lacewing flies -
leeches -
Life, Elixir of -
lionfish parts -
Living Death, Draught of -
lovage -
Love Potion
Used in Polyjuice Potion (see).
Leeches are used in Polyjuice Potion, apparently whole (see).
Leech juice is used in Shrinking Solution (see).
ingredients: unknown, but it is derived from the Philosopher's Stone
The Elixir of Life extends life, but requires that the drinker consume it regularly for all eternity if the drinker is to maintain his or her immortality (HBP23).
Nicolas Flamel and his wife lived over 650 years by drinking Elixir of Life (PS13)
Voldemort seeks immortality, and stealing the Philosopher's Stone was one step on his quest to attain it (PS15)
Someone dependent on the Elixir can die if the supply runs out (for instance, if the Philosopher's Stone being used to make it is stolen or destroyed) or if the supply of Elixir is contaminated (HBP23).
Spine of lionfish is part of a student's standard potion-making kit (GF10)
ingredients: asphodel in an infusion of wormwood (PS8); valerian roots, sopophorous bean (HBP9)
Effect: Causes someone to fall into a deep sleep.
one of Snape's first three questions to Harry in first-year Potions (PS8)
First potion brewed in Slughorn's sixth-year N.E.W.T. Potions class. Instructions for brewing this potion can be found in Advanced Potion-Making starting on page 10, but the textbook's uncorrected instructions do not cover the most effective way of squeezing the juice out of the sopophorous beans (crushing with the flat side of a silver dagger rather than cutting) and do not indicate that a clockwise stir should be added after every seventh counter-clockwise stir. While brewing, the potion releases blue steam. The ideal halfway stage should be of a blackcurrant colour (deep purple), although at a later stage if stirred properly the potion will turn a light shade of lilac and then, eventually, "clear as water" (HBP9).
Levisticum officinale, a culinary and medicinal herb in the carrot family that is native to southern Europe but which has been introduced to North America (NSOED, PLANTS).
According to a book Harry studied during his fifth year, lovage is "moste efficacious in the inflaming of the braine, and [is] therefore much used in Confusing and Befuddlement Draughts, where the wizard is desirous of producing hot-headedness and recklessness" (OP18)
ingredients: may include frozen Ashwinder eggs (FB)
Effect: Does not really causes the person who drinks it to fall in love with someone, as it is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. A love potion simply causes the drinker to develop a powerful infatuation or obsession with the target (HBP9).
On Valentine's Day, 1992 [Y12], Lockhart suggested that in the spirit of the occasion students should ask Snape how to make a love potion (CS13)
Love potions are banned at Hogwarts (GF27), but as Hermione once pointed out, "When has anyone ever paid attention to what Filch has banned?" (HBP15)
Mrs. Weasley once told Hermione and Ginny about a love potion she had made as a young girl (PA5)
Frozen Ashwinder eggs (see) may be used as ingredients in love potions (FB)
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes sell powerful love potions as part of their WonderWitch products line (HBP6). As part of their Owl Order Service, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes delivers such products disguised as more innocent items, such as perfumes and cough potions, a fact they make clear on the products' own labels (HBP9).
The duration of the effects of a love potion vary depending on such factors as the weight of the person drinking the potion and the attractiveness of the person with whom the potion is supposed to make the drinker obsessed (HBP6).
The effects of a love potion wear off naturally over time, but can be renewed by administering further doses of potion (HBP10).
A love potion can be administered so that the consumer becomes obsessed with the target even if the target is not present when the love potion is consumed (HBP18).
The effects of an item spiked with love potion can strengthen the longer the item is kept before consumption (HBP18).
After an antidote to a love potion is consumed, it seems that the drinker does not forget what he or she did while under its influence, which can be terribly embarrassing (HBP18).
see Amortentia
c.f. Hate Potion
