Potions (subject)

Potions (subject)
Professor	Horace Slughorn (1931 - 1981), (1996 - ?) Severus Snape (1981 - 1996)
Taught at	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Location	Dungeons
Textbooks	Magical Drafts and Potions Advanced Potion Making
Equipment	Cauldron Weighing scales
Book information
First appearance	Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Last appearance	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making"

— Introduction to Potions

Potions is a subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students start the subject in their first year, and keep studying it until their fifth year O.W.L. examinations. It is an option for N.E.W.T-level study. They learn how to brew potions using recipes which steadily get more advanced every year. Equipment used in lessons include cauldrons and weighing scales.

About

Every student has to take Potions for their first five years at Hogwarts. To continue studying Potions at N.E.W.T. level, they have to achieve a high enough pass grade at O.W.L. level. The grade required is decided by the professor. Achieving a high grade in the O.W.L.s is not easy.

During their lessons, students have to brew potions step-by-step, usually from a textbook. In the first year, the textbook is Magical Drafts and Potions. Ingredients are prepared and put into a cauldron that students have to buy and bring to Hogwarts. Further work includes stirring, timing and bottling the potion correctly. Certain ingredients have to be purchased by the student, but others are kept in the classroom store cupboard.

History

In his first year, Neville Longbottom achieved a very low grade in Potions.

Professor Snape only accepted N.E.W.T. students that had achieved an "Outstanding" in their O.W.L.s, the highest awarded grade. Professor Horace Slughorn replaced Snape the year Harry Potter entered N.E.W.T. study, and lowered the necessary grade to "Exceeds Expectations".

Curriculum

First year

• Cure for Boils
• An unknown potion involving the spine of a lionfish
• Forgetfulness Potion

Second year

• Swelling Solution

Third year

• Shrinking Potion (homework during the summer holidays)
• Undetectable Poisons

Examinations

• First-year: Forgetfulness Potion
• Third-year: Confusing Concoction

Books

Magical Drafts and Potions

• Advanced Potion Making

Known timetables

Years	Day	Period
First year	Friday	First and second (double)
Second year	Wednesday	Third
	Friday	Fourth and fifth (double)
Third year	Monday	First
	Thursday	First and second (double)
Fourth year	Tuesday	Third
	Friday	Fourth and fifth
Fifth year	Monday	Second
Sixth year	Monday	Afternoon

Known teachers

Severus Snape

• Horace Slughorn