Eye of Newt

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Eye of Newt^[3] was a potion ingredient of unknown effect, an eye taken from a newt.^[1] The phrase was also featured in the song "Something Wicked This Way Comes."^[2]

In "bloodthirstier" times in wizarding history, before the passage of Legislation regarding animal cruelty, young witches and wizards were expected to personally squeeze out the newt eyes they were using in potions.^[1]

Behind the scenes

• Eye of Newt is explicitly identified in Disc 2 of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone DVD: Go to Classroom, then Potions, and then into the Quiz. It, along with Asphodel, Wormwood, and Chicken Lips, were selectable options in test tubes, with no distinctive form and just liquid-looking substances with colours.^[3]
• As featured in "Something Wicked This Way Comes," this phrase and in fact the title of the song itself originates from the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Disc 2) (First identified as Eye of Newt)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (First mentioned)
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)

Notes and references