Potions

Potions are liquid mixtures of magically potent ingredients. They are categorized based on their intended function and brewed according to several theories of chemical magics. It is different from alchemy in that it relies on the magic of the ingredients, the environment, and the brewer instead of the conductor alone. Alchemy uses nonmagical elements fused together by the magic of the caster.

Draught
A draught induces an effect on the target, typically affecting emotions. These effects are strictly those that the target cannot produce by themselves, as that is the purview of an elixir. An example of a draught is the Calming Draught, which works by inducing calm. A less common example is the Polyjuice Potion, technically identifiable as a draught as it induces a physical metamorphosis. A draught is composed in fire, as it cannot rely on the potentas of the target.

Philter
A philter is a specific subcategory of a draught that induces emotions. Most famously, love potions are classified as philters as they induce infatuation or obsession.

Elixir
Elixirs promote an effect, stimulating healing, growth, or furthering decay, for example. An elixir cannot induce an unnatural effect, as that is the purview of a draught. The most potent and legendary Elixir is of course the Elixir of Life, a famous brew only possible through the harnessing of the Philosopher's Stone. Elixirs are derived from water components, as they use their own potentas in tandem with the target itself.

Poison
A poison attacks a specific source of potentas, inherently harmful to the target. Poisons are derived from earth components as the source of potentas changes based on what organic and inorganic ingredients are used.

Base
A base is the first ingredient, typically a liquid that in Muggle chemistry would be identified as a solvent. It can be either basic or acidic, and that isn't what the name refers to in potionmaking. A base is a base like a foundation. As it is the primary source of potentas, the elemental nature of the base informs the overall nature of the brew.

Circumstances
The circumstances refer to a time, place, and ambience of a potion's brewing or its components during harvesting. The circumstances provide an additional characteristic of potentas. The potency of ingredients can be determined by the circumstances in which it was raised or harvested and must be taken into account when brewing. Ambient magic is a potent circumstance and must be heavily regulated in any potions laboratory to ensure consistent brews.

Ingredients
Ingredients are the secondary and tertiary components and sources of potentas that inform the potion's character.

Constructive Ingredients
Constructive ingredients are those that provide the character of the potion based on their elemental composition, symbolic significance to the potionmaker, or the potentas imbued into it.

Ancillary Ingredients
Ancillary ingredients inform the nature of the constructive ingredients, guiding the reaction as a whole. Typically these are in smaller quantities than the constructive ingredients. An example of an ancillary ingredient is the porcupine quills added to Cure for Boils, itself a draught. The porcupine quills interacts with the potentas of the snake fangs and the horned slugs, both constructive ingredients.

Fundamental Law of Potions
The most fundamental law is that potions are created, sustained, and provide effect to magical energy, known as potentas. Potentas exists in any magical matter, inorganic or organic. A potion therefore cannot be used on or created through or by nonmagical beings or objects.

Fundamental Laws of Potentas
The fundamental laws of magical energy, known as potentas in Western potioneering, is identical to the first law of thermodynamics: that magic can neither be created nor destroyed.

Elemental Identity of Components
The Theory of Elemental Identity is the most widely accepted model in Western potioneering. According to the Theory of Elemental Identity, the identity of components (base, ingredients) inform the interaction the potion has with potentas. A component's identity is based on its association and concentration of one of the four classical elements. The elemental identity is quantifiable. Views on this theory are mixed, however most agree that it touches on a fundamental part of magic. Exploration into elemental identities are furthered by elementalist potioneers. Subscribers of alternative classical elementation are numerous outside of Western potioneering, yet the West interprets these schools of thought as mere expansions of their own, more reduced model.

Water
As water is present in plant life, in solutions, and in organic material, it is by far the most common identifier. Water components utilize the potentas in their ingredients and also draw efficacy from the target it is used on. Distilled water, free from any extraneous earthen, fiery, or aerial components, is the purest expression of elemental water. A water base signifies a potion that is meant to work in tandem with the native potentas of the target, and thus is used in elixirs.

Earth
Earth characteristics are minerals, the tangible elements of the world. This includes the minerals in plants as well as inorganic matter. Pure earthen bases are uncommon and are often used immersed in spirit or in water (in solution). Earth bases signify a contrary nature to the potentas expressed in the brew's other components and in the target's native potentas and is that used in poisons as well as in some draughts.

Fire
Fire characteristics are, unlike the others, components that can release and sustain magical or nonmagical energy, such as alcohols (known as spirits) or body parts of animals. The more a base has fire characteristics, the more volatile the potion is. Fire components use their own potentas to create effects, with it being determined by the source and circumstances of the component's harvesting or creation. A fire base signifies a potion that incites a change, and thus are used most often in draughts.

Air
Air is unique in that a 'pure state' of air doesn't exist. To most models of thought, a base of air is impossible while others see Air as an expression of energy, of the intangible circumstances that are outside of the (conventional) potionmaker's control. The position of air as a qualifier of components has been disputed for millennia in magical thought and is regarded as Muggles regard plasma- with curiosity, disdain, or outright rejection as a form. Gaseous components are slowly being introduced into the mainstream, though these are thought of as states of water, earth, or fire characterized components.

Brew Model Theories
A potion is seen as greater than the sum of its collective parts, though how a potions effects and potency are created is disputed and not very well understood. There are several theories as to what force is the most fundamental to potionmaking. Plainly, it's a right mess.

Theoretical Model of Circumstance
What is known is that the environment of brewing and where and how the ingredients are harvested influence the nature of the potion overall. Professors of the circumstance school advocate for a clean, sterile environment devoid of ambient magic to ensure potent magic. Detractors of the theory note that a potion can be successfully brewed with only minor potency differentials in most any environment.

Theoretical Model of Elements
The Theoretical Model of Elements is the most widely accepted model, which holds that the elemental composition of a potion is the key to its effect and potency, the purity of the ingredients increasing the potency. Detractors of the model point to the fact that it is in fact based on another theory, that of Elemental Identity or can be subsumed into the model of circumstance or intention, as purifying ingredients creates intention and the circumstances determine the purity.

Theoretical Model of Intention
What is known is that a creature's ability to harness magic is in some ways tied to their emotional state and procedure. Sympathetic potionmaking, such as being in love while creating a love potion or aggressively chopping ingredients for Subscribers to the theoretical model of intention posit that the components and circumstances are subservient to the potionmaker's intention and thus these potionmakers aim to control their environment and emotional state to achieve potent, consistent brews. Detractor of this model point to the unreliability of measures of emotionality and rightly point out that intention alone does not a potion make.

Unified Theoretical Model of Potionmaking
A unified model that successfully synthesizes what is known about magic with the strengths and weaknesses of the other three models has not yet been found. Most often, potionmakers and potioneers draw on all three models without consideration to the efficacy of doing all three measures at once, which seems to provide consistent yet less potent results. Should a solid unified theoretical model be cemented, it would revolutionize modern potionmaking.