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Emerald Potion

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Drink of Despair
Drink of Despair
Potion information


  • Emerald green in colour
  • Glows phosphorescently

Lord Voldemort (quite possibly)





The Drink of Despair has an emerald green colour to it, and glows phosphorescently. As such, a green glow can be seen from the basin on the island in the middle of the lake from the far end of the cave. Even though Dumbledore said he could not change its nature in any way, Lord Voldemort turned the potion "crystal clear" to check the locket. It may be because he alone can alter the potion's characteristics to check the Horcrux, or because he only wanted to check on it rather than remove it from the basin. The former is most likely as it seems that Dumbledore could not change the colour to see if the horcrux was there, however Dumbledore might have been certain that the Horcrux was there, therefore feeling no need to check.

Effects of the potion

Emerald green potion

The basin and the Crystal goblet where the potion is held.

—Kreacher describing when Voldemort forced him to test the potion's defenses.[src]

While its effects are not completely known, the potion would seem to cause the drinker intense stomach pains, extreme thirst and cause them to see and believe terrible things, most likely their worst memories and fears. Having said that, the drinker always knows that they are reliving those experiences; not seeing them for the first time as they know that it is the potion causing them to suffer, otherwise they wouldn't ask to stop drinking.




Behind the scenes

  • In the movie, the Drink of Despair is a completely different colour, appearing as a murky black colour.
  • Though unnamed on the books, films, and video games, the track from the film's soundtrack which plays over the scene of Dumbledore consuming the potion is titled "The Drink of Despair." This would be an appropriate name for the potion, given the morbid effect that it has on its drinker.


Notes and references


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