The Harry Potter saga introduced various spells and potions that the characters used at some point, and among those is Liquid Luck, which some fans believe was used by Professor Slughorn during the Battle of Hogwarts. The Wizarding World continues to be one of the most popular and beloved universes in the realm of fantasy, with fans revisiting the Harry Potter novels and movies quite often – and this has made way for new fan theories as viewers are finally noticing small details that haven’t been caught before and that could either change the story or add more to the arcs of some characters.
Back in 1997, J.K. Rowling shared the Wizarding World with readers in the novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first in a series of seven novels telling the story of “the boy who lived” and Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard of all, who had dangerous plans for the Muggle and Wizarding worlds and a personal vendetta against Harry. The Harry Potter novels made the jump to the big screen between 2001 and 2011 (with the final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows divided into two movies), further expanding the books’ already extensive fanbase. However, adapting a world like Harry Potter’s inevitably requires some changes and additions, but it also gives the opportunity of adding some fun and interesting details in each scene, and one during the Battle of Hogwarts could explain the fate of one character.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 saw Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) leading the Battle of Hogwarts against Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and other allies. Joining the battle were all the teachers at Hogwarts, with Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) famously dueling Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) at the Great Hall, but there was also Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) around. Slughorn rejoined Hogwarts as Potion Master in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and it was during that first year back that he introduced Harry and company to Felix Felicis or “Liquid Luck”, a potion that made the drinker lucky for a period of time – and fans have noticed that Slughorn could have used this peculiar potion right before he joined the Battle of Hogwarts.
Fans on Reddit have shared their suspicions about Slughorn sipping on some Liquid Luck before the Battle of Hogwarts began based on his personality before and during the big battle. One Redditor explains that, throughout the Harry Potter series, Slughorn showed how skilled he is as a potions master, but he’s never shown to be talented at dueling and confronting others. In the novel, McGonagall threatens to duel him to death if he betrays her, to which he flinches as he’s very frightened, but he later helps her and Kingsley Shacklebolt duel none other than Voldemort. This sudden bravery is believed to be the result of Slughorn drinking Liquid Luck, and the movie might have subtly confirmed so. Harry Potter fans have pointed out that, in the scene where McGonagall protects Hogwarts, Slughorn can be seen in the background drinking something from a flask, leading them to believe it was Liquid Luck. This would also explain why Slughorn survived the battle, as his dueling skills and more would have made him a very easy enemy to defeat.
Of course, it’s possible that Slughorn was simply trying to gain some courage from another source, and instead of being under the effects of Liquid Luck, his bravery might have been the result of him being a bit tipsy. Slughorn drinking Liquid Luck before the Battle of Hogwarts in Harry Potter is a theory that makes a lot of sense, and until Rowling confirms or denies it, it’s up to fans to decide if it works or not.