Hogwarts Legacy Fans Are Certain This Is A Heartbreaking Tribute To Hagrid
When it comes to the "Harry Potter" series, it's hard to think of a character more lovable than Hagrid. The half-giant spends the majority of the book series and films keeping a close eye on Harry Potter and his friends, along the way becoming an undeniably important part of Harry's found family. In the film adaptations of the books, Hagrid was played by beloved character actor Robbie Coltrane, who sadly died last year at age 72. The actor left behind an impressive legacy, including roles in dozens of films, but he's arguably become most closely associated with the role of Hagrid for so many people. Although Robbie Coltrane only reprised the part in one video game — "Lego Dimensions" — his contributions to the franchise have clearly not been forgotten by game developers.
"Hogwarts Legacy" has proven to be a veritable treasure trove of easter eggs for fans of the "Harry Potter" franchise. Taking place in the titular school's past, the game contains a number of nods to the wider history of the Wizarding World, Robbie Coltrane included. In a clip that has gained quite a bit of traction on TikTok, one player has pointed out what they believe to be a virtual tribute to the late actor — and by extension, his character — on the grounds of Hogwarts. Here's what they discovered.
A heartfelt monument on Hogwarts grounds
As seen in a clip from TikTok user Why..so.sirius, a small hut can be found towards the south end of the map, roughly in the same area where Hagrid's hut would be located in the present day. Walking to the backside of the hut will reveal something unexpected: a small gravestone.
@why..so.sirius it's the little things that makes #hogwartslegacy so special #hagrid #RIP #harrypotter #hogwarts #robbiecoltrane #tribute #buckbeak
The headstone's most notable feature is a carving of what appears to be a hippogriff along the front. Fans of the "Harry Potter" films and books will no doubt remember that Hagrid had a particular attachment to a hippogriff named Buckbeak. This hippogriff was one of many exotic beasts that Hagrid took in and cared for over the years (along with dragons and giant spiders, of course), and Buckbeak became so important to him that the creature's rescue became a central plot point in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."
Although there are no words etched into the face of the headstone, the grave's location and overall design have convinced fans that this must be a solemn nod to the character and the beloved actor who brought him to life. The majority of fans checking out the video have found this to be both a somber reminder of Coltrane's passing a fitting nod to the indelible mark he left on the franchise. One commenter on the video points out that this in-game tribute seemingly fulfills a promise that Robbie Coltrane once made during the "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts" special: "You could be watching in 50 years time, easy. I'll not be here, sadly ... but Hagrid will."
Is Hagrid in Hogwarts Legacy at all?
Given the heartfelt tribute on the school grounds and the fact that the character is such a huge part of "Harry Potter" lore, some fans may be wondering if Hagrid appears in "Hogwarts Legacy" in any other capacity. Unfortunately for super fans of the gentle groundskeeper, the timeline of the game makes that pretty much impossible without some serious time travel trickery. "Hogwarts Legacy" takes place about a century before Harry and his pals enrolled at Hogwarts, so Hagrid also won't born until quite some time after the game's story.
However, that doesn't mean that his presence isn't felt in other ways. For one thing, the Forbidden Forest and other areas of Hogwarts are crawling with Acromantula, large spiders with near-human levels of intelligence. This is despite the fact that the Acromantula didn't actually call the Forbidden Forest home until Hagrid released his pet Acromantula, Aragog, into the forest during his years at Hogwarts. Of course, that didn't happen until the 1940s, and the events of "Hogwarts Legacy" occur in the 1890s. Even though the game's giant arachnids don't seem to be related to the one raised by Hagrid — how could they be? — it seems like this bit of lore was too good to leave out of "Hogwarts Legacy" — even if it means fudging the series' chronology a bit.
Maybe a future game in the franchise could move the action forward 50 years or so and show Hagrid's time at Hogwarts. For now, though, fans will be able to visit the in-game tribute and interact with more fantastic beasts than Hagrid could have shaken a umbrella at.