An Editorial by Ariene Callahan
In what is perhaps a brilliant marketing strategy from the potion industry, the company Cupid�s Brew has sky rocketed with sales from their newly released line of love potions. Young pre-teen and teenage witches, with the occasional wizard have flocked shops and bought out supplies of the much wanted love potion. In an interview with a certain shopkeeper (who wishes to remain anonymous) they have revealed that within minutes of placing the display, they were mobbed with witches and wizards all clamoring to own this miraculous potion. So what is this phenomenon, taking us by surprise? Developed by Aphrodite Wingleaf, Erised Love Potions (or ELP as it�s being called) has been a success. Wingleaf was inspired to create a much safer and environment friendly potion, that would bring the drinker everything their heart desired. �I spent many years mixing different essences and used many test subjects, before I stumbled upon the right mix of Erised.� Replied Aphrodite in an interview for the Daily Prophet. Sounds too good to be true! Though no known side affects have been reported, perhaps we should be on the lookout in the next few months, of Erised potion drinkers prohibiting weird or unusual behavior and/or features.
I myself am skeptical as of the potency of the miracle �love potion�. What message does this send out to our young generation? That you must hide yourself, that the only way to be truly loved is to hoodwink someone into an illusion of emotion? Many witches and wizards alike have thrown away their lives, chasing after something that has no truth. Belief and self-love and confidence are the real love potions. These are priceless; they don�t have to be purchased. Franca Goobledeirk of the Wizardry World Press thinks otherwise. �This potion simply enables those of a shyer nature to realize their (full) potential�� For 89 galleons, which is the retail price of this 2 oz. Bottle, potential can be reached. Excuse me while I gag!
Whether or not this brew is worth the galleons or not, is for the individual to decide. As sales increase in a once slumping potion stock market, more and more shops are selling Erised. Perhaps the days of old have outshone the good old moral fabric we wizards have prided ourselves on having. Is this the future we are looking at? If it is, then I�ll be the first to purchase a one-way ticket to days of old.
