Potion of the Month
by Elena Black
Article Title: Potion of the Month (Amortentia)
Author's Preferred Pseudonym: Elena Black
Greetings fellow Slytherins!
For years, Muggles have often believed in magical ways to make people fall in love with them. The thought of having a fool proof way of making someone fall in love with them has actually become associated with Valentine's Day. Well, to an extent anyway. It's definitely not as well known as other symbols like hearts, Cupid, things like that. But it is on that list! Anyway, what the Muggles don't know is we - witches and wizards - do indeed have a way to make this fantasy a reality. And it comes in the form of the Amortentia Potion.
It may look like another simple potion. But personally, I view it akin to a femme fatale. In the hands of a skilled potions maker, this can be quite the strong concoction. History has already shown that with repeated exposure to the potion, it can cause long-term effects.
I am referring to, of course, when Merope Gaunt continued to give the potion to Tom Riddle Senior.
When all is said and done, I've found myself unable to help but wonder if this potion should continue to be made. Sure, this is a more advanaced potion to create. But is it really worth taking the risk?
To help figure this out, I'm going to rewind a bit and go over the more immediate and short-term effects of this potion.
If you only drank the Amortentia Potion once, you would appear "pale and sickly" and becoming obsessed with the object of their affections. As it has been proven, different people will experience different scents. We know that Hermione Granger detected the following smells when she tried the Amortentia potion; freshly mown grass, new parchment, spearmint toothpaste, and Ron Weasley's hair. Harry Potter had his own somewhat similar list, consisting of treacle tarts, a broomstick handle, and Ginny Weasley.
While both Harry Potter and Hermione Granger did have a canon listed as one of their smells, one would want to think it wouldn't be as likely to happen with themselves. Right?
Statistically, this is true. However, there are millions - if not billions - of people located throughout the world. Now think about your own daily life. How many people are you nearby on a daily, or at least constant, basis? Probably more than you realized, huh?
So even though the odds should be relatively evened out, they may not be. Furthermore, what's to say you may not end up smelling two different people? And what if one was a relative? That would be really awkward, I'd imagine.
Now if those are just the short-term effects of the Amortentia Potion, do you really want to think about the long term ones?
Personally, I wouldn't.
Now that the facts have been laid out, do you still think this potion should be allowed to be brewed? Should it be banned or at least have the ingredients more expensive to buy?Think of this as a miniature debate of sorts. There's no right or wrong answer, of course.
What's my take on it?
At first, I didn't think so. But after doing all this research, I'm having quite the change of heart. No, no literally, don't fret. Still though, all of the information I found truly was an eye-opening experience. Before I leave, I want to share a quote from Professor Slughorn himself who even spoke briefly about this same potion.
-Professor Slughorn
Honestly? I think he may be onto something. He's definitely got quite the valid points.
And now, I'll leave you all to your thoughts to figure out how you now truly view this potion.
Until next time,
Elena Black