Some aspects of Phineas Nigellus Black's life and personality in Hogwarts Legacy are clear as day - such as his unfair hatred of muggleborns, or his obsession with his own family's image - but there are other, less obvious details that only sharp-eyed players will ultimately catch. It's no surprise that the Headmaster mostly keeps to himself, as the majority of students and staff make their distaste for him quite evident (and Black returns the favor tenfold). As mysterious as he may be, there are a few easily missed lines of dialogue, items, and interactions that can reveal details about Headmaster Black in Hogwarts Legacy.

Although he plays a prominent role in Hogwarts Legacy, this isn't the first time that the pompous Slytherin has made an appearance in the Harry Potter universe. They're complete opposites in terms of personality traits and values, but Phineas Black is related to Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather and only family. His living portrait also resides in the Headmaster's Office during the events of the books and movies, providing helpful counsel to Professor Dumbledore and likely all the Headmasters that came before him. However, Hogwarts Legacy gives fans an even closer look at the life of Phineas Black - whether it's good or (more frequently) bad.

Headmaster Black Has A House Elf Named Scrope In Hogwarts Legacy

A close up of Scrope the House Elf in Hogwarts Legacy, speaking to an off-screen student disguised as Headmaster Black.

Hogwarts Legacy introduces the player to Scrope, Headmaster Black's house elf, for the first time in Harry Potter lore. As the one-eared house elf explains to the player, he was formerly under the ownership of Apollonia Black, a relative of Phineas who is described to have been a violent woman before her death. In fact, Scrope's missing ear is a testament to her abusive tendencies. Although it's not saying much, it appears that Headmaster Black does seem to treat the house elf with a bit more respect - but he still looks down upon Scrope as being lesser than him (a sentiment that he retains even with most humans).

Phineas Black Canceled Quidditch In Hogwarts Legacy Unfairly

An image of Headmaster Black on the left, looking concerned, and image of a player flying a broom on the Quidditch Pitch in Hogwarts Legacy on the right.

One of the first rules that the player learns of as they start their term is that the Quidditch season has been canceled, and Phineas Black announces this with a suspiciously vague statement about a student injury. However, if the fifth-year protagonist does a bit of digging around the castle, they can learn why Headmaster Black actually canceled Quidditch in Hogwarts Legacy. A note found in the Hospital Wing details the so-called injury, and it reveals a lot about the Headmaster's personality and values.

There was indeed an injury involving the wizarding sport during the previous school year, but from what hasn't been redacted from Nurse Noreen Bailey's record, it seems as though it wasn't anywhere near serious enough to warrant a cancelation of the Quidditch. The nurse points out that Headmaster Black's overreaction likely stems from the student's pureblood status. As Phineas makes it well-known, he is no stranger to favoritism when it comes to purebloods - a trait infamously shared by many Black family members. When a student of this supposed "superior" status made a mistake during a Quidditch match, he was so distraught that he decided to cancel the next season altogether.

Not only this, but the fact that much of Nurse Noreen's note was forcibly redacted at the request of Headmaster Black in Hogwarts Legacy reveals how the man deals with issues in his day-to-day life. Because he knows his judgment is unjustified, Black doesn't confront the issue head-on and instead opts to abuse his position of power at the school. He attempts (albeit somewhat unsuccessfully) to erase any record of his wrongdoing, proving that he doesn't truly value the health of students, but only his own image and that of his notorious family.

Professor Sharp Brews Boil Tonics For Headmaster Black In Hogwarts Legacy

A student disguised as Headmaster Black, speaking to Professor Sharp about a boils tonic in Hogwarts Legacy.

A hidden Professor Sharp cutscene reveals that the Potions teacher has some concerning priorities, but his hilarious interaction with Headmaster Black in Hogwarts Legacy will likely win him points in players' books nonetheless. As the protagonist drinks the Polyjuice Potion and transforms into a doppelganger of Phineas, Professor Sharp approaches them to speak about a particular brew that his boss had requested. As it turns out, the Headmaster has been dealing with some boils behind the scenes, and thus gave his poor colleague the task of brewing a Boils Tonic to solve his issue.

Professor Black Borderline Encourages Bullying In Hogwarts Legacy

A Hogwarts Legacy student running past a scene where Headmaster Black is conversing with three bullies, and the bullies' victim is kneeling on the floor where their book is frozen in place.

On a less humorous note, an easy-to-miss detail about Headmaster Black in Hogwarts Legacy paints him as not only a bystander of bullying, but someone who almost enables it. In a video uploaded to YouTube by ROCKSTAROS, a first-year, half-blood Hufflepuff student can be seen being targeted by two older Slytherin students, who are levitating his textbook and then proceed to set it ablaze. Phineas notices the scene and approaches the group shortly thereafter, but he doesn't do much to help.

He casts Glacius on the Hufflepuff student's flaming book, which puts out the fire but freezes it to the marble floor. When the first-year starts to explain what happened, he interrupts him to say he wasn't speaking to him, and instead addresses the Slytherin students with a concerning quote: "the wise rabbit doesn't seek to outrun the tortoise, because it's not necessary." Although he technically put an end to the Hufflepuff student's torment (likely out of sheer obligation), he let the bullies off scot-free, insinuating that their victim isn't worth the effort because of his half-blood status.

Phineas Black Tried To Change Hogwarts Legacy's Admissions Process

Hogwarts Legacy's Headmaster, Phineas Nigellus Black, looking angry.

The player's late fifth-year acceptance into Hogwarts already seems to frustrate Headmaster Black in Hogwarts Legacy, but a hidden note reveals that his goals for the school's admission policy are much more sinister than he lets on. According to a letter from Faris Spavin, the current Minister for Magic, Black had previously written him asking to adjust the "admissions process at Hogwarts." It's implied that he wanted to forbid anyone other than purebloods from attending the witches' and wizards' school - and this certainly seems in character for him - but it's a dark and unexpected detail nonetheless.

Headmaster Black Is A Lightweight In Hogwarts Legacy

The student turning into Headmaster Black in Hogwarts Legacy, looking up at the ceiling with a smile.

As evil and prejudiced as he may be, it seems as though the head of Hogwarts doesn't actually hold his liquor too well. According to Professor Fig, while the student was disguised as Headmaster Black during the Polyjuice Potion quest in Hogwarts Legacy, Fig distracted his boss with Firewhisky, and it did "too good a job." Apparently, Phineas was inebriated in no time - which is a hilarious sight to imagine, knowing his otherwise uptight and pretentious personality.

There's still much that players don't know about Hogwarts' least reputable headmaster in the Harry Potter universe, but small, in-game details about Headmaster Black in Hogwarts Legacy paint a picture that's clearer than ever before. It seems as though Sirius Black's hatred for his distant ancestor was justified after all, as the easily-missed details in Hogwarts Legacy described above only further prove that he was indeed discriminatory, self-concerned, and an overall ridiculous choice for the school's head role.

Source: Hogwarts Legacy/YouTube, ROCKSTAROS/YouTube

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.

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