Hogwarts Legacy: The Ultimate Connection to Harry Potter
Hogwarts Legacy is a captivating expansion of the iconic Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The game is set in 1890, 100 years before the events of Harry Potter. Avalanche Software creates a compelling version of Hogwarts, using its rich lore to craft its own magical narrative. The gaming experience is inspired by the magical universe created by J.K. Rowling. Follow along as we break down the game’s story, gameplay, and characters and discuss how it connects to Hogwarts’ lore.
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Hogwarts Legacy’s Connection to Hogwarts Lore Through Story
Hogwarts Legacy follows a protagonist arriving in their fifth year who has the ability to see ancient magic and must harness this power for better or worse. They are the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the Wizarding World apart. The Wizarding World is no stranger to the term ancient magic, and it’s mentioned in both the game and the Harry Potter books. The school itself is said to have been built by this magic. Another instance of ancient magic in the Harry Potter universe involves Harry himself. Lily Potter’s sacrifice created a protective spell that kept Harry safe for most of his childhood, and Harry turned around and sacrificed himself to save Hogwarts during the final battle. As a result, Harry created the same spell which kept the staff and students safe. It’s magic in its rawest form that can only be described as ancient magic.
All while the protagonist is trying to master the art of ancient magic and fit in as a Hogwarts student, they have to worry about the Goblins attempting to get their hands on this power. Particularly a Goblin named Ranrok, the game’s main antagonist. This accurately follows what we know about the history of Wizards and Goblins. Chapter 5 of the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book mentions the Goblin Rebellion of 1612. This same rebellion is referenced in Hogwarts Legacy, which occurs nearly 300 years later. Tension is still high between the two races.
Bits of this history are scattered throughout the Harry Potter books. During the trio’s fourth-year exams, Ron says he forgot the name of one of the rebels- Urg the Unclean- and during Harry’s O.W.L. exam, he skips a question about wand legislation contributing to Goblin riots in the 1700s. During Voldemort’s rise to power, the Ministry was worried the Goblins might side with the Dark Lord.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, that lasting tension is shown through a Goblin named Griphook. He makes several appearances throughout the series but gets more screen time in the last book when he helps the trio break into Gringotts. At one point, he expresses his anger about Wizards denying Goblins the right to use wands.
The story of Hogwarts Legacy ends on a high note. Despite the protagonist arriving at Hogwarts at age 15, they still have to take their O.W.L. exams, just like every fifth-year who has come before and after them.
Hogwarts Legacy: The Connection to Hogwarts Lore Through Environment
The story takes you through some familiar spots in and around Hogwarts, like the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade. Getting to revisit familiar places really makes the world of Hogwarts Legacy feel that much more magical. Within Hogwarts, well-known places like the mysterious Room of Requirement, the Great Hall with its floating candles and enchanted ceiling, the Grand Staircase’s moving stairs, the Prefects’ Bathroom, the Clock Tower, and so much more are featured within the castle. Players will also recognize the classrooms, which are modeled after the Harry Potter books’ description of the Potions Classroom, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and more.
Three of the four common rooms are also recreated based on the books. Since the Hufflepuff common room is never described in the books, Avalanche Software took creative liberties. However, they did stick to the one known fact about the common room: it’s right next to the kitchen. Players can also explore the kitchen in Hogwarts Legacy and see all the house elves working diligently to prepare meals for the students, just like Harry in his fifth year.
The players can also explore the One-Eyed Witch passageway to Honkeydukes, which Harry discovers during his third year. The story introduces you to the passageway, turning the cavern between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade into a dungeon for players to traverse.
Hogwarts Legacy’s version of the school tries to stay as faithful to the pre-established descriptions and lore as possible. This includes all four houses- Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin- students attending the school for 7 years, the spells that your protagonist learns, and the creatures they encounter.
The Room of Requirement, one of Hogwarts’ greatest mysteries, has a very unique function within the game. The creators used the one rule we know about this room, that its appearance changes based on one’s needs, to create a very unique and fun gameplay and story element. In Hogwarts Legacy, the Room of Requirement functions as a safe haven for our protagonist and the creatures players collect around the world. These fantastic beasts are faithful recreations of creatures in Wizarding World lore, from Mooncalves and Nifflers to Unicorns and Hippogriffs. Different habitats that are meant for these creatures appear as the story progresses. The player can also customize the room to match the style of their house, grow plants, make potions, and more.
The Room of Requirement isn’t the only mysterious room to appear in the game. Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts, was known for leaving behind secret rooms for his ancestors to find, like the Chamber of Secrets from the second Harry Potter installment. While the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is present but inaccessible, there is another hidden room that players come across during one of Sebastian’s companion quests.
The protagonist, Sebastian, and Ominis discover Slytherin’s Scriptorium. Inside, Ominis uses parseltongue to open one of the doors, very similar to the way Harry had to use parseltongue to get into the Chamber of Secrets. However, the end of the quest takes a much darker turn that still aligns with Slytherin’s twisted values. In order to get past the final door, one of the characters has to cast Crucio, the torture curse, on the other. Here, the player has the option to cast it on Sebastian, have Sebastian cast it on them, or learn it but not cast it. Either way, someone must make the sacrifice.
Hogwarts Legacy: The Connection to Hogwarts Lore Through Characters
The most apparent connection between Hogwarts Legacy and Harry Potter’s story is the characters. While the main characters are unique to Hogwarts Legacy, players will recognize ghosts, portraits, and surnames. The most notable spirit that haunts Hogwarts is Nearly Headless Nick, who makes an appearance in both the Harry Potter books and movies. Right after him is Peeves the Poltergeist, who is popular for being cut from the films. Professor Binns, a ghost who teaches the History of Magic, doesn’t appear in the films but is present in the game. Cutscenes even show students falling asleep in his class, just like Harry.
If you are sorted into Gryffindor, you’ll recognize the Fat Lady portrait at the common room entrance. Just like in the books and movies, the protagonist will have to speak a password, and the portrait will swing open like a door, allowing them to enter.
Speaking of portraits, there is one in the Hufflepuff Common Room of a man named Eldritch Diggory, an ancestor of Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff student who participated in the Triwizard Tournament with Harry during Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
There are also several characters who are the ancestors of important characters from the series, and you’ll recognize them by their last names. One of the more obvious ones is the current headmaster, Phineas Nigellus Black, who is related to Sirius Black. He is the great-great-grandfather of Sirius and fits the description of Sirius’ corrupt family. He’s demeaning, selfish, and has a superiority complex like most Slytherin purebloods.
Next up is Professor Matilda Weasley and her nephew, Garreth Weasley, who are both related to Ron Weasley. While the exact family tree isn’t clear, it is believed that Garreth is Ron’s great-great-great grandfather, making Professor Weasley Ron’s four-time great-aunt.
When players get their own wand in Hogsmeade, they’ll also meet Gerbold Ollivander. The old wizard looks just like the one from Harry’s time, whose name is Garrick Ollivander, making them distantly related. Ollivander’s Wand Shop is passed down from generation to generation, and Hogwarts Legacy captures that special moment when players get their first wand perfectly.
A fifth-year Slytherin who’s friends with Sebastian, named Ominis Gaunt, has a last name that may also ring a bell. The Gaunt family are direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin. They have the ability to speak parseltongue and are known for practicing the Dark Arts. Ominis is one of the good ones, but he shares stories about his family, who still practice forbidden spells. Since Ominis is a descendant of Slytherin, he is one of Voldemort’s ancestors. It’s speculated, but not proven, that he could be the Dark Lord’s great uncle.
There are multiple other characters that have ties to Harry’s time and the lore J.K. Rowling has established. One of the main antagonists, Victor Rookwood, and an Ashwinder named Silvanus Selwyn both share surnames of Death Eaters mentioned in the later Harry Potter books.
Of course, you can’t have a story about ancient magic without at least mentioning one of the greatest wizards of all time, Merlin! Merlin was a Slytherin student who attended Hogwarts during the school’s early years, and he became one of the most powerful wizards in history. He’s mentioned multiple times in the Harry Potter books, and the phrase “Merlin’s Beard” is inspired by his character. While he doesn’t have much impact on the story, mini-games called Merlin Trails appear all over the map.
There are a couple of other minor characters who have familiar surnames that easily slip through the cracks. Constance Dagworth, a Ravenclaw girl introduced during the Crossed Wands Dueling Club, is a possible ancestor of Hermione Granger. The founder of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, Hector Dagworth-Granger, is mentioned during Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It’s believed that he’s related to Constance and Hermione.
Lander Prewett, who is introduced during the duel in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, is a distant relative of Molly Weasley, whose maiden name is Prewett. The Prewetts are pure-bloods with red hair, just like the Weasleys.
Helen Thistlewood is a less obvious one since players only come across her character during the “Prisoner of Love” quest if they’re sorted into Hufflepuff. Her great-uncle is Eldritch Diggory, meaning she is a distant relative of Cedric Diggory.
Hogwarts Legacy masterfully weaves its narrative and gameplay into the extensive tapestry of Hogwarts lore, enriching the beloved Wizarding World with fresh perspectives while honoring its origins. By exploring ancient magic, players not only engage with a unique storyline but also delve into the historical tensions between Wizards and Goblins, reflecting themes established in the Harry Potter series. The meticulously recreated environments, from the iconic common rooms to the magical Room of Requirement, invite players to revisit and reimagine familiar spaces.
The addition of both new characters and familiar names enriches the experience, seamlessly connecting players to the broader tapestry of wizarding history. By weaving the game’s story with the legacies of well-known families and iconic figures, Hogwarts Legacy honors the cherished lore. It builds upon it, setting the stage for fresh adventures. As players venture into the mysteries of Hogwarts and its magical roots, they embark on a journey filled with both discovery and a deeper understanding of the legacy shaping the wizarding world.
Beyond video games, the Harry Potter universe also offers immersive board games. After diving into Hogwarts Legacy, gather some friends and defend Hogwarts castle from dark forces in the wizarding world.
