Hogwarts Legacy: The 1800s Harry Potter Lore Events That Could Happen

The new Harry Potter video game, Hogwarts Legacy, takes place about a century before Harry receives his enrollment letter. So, while fans aren’t likely to see a lot of familiar faces in the new game, there are some predictable events that could happen based on what is known from the canon lore of the Harry Potter universe. Broken up into five decades, this article explores distinct incidents throughout the later half of the universe’s 19th century.

Between the seven Harry Potter books and complementing titles like Quidditch Through the Ages, the Fantastic Beasts movies, and content from the Wizarding World website, a lengthy history has been established to pave the way for Hogwarts Legacy. Though many noteworthy events will be mentioned, players shouldn’t expect to see them all, as it’s still unclear when precisely the game will take place or what content the developers decided to pull from.

The Hogwarts Legacy reveal trailer opens with the playable character’s overdue arrival at Hogwarts and states the setting takes place in the late 1800s. Generally speaking, this could be 1850 onward, although it’s more likely to take place after the late 1860s. That said, here’s a look at some important events that took place from the mid 1800s through the turn of the century.

Hogwarts Legacy: Notable Events From The Harry Potter Universe’s 1850s

In 1850, there were two notable births: Elladora Black and Oswald Beamish. Elladora was the younger sister of Phineas Nigellus Black (Sirius Black’s great-great grandfather and the “least popular Headmaster Hogwarts ever had,” according to Sirius in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) and was known for beheading house elves when they got too old. She and her brother could make an appearance as young Hogwarts students around a decade later, or players may even get to see Phineas as Headmaster sometime after that. Oswald Beamish was a Goblin’s rights activist and could play a role in the Goblin Liberation Front of the 1870s.

The Hogwarts Express was established in 1830, but Platform 9¾ was created in 1952. The Wizarding Schools Potions Championship is held every seven years, with the 65th being held in 1855, so it’s possible the player could participate in one of these. Also in 1855, Violet Tillyman became the only witch to disappear using the Floo Network, scaring other witches and wizards away from that mode of transportation for months after the event. In 1858, Dugald McPhail became Minister of Magic for the next seven years, which was considered a peaceful time. The same year, Angus Buchanan became the only Squib to attend the sorting hat process at Hogwarts, only to be told he was a “good-hearted chap, but no wizard,” according to the Wizarding World website.

Hogwarts Legacy: Notable Events From The Harry Potter Universe’s 1860s

The 66th Potions Championship was held in 1862, and the infamous Borgin and Burkes shop was established in Knockturn Alley in 1863 by Caractacus Burke. There were a few notable events in 1865: The Knight Bus was created, and Faris Spavin took over McPahil’s position as Minister of Magic until 1903, serving the longest out of any other Minister. Additionally, the Ministry of Magic decided to relinquish full control of Gringotts Bank to the Goblins. In 1869, the 67th Potions Championship was held.

Hogwarts Legacy: Notable Events From The Harry Potter Universe’s 1870s

Angus Buchanan, the aforementioned sorting hat Squib, won the first international rugby match for Scotland’s Muggle team in 1871 against England and eventually became respected by wizards and Muggles alike. 1875 brought about the discovery of Gripping Charms, which did away with the use of straps on Quaffles, revolutionizing how Quidditch was played. The same year, the Ministry of Magic passed the Decree For The Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery – one that Harry Potter was known to breach a handful of times. It’s worth noting that the Hogwarts Legacy trailer shows what looks like students being able to use magic outside of Hogwarts, and it would be quite comical if the player’s actions were responsible for this decree. Additionally in 1875, Violet Tillyman – the witch who disappeared in the Floo Network 20 years prior – came out of hiding with the passing of her oppressive husband Albert Tillyman, explaining she ended up in the home of Myron Otherhaus. She instantly fell in love with Otherhaus, and the two had been living together in secrecy for the past couple decades.

In 1876, Caretaker Rancourous Carp unsuccessfully tried to rid Hogwarts of the pesky ghost Peeves, resulting in Headmistress Eupraxia Mole giving Peeves special privileges within the castle. Another Potions Championship also happened this year. Next, 1877 was an interesting time for Quidditch. Since 1473, the Quidditch World Cup took place every four years without fail, but this 393rd World Cub became known as The Tournament that Nobody Remembers, as nobody did. A few Quidditch players that were to perform ended up beaten or bound, but even they had no memory. One theory suggests the Goblin Liberation Front cast a mass Memory Charm as they were active sometime during the 1870s, while another pins it on an outbreak of a fungus that causes forgetfulness and confusion. The Quidditch Cup was rescheduled to the following year.

Hogwarts Legacy: Notable Events From The Harry Potter Universe’s 1880s

During the 1880s, Sir Herbert Varney – a vampire – preyed upon British women until he was caught and killed in 1889. Albus Dumbledore was born in 1881, and his brother Aberforth and former confidant Gellert Grindelwald were born a couple years later, in 1883. The same year, the 69th Potions Championship took place, and the Quidditch hoops seen today replaced the previous baskets. Many of these Quidditch changes resulted in a lot of backlash from witches and wizards, but endured until present day. The third Dumbledore child, Ariana, was born in 1885.

Hogwarts Legacy: Notable Events From The Harry Potter Universe’s 1890s

The 70th Potions Championship was held in 1890. 1891 was around the time when 6-year-old Ariana Dumbledore was attacked and traumatized by Muggle boys after seeing her do underage magic. Soon after, Percival Dumbledore – her father – was sent to Azkaban for seeking a brutal revenge on the boys. Albus Dumbledore started his first year at Hogwarts a year later, in 1892. It’s possible he could make a youthful appearance in Hogwarts Legacy, if it takes place in this decade. In 1897, the 71st Potions Championship occurred, and famed Magizoologist Newt Scamander was born.

Many important events happened in 1899, though it seems unlikely they’ll be shown in the game, considering the Fantastic Beasts movies are in the process of covering them and due to their placement at the very end of the century. Ariana Dumbledore accidentally killed her mother and was taken under the care of her brother, Albus, who then graduated Hogwarts with flying colors. Soon after, Albus befriended Grindelwald, forming a brief, romantic relationship with him. This ended after a three-way duel between them and Albus’s brother, Aberforth, when they accidentally killed Ariana Dumbledore. Finally, Eloise Mintumble severely disrupted time by getting stuck in the year 1402.

With this information, players can get an idea of what may take place in Hogwarts Legacy, which is set to release in 2021. But part of its beauty is having the setting in a fairly unknown time. This gives the developers a lot to play with, and fans can look forward to an entirely new Hogwarts experience. As an open-world RPG, it’s possible the game could span multiple years or possibly decades, though much is still uncertain. If the creators did their homework, then surely some of these occurrences will at least be mentioned. Nevertheless, having a good grasp of wizarding history can allow players to get a little more out of their Hogwarts Legacy experience.

Hogwarts Legacy is set to release on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X in 2021.

Source: Harry Potter Wiki, The Harry Potter Lexicon

Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.

In the USA:

• Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
• The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

In Canada:

• Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366
• Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688

In the UK:

• Switchboard: 01273 204050
• Mermaids: 0808 801 0400

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