Portrait In A Pickle Hogwarts Legacy Guide
Hogwarts Legacy delivers a beautifully realized wizarding world filled with intricate mysteries, hidden rooms, and engaging side quests that flesh out the magical lore. One of the more memorable and humorous side missions you can encounter later in the game is called Portrait In A Pickle. This quest challenges your investigative skills while exploring the deep connection between living paintings and the wizarding community.
Starting the Quest in the Library
To initiate this particular side adventure, you must have completed a substantial portion of the main narrative campaign. Head over to the Hogwarts library where you will discover a talking portrait frame that appears to be missing its occupant. Speaking to the anxious canvas reveals that the resident artwork, Ferdinand Pratt, has been forcibly taken from his frame.
Ferdinand is notorious among students for his gossiping nature and tendency to spread exaggerated rumors. You will need to speak with Astoria Cricket nearby to gather your initial clues regarding his sudden disappearance. She will point you toward a dangerous region in the open world where the painting was reportedly taken by poachers.
Locating Ferdinand Pratt in the Ruins
Your search will lead you far south into the Marunweem Lake region, a territory heavily fortified by hostile factions. You must navigate through an ancient, dilapidated ruin populated by aggressive poacher stalkers and ashwinders. Clearing out these enemies requires utilizing your full combat arsenal, including ancient magic throws and disillusionment charms for tactical positioning.
Once the threat is neutralized, descend into the subterranean level of the camp to find the missing canvas resting against a stone wall. Ferdinand will immediately begin complaining about his rough handling and demand to be returned to his proper place. At this point, you will physically collect the talking frame into your inventory to prepare for the return trip.
The Final Decision and Quest Outcomes
When you return to Hogsmeade with the artwork, the game presents you with three distinct options on how to conclude the narrative. You can choose to return Ferdinand directly to his original home inside the Three Broomsticks where he can continue his social observations. Alternatively, you can choose to place his frame inside the Hog's Head tavern, a much grimier establishment filled with shady characters.
The third choice allows you to destroy the canvas completely by burning it, which permanently removes Ferdinand from the environment. Choosing the Hog's Head yields hilarious reactions from neighboring NPCs and changes Ferdinand's future dialogue significantly. No matter which moral path you decide to take, completing the objective grants you valuable experience points and a unique decorative item for your Room of Requirement.