Strengthening Solution
From UnknowableWiki
A Strengthening Solution is a fairly difficult potion which, presumably, increases the strength of living beings, though its exact purpose is unknown (OP15).
The Strengthening Solution is brewed in two stages; at the end of the first stage, the potion should be a clear turquoise. The potion then sits to mature, after which it is completed. The ingredients of the potion include salamander blood and griffin claw (OP15, OP17).
The Strengthening Solution in Potions class
Severus Snape teaches his fifth-year students how to brew the Strengthening Solution in 1995. He lets them brew the first stage of the potion during a double Potions lesson on September 9. Harry Potter, who has just received a 'D' for his homework, is determined to do well and reads every line of the instructions on the blackboard several times before following them. At the end of the lesson, he is relieved to see that his potion is blue, though not as perfectly clear turquoise as Hermione Granger's. Neville Longbottom's Strengthening Solution, however, is pink. All students deliver a flask of their potion to Snape for grading (OP15).
The study of Strengthening Solutions is continued in October. Students complete the first stage before the first weekend of the month; presumably on Thursday, October 3. The potions then have time to mature until the next lesson on Monday, October 7. This lesson is inspected by High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. Harry is so eager to hear her questioning Snape that he hardly pays attention to his potion. Hermione repeatedly has to keep him from using the wrong ingredients; once, he tries to add pomegranate juice instead of salamander blood.
After taking notes for about half an hour, Umbridge compliments Snape on the advanced skills of his students, but disapproves of including the Strengthening Solution in the class syllabus, hinting that the Ministry would like to see it removed. Presumably, she thinks that the potion could be used in combat. She continues to ask questions about Snape's teaching career. Harry is still listening closely. He adds a few drops of unknown liquid to his potion (possibly still pomegranate juice), which starts to hiss and turns from turquoise to orange. Once Umbridge has finished her interview, Harry's potion is completely ruined; it has congealed and smells of burned rubber. Snape Vanishes the failed potion and assigns him an essay on the proper composition of Strengthening Solutions to be handed in next lesson (OP17).
Harry writes the essay that same evening in the Gryffindor common room; he cannot concentrate due to the noise and crosses out the wrong weight of powdered griffin claw four times (OP17).
