The Potions And Herbology Department
Your Potions Kit
Now is the time for a little trip down Diagon Alley; as before you can start to prepare any magical potions you will need to make sure that you have an inventory of some, if not all of the following things:
Hardware-
- A cauldron/good quality saucepan.
- A metal spoon.
- An Athame (A magical dagger)/Any sharp knife will do! This is primarily used for preparing magical specimens.
- Scissors or pruning sekateurs, and a selection of small plastic food bags (for harvesting magical herbs).
- A chopping board.
- A pestle and mortar. Improvise if necessary by crushing your ingredient with something heavy on your chopping board.
- Clean, sealable jars and bottles in which to store your potions. Brown or coloured glass bottles are best as they keep out the light which degrades the active ingredients in potions- but clear glass is fine if you store them away from the sunlight.
- Sticky labels and a pen to label each new potion as you make it. You don’t want to drink the wrong one by mistake!
- A strainer/sieve.
- A Bain Marie. This is very useful when you are making salves to ensure that the ingredients are heated slowly and evenly; but it is not essential. Improvise by putting your cauldron on a very low heat and stirring frequently, or by putting your ingredients into a metal dish and then floating it in a cauldron of boiling water.
- Scrupulously clean white cloths. (For applying a healing fomentation to a wound.)
- Optional: Candles, a lighter, incense, wand, cloak, and other atmosphere creating elements as deemed appropriate.
Groceries-
- Check individual Potions to ensure you have gathered the correct magical ingredients for your potion.
- Common ingredients that are useful to keep in your magical store cupboard are: Caster Sugar, Vinegar, a clear high proof alcohol such as Vodka or Gin, Beeswax, an unscented oil such as Sweet Almond Oil/Jojoba oil (Olive Oil will do if desperate!).
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a vault in Gringotts stashed full of cash, so remember you are allowed to improvise. Shiny silver cauldrons are awesome, but they are just not necessary at this stage- a good quality saucepan will suffice.