Post by Professor Amanda Stark on Aug 13, 2007 22:50:02 GMT -5
Name: Hops
Proper Name: Humulus lupulus
Muggle Use: Relaxation, antibacterial, pain-relief and--most popularly--for brewing different varieties of beer.
Mythological/Historical Relevance: Hops was used in beer starting around 1079, and early 15th century in Britain, not making it over to the United States until 1629. Hops helps to add aroma and flavor to beer; it can compliment tastes ranging from sweet and citrus to grassy and bitter.
Magical Use: Hops’ pain-relieving strengths carry over to its magical powers and brewing it in saltwater for three days, reciting the spell “Lorem Finite” over the mixture at midnight each of the three days will create a potion that prevents all feeling of pain or discomfort. However, the potion’s effects only last for a short while (about two hours per swallow, give or take), and the person mixing it must have pure intentions at heart.
Misuse/Abuse: While the person making the potion must have pure intentions, there is nothing that says one with ill will cannot steal or even buy the powerful potion. Feelings of pain are our body’s way of telling us we are in danger, and without it, we may not even realize it until far too late. If a wizard—or witch, of course—is in a place dangerously hot or cold, and cannot feel pain or discomfort, they may dehydrate or freeze to death without even realizing anything is wrong. This potion must be applied with the utmost care, and should only be used by wizards who are at least NEWT level in Herbology and Potions.
Voluntary Assignment: Take a look through your History of Magic book and give me the name of any powerful magical being in the past that you believe could have been using this potion to keep themselves invincible, and a shortened version of their story.
Our discussion for these two lessons will once again involve ethics; do you think the potion from Lesson 3 should be readily available for purchase? Should it be used medicinally to relieve pain or is it too dangerous? Should it be banned or dubbed Dark Magic? Is it simply our version of muggle pain medications? After Lesson 4, I will encourage you to return here and apply some of these questions of morality to that plant and its power.
Proper Name: Humulus lupulus
Muggle Use: Relaxation, antibacterial, pain-relief and--most popularly--for brewing different varieties of beer.
Mythological/Historical Relevance: Hops was used in beer starting around 1079, and early 15th century in Britain, not making it over to the United States until 1629. Hops helps to add aroma and flavor to beer; it can compliment tastes ranging from sweet and citrus to grassy and bitter.
Magical Use: Hops’ pain-relieving strengths carry over to its magical powers and brewing it in saltwater for three days, reciting the spell “Lorem Finite” over the mixture at midnight each of the three days will create a potion that prevents all feeling of pain or discomfort. However, the potion’s effects only last for a short while (about two hours per swallow, give or take), and the person mixing it must have pure intentions at heart.
Misuse/Abuse: While the person making the potion must have pure intentions, there is nothing that says one with ill will cannot steal or even buy the powerful potion. Feelings of pain are our body’s way of telling us we are in danger, and without it, we may not even realize it until far too late. If a wizard—or witch, of course—is in a place dangerously hot or cold, and cannot feel pain or discomfort, they may dehydrate or freeze to death without even realizing anything is wrong. This potion must be applied with the utmost care, and should only be used by wizards who are at least NEWT level in Herbology and Potions.
Voluntary Assignment: Take a look through your History of Magic book and give me the name of any powerful magical being in the past that you believe could have been using this potion to keep themselves invincible, and a shortened version of their story.
Our discussion for these two lessons will once again involve ethics; do you think the potion from Lesson 3 should be readily available for purchase? Should it be used medicinally to relieve pain or is it too dangerous? Should it be banned or dubbed Dark Magic? Is it simply our version of muggle pain medications? After Lesson 4, I will encourage you to return here and apply some of these questions of morality to that plant and its power.
...I am not too weak to seek it...