Billywig Stings
Billywig Stings come from the Billywig, a magical insect-like creature. The stings contain a venom which is commonly diluted down as a potion ingredient. They are also foolishly used by teenagers to 'get high'.
Description
Billywig stings are 3 to 4 inches long and thin. One end is very sharp, the other slightly rounded where it once attached to the billywig. They are greyish brown to black. The hollow sting contains a small amount thick sour and spicy venom.
Use
Foolishly... To access the venom, one bites off the pointy end and holds the sting in one's mouth. The venom can either ooze onto the tongue slowly or be sucked out.
For potions... Billywig stings are boiled and the effects of the venom seep into the potion. Or they are crushed and the inert outer casing discarded. Pure, raw venom is rarely used and if then, diluted.
Effects
- Immediately, a user would perceive a very sharp sour or spicy flavor.
- Then following quickly, a sort of buzzing, light-headed head rush. This feeling persists only temporarily.
- The primary effect of the sting is a feeling of calm, happy euphoria that lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. Motor skills are somewhat impaired.
These effects are compounded if more than one are taken in quick succession. Taking many at once causes the head to feel so light-headed that one will float off of the ground until stopped by an obstacle!
Health Risks
Consuming too much can have health consequences! Like inflation of the stomach! The popping of eardrums! And the injuries associated with rising and falling from great heights, or bumping your head on things. The effects can be somewhat addictive and it takes more and more stings to get the same intense effect each time.
Sources
These are a common, but somewhat expensive, potions ingredient. They are sold at most apothecaries, and included in basic potions kits in small amounts.
- Sellaphix Apothecary sells stings for 2 Galleons and 8 Sickles a pound.
- About a dozen stings come standard in a basic potions kit sold to students at both Slug & Jiggers Apothecary and Mr. Mulpepper's. These shops are also likely to stock the stings in bulk.
- The Hogwarts School potions supply keeps a few pounds of stings on hand, locked up.
- In the criminal underworld there is the smuggling of live Billywigs, considered the freshest and a regenerating source. If you know who to contact the price can be more cost effective then other methods.
At Absit Omen
- Featured in the plot Everybody Get High
Dazmond Wiedman comes across Anadotti Squiggs smuggling live Billywigs, as the latter ends up floating after being stung for her efforts.[1]
