Potion of the Month
by Elena Black
Greetings fellow Slytherins!
Ahh, nature. It really can be quite the more beautiful parts of life. It's always surrounding us and doing so in quite the variety of ways. It can either make life or destroy it, depending on the form it takes. Nature can also be something that's with us .. or against us. What do I mean by that, you may be wondering? Simple. Most illnesses somehow come from nature, be it a bacterial or viral source. So what happens when it fights us and our immune systems?
Typically, you get medicine to deal with it.
One of the most common ailments to date is the cold. While most Muggles need to resort to going to a doctor and getting antibiotics, we have a much easier method to use.
I thus give you this month's potion that I will be elaborating on; the Pepperup Potion.
No, it does not have pepper even though that is included in the name. Thank Merlin, too. It'd be not only a bit bitter but far too hot.
.... Anyway, onward, shall we?
The Pepperup Potion was invented by Glover Hipworth in the mid to late 18th or early 19th century. While many of the ingredients remain a mystery, it is known that bicorn horns and mandrake roots are used in this potion.
Like most medicines, there is a very small side effect. But rest assured, compared to many Muggle medicines I've heard about, this is rather merciful. Odd, no doubt. But not the absolute worst.
The Pepperup Potion tends to cause steam to come out from the drinker's ears for a few hours.
See? Like I said, nothing too unbearable.
Interestingly enough, there is a stronger version of the Pepperup Potion that Mr. Hipworth created, known as the Grand Pepperup Potion.
Honestly though, I hardly see the difference. The side effect is the same. The main thing I noted was the addition of octopus powder in the Grand Pepperup Potion.
... What? Don't ask me why. I'm not Snape after all.
Hopefully he didn't see/read that.
Even though the list of ingredients known is incomplete, I would imagine you could either do more research yourself or find it somewhere, probably in Diagon Alley. With that being said and done, I hope that as spring continues to make its presence known, you all have a lovely rest of the year 2015.
Until next time,
Elena Black