Draught of Living Death

Potion information
Effect
Causes the drinker to fall into a deep, death-like slumber

Characteristics
Turns pale lilac colour then clear

Difficulty level
Advanced

Known ingredients
Water
Powdered root of asphodel
Infusion of Wormwood
Valerian root
A Sopophorous Bean
A Sloth brain


"The Draught of Living Death brings upon its drinker a very powerful sleep that can last indefinitely. This draught is very dangerous if not used with caution ... This is an extremely dangerous potion. Execute with maximum caution."
—Abstract from Advanced Potion-Making
The Draught of Living Death is an extremely powerful sleeping draught, sending the drinker into a deathlike slumber, similar to suspended animation. This draught is an advanced potion that is taught to N.E.W.T. students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Difficulty

The potion is difficult to concoct, since Hermione Granger, a very talented potion-maker, who managed to concoct Polyjuice Potion in her second year, had trouble doing it. Indeed, Horace Slughorn states that only once before in his career was a student (presumably Severus Snape, the Half-Blood Prince whose bookmarked instructions deviated from the potion-making process made a far more effective draught than any other student, though this was never confirmed) able to brew a mostly finished draught in only a single hour.

Brewing instructions

A bottle of the Draught of Living Death
"The Draught of Living Death is a very powerful sleeping potion that can be made by adding powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood"

—Description
The following recipe can be followed to brew this potion:
Add the Infusion of Wormwood.
Add the powdered root of asphodel.
Stir twice clockwise.
Add the sloth brain.
Add the Sopophorous bean's juice.
Stir seven times anti-clockwise.

Half-Blood Prince's Notes

The Sopophorous bean should be crushed with a silver dagger, not cut, releases juices more efficiently.
The juice from 13 Sopophorous beans should be used, rather than 12.
Stir anticlockwise seven times and clockwise once instead.