It has long been theorised that Muggles and Squibs would be able to make Potions, because there is no apparent magic being used by the Potion maker.

However, today I came across canon evidence that points to Squibs not being able to make Potions. If Squibs can't, Muggles can't either.

It comes from CoS, where Harry sees Filch's Kwikspell course letter. Remember that Kwikspell is a course designed to try to teach Squibs spells (a course that doesn't work JKR has said). When we see Filch's Kwikspell letter, one of the "testimonials" (most likely from a weak witch rather than from an actual Squib) states that Kwikspell taught the woman how to make a Scintillation Solution. So Kwikspell - a course for Squibs - tries to teach Potions.

This seems to indicate that Squibs can't make Potions after all.

 

Well, a theory I thought up a while back about potions is that it isn't all just chopping, slicing and stirring. There has to be a magic component to it beyond the use of magical creatures for ingredients. So I reckon that whilst making a potion it must continuously draw on your magic to at least some degree. For simpler potions (going by the books thats years 1-6 at least) it must happen pretty much automatically. For more complex potions, such as the luck potion and so forth, there is perhaps a technique that Masters use to add their magic in the correct places in the correct strengths.

This would make sense to me, as it would create a very clear dividing line between a Potions Maker and a Potions Master. This technique is possibly taught in 7th year NEWT Potions and is vital to get more than an A in the exam.

 

When you think about it, Potions are no different to spells really.

Ingredients are equivalent to the incantation, and method of mixing (stirring etc) serves a similar purpose to the wand.

So a Muggle trying to make a Potion would have a similar effect to a Muggle trying to use a wand and incantation to cast a spell: though all the components are there, they simply don't have the magic gene, so it just doesn't work.

 

I think the question of whether or not Squibs can do anything magical really comes down to one of belief. We have plenty of evidence that nobody really knows what Squibs are or are not capable of...the most telling piece of it being at Harry's 'trial' for using a Patronus to save Dudley and himself from the Dementors. Neville is also a very good example of how important 'belief' or self confidence is.

We also have the problem of if they can't use/see/do anything magical, then why does magic actually affect them? We know that magic can directly affect both Squibs and Muggles, so Potions should be able to also. And, Squbs at least, should be able to interact on some level with them. We also know that at least the first year material is so simple that even Neville should have had no problem with it, had he not been so intimidated by Snape.

My take on the question is that Squibs and even Muggles can actually make very simple potions that require only the magic inherent in the ingredients used. Anything that is more complex and requires any sort of direct magical involvement on the part of the person brewing it is beyond the capabilities of a Squib of Muggle to brew.

 

One interesting thing is that if Kwikspell helped/allowed a squib to make a potion, that points to the idea that some people's magic is either more or less adapted to making potions. That is to say, some people have a magical disposition towards potions. It could even be specific to certain types of potions. (i.e., Neville's not predisposed to making potion ingredients combine properly but maybe when he does his potions are a lot stronger than average.)

Maybe Snape can pick up on Neville's potential and doesn't want any other cooks in his kitchen, so he does his best to berate him and deny him the chance to become a far better Potions Master.

I still see it though as the people "best" at Potions have magic predisposed to Potions, because they suck gorilla cock at the other fields of magic. Hence the superior attitude towards "silly wand-waving".

 

Slughorn is good at both Potions and other magic, as is Snape, Hermione and Lily, so I wouldn't say that to be good at Potions means you can't be good at other types of magic.

I always took Snape's "wand waving" comment at the beginning to PS to be within the context of Potions: not that he has a disdain for magic cast with a wand (we know for a fact that he loves the Dark Arts even more than he likes Potions) but that wands have no place within the discipline of Potions.

 

It just seems counterintuitive that one can't cast a spell on a potion, or use spells in potions. If 'magic' is the ability to manipulate matter/energy, then it should be able to affect damn near every aspect of reality.

Canon states that magic affects solid matter, liquids, human perception and memory, crosses the line between living and non-living matter (button to beetle.) It also causes explosions (Ron in the Chamber,) and randomizes electrical flow, which is one of the basic aspects of the atom itself. Magic can move a person backwards in time. Magic can manipulate the soul - and that's the part of us that is Divine.

I'd say that the only limit on what magic CAN do is in the mind of the user.

 

I really don't like this theory. I can see how you came to the conclusion with the kwikspell endorsement, but there is another possible reason for that. Squibs, since they lack magic, cannot go to Hogwarts or any other place to receive a magical education. Potions is taught at places of magical education. If we go by the fact that there aren't any other kinds of places where one can receive instruction in Potions (besides being an apprentice or helpful friend/family member) we can conclude that since squibs can't attend Hogwarts/Beaubattons (sp?) or any other magical school, they never have the opportunity to receive instruction in Potions. So Kwikspell acts like a long distance correspondence course for Potions (if it is indeed legit in that part while we know it's not legit for spellwork), like the kind so many universities these days are offering.

Squibs can use floo powder, and are not effected by muggle repelling wards, so it isn't that far of a stretch to say that they can make potions. Besides the Kwikspell thing, there is no evidence that you are using magic in potions (or that squibs cannot make potions), either by a constant flow from the maker, or using specific magic on a potion (which someone theorized above is done with complex NEWT and above level potions). I really don't think that potions has anything to do with magic besides the fact that magic ingredients are often used in it. We see from HBP that potions is very complex and much more than just "slice, dice, add ingredient, stir". It seems to me that Potions, like Transfiguration, is a very complex and difficult subject that takes a very long time to become a master of, and in order to attain mastery you must be very intelligent, creative, dedicated, and must have a passion for the subject. Even Hermione, who is the resident know-it-all was lost in HBP when they attempted to make antidotes to certain potions. I'm rambling so I will say that I believe that Potions is an extremely difficult subject to attain a NEWT in, let alone mastery, and that magic has nothing to do with it.

 

Is there any evidence that Kwikspell actually works for Squibs? Is it not possible the people mentioned are simply poorly skilled witches and wizards who wish to improve their abilities?

 

I always thought Kwikspell was a course purely for squibs...

Anyways, even though I've decided to not try to make any arguments based on inferred or even made up facts, I always thought the same as Demons in the Night. The purebloods didn't seem to have any potions knowledge before Snape's class, so I assume that potions aren't usually taught at home. Thus, a course like kwikspell would try to teach both potions and spells.

 

QFT.

I would say that Squibs, and Muggles even, would be able to brew simple potions, like say Pepper-Up. There's no magic involved other than slice-and-dice. Hell, who's to say Muggles haven't been brewing potions alongside wizards for centuries, and merely switched over to more "scientific" production methods when the means came about?

More complex potions, involving magic and stirring with your wand (I swear I've read that somewhere) - no chance. But that'd probably only count with potions as advanced as Felix Felicis, but I won't go into that. A luck potion? Made me want to vomit when I read it. Voldemort would have gallons of the stuff.

And Taure, get off your high horse. Muggles may not be able to cast an Avada Kedavra, but we can build a supercomputer.

 

And said killing curse would destroy the computer, as could a first year charm.

And bare in mind what Slughorn said about using Felix Felicis to often, it has the reverse effect and becomes a bad luck potion.

 

Or a bullet, or a bomb, or a fucking hammer.

 

JKR confirmed this a while ago I think.

 

The Doctor: All of which in and of themselves could be stopped by a spell.

 

Please, let's not get into this debate again...

...because we all know Muggles would just drop a nuke on 'em.

 

I'm quite willing to not get into this debate old chap...

...because we all know that muggles will never drop a nuke on their own country, and no other country would do it so as to avoid MAD.

 

I would like to see the interview where this is mentioned. JKR seriously needs to shut the fuck up. She already dropped the ball with the last 2 HP books and now she wants to go back and fuck things up even more by adding useless details and "fixes" that she couldn't be bothered to put in the books the first time around.

 

RANDOM ASS-KISSER: Miss Rowling, your detractors *snicker* claim the romance between Harry and Ginny was not justified. What do you have to say to these morons?

THE ALMIGHTY JKR: Oh, well... um... there - there was plenty of perfect moments between Harry and Ginny! I just didn't have the space to write them! I was too busy putting in Hermione's mood swings, and the subtle - yes, subtle... hints of Albus Dumbledore being gay!

MUGGLENET COCK-SUCKERS: Oh, thank you JKR! Praise be to you! We knew Harry was soul-bonded to Ginny! And that a gay Dumbledore would not be stupid or creepy at all!

FANGIRL #2562452679: OMG HAI CAN I LICK YOUR PUSSY PLZ JKR??!!!!!!!

THE ALMIGHTY JKR: Yes, I think that would be appropriate. *smiles*