The class will consist of a monthly lecture, which will be posted the first weekday of each month. Weekly quizzes, at ten points each, will be given to all students. Each missed assignment will cost your House ten points, so think carefully before signing up for this class: I'm going to make you work, and I will expect you to think. If that is too difficult for you to manage, you may withdraw from the class without it affecting your House within fourteen days of admission to the class. Any withdrawal not excused by the Headmaster after this time will cost your House fifty points.

Lab: As this is an online course, there will be no lab. However, you will have to find out the outcome of your potions somehow; home lab is strongly recommended. Contact me for a list of resources for purchasing supplies.

Also note: This class, while for Witch, Wizard and Muggle students, deals with potions that, while supplying the needed effect on a Magical person, are more likely to cause illness, and, more probably, death, to any Muggle who ingests or uses them. Please proceed with caution when testing potions. Virtual Hogwarts claims no responsibility or culpability over any loss of limb, health, life or sanity when these potions are tested.

Look for your first lesson and assignment Thursday, December 1. If you have any questions, please email me at SlytherinFab@aol.com , where assignments will also be sent, preferably as an attachment in Word or Excel, depending on the nature of the assignment. I will have "fill-in" forms as part of certain assignments.

Emails with lists of answers without questions, and without sentence structure, will be marked down or rejected if this is a recurring problem.

And now for the first lesson-

Basic Terms and Safety

Potion-making is a dangerous art, calling for skill, care, and patience. In other words, most of you will end up getting hurt. In order to minimize the number of casualties in this class, my first lesson will consist of two parts: a primer of the most basic forms of potions, and, especially for my Gryffindor students, a section on basic first aid for those nasty burns.

Unless called for, the potions will be of better quality if fresh ingredients are used. However, if the recipe calls for something pickled or dried, substituting something else may bring on disaster. Beware, also, that plants used do not have Muggle insecticides or potions on them; sometimes washing does not remove all traces of these poisons.

Even the best ingredients, however, can be ruined if you do not follow my directions exactly. Use only the portions of plants I specifically tell you to use, the exact body parts, the exact powder or extract, no substitutions.

While some of the potions are safe for Muggles (I will denote those which are not), please note that Muggle cures work far more slowly than magical ones. Use of a non Muggle-safe potion can result in death or worse for the afflicted Muggle. You have been warned.

Bath -Bathing potions are used almost daily, especially by Muggle women. There are also bathing potions with healing qualities; these are the potions with which we will concern ourselves, as this is Potions and not Perfumes class. The most commonly-used bathing potions are liquid concoctions or decoctions poured directly into the bath water. For potion ingredients that may be harmful or messy, it is better to use a cheesecloth bag.

Cold Extract - preparing potions with cold liquid preserves the most volatile ingredients, while extracting only minor amounts of the properties needed. A good rule of thumb is to add double the potion ingredients called for in the "hot" version of these extracts. Steep for 8-12 hours before dosing.

Concoction - The most common type of potion, this is simply brewing together the potion ingredients until the desired result is reached.

Decoction - This draws out the most volatile elements of the potion ingredients, and these potions usually have fast, dramatic results. Bring ingredients to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for up to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and steep the mixture in a covered cauldron for several minutes before dosing.

Essence - Dissolve 1 ounce of essential oil (animal, vegetable or mineral) in a pint of alcohol or other base, as called for in the recipe; this method preserves the volatile oils of many elements which would otherwise not be drawn out.

Infusion - Boiling water or other liquid, depending on the recipe, is poured over ingredients, usually dried, extracting the concentrated essences within. The most commonly-used infusions are those of coffee and tea.

Juice - Plant essence; grind or pulp and strain the plant to extract the juice. Plant juice spoils quickly, so be sure to preserve it if you are going to keep it for any length of time.

Ointment - One part active ingredient to four parts warm petroleum jelly, for quick set. For long-set, try the traditional method: one part active ingredient to four parts olive or other pure oil, simmer down to a gel, and add beeswax for texture.

Poultice - To draw impurities from the body or send elements directly into the pores of the skin. Mix active ingredients with just enough hot liquid to make it mushy, then add a basic binding ingredient, such as flour, corn starch, or beezle powder to make it stick to the skin.

Powder - Grind dried ingredients into a fine, smooth consistency. Take with liquid, in capsule, or sprinkled on food (extra reading: Biography of the Borgias by Gwyneth Ghastemer.)

Syrup - Add ingredients to a simple sugar-water or similar mix, as called for by the recipe.

First Aid for Potions Students

Burns

Burns can be prevented in two main ways: First, don't be an idiot. Secondly, wear dragon-hide gloves when working with anything likely to burn you, no matter how steady you may think you are, accidents will happen. There are two kinds of burns: Heat-related and chemical.

First-degree burns are superficial. The skin becomes slightly red and swollen. While not serious, even first-degree burns are quite painful, whether they be from chemicals, potions, dry ice, or fire.

Second-degree burns penetrate the first layer of skin and damage the second layer. Skin is red, mottled and blistered and pain is much more intense. Skin can be charred lightly.

Third-degree burns penetrate and damage all layers of skin. Usually the result is charred, black areas, or dry, white areas. These burns are always serious and subject to infection, so don't attempt to treat with home remedies. Treat as described below, and get yourself to a doctor.

For immediate treatment of serious burns, wet down and remove any smoldering clothing. Pour cold water over tar, wax or grease, but don't try to remove it from the skin. If the burn seems to be 1st or 2nd degree, immerse the area in ice water or apply a cool wet dressing for no longer than 10 minutes. For 3rd degree burns, immerse in water only if it's still burning. Apply a loose, dry, sterile dressing to all third and second degree burns. Don't put anything else on the burns, and take the victim to the emergency room.

Resources:

Reader's Digest Problem Solver's Dictionary

Reader's Digest Back to Basics

www.makestuff.com

Potions for Minor Burns

Mix together 2 tbsp each of marshmallow (this is the PLANT, not the confection - let's avoid the mess we had with some of the Hufflepuffs last year, shall we?) and comfrey root. Set over low heat in a cauldron with 1 cup olive oil and 1 cup wine for 30 minutes. Cool and strain. Do not drink, as an unfortunate Ravenclaw student did last year. He found himself clipping stems and leaves from his earlobes until a rather nasty winter attack of frostbite cured him.

Raw Aloe Vera

Break a large, thick leaf (try to find the fattest one on there) and squeeze the vile-smelling jelly inside the plant directly on to the affected area.

Dried tea leaves and comfrey root make an excellent bath in bag or loose when someone is burnt over large areas of their body. Use for mild burns such as sunburn only.

Poultice: 4 cups fresh mint leaves, one cup dried tea leaves (preferably pekoe, but just about anything with tannins will do). Steep in boiling water for thirty seconds, drain, and cool to the touch, but still hot. Apply directly to affected area.

The first of this month's assignments will appear Friday. There will be no assignments December 21 or December 28, as those dates fall during the Christmas holiday.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at SlytherinFab@aol.com

Fabrina Slytherine

Potions Mistress