 2 of, juiced;

• Daisy Roots – 4 of, finely chopped;
• Hairy Caterpillar – 5 of;
• Essence of Wormwood – 25 drops, well shaken;
• Leeches – 4 of, juiced;
• Rat Spleen – 1 of; - # $ # k
• Cowbane – ½ pint. w D g
Instructions:

 01)  Add the shirvelfig juice to a small pewter cauldron and brew over
a very low heat for 20 minutes.

 02)  Add the daisy roots and caterpillars to the mixture and bring the
potion to a boil.

• It should take on a dark green colour.

 03)  Reduce by half, then allow to cool before adding 24 drops of the
essence of wormwood, 1 drop at a time. After each drop, stir the
potion once in alternating directions.

 04)  Before adding the final drop, stir vigorously until the potion
begins to froth. Note: This is an extremely dangerous p otion.
If prepared incorrectly, it can b e p oisonous.
 05)  Once the entire surface is covered, add the final drops of essence
of wormwood and leave to rest for 24 hours.

16 17
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

Potion Ingredients - List 1 Potion Ingredients - List 2

Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries,

though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and
philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather
it was for their mundane contributions to the “chemical” industries
of the day - the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining,
metalworking, production of ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather
tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts and
liquors, and so on. It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the
“water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among European
alchemists.

Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation. For one thing, the lack
of common words for chemical concepts and processes, as well as the
need for secrecy, led alchemists to borrow the terms and symbols of
biblical and pagan mythology, astrology, kabbalah and other mystic
and esoteric fields so that even the plainest chemical recipe ended up
reading like an abstuse magic incantation.
Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries,
though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and
philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather it
was for their mundane contributions to the chemical industries of
the day the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining, metal
working, production or ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather
The Right
tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts &
liqours, and so on. It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the
Dosage of Potions
“water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among Europeans.
Potions, from antiquity until

18 19
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of Different Methods
common metals into gold or silver (less well known is plant alchemy,
or “spagyric”); the creation of a “panacea,” a remedy that supposedly of Potion Preparation
would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the
discovery of a universal solvent.
Although these were not the only uses for the science, they were the
ones most documented and well known. Starting with the Middle
Ages, European alchemists invested much effort on the search for
Indeed, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
the “philosopher’s stone”, a legendary substance that was believed
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as
to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. The
a metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation.
philosopher’s stone was believed to mystically amplify the user’s
knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable. Ingredient/Potion/Antidote - MEDIEVAL METHOD
Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries,
though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and Ingredient Potion Antidote
philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather
it was for their mundane contributions to the “chemical” industries
of the day - the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining,
metalworking, production of ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather
tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts and
liquors, and so on (It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the
“water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among European
alchemists).

20 21
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING
Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation. For one thing, the lack
of common words for chemical concepts and processes, as well as the
need for secrecy, led alchemists to borrow the terms and symbols of
biblical and pagan mythology, astrology, kabbalah and other mystic
and esoteric fields so that even the plainest chemical recipe ended up
reading like an abstuse magic incantation.
Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation. For one thing, the lack
of common words for chemical concepts and processes, as well as the
need for secrecy, led alchemists to borrow the terms and symbols of
biblical and pagan mythology, astrology, kabbalah and other mystic
and esoteric fields so that even the plainest chemical recipe ended up
reading like an abstuse magic incantation.
22
ADVANCED POTION MAKING
Potions and Symb ols. Make Sure you use the correct symb ol.
The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of
common metals into gold or silver (less well known is plant alchemy,
or “spagyric”); the creation of a “panacea,” a remedy that supposedly
would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the
discovery of a universal solvent.
Although these were not the only uses for the science, they were the
ones most documented and well known. Starting with the Middle
Ages, European alchemists invested much effort on the search for
the “philosopher’s stone”, a legendary substance that was believed
to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. The
philosopher’s stone was believed to mystically amplify the user’s
knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable.
Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries,
though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and
philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather
it was for their mundane contributions to the “chemical” industries
of the day - the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining,
metalworking, production of ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather
tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts and
liquors, and so on (It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the
“water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among European
alchemists).
Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation.
Note: This is an extremely dangerous p otion.
Execute with maximum caution.
23
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of

common metals into gold or silver (less well known is plant alchemy,
A Historical or “spagyric”); the creation of a “panacea,” a remedy that supposedly
would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the
Potions Timeline discovery of a universal solvent.

Although these were not the only uses for the science, they were the
ones most documented and well known. Starting with the Middle
Ages, European alchemists invested much effort on the search for
the “philosopher’s stone”, a legendary substance that was believed
Indeed, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. The
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
philosopher’s stone was believed to mystically amplify the user’s
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation.
knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable.
The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of
common metals into gold or silver (less well known is plant alchemy,
The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of
or “spagyric”); the creation of a “panacea,” a remedy that supposedly
common metals into gold or silver (less well known is plant alchemy,
would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the
or “spagyric”); the creation of a “panacea,” a remedy that supposedly
discovery of a universal solvent.
would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the
discovery of a universal solvent.
Although these were not the only uses for the science, they were the
ones most documented and well known. Starting with the Middle
Ages, European alchemists invested much effort on the search for
the “philosopher’s stone”, a legendary substance that was believed
to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. The
philosopher’s stone was believed to mystically amplify the user’s
knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable.

Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries,

though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and
philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather
it was for their mundane contributions to the “chemical” industries
of the day - the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining,
metalworking, production of ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather
tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts and The Importance
liquors, and so on (It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the
“water of life”, was a fairly popular “experiment” among European of Dragon’s Hair
alchemists).

Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation.
The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of
common metals into gold or silver (less well known is plant alchemy,
or “spagyric”); the creation of a “panacea,” a remedy that supposedly
would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the
discovery of a universal solvent.
Potions, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation.
When reading the words “Dragon’s Hair many may have images of the
long-extinct Chinese Wild-Eyed dragon, the only known dragon to
actually have hair, which was hunted to extinction for it’s hair. This
hair was highly sought after due to its magical properties of being
able to naturally withstand extreme temperatures and even many
hexes and jinxes. The garments made from the Chinese Wild-Eyed’s
hair were first used by magizoologists who studied dragons but
soon became used by wizards in many wizarding battles, which then
became prized attire which were handed down for many generations
since their properties never seemed to diminish.

24 25
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

affect a dragon the same way and then you would be able to harvest
112.3 - The Monogram is a
symbol which is composed their hair for any wide range of uses.
of written characters
interwoven with one Unfortunately, the strict worldwide rules against testing unproven
another. The image to
the left comes from the potions or spells on dragons means that we may never see dragon hair
Byzantine Empire in Greece,
which are some of the most
fabric in our lifetimes, but the importance of the IDEA of creating
beautiful examples we have
of designs composed of
Dragon Hair is still extremely important. The Dragon Hair idea has
letters. Their construction
bears evidence of great
become widespread for witches and wizards and is used to describe
skill and serious thoughts. the idea of creating a type of ingredient which currently does not
The symbol displayed here
is Palaeologus, the name of exist naturally by using some magical means. Since many spells have
a Byzantine Greek family,
which rose to nobility. only a temporary effect, potions are most often the preferred means
to affect a subject.

The major importance of Dragon’s Hair should be obvious to all those

with a creative enough imagination and a firm understanding of
how ingredients affect a potion. Only wizarding laws stand between
a knowledgeable wizard and the ability to create ingredients or
gather substances that could greatly benefit the wizarding world!
Imagine a phoenix who in one day, given a few drops of a modified
eye-watering potion, could produce enough phoenix tears to heal
the physical maladies of every patient in an entire hospital. Imagine
a modified Skele-Gro potion used on a fire crab which could make
it grow additional shells without harming the crab. Imagine special
The overhunting of these dragons caused their numbers to decrease Muffling Draught or Jawbind Potion affected mandrakes which could
rapidly until the Chinese Ministry of Magic was forced to make them be handled safely by even an untrained muggle!
a protected species. This, of course, didn’t stop dark wizards and
witches from poaching the remainder of this species and finally
caused the last of them to die out long ago. None of the Chinese Wild-
Eyed hair garments have been seen for centuries, meaning that the
remaining evidence of their existence comes from stories, images,
and other recorded history. So why then should modern witches and
wizards care about dragon hair? The reason is that although the only
dragons with naturally occurring hair no longer exists doesn’t mean
we are left without ways to create dragon hair!

Potioneers create use potions for a variety of uses, but master

potioneers must look beyond their common uses to how they could be
even more useful. When I was out one day, I heard a couple of muggles
talking and heard them say the oddest thing, that someone’s hair and
fingernails are made of the same thing! While I didn’t think much of
it at the time, chalking it up to muggle absurdity, the thought still
stuck in my mind. Weeks later while shopping for some new protective
gardening clothes I looked through the dragon-hide gloves which are
uncomfortable to me, I wished there were fabric gloves with the same
type of protections like the old Chinese Wild-Eyed fabric. Suddenly
the idea snapped into my mind: if you could somehow make today’s
dragons grow hair, then wouldn’t that hair have the same strengths
and spell resistance that their horns and claws do since they are
made of the same thing? Since there are already potions that cause
112.3 - The Monogram is a symbol which is composed of written characters interwoven with one another. The
hair growth for witches and wizards, such as the Manegro Potion, one image to the left comes from the Byzantine Empire in Greece, which are some of the most beautiful examples we
have of designs composed of letters. Their construction bears evidence of great skill and serious thoughts. The
would simply need to determine how exactly to modify the potion to symbol displayed here is Palaeologus, the name of a Byzantine Greek family, which rose to nobility.

26 27
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING
The concern of today’s witches and wizards is that potions which
affect us one way does not necessarily affect plants or beasts in
a similar manner, which means that a certain amount of potion
modification must be done in order to create the intended reaction.
The required modifications rely on a number of factors which must
be considered such as the subject’s taxonomy, age, size, abilities,
resistances, and possibly even the time and atmosphere when the
potion is used. Even subtle things such as the subjects emotions or
temperature can change their reactions to a potion, which could mean
the difference between a Muffling Draught silencing a mandrake
plant or causing it to emit a higher pitched screech with a deadlier
sound and farther reach than it has naturally. These subtleties and
the potentially dangerous consequences of an incorrectly modified
and delivered potion are part of the reason why the International
Confederation of Wizards has enacting such strict statutes on new
potions and on the testing of both new and old potions on non-wizard
beings.
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ADVANCED POTION MAKING
What does this all mean to you, the potion-maker reading this book?
A number of things which I will detail.
First, make sure you read and understand all international and
nation statutes that may affect you in the creation and testing of
your potions. While some regulations are the same for every nation,
some nations have harsher restrictions than others. The Magical
Congress of the United States of America requires that the testing
and production of all completely new types of potions be done in
dedicated locations and that potion-making of pre-existing potions
must be done in rural areas with at least a 10-mile radius away from
any muggles. The French Ministry of Magic simply requires that all
potion-makers work on their potions at least a 2-mile radius away
from muggles and that the work on any new potions be done in an
enclosed space under appropriate protective charms.
Second, carefully research each ingredient in your potion in
order to fully understand how it works as part of the potion and how
it may potentially affect different possible intended subject. The
juice of Sopophorous bean, for example, can be used as a form of
removing a kind of state of being from a subject, such as memories
and thoughts. While this ingredient’s effects are powerful when used
against humans, many magical beasts are almost completely immune
to their properties and would instead require a different ingredient,
such as the venom of the Swooping Evil since it is also a very potent
ingredient which can naturally remove a subject’s memory.
Third, carefully research the various subjects your potion(s)
is/are intended for to understand how best to deliver the potion
(orally, topically, injection, etc.). The effect the potion has on the
subject can change dramatically depending on how it is delivered,
and can even determine if there is any affect at all. While a diluted
Skele-Gro potion can help mend or even regrow broken or missing
bones if ingested or injected, a potent Skele-Gro potion spread and
left on a subject’s skin can cause bony masses to grow either on the
skin or through their skin from the skeleton underneath depending
on whether or not the potion soaked into their skin. Unscrupulous
witches and wizards have been known to use this as a way to fool
others into thinking a common horse was truly a tamed unicorn so as
to swindle them by selling them.
Fourth, carefully research how the changes in the potion due
to each ingredient changes how the potion affects the subject(s). As
stated before, the juice Sopophorous bean can remove the drinker’s
memory if ingested in its natural state, but mixing an appropriate
amount of Wormwood Essence in the same potion can temper that
effect to simply halt the subject’s thoughts in order to ensure that
they remain in a state of suspended animation.
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 ADVANCED POTION MAKING
Fifth, carefully study your final potion in a wide range of
conditions to determine if any subtle-to-significant changes occur
to the potion depending on how or where the potion is used. While a
swelling solution may be harmless at low-to-medium elevations and
simply cause a subject’s body (or body parts if delivered topically)
to swell to a large size, the same potion with the same potency would
have much less effect if used in extremely low elevations, such as
deep underwater or in very high elevations, could cause the affected
areas to swell into a dangerous, almost explosive, state.
Sixth is an incredibly important step! Test, research, and retest
your potion on various WILLING subjects, such as inanimate objects,
non-magical and non-protected beasts, or willing living beings. Simply
pouring an untested solution into the drink of an unwilling witch or
wizard could be considered an attack on that person and result in a
one-way trip to Azkaban.
Seventh, report your potion to the Ministry of Magic’s Potions
Association. Not only will the Association ensure that you receive
all rights and credit to your potion, they will also further study and
test your potion for a variety of uses and possible negative effects.
If your potion is found to have negative or harmful side effects, a
potioneer from the association may contact or meet with you in order
to determine what modifications must be made before you can use,
sell, or distribute the potion to others. This step is important and
is now required due to the crooked and lazy practice of witches and
wizards selling potions to unsuspecting beings with dangerous side
effects. Imperfect mixes of Pepperup Potion caused goblins’ brains
to actually melt and overly potent brews of Ageing Potion caused
middle-aged wizards to age rapidly to the point of becoming piles of
dust.
As long as the appropriate precautionary steps are taken then your
potions can be tested and used in a wide variety of ways which could
greatly benefit the wizarding world. Talented potioneers, through
Ministry of Magic approval and regulation, commonly use small doses
of swelling solution and amortentia to enlarge and tame Chizpurfle
of about an inch in size to completely eliminate unused potions and
to clean their cauldrons and potion-making instruments to an almost
unused state. This is one example of potioneers working with their
Ministry of Magic in order to test and use potions in unique ways on
otherwise protected beasts or beings. The only downside to this is
that Ministry approval and oversight may be very difficult to obtain
for inexperienced potion makers and may require extensive scrutiny
for even master potioneers. My own submitted request to modify
Manegro, Sleekeazy’s, Hair-Raising Hair Potions into a new
30
ADVANCED POTION MAKING
potion for use on dragons so that high-quality hair could quickly be
grown and harvested for possible use as protective fabrics has been
under review for almost 26 years with very little response given from
the Ministry of Magic on it’s status. It may very well be one of the
young witches or wizards reading this book now who can provide the
necessary approval to begin the long-awaited research.
Now although my personal feelings on the oversight of potion-making
is obvious, that I believe the current statutes are overly restrictive
and require far too much deliberation before any ministry official has
enough resolve to actually give approval so that important research
can go ahead, I am by no means claiming that there should be no
oversight. Prior to the current statutes being put into place there
was a wide variety of showy and dangerous potions being used on
muggles, animals, and even witches and wizards. It was common in the
16th century and prior for potion-makers to test their creations on
what ever and who ever they wanted, which put witches and wizards
in danger as they were seen as creators of perversions and unnatural
creatures. Muggle books and manuscripts contain descriptions
and even illustrations of people and creatures who were changed
into grotesque-looking beings for various reasons. While some used
potions to change their own appearance or give themselves abilities
beyond what simple incantations could provide, most of those
affected were disfigured as a form of revenge or simply entertainment
for a malicious witch or wizard.
Magizoologist and Andorran
wizard Ulrich Eros Loomoog
had such an incredibly annoying
obsession with birds and winged
beasts that his own apprentice
slipped potions into his drinks
that changed his appearance
permanently. His resulting
disfigurement resulted in him
transfiguring into a crane from
the neck up, which was a turn of
events that Ulrich unexpectedly
preferred. Muggle author, Ulisse
Aldrovandi, traveled to the town
upon hearing rumors of the “avian
monster” and included Ulrich in
the book “Monstrorum Historia”
in 1642.
112.3 - The Monogram is a symbol which is composed of written
characters interwoven with one another. The image to the left
comes from the Byzantine Empire in Greece, which are some
of the most beautiful examples we have of designs composed
of letters. Their construction bears evidence of great skill and
serious thoughts. The symbol displayed here is Palaeologus, the
name of a Byzantine Greek family, which rose to nobility.
31
 ADVANCED POTION MAKING
In the late 1100’s a group of metamorphmagus wizards and witches
in Ethiopia began experimenting with ox in order to create a type
of fabric that could change color along with the wearer’s hair color.
While they were eventually successful, unfortunately their potion’s
effects also caused the cattle’s horns to grow out long and branching
out. While muggles could have simply explained this to themselves as
some kind of new species of cattle, the creatures were able to start
changing the color of their fur by themselves. Most wizards at the
time usually tried to keep these oxen in their own hidden ranches
for security’s sake, but many others didn’t care about secrecy which
led to sightings by many muggles who named the affected creatures
“parandrus”.
In the late mid-13th century Malaysian witches and wizards began
looking for ways to combat the sudden explosive infestation of
acromantula in the region. Wizards of the area decided to make the
trees uninhabitable for the beasts by making them emit a poisonous
gas. While the potion’s name, “Draught of Deadly Gas”, quickly
became a joke worldwide due to many relating it to flatulence, the
poisonous effects the Potion had were far more potent than intended
and caused the trees to produce toxic fumes which killed animals,
plants, and people for miles around them. Malaysian muggles
obviously learned of the existence of the trees, who treated them as
a new discovery and called them “Bohun Upas”. The effects of the
potion were deemed to be permanent for a few centuries until the
Malaysian Ministry of Magic determined that it was a wizard-created
catastrophe and needed to be resolved by wizards. This was also one
of the first circumstances of a potion being created to reverse the
effects of a potion affecting a plant.
These are just a few of many examples of how potions being created,
tested, and/or dispersed without proper educated oversight have
resulted in many instances of muggles learning about things done
by the wizarding world. These kinds of instances endangered the
lives of witches and wizards during a time of increasing persecution
against the wizarding community. While not the sole or even primary
reason for it, many potioneers consider the showy use of potions in
situations like these to be a contributing factor in the creation of the
International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.
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ADVANCED POTION MAKING
Now, as for the “Importance of Dragon’s Hair”, there is still much
than can be gained by the proper study and implementation of
experienced potion-making skills. The problem with this is that even
these kinds of potions can have both beneficial and devastating
consequences. While a Skin-Shedding Solution for a Demiguise could
potentially allow for the creation of highly sought-after invisible
cloaks without harming the beasts and at such a rate that every
witch and wizard would be able to afford them, a Shrinking Solution
for Basilisks could make the deadly creature even more dangerous
as it could make them the size of ordinary snakes and therefore
make them even harder to track. While retaining its ability to kill its
victims with a single look and its incredibly deadly poisonous bite,
a basilisk that could easily be mistaken for an ordinary snake could
easily evade capture while it could also sneak into muggle domiciles
and or other heavily populated areas. With a strong enough Shrinking
Solution it is even possible for a basilisk to end up the size of a worm,
while still possibly retaining the same deadly abilities as a normal-
sized basilisk. This may be a frightening notion, but it is also unclear
if such a thing is even possible. A basilisk the size of a worm may
retain the same abilities as it did at full-size, but it is also possible
that the effects of those abilities would be reduced along with the
creature’s size. Perhaps the stare of a worm-sized basilisk could
elicit only as much as a slight tingle against a person and could only
kill small insects and beasts that are around the basilisk’s size. Its
bite may also prove to only be about as deadly as a common mosquito
bite. As we looked at in The Use of Shrinking Potion, fluctuations
to a creature or ingredient’s potency is possible and could result in
diluted or an increased potency in the subject. This shows us that
the changes made by deploying a potion can be unexpected and
could be either temporary or permanent, and that at least some
oversight is necessary in order to keep the common people safe, keep
the wizarding world secret from muggle detection, and to keep both
malevolent and novice potion-makers from endangering themselves
and others.
So, what of those witches and wizards who have been prudently and
successfully practicing the idea of “Dragon’s Hair”? With such danger
inherent in creating new untested potion is it really worth the risk
to research possible new discoveries? Has the wizarding world been
able to benefit from the research of master potioneers in any tangible
way or are we putting the secrecy of witches and wizards in jeopardy
needlessly?
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 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

Without risk there can be no growth. While it is true that the
development of new potions does came at great risk to the potioneer,
there has and will continue to be a great many number of benefits
to both finding ways to modify existing potions for new and unique
purposes and to the creation of new potions. Potion making is
a subtle art that mixes the natural and the magical together in
various ways and creates new reactions from making small, almost
insignificant changes. To explain this to anyone who is uneducated in
potion making, you can simply compare the making of a potion to the
making of a dessert. Given the same set of ingredients a person can
omit some of the ingredients, prepare the ingredients in different
ways, mix the ingredients in different orders, and can treat the
mixture at different temperatures to create cakes, cookies, ice cream,
eclairs, mousse, flan, and many other creations.
If it’s possible for even a muggle to create such a variety of options
with non-magical ingredients, then how is it hard to believe that a
master potioneer could whip up previously unheard-of potions using
just the ingredients we’ve always had available to us? Add into this
the possibility of using ingredients either yet to be discovered or
created and the possibilities are endless.
Today different groups of potioneers and even individuals are
working with different potion-regulating organizations all over
the world to create new ingredients or find uses for existing ones.
Though not known to many, since not many of today’s witches and
wizards seem to keep abreast of the work being done by potioneers,
organizations like the highly influential Most Extraordinary Society
of Potioneers and Potions Association are overseeing the study of
ingredients and potions as it relates to the creation of new potions
and substances.
And finally, though my research into actual dragon’s hair is currently
being held up for an indeterminate amount of time, I am currently
doing my own Ministry-approved research into various ingredients
at a number of greenhouses I have setup in the amazon rainforest.
While most of my own research must currently be kept confidential
from even most of my own trusted friends and family, I can confirm
that my less secretive research has to do with the cross-pollination
of magical and non-magical plants. One such portion of the research
is trying to combine the rare plant magical plant Niffler’s Fancy with
common weeds in order to help in easier growing of the plant. This
powerful magical ingredient can be used to increase the effectiveness
and success of the potions it is utilized in, but the plant itself
currently has a low rate of success when attempting to grow a new
plant. While attempts to cross-pollinate niffler’s fancy with amaranth
and bindweed resulted in little success of a magical plant, although
the flowers of the bindweed did grow with a translucent sheen, the
effects of cross-breeding with dandelions does seem to be producing
strong results.
As long as the creativity and ingenuity of tomorrow’s potion-makers
is allowed to be nurtured then the future potioneers of the wizarding
world will surely give us potions and ingredients that the witches and
wizards of today may not believe possible.

In the small town of Kealkil in Ireland, the Ireland Ministry of Magic’s

Potion association are researching uses of Leprechaun gold as a
possible ingredient in potions. It’s ability to disappear hours after
its creation is well known and could assist in potions which require a
substance to affect the mixture only temporarily or which require the
potion’s subject itself to disappear after a time.
In Norway, a group from the Most Extraordinary Society of
Potioneers, in research being led by the organization’s founder
Hector Dagworth-Granger, is famously using the concentrated
magical energy of the area’s naturally occurring Aurora Borealis to
affect the growth of certain magical plants in order to test how the
changes affect the potency and ability of the plants as an ingredient
in potions.

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 ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

Practical Work

Indeed, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics
devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a
metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation.

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ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

38 39
ADVANCED POTION MAKING ADVANCED POTION MAKING

40 41