Portrait in a Pickle – Hogwarts Legacy Quest

Portrait in a Pickle is an optional quest in Hogwarts Legacy. The portrait of Ferdinand Octavius Pratt senses that another portrait of himself has been stolen from Hogsmeade, and he’s worried at what might have happened to it. Will you go investigate and rescue it?

You will need to have Alohomora II or higher unlocked to complete this quest, which is learned partway through The Man Behind the Moons quest!

• Quest Type: Side Quest
• Location: Library, The Bell Tower Wing, Hogwarts Castle (map)
• Requirements
  • Complete In the Shadow of the Mountain
• Rewards
  • 180 XP
  • Oddities Shelf Conjuration

Speak to the Portrait of Ferdinand Octavius Pratt

To begin Portrait in a Pickle, you need to speak with the portrait of Ferdinand Octavius Pratt. Take the Library Floo Flame, and he will be right next to it. Talking with him (with /) will begin Portrait in a Pickle, where he will ask for your help — he would like you to locate and retrieve another portrait of himself that’s been stolen.

Talk to Astoria Crickett

You will now need to speak to Astoria Crickett. Take the South Hogsmeade Floo Flame, and head into The Three Broomsticks. Once inside, she will be directly to your right. Speak to her to learn why the portrait was stolen, and where it is now. Afterwards, you will have to find the ruins that she mentions.

Locate the Ruins

The ruins you are looking for are the Marunweem Ruins. If you haven’t unlocked the Floo Flame for it yet, it will be a bit of a flight southeast from the one at North Poidsear Coast (where you will be after reaching Poidsear Coast for the first time). Once you reach the ruins, you will have to deal with a group of level 26 Ashwinders. There’s only a few of them, however, so they shouldn’t give you much of an issue.

Once they’re taken care of, look for a set of stairs on the north side of the ruins and head down them. Continue following the path until you see a door with a level 2 lock on it. Unlock it with Alohomora, and the other portrait of Ferdinand Octavius Pratt will be just ahead. Speak with him to rescue him, and you will be free to leave this area.

Return the Portrait

From here, you will have two choices: you can either return to portrait to The Three Broomsticks, or you can give it a new home in Hog’s Head. Your rewards will be the same either way — only Ferdinand’s (and the students’) appreciation of you rescuing it will be affected.

Though, actually, you do have a third choice, should you decide to set the painting on fire instead… (any Fire Spell will do.) No judgement here — it doesn’t have any consequences and you still get all of the rewards.

If you do rescue the portrait, whichever place you choose to take it to will have a spot on the right as soon as you walk inside, to place the portrait. Place it to hear Ferdinand remark on his old (or new & highly unpleasant) home.

Once the portrait is hung, you will have completed Portrait in a Pickle, and have a new Conjuration for your Room of Requirement!

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