- "The Draught of Living Death brings upon its drinker a very powerful sleep that can last indefinitely. This draught is very dangerous if not used with caution...This is an extremely dangerous potion. Execute with maximum caution."
- —Libatus Borange's Advanced Potion-Making describing the potion[src]
The Draught of Living Death is an extremely powerful sleeping draught, sending the drinker into a death-like slumber, similar to suspended animation. The potion seemed difficult to concoct, since Hermione Granger, a prodigious potioneer, who managed to concoct the Polyjuice Potion in her second year, had some difficulty doing it.
Necessary equipment[]
The textbook in which the recipe was mentioned noted that the following things were needed for the correct composition of this potion:
- Standard size cauldron (presumably pewter)
- 150 fl.oz beaker
- 50 fl.oz. graduated cylinder
- Standard test tube
- 250 fl.oz. measuring cup
- Stirring rod
- Dropper
Instructions[]
A bottle of the Draught of Living Death
- Cut up the Sopophorous bean
- Pour in 250 fl.oz. of water and add 5 oz. of African sea salt to the beaker. Set the beaker aside after all the water has been added. Be very careful not to shake or move the beaker now.
- Leave the water and salt to rest for five minutes.
- Slowly pour all the water into the cauldron.
- With your left hand use the graduated cylinder to obtain 40 fl.oz. of essence of wormwood.
- With your right hand hold the cauldron at a slight angle and pour ten drops (20 fl.oz.) of essence of wormwood.
- Now with your left hand hold the cauldron at a slightly different angle and pour another ten drops of wormwood essence.
- Chop three Valerian roots into small squared pieces. After cutting place it in a beaker with water. Leave it to settle for five minutes. Your potion should now be resembling a smooth blackcurrant-coloured liquid.
- Carefully pour the Sopophorous bean's juice into the cauldron
- Add seven drops of the reduced liquid from the beaker; make sure there are no traces or fragments of Valerian root.
- Stir the potion ten times clockwise; your potion should now be turning a light shade of lilac.
- With your right hand stir the potion counterclockwise until the potion turns as clear as water; every stir should take approximately two and a half seconds.
- Slowly put in seven square pieces of Valerian root.
- Stir the potion ten times counterclockwise.
- Add one hundred and fifty fl.oz. of powdered root of asphodel.
- Hold the cauldron with your right hand; with your left hand gently stir the potion ten times counterclockwise and eight times clockwise.
- Leave the potion to settle for two and a half minutes.
- Add one small piece of Valerian root.
- Your potion should turn to a pale pink colour; the preparation is now complete.[1]
Severus Snape's notes[]
- The Sopophorous bean should be crushed with the blade, instead of cut, releases juice better
- Stir counter-clockwise seven times and clockwise once instead.
Notable examples[]
The Wiggenweld Potion is capable of reversing the effects of the Draught. The Hag Leticia Somnolens used the Draught in an attempt to kill a princess who made her jealous. A prince who placed Wiggenweld Potion on his lips revived the princess with a kiss.
Behind the scenes[]
- "I dare to say that one drop would kill us all."
- —Horace Slughorn on Harry Potter's potion.[src]
- This potion is briefly mentioned in first year, though they did not create it until five years later. It was never really used in either case.
- In the first film, it is called "The Draught of the Living Dead".
- In the sixth film, Slughorn tests the potions by placing a leaf into each; when he places it into Harry's, the leaf disintegrates. He also states that it was "so perfect one drop would kill us all"; this was likely an exaggeration because the potion is a sleeping potion not a poison.
- It is most likely the potion used by Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
- The Valerian root is a natural sedative.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (film) (Mentioned in deleted scene)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Appears on a Famous Wizard Card)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- The Road to Hogwarts Sweepstakes
- Pottermore
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
Notes and references[]