Magical
Theory
By Adalbert Waffling
Chapter 2: Potential Magic
Casted magic is by far the most obvious, well-known, and well-studied category of magic. It is the one we take the greatest care and have the greatest ability to hide from muggles. It is the form we regulate most carefully, and is the most visible in our every day lives. But it is not the most present. Substantial, or potential magic, exists all around us, but is primarily invisible. It is the category of magic which we are not able to hide from muggles, but we have no need to. Whereas casted magic is an active or kinetic form of magic, the second category is simply extant and potential, though it would be a mistake to call it dormant. This category includes magic which is active, but not acting. Take for example wards. Wards are an active form of magic, acting as alarms, traps, etc, but do not act unless they are activated, at which point they cast their form of casted magic, alarming the setter, hiding a guarded object, or blowing the offending activator into very small pieces.
Potions work in a similar manner. While being brewed and once brewed, they contain an active form of magic, known to cause some 'special effects' while they sit in the phial. The draught of living death is often seen taunting its brewer with a ghastly face and a howl every once in a while, almost as if it had a sense of humor. Many skilled brewers have been known to build these into their potions purposefully; nagging parents of aging children have been known to cause wiggling fingers to appear in hangover cures, while healing potions sometimes release soothing sounds when unstoppered, or sleeping potions release the tones of a lullaby, when expertly brewed.
It is not until the potion is applied that it's active magical power takes action. When a person drinks a potion to cure boils it enters and mixes with their own system to meet its end. In this case, the potion need not be potent because the body is working with the potion. In fact, in the common cure for boils, the potion acts as more of an aid to the body than anything else. Other potions, such as poisons, must be much more potent, since they work against the body to achieve their ends. This works out well for the accident prone in potion-brewing; chances are, mistakes will cause illness of varying levels, and not death. Unless, of course, the mistake creates a perfect poison.
When a potion is wasted, or used incorrectly, it must release its power. When poured down a drain (unless that is their stated purpose), most potions simply release their energy through smell and steam, and occasionally light, or fire. When a potion meant to be drunk is applied to the outer skin instead, differing results will occur. With the earlier example of the boils cure, a perfectly good potion could be created, but if applied to the skin, causes boils instead of curing them. The varying affects are not always negative; some of the most potent poisons double as excellent salves for various types of injuries.
The most base and elemental form of substantial magic is, oddly enough, the least studied and understood. The manacore of a being or an object gets right down to the heart of every branch of magic, yet so little is known about what it is, why it is there, why it is so radically different from species to species, and even from individual to individual. It is difficult to even translate it into synonyms, from its name in ancient text. The closest word we have still in use would have to be spirit, but that is a far cry from the true meaning. What is known is that every being has a basic manacore, and that in the case of plants and animals, it determines their magical properties, and in the case of people, it determines their power. Even those beings and objects which are 'non-magical' have a manacore. It is harder to detect, and sometimes takes a different form, but it is the base of life. When a being is drained of its manacore, it can no longer live.
Though it would end a centuries-old debate, no conclusive theories have ever been proven to determine what causes the level of power in a person, or animal. Some studies of wizards and witches conclude that 'magical blood' runs through family lines, but others point to some of the most powerful wizards throughout history who are known to have little to no magical heritage. Among animals, similar debates exist. While it is indisputable that each magical animal among its species passes down a similar manacore, cross-breeding between non-magical animals has been known to create some of the most potent magical creatures known to man. Most studies are either difficult to merit, coming from biased sources, or thoroughly under-funded by the ministry because of political efforts to undermine research. It does not appear that the debate has an end in sight.