You're standing in the Restricted Section of the library, the air smells like old parchment and secrets, and suddenly you realize you're stuck. It happens to everyone. You need to find the missing pages in Hogwarts Legacy to progress the main story, but the game doesn't just hand them to you on a silver platter. Honestly, it's one of the most polarizing parts of the early game because the path you take depends entirely on which Hogwarts house you picked during the Sorting Ceremony.
It's a bottleneck. A narrative wall.
If you're a Gryffindor, you’re hanging out with Nearly Headless Nick. Hufflepuffs get a trip to Azkaban—which is easily the coolest version of this quest—while Ravenclaws follow Ollivander and Slytherins go on a bit of a scavenger hunt with Scrope. While the destination is the same (meeting the ghost Richard Jackdaw), the journey is wildly different. This isn't just a "go here, fetch that" objective. It's the moment the game actually rewards your choice of house with unique lore and locations you literally cannot see any other way in a single playthrough.
Why the Hunt for Jackdaw’s Pages Changes Everything
Most players think they’ve encountered a bug when their friend playing a different house describes a completely different mission. They haven't. This is the "House Exclusive" questline.
Basically, after you finish the "Trials of Merlin" and reach level 5, the main quest splits. You've got to find those missing pages from the book you found in the Restricted Section. Why? Because Richard Jackdaw stole them centuries ago, thinking they were worth a fortune. He died with them in his pockets. Classic Jackdaw.
If you chose Hufflepuff, you get "Prisoner of Love." You’ll visit Upper Hogsfield and eventually end up at Azkaban. It’s a short, scripted sequence, but seeing the Dementors up close is a highlight for most fans. Ravenclaws get "Ollivander’s Heirloom," which involves a trip to the Owlery to solve a bird-statue puzzle. It’s very "on brand" for the witty house. Slytherins deal with "Scrope’s Last Hope," helping a house-elf find a ring in a grotto, and Gryffindors get "The Hunt for the Missing Pages," which involves a Headless Hunt party and a lot of rotten roast beef.
The Gryffindor Path: Nearly Headless Nick’s Request
If you're wearing the red and gold, your search for the missing pages starts with Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. He’s floating around the Great Hall.
✨ Don't miss: Why Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch Still Beats Every Other Platformer
He’s kind of desperate to join the Headless Hunt, but they won't let him in because his head is still technically attached by a bit of skin and muscle. It's gross. You have to help him find some "Rotten Roast Beef" in the Hogwarts kitchens. To get there, you find the painting of the pear and tickle it. Yes, tickle the pear.
Once you get the beef, you head to a graveyard near Hogsmeade. This is where you meet Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore, the leader of the Headless Hunt. You’ll end up playing a game of "Hide and Seek" with a ghost named Richard Jackdaw. Look for the pumpkins. Smash the ones that shake. It’s not a hard quest, but it feels very much like a classic Harry Potter whimsical detour before things get dark in the Forbidden Forest.
The Hufflepuff Advantage: Visiting Azkaban
Hufflepuffs definitely won the lottery with this quest. To find the missing pages as a badger, you talk to the portrait of Eldritch Diggory. He’s a former Minister for Magic. He directs you to Helen Thistlewood, an ex-Auror living in Upper Hogsfield.
She takes you to Azkaban.
You don't get to explore the whole prison—it's more of a walking tour through a corridor of misery—but the atmosphere is heavy. You’re there to talk to Anne Thisbe, a woman falsely accused of murdering Jackdaw. She’s lost her mind thanks to the Dementors. It provides a much grittier context to the "missing pages" mystery than the other houses get. After the vision of Jackdaw, you’re back in the highlands, heading toward the forest.
Solving the Jackdaw’s Tomb Puzzle
Regardless of how you started, every player ends up at the edge of the Forbidden Forest to meet Jackdaw’s ghost. He’s surprisingly upbeat for a guy who was decapitated. He leads you to his tomb.
🔗 Read more: Why BioShock Explained Matters More Than Ever in 2026
This is the first "real" dungeon of the game.
The Entrance Symbols
To actually get inside the cave, you have to hit three runic switches with your basic cast. They are scattered around the entrance. Hit them quickly. If you're too slow, they reset. Once inside, the path is fairly linear, but the combat ramps up. You’ll be fighting spiders. Lots of them. If you’re playing on Hard difficulty, watch out for the matriarchs; their lunges can take half your health bar if you miss the dodge window.
The Floating Platforms
You’ll see platforms that look like they belong in a platformer. Use Accio to pull them toward you. You can also use Accio on the hooks across the gaps to pull yourself along. It’s a mechanic the game uses frequently later on, so get used to it here. There’s a bit of loot tucked away in the side caves, usually some "Unidentified" gear that you can't reveal until you unlock the Room of Requirement.
The Final Encounter and the Map Chamber
At the end of the tomb, you finally find Jackdaw’s remains. And the pages.
But as soon as you touch them, the Ancient Magic sentinels wake up. These are the Pensieve Sentries and Protectors. Protip: Use Expelliarmus on the big guys. When they go to slam their hammers down, disarming them makes them vulnerable for a few seconds. Also, keep an eye on the floor. When the red circles appear, move.
After the fight, a massive wave of water rushes in. Don't panic. The Ancient Magic protects you, and you'll find yourself in a hallway leading to the Map Chamber. This is where you meet Percival Rackham’s portrait. This is the moment the game’s scope really expands. You realize that finding the missing pages wasn't just a fetch quest; it was your initiation into the ancient trials.
💡 You might also like: Why 3d mahjong online free is actually harder than the classic version
What Most Players Miss in the Tomb
A lot of people rush through Jackdaw's Tomb because they just want the pages and the talent points (which unlock right after this). But there are a few things you should look for:
- The Collector’s Chests: There are two hidden off the main path. One requires you to dive into a small pool of water to reach a back ledge.
- The Extra Lore: Jackdaw has some dialogue if you hang back and don't sprint ahead of him. He explains how he actually died—it wasn't just "magic," he was trying to impress a girl and got overconfident.
- The Bridge Puzzles: There are runic switches inside the tomb that build bridges. If you don't hit all three in rapid succession, the bridge won't fully form, leaving you stuck.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re currently stuck on this quest, here is exactly what you need to do to finish it efficiently.
First, check your level. If you’re under level 5, go do a few side quests or find some field guide pages in Hogwarts. The spiders in the tomb can be a pain if you're under-leveled. Second, make sure you have Wiggenweld Potions. You can buy them in Hogsmeade or brew them if you’ve finished the Potions class. You’ll want at least five for the final sentinel fight.
Third, pay attention to your house. If you haven't seen the quest pop up in your log, you might need to finish "Secrets of the Restricted Section" first. The game won't let you progress to the pages until the library heist is fully wrapped up and you've spoken to Professor Fig.
Once you get into the Map Chamber, talk to every portrait. Don't skip the dialogue. It sets up the entire conflict with Ranrok and Rookwood. Also, this is the exact moment you unlock Talent Points. Don't spend them all at once! Prioritize "Core" talents like the dodge roll or the "Protego" mastery, as these make the mid-game combat much more fluid.
Finding the missing pages is essentially the end of the "prologue." From here on out, the world opens up, you get your broom, and the real Hogwarts Legacy experience begins. Just remember: if you’re a Hufflepuff, enjoy the Dementors while you can. You won't be seeing them again for a long time.