Golpalott's Third Law

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Golpalott's Third Law states that "the antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components." Hermione gives this answer, copied word-for-word from Advanced Potion-Making, when Slughorn asks his sixth-year Potions class about the Law.

The proper identification of the potion's component with the use of Scarpin's Revelaspell is, of course, essential when trying to make an antidote. The witch or wizard must, therefore, not only know the proper antidote to all components, but also strive to find the extra element which will make the ensemble work against a given poison.

The teacher proceeds to give each student a blended poison and ask them to come up with the proper antidote. Harry, unable to grasp the concept of Golpalott's Third Law, fetches a bezoar from the store cupboards and presents it to Slughorn, earning ten points for cheek (HBP18).