As an acclaimed new addition to the magical world of Harry Potter, Hogwarts Legacy invites players to become Hogwarts students in the late 1800s. This immersive open-world game offers extensive opportunities for exploration, including discovering the secrets concealed within enchanted paintings scattered throughout the iconic castle. This in-depth guide will walk you through solving two of the most intriguing painting puzzles: uncovering the story within Lenora Everleigh‘s portrait and deciphering the clues to find Arthur‘s buried treasure.
Bringing Lenora Everleigh‘s Painting to Life
Lenora Everleigh‘s spirit plays a key role early in the Hogwarts Legacy adventure. You‘ll encounter this ghostly Hufflepuff within the Room of Requirement, where she provides the side quest "Like a Month to a Frame." This mysterious task requires casting the Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos) on Lenora‘s portrait located elsewhere in the castle. Doing so will reveal a hidden location depicted in her painting, leading to new discoveries.
But why does Lenora want you to harness Lumos on her portrait? The Everleigh family has a long legacy at Hogwarts, with Lenora attending the school in the late 18th century. Sadly, she met a tragic end, perishing somewhere on the Hogwarts grounds under mysterious circumstances. Her portrait in the Grand Staircase stands as a lingering imprint of her life and memory. By casting Lumos, you‘ll unveil clues about Lenora‘s forgotten final moments, allowing her spirit to finally rest in peace.
To find Lenora‘s portrait, head to the Grand Staircase area on Hogwarts‘ shifting fifth floor landing. Look for a painting of a young blonde woman donning a black Hogwarts robe – this is Lenora. Interact with her portrait to see a close-up view and activate a conversation. Lenora will directly ask you to cast Lumos on her portrait, so target it and cast the charm to unveil the secret.
Your Lumos unveils a wooded area depicting a large tree on a hillside – likely the location of Lenora‘s demise. Now your objective becomes finding this area to learn more about her fate. The wooded scene is situated in the southeast region of the Overland zone, south of the Mine and Brocéliande Waygate. Travel to the tree at the top of the hill to trigger a cutscene and boss battle against ancient dark forces.
Vanquishing this ancient evil rewards you with the Incendio fire-making spell. More importantly, you‘ll help Lenora‘s spirit pass on by shining a light on the truth of her tragic story. Her portrait puzzle exemplifies the hidden depths concealed within Hogwarts‘ living paintings, making them well worth investigating.
Treasure Hunting with Arthur‘s Map
While Lenora‘s portrait contains somber secrets, Arthur‘s enchanted painting presents a more lighthearted adventure. Your goal is using Arthur‘s magical map to follow clues leading to buried treasure. This fun side activity encourages thorough exploration of the surrounding areas.
You can find Arthur‘s Treasure Map on the Ground Floor of Hogwarts Castle. Enter the Central Hall from the Viaduct Entrance, then take the first door on the left into a small room. Inside hangs Arthur‘s painting, depicting him studying a map. Interact with the painting to begin the puzzle.
The first clue leads you to a stone circle southeast of Hogsmeade Village. Trek through the Highland Forest to the location and inspect the runestones to update Arthur‘s map with the second clue. This points you to an angel statue fountain situated northeast from the circles.
Seek out the fountain within the Old Mint Grove region east of Hogwarts. From here, Arthur‘s map instructs you to head directly south to locate the treasure. Follow the compass until you come across a door near Professor Onai‘s Herbology classroom.
Enter the building and climb the staircase to once again find Arthur‘s painting. Finally, cast the Summoning Charm (Accio) on the top of his painting to magically retrieve the treasure chest reward. Inside, you‘ll find crafting resources along with the Episkey Healing Spell – extremely useful additions for your journey.
Solving the clues in Arthur‘s Treasure Map painting provides excellent practice for honing your observation skills. Keep an eye out for small environmental details as you traverse the landscape. Deciphering paintings like Arthur‘s also encourages thoroughly combing your Hogwarts map to uncover hidden treasure.
Additional Enchanted Paintings Worth Investigating
While Lenora and Arthur‘s portraits are early painting puzzles, many others are hidden throughout the halls of Hogwarts. Here are a few additional enchanted paintings well worth seeking out:
- The Marauder‘s Map – This tracking map painting consists of 5 pieces scattered across Hogwarts. Locating them reveals shortcuts and fast travel points.
- House Common Room Entrances – These paintings unlock shortcuts to your house dormitory and common room.
- Professor Onai‘s Potions Storeroom – Grants access to the storeroom and starts the Clarissa Evercreech painting quest.
Make sure to use Revelio, Accio, Depulso, and other Charms on suspicious paintings to reveal illusions and passageways. Examining the frames can provide clues as well. Seeking out Hogwarts‘ hidden artwork offers excellent rewards and expands the lore of this magical world.
Expert Insights on Video Game Puzzle Design
As an avid gamer and fan of the Wizarding World, I love how Hogwarts Legacy incorporates puzzles into its immersive design. Hidden paintings provide a creative way to encourage exploration while expanding on lore and characterization. The puzzles strike a perfect balance between logical deduction, observational skills, and magical experimentation.
Lenora‘s somber story exemplifies the emotional depth painting puzzles can achieve. I appreciate how it builds investment in the game‘s characters and history. Meanwhile, Arthur‘s treasure map provides a whimsical change of pace. It pulls players deeply into the world as they interpret clues and investigate the landscape.
I‘m thoroughly impressed by the diversity of puzzles integrated into Hogwarts Legacy. It demonstrates the development team‘s meticulous eye for detail and world-building. Solving challenges like hidden paintings and classroom riddles provides immensely satisfying "eureka" moments. I believe this blend of wonder, mystery, and magic brilliantly captures the essence of Hogwarts.
So if you‘re playing Hogwarts Legacy, be sure to brush up on your Revelio charms – you never know what secrets an innocuous painting may conceal!
