aconite -
Acromantula venom -
Ageing Potion -
Amortentia -
antidotes -
armadillo bile -
Ashwinder eggs -
asphodel
(PS8)
Extremely poisonous plant (hence its other name of
wolfsbane). It is also
called monkshood
because the shape of the flowers somewhat resembles a monk's cowl.
Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs informs us that a
folk name for the highly poisonous Wolf's Bane is "Dumbledore's
Delight". -- SVA
Ellis Peters' medieval mystery
Monk's Hood
is recommended as both a
very good story in its own right and as featuring both the positive and
dangerous aspects of this plant. In the story the herbalist Brother Cadfael
used the plant as part of an oil used to massage aching joints, but if
swallowed or absorbed directly through any break in the skin, the oil
could be deadly. -- MLW
Almost impossible to collect from a living Acromantula, the venom dries out not long after an Acromantula's death, so the venom may fetch as much as 100 Galleons a pint (HBP22)
Ageing Potion (U.S.: Aging Potion)
ingredients: unknown
Effect: Causes the person drinking it to grow older. The more Ageing Potion one drinks, the more one ages.
Fred Weasley, George Weasley, and Lee Jordan took a few drops of Ageing Potion in an attempt to fool the Age Line around the Goblet of Fire into thinking that they were a few months older. The Line wasn't fooled. They were thrown back out of the circle, then sprouted full beards (GF12).
ingredients: unknown (but see love potion)
"amor" L. love + "tempto" L. to try to influence or tamper with
Effect: The most powerful love potion in the world (HBP9); see love potion for discussion of effects.
Recognizable by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen and by the fact that its steam rises in characteristic spirals. The potion smells differently to different people according to what attracts them (HBP9)
We're told how Harry and Hermione each perceived the scent in Potions (HBP9)
ingredients: vary, but often include mandrakes
There are antidotes for many poisons and for potions effects.
Antidote for Swelling Solution is the Deflating Draught (CS11)
Fourth-year Potions studies antidotes; Snape hinted that he might poison a member of the class before Christmas to see if his or her antidote worked (GF15)
The Mandrake Draught is the antidote for Petrification
A bezoar will act as an antidote to most poisons (PS8). Ron consumed one during his sixth year (HBP19).
Snape had an antidote handy to restore Trevor the toad when he was turned into a tadpole (PA7).
Mrs. Weasley had an antidote handy for Doxy bites when she and the children spent the morning de-Doxifying the draperies of the drawing room of number twelve, Grimmauld Place (OP6).
At least one antidote to counter the effects of Veritaserum exists (HBP17)
Slughorn supplied "a glass of clear liquid" as an antidote to the love potion Ron had accidentally eaten (HBP18)
Used in Wit-Sharpening Potion.
Ashwinder eggs, frozen
Quite valuable, as they can serve as ingredients in love potions or may be eaten whole as a cure for ague. These uses are quite appropriate as Ashwinder eggs are so flammable that they will ignite a dwelling within minutes if they are not frozen as soon as possible (FB).
Powdered root of asphodel is used in the Draught of Living Death (PS8). This plant is traditionally associated with the afterlife and the underworld.
