Hogwarts Legacy is one of the first major titles set to launch in 2023, and many fans of the Harry Potter franchise have been looking forward to this comprehensive adaptation of the Wizarding World. Hogwarts Legacy is set in the late 19th Century, just before Dumbledore attended Hogwarts, where Phineas Nigellus Black is instead at the helm of the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as Headmaster. Considering Harry Potter first appears at Hogwarts in 1991, the significance of Hogwarts Legacy to the franchise's lore might be called into question. However, despite the nearly 100-year gap between Nigellus Black's tenure as Headmaster and Harry's enrollment, there are a few threads connecting the two.
Hogwarts Legacy has endured a plethora of issues, from the political opinions of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to delays in production and outrage over missing features. Despite being in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Hogwarts Legacy's preorder sales on platforms like Steam have been impressive, highlighting Avalanche Software's hard work. In recent weeks, Hogwarts Legacy has unveiled numerous voice actors appearing in the game, like Simon Pegg taking on the character of Nigellus Black.
Nigellus Black Scarcely Appears in Harry Potter's Source Material
Nigellus Black is long dead by the start of Harry Potter, and as such his character does not directly impact the story, nor Harry's character development. His role in the series is minor, appearing as a portrait in the Headmaster's office as part of a longstanding tradition at Hogwarts. These portraits conversed with Dumbledore - the headmaster of the School of Witchcraft at the time - in The Order of The Phoenix.
Nigellus Black's portrait was reluctant to carry out the tasks that Dumbledore assigned to him due to differences with Dumbledore's core values, much to the disdain of other portraits like Armando Dippet. One of these errands led him to direct contact with Harry Potter, carrying a warning message. Harry Potter and his friends also used Nigellus Black's portrait in the final book of the Harry Potter series, The Deathly Hallows, to gain some insight about a budding revolt at Hogwarts.
Asides from his Headmaster portrait, which is only a caricature, the nature of Nigellus Black's relationship with Harry Potter comes about primarily through his lineage. Nigellus is an ancestor of the pureblood Black family, and his great-great-grandson Sirius took on the role of Harry Potter's godfather. Sirius Black was introduced to the Wizarding World in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He was the last surviving scion of House Black and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, dedicating his life to fighting against Lord Voldemort and his minions.
Harry's Relationship with Sirius Connects Him to Nigellus
Sirius acted out of character for an heir of the Black family, as he was proudly pro-Muggle - ironic considering Nigellus' son, Phineas, was excommunicated by the family for having the same beliefs. Sirius disagreed severally with his relatives' myopic views, leaving home at 16 and finding refuge with James Potter's family where he was adopted as a son. Sirius paid a heavy price for his actions as his mother disowning him by blasting his name from the family tree, but he was kept afloat by generous donations from his sympathetic uncle, attaining financial independence.
This allowed Sirius to follow his pro-Muggle ideals without fear of judgment while retaining some of his ancestral wealth. Harry Potter - like Sirius - was also adopted, but his experience significantly differed from the heir of House Black. Harry Potter's childhood with his adopted Muggle household was not smooth sailing, often going through periods of neglect and emotional abuse. Sirius may not have been abused in his early years by his aristocratic family, but the ideological conflict between himself and his relatives made for a toxic environment, so Sirius and Harry had a similarly turbulent childhood.
Sirius also played a crucial role in The Deathly Hallows, appearing to Harry and lighting a fire of encouragement. Sirius' disdain for his family extends to his great-great-grandfather Nigellus, who Sirius considers the least popular Headmaster in the history of Hogwarts. Thus, Hogwarts Legacy players can expect Nigellus Black to be the polar opposite of his descendant. Nigellus was notably a cantankerous and vain man, holding the traditionalist values of House Black dear and only using his position to further the interests of his household.
In Harry Potter, the apparition of Nigellus Black might have had little bearing on the series' events, but being the ancestor of Sirius Black makes him an interesting addition to Hogwarts Legacy. Despite Nigellus' tenure preceding Harry's schooling by roughly 100 years, the former Hogwarts Headmaster can be connected indirectly through his great-great-grandson, and the stark contrast between Nigellus and Sirius should make for great viewing.
Hogwarts Legacy launches February 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with PS4 and Xbox One versions launching April 4, and a Switch version releasing July 25.
