Slug and Jiggers Apothecary

• Type: Apothecary (Shop)
• Location: Diagon Alley, London, England
• Owner/Residents: Unknown
• Key Features: Sells a wide variety of potions ingredients, has a distinct and unpleasant smell.

Slug and Jiggers Apothecary is the primary supplier of potions ingredients in Diagon Alley. It is a fascinating, if pungent, shop that caters to both Hogwarts students and experienced potion-makers. The exterior of the shop features barrels of slimy substances on the pavement and a window display containing jars of herbs, dried roots, and vibrant powders. More exotic and slightly sinister ingredients, such as bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws, are also visible, hinting at the powerful magic they can be used for. Inside, the shop is pervaded by a strong, unpleasant smell described as a mixture of bad eggs and rotten cabbages. The interior contains a counter where customers can be served, upon which sits a set of brass scales used for accurately weighing ingredients like bat spleens and eel eyes. The shop is well-stocked with everything a student might need for their Potions class, as well as rarer items sought by connoisseurs like Horace Slughorn. It is an essential stop for Hogwarts students purchasing their school supplies.

The apothecary serves as a key location for world-building, establishing the practical and sometimes unsavory reality of sourcing materials for potion-making. It appears several times throughout the series, marking different stages of Harry Potter's journey.

• In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry first sees the shop during his initial visit to Diagon Alley with Rubeus Hagrid. The strange sights and smells of the apothecary are part of his introduction to the wonders of the wizarding world.
• In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger visit the shop to purchase their Potions ingredients for the school year, treating it as a routine part of their back-to-school shopping.
• In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, while staying at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry observes other Hogwarts students inside the apothecary, arguing over the price of lacewing flies. This moment adds a layer of realism to the wizarding economy and student life.
• In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Horace Slughorn is seen leaving the shop, complaining loudly about the price of ingredients while also mentioning he secured a good deal on some rare items. He is also seen buying crystallized pineapple for himself, a detail that helps re-establish his character's penchant for luxury and networking.

• The shop's facade is featured in the film adaptations as part of the larger Diagon Alley set, contributing to the visual richness of the magical marketplace. (film)
• Slug and Jiggers Apothecary often appears as an interactive location in Harry Potter video games, where players can purchase potions ingredients. (video game)
• The name “Slug” refers to a common potions ingredient. “Jiggers” may be a reference to the Chigoe flea (also known as a jigger), a creature whose parts could conceivably be used in Potions, or it may simply be a fanciful, alliterative name in the Dickensian style common to Diagon Alley shops.