Mandrake Restorative Draught

• Type: Potion (Restorative Draught)
• Primary Ingredient: Mature Mandrakes (Mandragora officinarum)
• Known Brewers: Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey
• Known Growers of Ingredient: Professor Sprout
• Effect: Cures Petrification

The novels do not provide a physical description of the finished Mandrake Restorative Draught, such as its colour or consistency. It is a potion administered orally to victims of Petrification. The key ingredient, the Mandrake, is a magical plant whose root resembles a humanoid baby that emits a fatal scream when unearthed from the soil.

The primary and sole known purpose of the Mandrake Restorative Draught is to serve as a powerful antidote to Petrification. It can restore victims who have been cursed or transfigured into a solid, stone-like state back to their normal, living condition. The efficacy of the potion is entirely dependent on its core ingredient: fully grown, mature Mandrakes. The cry of a mature Mandrake is fatal to any who hear it, making the cultivation and harvesting process exceptionally dangerous and requiring protective earmuffs. The draught cannot be prepared until the Mandrakes have “got over their acne” and begun moving into each other's pots, signs that they have reached maturity. This maturation process can take several months.

The Mandrake Restorative Draught played a pivotal role during the 1992-1993 school year at Hogwarts, as detailed in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. When the Chamber of Secrets was opened and the Basilisk within began attacking students, its victims were Petrified rather than killed because they had not looked directly into its eyes. The first victim was Mrs Norris, the cat belonging to Argus Filch. Subsequently, several students were Petrified: Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Penelope Clearwater, and Hermione Granger, along with the Gryffindor house ghost, Nearly Headless Nick. Professor Dumbledore immediately arranged for a fresh batch of the draught to be brewed. Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, was tasked with cultivating the necessary Mandrakes in the Hogwarts greenhouses. Professor Snape, the Potions Master, was responsible for brewing the final potion. The victims were forced to remain in the Hospital Wing under the care of Madam Pomfrey for several months while they waited for the Mandrakes to mature. By the end of May, the Mandrakes were ready. The potion was successfully brewed and administered, and all the victims of the Basilisk's gaze made a full recovery.

The Mandrake Restorative Draught is a crucial plot device in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It represents the only hope for the Petrified victims, providing a concrete magical solution to the Basilisk's attacks. The significant length of time required for the Mandrakes to mature serves to heighten the tension and sense of danger throughout the school year. It underscores the severity of the attacks, as the victims are effectively removed from the story for a long period. This is particularly significant in the case of Hermione Granger, whose Petrification forces Harry Potter and Ron Weasley to solve the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets on their own, albeit with a vital clue she left behind. The promise of the draught's eventual completion ensures that the attacks do not result in permanent harm.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the scene where the draught is administered is not shown. The victims are simply seen recovered and rejoining the Great Hall for the end-of-year feast, with Dumbledore announcing that Professor Sprout's Mandrakes have been successfully made into a potion by Madam Pomfrey. This differs slightly from the book, where Professor Snape is noted as the brewer. (film)
• The Mandrake itself is based on the real-world mandrake plant (Mandragora), which has a long history in folklore and mythology. It was often attributed with magical properties, and its forked root was said to resemble a human figure that would scream when pulled from the ground.