Wolfsbane Potion

Wolfsbane Potion
Effect	Lessens the effect of lycanthropy during a transformation
Ingredients	Wolfsbane
Level	Advanced
Book information
First appearance	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (only appearance)

"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me. I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex. Pity sugar makes it useless."

— Remus Lupin

Wolfsbane Potion is a complex potion in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It lessens the effect of lycanthropy during a transformation.

Overview

"There is no known cure, although recent developments in potion-making have to a great extent alleviated the worst symptoms."

— Newton Scamander, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Wolfsbane Potion helps to lessen the effect of lycanthropy when a person turns into a werewolf. If taken in the week preceding the full moon, they keep their human mind in a werewolf's body and are safer for others to be around. If they don't take it, they will lose control and be willing to attack and eat humans. The potion has a disgusting taste and is difficult to concoct. Trying to add sugar to improve the taste rendered it useless. It is taken in a full goblet every day for a week leading up to the transformation. If they miss a single day, the potion is ineffective.

History

"I've been feeling a bit off-colour. This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it."

— Remus Lupin to Harry Potter

The Wolfsbane Potion was invented sometime between 1978 and 1993 by Damocles Belby.

While he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1971 to 1978, Remus Lupin had to suffer painful transformations because the potion was yet to be invented. He took the mind of a beast while he was chained up in the Shrieking Shack, scratching his own body in frustration. In September 1993, the Wolfsbane Potion was a new invention.

For a year in 1993 to 1994, Professor Snape concocted cauldronfuls of the potion for Professor Lupin. Instead of being chained up in the Shrieking Shack, Lupin could curl up in his office and wait until it was day again. Snape once took a goblet to Lupin while he was speaking to Harry Potter. Harry was curious about it but Lupin told him it was because he felt sick and the potion helped. Harry was concerned Snape was trying to poison Lupin and unsuccessfully tried to persuaded Lupin not to drink it.

In June, Lupin forgot to take a dose of the potion. He was distracted and ran to the Shrieking Shack to help to catch Peter Pettigrew instead of going to Snape to take a goblet. When he headed back towards the school, he turned into a werewolf. He attacked Harry, Ron, Hermione and Sirius Black which led to Harry and Sirius getting attacked by Dementors. Snape was angry at Lupin's carelessness and told the parents of their students that Lupin was a werewolf. Lupin resigned, agreeing that he had acted irresponsibly.