What was in the basin in the cave?

[halliemei]

I was surprised that we haven't discussed directly what it was that DD was drinking in the cave. I've read on other sites the idea that it was "Drought of the Living Death" -- mainly because Snape had talked about it first year. But, tonight while reading HBP -- Chapter 9 -- I realized that it wasn't right. We learned about five potions in this chapter (though we've been introduced to all but this first one before):

Felix Felicis - molten gold in color; liquid luck
Veritaserum - colorless, odorless; makes people tell the truth
Polyjuice - slow-bubling, mudlike; turns you into someone else
Amortentia - mother-of-pearl sheen, steam in characteristic spirals, smells differently to everyone; most powerful love potion in the world
Drought of the Living Death - first "smooth, black currant-colored liquid", then lilac in color, then stirred until "clear as water"; per SS/PS -- Causes someone to fall into a deep sleep

So, could the potion in the basin be that? Nope, it was (pg 567 US)
full of an emerald liquid emitting that phosphorescent glow.

What else is emerald green, besides ink and clothing, which I think can be discarded? Well, floo powder makes flames emerald green. I don't see any other references. I can say that I believe this is an invention of VMs (or Snape's for that matter) -- see "Harry is a Horcrux" for my theories about them inventing spells.

Anyone have any ideas?

[Alz]

To be honest, I feel this could almost be a HBP special - wouldn't it be right up the alley of Snape to have created something like this?
We could see in the book he was capable of creating spells and also had great skills in Potions - I think this was what probably attracted Snape to Voldemort.
Voldemort doesn't seem the type just to accept anyone as a DE - they had to have a skill, connection or use that would serve him and his cause.
I know that Dumbledore was very keen for Harry to get Snape to treat him post potion - I wonder what would Snape have done?
We know that Dumbledore consumed the potion - didn't take a sample - but yet ask for Snape ...
This makes me think it was Snape that made that potion.
Another thing - would a bezoar have cured Dumbledore - good for most potions including that one Draco laced the mead with?

As far as effects - it would appear that it was a slow acting poison, that when first drunk causes hallucinations - maybe nightmares - it looks like to immobilise the victim for a little while - and then allows the victim to move - but also looks like it leads to a slow death - never really recovering from the initial effects of the hallucinations

[Vestral]

Liquid Avada Kedavra ? The Avanda Kedavra curse flashes a green sort of light... correct ?
Dumbledore tells Harry that he didn't think Voldemort would want whatever it is in the basin to kill the one who drinks it... immediately.

So maybe it will eventually kill them, but very slowly ?

[Alz]

Wow - interesting theory there ...
You are pointing towards something that is pretty relevant - green being the colour of the killing curse and indeed this liquid was meant to kill eventually - I like it!
I would have thought thou - just to offer a little debate on this - the AK curse leaves no mark - I would have expected a similar 'liquid' version to do the same thing - kill the drinker and leave no trace of the fact what killed them ...

[halliemei]

hmmm . . . funny. In my own essay on Dumbledore's Boggart, I guess I answered this for myself, but it is interesting to see what you guys say. I think it's funny because so many people (on many sites) think it's DotLD.

[Vold. E. Mort]

I still question why it had to be swallowed and not just poured out on the ground.

[Alz]

I still question why it had to be swallowed and not just poured out on the ground.
Personally - i think that on it's own has legs and might be a good seperate discussion if you want to create a new thread!