The poison delivered to Horace Slughorn was sent by Madam Rosmerta, who was acting under the influence of an Imperius Curse cast by Draco Malfoy. Malfoy was the true orchestrator of the attempt.
The Immediate Sender: Madam Rosmerta
During the 1996-1997 school year, Madam Rosmerta, the proprietress of the Three Broomsticks Inn in Hogsmeade, was coerced into dispatching a poisoned gift. Draco Malfoy had placed her under the powerful Imperius Curse, a Dark spell that allows the caster to control the victim's actions completely. Under this curse, Madam Rosmerta unknowingly became an unwilling accomplice, sending the deadly package on Malfoy's behalf. Her involvement highlights the insidious nature of the curse and Draco's desperation.
The Mastermind: Draco Malfoy
The true perpetrator behind the poisoning was Draco Malfoy. In 1996, he initiated this plot as part of a larger mission assigned to him by Lord Voldemort: to assassinate Albus Dumbledore. Malfoy's intention was for the poisoned mead to reach Dumbledore, with Slughorn merely serving as an unwitting intermediary.
The Poisoned Gift and Its Journey
The specific item used in the assassination attempt was a bottle of poisoned mead.
- Year of Incident: 1996.
- Item: A bottle of poisoned oak-matured mead.
- Sender (Physical): Madam Rosmerta, under the Imperius Curse.
- Recipient (Initial): Horace Slughorn, the new Potions Master at Hogwarts.
- Intended Recipient (Ultimate): Albus Dumbledore.
This particular bottle was initially meant as a Christmas gift for Dumbledore, which Malfoy believed Slughorn would present to him. The poison within the mead was potent and undetectable by ordinary means, as evidenced by the fact that Argus Filch, Hogwarts' caretaker, did not recognize it as dangerous upon its arrival at the school.
Key Players and Their Roles
| Character | Role in the Poisoning Plot |
|---|---|
| Draco Malfoy | The orchestrator; placed Madam Rosmerta under the Imperius Curse and planned the attack to kill Dumbledore. |
| Madam Rosmerta | The unwitting sender; physically dispatched the poisoned mead while under Malfoy's magical control. |
| Horace Slughorn | The initial recipient; Malfoy intended for him to pass the poisoned mead to Dumbledore. |
| Albus Dumbledore | The ultimate target of the poisoning attempt, though he never directly consumed the poisoned gift. |
| Argus Filch | The Hogwarts caretaker; failed to detect the poison, highlighting its subtle nature and his lack of magical proficiency. |
The Broader Context: Malfoy's Mission
Draco Malfoy's actions were driven by immense pressure and fear. Having been tasked by Lord Voldemort himself to kill Dumbledore, he sought various methods to achieve this goal. The poisoned mead plot was one of his early, albeit unsuccessful, attempts. The desperation led him to exploit others, like Madam Rosmerta, using unforgivable curses to further his dark agenda.
The Unintended Outcome
While Slughorn received the poisoned mead, he did not give it to Dumbledore. Instead, he kept it for a year, planning to offer it as a gift to Harry Potter during a celebration. However, a mishap occurred when Ron Weasley accidentally consumed the poisoned drink, intended for Harry, during his birthday celebration in Professor Slughorn's office. Ron was only saved by Harry's quick thinking and Slughorn's immediate administration of a bezoar.
