Harry Potter is a delightful world full of wonderful magic, fun charms, and clever items. However, there’s also a darker side to this world. Dark wizards, killing curses, jinxes, and dangerous potions.
It would seem that the Ministry of Magic isn’t as strict as one might imagine. There are several spells and potions out there should probably be made illegal. And yet they’re not. Some are even taught to school-children! It certainly makes you wonder.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
RELATED: Harry Potter: 10 Spells That Should be Illegal (But Aren’t)
10. Forgetfulness Potion
A Forgetfulness Potion may seem mild or a good joke, but like many things in the world of magic, it highly depends on the user. For example, a Forgetfulness Potion could be used to create a lot of harm and damage. It could be used on a student before a test for example. Or used to force a victim to forget a crime. This list could continue for a while, but it would get quite depressing. You get the idea.
9. Ageing Potion
The most famous example of an Aging Potion was during Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Here the Weasley twins attempted to age themselves a few months in order to enter the Triwizard Tournament.
The example alone is probably enough to explain all of the potentially dangerous uses of this potion, yes? We don’t need young wizards aging themselves to get away with even more mischief. They’re quite good enough at it as it stands!
8. Dizziness Potion
The Dizziness Potion is probably another one of those potions that seems harmless at first. After all, it can only cause dizziness. But think about it; how often is causing dizziness a good thing? There are significantly more downsides to this potion than positive notes.
RELATED: Harry Potter: 11 Fantastic Beasts That Weren’t As Terrifying As They Should’ve Been In The Movies
For example, a rival Quidditch player could use this to get an extra edge (assuming they could get away with it, of course). Or it could be used as a prank or way of punishing somebody. Or to make a person think they’re getting ill.
7. Exploding Potion
Exploding potions are basically exactly what they sound like. And while there may not be a lot of finesse to them, they’ve been put to heavy use. Back when Grindelwald was at his peak power, these potions became quite common. His followers would use them to sow discord and panic.
And of course, depending on what the explosive material is, it could prove quite dangerous to those around. The explosive properties alone are dangerous enough. But a clever potion maker could probably find ways to add more damage, say if the potion came in contact with skin.
6. Felix Felicis
Felix Felicis saved the day back in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. But that doesn’t mean it’s a potion that everybody should have access to. Thankfully, while this potion isn’t illegal, it is exceedingly difficult to make. Still, considering the benefits, you’d think some people would specialize in doing just that. It’s probably for the best that this doesn’t appear to be the case.
This is one of those potions that would really depend on how it is used. Harry used it for the greater good. But he just as easily could have truly given the potion to Ron, like he pretended to that one time. Or he could have used it to help on his tests, or countless other schemes.
5. Draught of Living Death
The Draught of Living Death is a potion that lives up to its name. It doesn’t kill the drinker (usually), but it will put them in a sleep so deep that they may as well be dead, as far as the living are concerned. This doesn’t seem like a potion that they’d want just anybody to be able to make. There probably are good medical uses, but that’s about it.
RELATED: Harry Potter: 10 Most Useless Items and Spells
Yet we’ve heard this potion discussed at least twice during Harry Potter’s time at Hogwarts. One of those times the students were even assigned to make said potion. It’s rather horrifying to think about the possibility of one of those vials being snuck out from the dungeons.
4. Drink of Despair
The Drink of Despair’s name doesn’t leave much to the imagination. But then again, it doesn’t really need to. The Drink of Despair leaves the drinker is an immense amount of pain. Thus causing, well…despair. There really isn’t any kind reason to be using this potion. So that just leaves us with the usual uses. Therefore, this is one of those potions that should inarguably be considered illegal by the Ministry of Magic. And yet…
3. Polyjuice Potion
The Polyjuice Potion has been used time and time again in the Harry Potter series. And while our students did do their best to use it for good, one could say that what they did is still dangerous. After all, they did break into the Ministry of Magic using it.
And then, of course, there’s the other example of this potion. During Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Mad-Eye Moody had been a prisoner for an entire school year, yet nobody had any clue because Barty Crouch Jr. used the Polyjuice Potion to mimic the man perfectly.
The one upside to this potion is that it does take quite a bit of time to brew. And it seems common knowledge what people would be using some of the ingredients for. So it wouldn’t be hard to track and/or regulate, should it be desired.
2. Veritaserum
Veritaserum is essentially a truth serum. And really, there are all sorts of reasons that this potion should be regulated, if not made outright illegal. Yes, there are potential uses for it, such as gaining information quickly from a prisoner or enemy. But it probably shouldn’t be something used by anyone.
And it certainly shouldn’t be used on students, as threatened (and used) during Harry’s time at Hogwarts. No person, but especially not a student, should be forced to tell their deepest and darkest secrets. At least, not at the whim of the potion maker. Can you imagine somebody like Filtch getting free use of it?
1. Love Potions
And finally, one of the most overlooked yet more dangerous potions out there – love potions. People seem to look at these potions as some sort of joke, heck Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes even sells several types of love potions. But they’re actually really quite dangerous. Not to mention extremely unethical.
Love potions come in all shapes and sizes; Beguiling Bubbles, Cupid Crystals (all three available at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes), Twilight Moonbeams, and Amortentia to name but a few. And we see several examples of the love potions in use, throughout the course of the series. Ron got hit with a doozy of a potion intended for Harry. And who knows how poorly that would have gone, had it made its way to Harry. And don’t forget, Voldemort himself is alive today due to the use of a love potion. His mother used one to keep her love bewitched. Resulting in a child. Not exactly a happy picture, is it?
NEXT: Harry Potter: 10 Magical Items That Should Be Illegal (But Aren’t)
FAQs
What is the answer to the Harry Potter potion riddle? ›
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line. Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight. Since the giant bottle is not poison and it is a twin to the second from the left, we know these two are nettle wine (2nd and 6th). Therefore, two of the poisons are to the left of these (1st and 5th).
What is the rarest potion in Harry Potter? ›Veritaserum. Veritaserum is the most powerful truth serum out of all of them. It has been used several times in the book in order to interrogate people. Snape famously threatened to slip a few drops of Veritaserum in Harry's pumpkin juice at one point.
Did Hermione smell Draco in Amortentia? ›When describing the smell of Amortentia, Hermione blushes and won't reveal the third scent. J.K. Rowling has since confirmed that this smell is Ron's hair.
What is the deadliest potion? ›- Veritaserum. Just a few drops of this truth potion could have an unsuspecting victim blabbing their innermost secrets. ...
- Emerald Potion/Drink of Despair. ...
- Death Potion. ...
- Amortentia. ...
- Felix Felicis. ...
- Garrotting Gas. ...
- Forgetfulness Potion. ...
- Polyjuice Potion.
To recap, Snape's potions riddle that Hermione solves features three poisons (“killers, waiting hidden in line”), two bottles that “hold only nettle wine,” one potion to move forward toward danger, and one potion to move backward to safety (SS 285).
What potion is Dumbledore drinking? ›The Emerald Potion, also known as the Drink of Despair, is a mysterious potion which induces fear, delirium, and extreme thirst. According to Dumbledore, the potion cannot be penetrated by hand, vanished, parted, scooped up, siphoned away, transfigured, charmed, or otherwise made to change its nature in any way.
What did Ron smell in Amortentia? ›A further clue about Hermione and Ron's romance can be found in Potions class. When describing the smell of Amortentia, Hermione blushes and won't reveal the third scent. J.K. Rowling has since confirmed that this smell is Ron's hair.
What did Ginny smell in Amortentia? ›Harry Potter smelled treacle tart, the woody scent of broomstick handle, and "something flowery that he thought he might have smelled at the Burrow" (which he later realised was the smell of Ginny Weasley's perfume).
What does Luna Lovegood smell like? ›Shipping calculated at checkout. This "exceptionally ordinary" fragrance is inspired by the dreamy witch who beats to her own drum. Made with top notes of apricot and blackberry creme fraiche, stepped in a potion of green mandarin, cinnamon, and rose; and completed with a hint of woodsy musk.
What is the purple potion? ›Purple Potion is an item that can be used to grant x1. 25 Capacity, x1. 5 Red Pollen, x1. 5 Blue Pollen, x1. 3 Pollen From Bees, and x1.
What is the highest speed potion? ›
The Potion of Swiftness (or speed) increases the player's movement speed by 20%. But, you can increase it to a maximum of 40% by upgrading the potion with glowstone dust.
What potion kills mobs? ›Fatal Poison inflicts damage to entities over time, and can kill both undead and non-undead mobs, similar to Wither.
Is there a blue potion in Harry Potter? ›The Draught of Peace is a potion which relieves anxiety and agitation. Its ingredients are powdered moonstone, syrup of hellebore, powdered porcupine quills, and powdered unicorn horn. It should be a turquoise blue when finished and simmered before being drunk.
Is there a love potion in Harry Potter? ›Overview. Amortentia is an extremely powerful love potion.
Is there an Animagus potion? ›The Animagus potion was a potion that turned the drinker into an Animagus, a witch or wizard who could transform themselves into an animal that reflected their traits and personality, and back again at will.
What potion did Hermione Drink? ›It was all for a good cause – breaking into the Lestrange vault – but we have to admit it was downright disturbing when Hermione Granger took Polyjuice Potion so she could trick the Gringotts goblins into thinking she was one of Voldemort's closest Death Eaters.
What is the spell Snape made up? ›Sectumsempra is a curse invented by Professor Severus Snape, during his childhood, when he was known as "The Half-Blood Prince. He created it with intentions of using it against his enemies and it soon became one of his specialties." Snape is the Half Blood Prince !! Sectumsempra !
What is Snape's favorite spell? ›Sectumsempra was a curse invented by Professor Severus Snape that lacerates the target and causes severe haemorrhaging. Snape created it as a student of Hogwarts, with the intention of using it against his enemies, likely including the Marauders, and it became one of his specialities.
Can Muggles make Potions? ›It is often asked whether a Muggle could create a magic potion, given a Potions book and the right ingredients. The answer, unfortunately, is no.
What happened to Slytherin's locket? ›Dec. 28, 1997: Ron Weasley destroys Salazar Slytherin's locket deep in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, by stabbing it with Godric Gryffindor's sword.
What potion does Ron drink Half Blood Prince? ›
Ron drinks mead, which is found to be poisoned. Fortunately, he survives. Champagne is served at Slughorn's Christmas party. Harry drinks Felix Felicis, a luck potion, in order to persuade Slughorn to give him a memory.
What did Draco smell in Amortentia? ›While we all know Mahogany Apple is Draco's official scent, you can browse their manly scents and choose one that suits your taste.
What does Draco smell like? ›Recently, a candle from Bath & Body Works called Mahogany Apple is said to smell like Draco Malfoy if he were a nonfictional character. Thus Mahogany Apple is now in popular demand by Draco fans across the country.
What else did Hermione smell? ›Hermione said she could smell 'freshly mown grass and new parchment and –' Well, we might be able to guess that last part. Slughorn never failed to teach a potion without a warning: 'Amortentia doesn't really create love, of course.
What does Sirius Black smell like? ›Sirius Black: Mahogany Teakwood.
Who did Ginny smell in Amortentia? ›For this reason, I would say that Ginny smells the Burrow: long grass and dust and her mother's mince pies.
What do the Weasley twins smell like? ›Fred and George Weasley: Marshmallow Fireside.
What is the truth potion in Harry Potter? ›Veritaserum is a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth.
What is the riddle of Harry Potter? ›“If you break me, I'll not stop working. If you can touch me, my work is done. If you lose me, you must find me with a ring soon after.
What is in the Polyjuice Potion answer? ›- Bezoar. Q. What's in Polyjuice Potion? - Mistletoe Berries.
What did Snape ask Harry about Potions? ›
In the film, Snape, played by the late Alan Rickman, asks Harry, 'Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? ' While the complexity behind the Potions question went completely over our heads, it turns out that it was very important to the story.
Is there a death potion in Harry Potter? ›The Draught of Living Death brings upon its drinker a very powerful sleep that can last indefinitely. No antidote is mentioned in the books, though presumably there must be one. This potion is mentioned by Professor Snape in Harry's first-ever Potions lesson.
What did Hermione smell in Amortentia? ›When describing the smell of Amortentia, Hermione blushes and won't reveal the third scent. J.K. Rowling has since confirmed that this smell is Ron's hair.
Is Tom Riddle a Slytherin? ›Raised in an orphanage, Tom began attending Hogwarts in 1938, where he was sorted into Slytherin and presumed to be Muggle-born.
What is the number 12 in Harry Potter? ›In the world of Harry Potter, Number 12 Grimmauld Place is important for two reasons: Firstly, it serves as the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix and secondly because Sirius wills it to Harry after he dies, making it Harry's first true home. And it is just 1 of dozens of Harry Potter locations in London.
What is a famous riddle? ›William Shakespeare: The Riddle of Venice
He requires that any suitor must choose one of three caskets: one casket is gold, one is silver, and one is made of lead. One casket has a photo of Portia inside it, and only the suitor who chooses that casket may marry her.