======Poisons and Potent Venoms======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Magical Substance]], [[Potions]], [[Venom]], [[Dark Arts]]
=====Description and Appearance=====
Poisons in the [[Wizarding world]] are substances that cause harm, illness, or death when ingested, inhaled, or introduced into the body through contact or injury. They are not a single type of substance but a broad category that includes brewed [[Potions]], venoms from magical creatures, and toxic parts of magical plants.
Their appearance is highly variable. A poison can be a simple liquid indistinguishable from a harmless beverage, such as the oak-matured mead poisoned by [[Draco Malfoy]], or a thick, potent fluid like the deadly green venom of a [[Basilisk]]. Some magical objects, like the cursed opal necklace from [[Borgin and Burkes]], are imbued with poisonous curses that activate upon touch. Others may be gaseous, like the fumes from poisonous candles.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary function of any poison is to inflict harm. The effects can range from mild irritation, such as the boils caused by undiluted [[Bubotuber]] pus, to swift and certain death. Poisons are a common tool in the [[Dark Arts]], often favored for assassinations due to their stealthy nature.
Beyond simply killing, some poisons possess unique magical properties. The most significant example is **[[Basilisk]] venom**, which is one of the few known substances powerful enough to destroy a [[Horcrux]]. This property stems from its immense destructive power, which leaves an object damaged beyond magical repair.
Poisons and their components are also crucial ingredients in the art of [[Potions]]. Valuable substances like [[Acromantula]] venom and [[Doxy]] venom are sought after by potioneers. The study of poisons is intrinsically linked to the study of their cures; knowledge of antidotes, such as the [[Bezoar]], is a vital part of a [[Potions]] education at [[Hogwarts]].
=====Notable Poisons and Their Uses=====
Throughout the Second Wizarding War, several poisons and venoms played a significant role:
  * **[[Basilisk]] Venom:** A highly lethal poison that kills within minutes. The only known antidote is [[phoenix]] tears. [[Harry Potter]] was bitten by the [[Basilisk]] in the [[Chamber of Secrets]] and was saved by [[Fawkes]]. The venom, imbued in the [[Sword of Godric Gryffindor]], was later used to destroy three of [[Lord Voldemort]]'s [[Horcrux]]es: [[Tom Riddle's Diary]], [[Marvolo Gaunt's Ring]], and [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket]]. [[Neville Longbottom]] later used the sword to destroy the final [[Horcrux]], [[Nagini]].
  * **Poisoned Mead:** In his attempt to assassinate [[Albus Dumbledore]], [[Draco Malfoy]] gave a bottle of poisoned mead to [[Horace Slughorn]], intending for it to be passed on as a gift. Instead, [[Ron Weasley]] accidentally ingested it and was only saved by [[Harry Potter]]'s quick use of a [[Bezoar]].
  * **Cursed Opal Necklace:** Purchased by [[Draco Malfoy]] from [[Borgin and Burkes]], this necklace carried a powerful curse that had already killed nineteen [[Muggle]] owners. Malfoy attempted to smuggle it into [[Hogwarts]] via [[Katie Bell]], who was acting under the [[Imperius Curse]]. She accidentally touched the necklace through a hole in her glove and suffered a near-fatal curse, demonstrating the insidious power of cursed, poisonous objects.
  * **[[Acromantula]] Venom:** The venom of a giant spider, described by [[Horace Slughorn]] as extremely valuable and nearly impossible to obtain. Slughorn collected a vial of it from the body of [[Aragog]] after the [[Acromantula]]'s death.
  * **[[Doxy]] Venom:** A mildly poisonous substance used in some [[Potions]]. [[Hermione Granger]] discovered a bottle of it while cleaning [[12 Grimmauld Place]]. The antidote for a [[Doxy]] bite is the [[Cleaning Spell]] `//Scourgify//`.
  * **The Drink of Despair:** A potion of emerald green color used by [[Lord Voldemort]] to protect the locket [[Horcrux]] in the seaside cave. It does not kill directly but induces extreme fear, delirium, and a burning thirst, leaving the drinker incapacitated and vulnerable. [[Albus Dumbledore]] was severely weakened after consuming it.
  * **[[Venomous Tentacula]] Venom:** The bite of this dangerous magical plant is venomous, though its specific effects are not detailed.
=====Role in the Story=====
Poisons serve as a key plot device and a thematic element, representing an insidious and cowardly method of attack. [[Albus Dumbledore]] himself notes that [[Lord Voldemort]] prefers others to do his killing and that poison is a weapon often used by those who fear a direct confrontation.
This theme is central to [[Draco Malfoy]]'s arc in //Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//. His repeated, failed attempts to assassinate Dumbledore using poison highlight his desperation and his moral conflict, as he is unable to commit murder directly. Furthermore, the existence of poisons necessitates knowledge of antidotes, underscoring the life-saving importance of [[Potions]] proficiency, as demonstrated by Harry's use of the [[Bezoar]] to save Ron. Finally, the destructive power of [[Basilisk]] venom is absolutely critical to the main plot of the series, as it provides the means to destroy Voldemort's [[Horcrux]]es and ultimately defeat him.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * On the Pottermore website, the Baneberry plant is listed as a poisonous plant whose berries are used in Potion-making. It causes //"unease and sickness"//. (Pottermore)
  * Many poisonous creatures and plants in the series are based on mythological figures (the [[Basilisk]]) or real-world flora and fauna known for their toxicity, grounding the magical world in familiar concepts of danger.