This article contains spoilers for the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series.
It’s been over a decade since the legendary Harry Potter series came to an end, so I felt it was time to head back to magical territory, ladies and gentlemen, wizards and muggles.
We’re revisiting the Fantastic Beasts trilogy just for some fun and nostalgia, so join me in exploring how it relates to anything Harry Potter.
The Fantastic Beasts saga was set some 65 years before Harry ever stepped foot inside Hogwarts, but that’s not to say there aren’t any fun callbacks or key details relating to the beloved film series.
The trilogy of prequel films are chock full of Easter eggs and references to J.K. Rowling’s wizarding movies. Itching to find out? Scroll down for 40 awesome Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter connections:
The Best ‘Harry Potter’ Easter Eggs in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Movies
Jump to:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
1. Hedwig’s Theme
It’s not difficult to spot or shall we say, listen out for this Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter connection. The classic Potter theme tune not only plays during the opening of the movie, but at various points throughout, as well. If you’re as much of a Potterhead as I am, there’s no doubt you shed a few tears when Hedwig’s theme started rolling out.
2. 1926 and Lord Voldemort
Newt Scamander’s arrival in New York in 1926 had a lot of historical significance in the wizarding world, but there’s another important event surrounding this date. Across seas and oceans, a villain was welcomed into the world – 1926 is the year that the Tom Riddle, the one and only Lord Voldemort was born in London.
3. The Obscurus and Ariana Dumbledore
Here’s where things get real interesting. In Fantastic Beasts, we learn that the Obscurus is “an unstable, uncontrollable dark force that bursts out and attacks,” from the result of a young magical person trying to suppress their magic.
Let’s take it back to Deathly Hallows when Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus’ brother, explains what happened to their sister, Ariana who was bullied by Muggles for using magic:
“It destroyed her what they did, she was never right again. She wouldn’t use magic, but she couldn’t get rid of it. It turned inward and drove her mad, it exploded out of her when she couldn’t control it and at times she was strange and dangerous.”
I don’t know about you but that sure sounds like an Obscurus to me. That would explain why Grindelwald knows so much about them. He learned about the force during his relationship with Dumbledore and his encounter with Ariana. #Mindblown!
4. Harry Potter Spells
Any Potterhead would recognize wizard lingo! I was taken back down memory lane when I saw the spells “Alohamora,” “Obliviate,” and “Lumos” being used by Scamander and co!
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5. The Lunascope
You’d have to have the ears of a wolf to catch this great Harry Potter Easter egg. When Scamander needs information from Gnarlak the goblin, he offers him a Lunascope. “I’ve got five,” Gnarlak replies. These magical instruments that read the moon are mentioned in Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix. You might also have spotted one in Dumbledore’s office.
6. That Quidditch Joke
Scamader first arrives in New York and stumbles upon Mary Lou giving a lecture on repressing the wizarding community. “Are you a seeker of the truth?” she asks him. “I’m more of a chaser, really,” he replies. Seeker and Chaser are the two players on a Quidditch team. Only dedicated Harry Potter fans would have cracked a smile upon hearing that one.
7. That Hufflepuff Easter Egg
If you didn’t know it already, Newt Scamander is a Hufflepuff. How do I know? If you were as eagle-eyed, you would have spotted his Hufflepuff scarf in his suitcase!
8. That Hogwarts Shout-Out
Don’t know about you, but I got all sentimental just hearing the word “Hogwarts” in this movie. In a conversation with Tina and Queenie, Newt argues that Hogwarts is the better wizarding school compared to the American equivalent, Ilvermony. Well, of course it is!
9. That Dumbledore Shout-Out
There’s absolutely no mention of Harry Potter in the first Fantastic Beasts movie, but at least there’s a small shout-out to the beloved Dumbledore. Percival Graves reveals he was the only teacher who argued against Newt’s expulsion from Hogwarts. “I wonder,” Graves says. “What makes Albus Dumbledore so fond of you?”
As I mentioned, it’s possible that Dumbledore’s sister had an Obscurus. Newt once removed it from a young girl in Sudan which might be why Dumbledore was so intrigued by him.
10. The Pensieve
Fantastic Beasts may be set over 70 years before the events of Harry Potter, but clearly, some things never change. When Tina is sentenced to die, she is almost lured into a giant Pensieve which shows her happiest memories. As you might recall, we learnt about the Pensieve in several of the Harry Potter movies, particularly when it came to Professor Snape’s memories.
11. Legilimens
Talking of reading minds – Queenie is clearly a natural Legilimens, meaning she can see into people’s thoughts. Guess who else was a skilled Legilimens? Lord Voldermort. Voldemort has used Legilimency to enter the minds of those he wished to interrogate – aka, Harry Potter.
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12. Train Station Battle
No one can forget the importance of King’s Cross train station in the Harry Potter series. In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, much of the movie’s final battle scene takes place in New York’s City Hall Station. Could this have been a small Easter egg deliberately placed in the movie by J.K. Rowling? We’d like to think so! It may not have taken place in a London station, but it still brought back some memories!
13. Murtlap Essence
Remember when Kowalski got attacked by that giant looking rat? This creature goes by the name, Murtlap. Does it ring a bell? Harry used Murtlap Essence in Order of the Pheonix to treat his hand after writing, “I must not tell lies,” onto it. Apparently, the animal’s anemones have healing powers!
14. The Niffler
Hearing the name of this particular fantastic beast probably called to mind a particular beloved and popular Harry Potter character – Hagrid. Hagrid taught about Nifflers in his Care of Magical Creatures class, and Lee Jordan used them to wreck Umbridge’s office. These connections just keep getting better, don’t they?
15. Dougal the Demiguise
Dougal the Demiguise wasn’t just placed in the movie to add some humor. This particular fantastic beast has a huge connection to the Harry Potter movies. As you noticed, Demiguises can turn invisible. Oh and guess what? Their fur is used to make Invisibility cloaks!
16. Erumpent
Here’s another fun way the movie relates to Harry Potter: Remember the giant rhino that escaped from Scamander’s briefcase? Well this creature, an Erupment, was actually brought up in the Deathly Hallows when the famous trio visited Xenohilius Lovegood. An Erumpent horn explodes on his wall and Hermione even warns him about it: “There’s a description in ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’! Mr. Lovegood, you need to get rid of it straightaway, don’t you know it can explode at the slightest touch?” she says.
17. Deathly Hallows Necklace
Percival Graves gives a necklace to Credence Barebone telling him to touch it when he has information on the Obscurus. Of course, this isn’t just any necklace. It’s the Deathly Hallows one, because as we know, the symbol of the Elder Wand, the Invisibility Cloak, and the Resurrection Stone eventually became known as Grindelwald’s mark.
Not only is the Deathly Hallows symbol a fabulous callback to the Harry Potter movies, but it also poses an intriguing question: Is it the same necklace Xenohilius Lovegood wore in Deathly Hallows Pt. 1? If so, how did he get it?
18. Merlin’s Beard Shout-Out
Now this is what you call an awesome Easter Egg, but you have to be a serious Harry Potter fanatic to have recognized it. Remember when Horace Slughorn said, “Merlin’s Beard” in Half-Blood Prince? Well, that very same phrase is uttered by Newt in Where to Find Them, too!
19. Mad-Eye Moody’s Trunk
One of the more fun Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter connections was this little reference. Newt Scamander’s suitcase isn’t the only place you can you can hide in! Remember Mad-Eye Moody’s trunk in the Goblet of Fire? That, too, had a suspiciously spacious interior! The wizarding world really is a wonderful place…
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
20. Young Dumbledore
He may not have had his signature white long beard or half-moon specs, but the legendary Dumbledore did indeed make an appearance in Fantastic Beasts 2, as a much younger, but just as wise professor at Hogwarts. Dumbledore plays a lead role in the sequel to help send Newt on his quest to bring down Grindelwald, who as all Potterheads know, was Albus’ long-time companion before their relationship turned sour.
21. Grindelwald’s Plot
Speaking of which, all Potter-fans will remember the dark wizard who allegedly fought against Dumbledore, years before the events of Harry Potter. Although we only saw Grindelwald briefly in Deathly Hallows Pt.1, when Voldemort was on the hunt for the Elder Wand, Grindelwald played a major part as the main villain in Fantastic Beasts 2. Alongside following his journey to cause chaos around the globe, we also learned a little about his history with Dumbledore and how much of a close relationship they once had.
22. Returning to Hogwarts
One of the highlights of this popular movie was returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We caught glimpses of students in their uniforms, the candle-lit Great Hall, the Whomping Willow, a Quidditch match, and even familiar names, like “McLaggen,” who could indeed be an ancestor of Cormac McLaggen, a fellow Gryffindor student of Harry’s.
23. Young Professor McGonagall
We don’t know whether ‘Professor McGonagall’ in Fantastic Beasts 2 was the actual ‘Minerva McGonagall’ we all know and love from Harry Potter. We may have seen a younger version of the beloved teacher at the Hogwarts school grounds, but fans have pointed out that Minerva’s birth date was October 1935, eight years after the Crimes of Grindelwald. It may not have been her, but perhaps another member of her family, who also took a liking to teaching.
24. A Class on Boggarts
We may associate Boggarts with Professor Lupin, but long before his time, it was Dumbledore who taught this class at Hogwarts. It was awesome seeing the shape-shifting creature in Crimes of Grindelwald, and even better seeing Albus teach the ins and outs of the ‘Riddikulus’ spell.
25. The Mirror of Erised
Remember when Dumbledore told Harry that he saw “thick, woolen socks” in the Mirror of Erised? J.K. Rowling later confirmed that this was a lie, and in fact, he saw his dead sister, Ariana, and the rest of his family when looking into this magical mirror. According to the Crimes of Grindelwald, turns out, there’s more to this lie than we thought. When Dumbledore looks at the mirror, he sees Grindelwald, hinting that the villain was once his deepest desire, hence clarifying the rumored theory that Dumbledore is gay.
26. Nagini’s Backstory
Who would’ve thought we’d get a backstory of Nagini, Lord Voldemort’s beloved pet snake? In Fantastic Beasts 2, we meet a Maledictus named Nagini, who proves her ability to morph into a large snake. It only makes sense that she turns out to be the Dark Lord’s Horcrux in years to come, but how that happens, I’m still unsure, as this movie shows her to be against any dark forces, even when her friend Credence teams up with Grindelwald.
27. Leta Lestrange
Crimes of Grindelwald teaches us more about the Lestrange family, particularly Leta, who is engaged to Newt’s brother, Theseus. At the end of the film, we see her sacrifice herself to save Newt and co from Grindelwald, so any theories that she is the direct ancestor of Bellatrix are debunked. We can at least all agree that she’s definitely part of the Lestrange family tree.
28. Nicholas Flamel and The Philosopher’s Stone
Oh, what a joy it was to catch a glimpse of the Philosopher’s Stone after all these years. Nicholas Flamel, the creator of the infamous stone finally makes his onscreen debut in Crimes of Grindelwald to help Newt and friends defeat Grindelwald. What’s more exciting, is the brief glimpse we get of the Philosopher’s Stone in his cupboard, just sitting there, glistening and glimmering in all its redness.
29. Fawkes the Phoenix
Early on in the film, Albus tells Newt that phoenixes always come to any Dumbledore family member who’s in need. Although the magical creature didn’t make its way to Dumbledore in Crimes of Grindelwald, it did however go to Credence, aka, Aurelius Dumbledore. Might this phoenix have been Fawks?
30. Portkeys Return
This subtle Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter connection was fun nonetheless! Portkeys made an epic return in Crimes of Grindelwald when Newt and Jacob flee the country for France. In this film, the Portkey takes the form of a bucket, but as Potter fans will recall, Harry used a variety of items including an old boot and the Triwizard Cup.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore
31. Book Stars
This is one of the more subtle yet satisfying Harry Potter Easter Eggs in the Fantastic Beasts series. If you’re a Potter reader, you may remember those tiny stars printed as decoration on the pages. Well, as noticed by Bustle, there’s an homage to these little twinkles in Fantastic Beasts 3. They appear carved into wooden beams outside the building in Bhutan where the cast gathers late in the film for an election.
32. Aberforth’s Magic Mirror(s)
Remember Harry’s chipped, two-way mirror in Deathly Hallows? The little shard of glass in which he thought he saw Dumbledore peeking out at him? Of course, it turned out to be Aberforth Dumbledore on the other end of the visual walkie-talkie, which is why it was so cool in Fantastic Beasts 3 to see him using the same tool to communicate with his son, Aurelius, so many years earlier.
33. Dumbledore’s Watch
The Harry Potter series actually doesn’t make a huge point of emphasizing Dumbledore’s watch; it’s more of a book thing. Still, Potterheads are aware that their beloved headmaster has an eccentric watch that may make sense only to him. It’s thus a fun nod to the books when Dumbledore uses this quirky instrument to locate Credence in Fantastic Beasts 3.
34. Multiplying Charm
Speaking of those cases, one of them also opens up to contain another fun Easter Egg. When one of Bunty’s cases is snatched from Kowalski and opened up, it has only his pastries inside, which multiply when touched, leading to a chaotic deluge. This is a sillier scene, but it clearly calls to mind the moment in Deathly Hallows when the treasures in Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault act on the same charm.
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35. Dumbledore’s Army’s HQ
If you’re a Potterhead, you know all about the Room of Requirement (heck, you’ve probably fantasized about what the room could do for you). So it was probably a fun moment for you when this secret lair popped up in Fantastic Beasts 3. What’s extra cool though is that it’s used specifically as a meeting spot for Dumbledore and his allies –– just as it would be used by “Dumbledore’s Army” in the Potter films.
36. Dumbledore’s Wise Words
At one point in Fantastic Beasts 3, Dumbledore tells Newt to tell Vogel to “Do what is right, not what is easy,” concerning Grindelwald’s sentencing fate. If this line sounded familiar to you, it’s because it’s clearly meant to be one piece of advice Dumbledore ultimately doles out more than once. When Voldemort returns in the Potter series, Dumbledore says, “Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” And, hey –– it’s a good line!
37. Monster Book Of Monsters
Arguably one of the craziest (and, let’s be honest, most nonsensical) objects from the Harry Potter films is “The Monster Book Of Monsters.” Fans know this as the inexplicably violent book Hagrid assigned his first classes as the Care of Magical Creatures professor. So, naturally, most will have recognized the book when it briefly popped out of one of the briefcases of Newt and his motley crew.
38. Magic Bricks
There’s something so memorable about the way Hagrid taps a sequence of bricks to open a gateway to Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter movie. It’s a unique, one-off magical gimmick. Or at least it was before Fantastic Beasts 3, which showed us that this method is employed elsewhere in the Wizarding World. Brick-tap-gate-opening occurs at the German Ministry.
39. Cockroach Clusters
We know that Dumbledore has a habit of using magical treats (lemon drop, anyone?) as passwords to his Gargoyle-barred office. But one related password –– “cockroach cluster” –– may be more than it seems. Given the unfortunate incident in Fantastic Beasts 3 in which Dumbledore reveals that Jacob has been tricked into eating these faux-treats, perhaps the use of the password later was in fond memory of the portly muggle.
40. Grindelwald And The Hallows
In Fantastic Beasts 3, Grindelwald’s run for Supreme Mugwump (perhaps the greatest title ever) comes with a personal sigil of sorts. Hidden within the sign is the deathly hallows symbol that was made so famous in the later Potter films. This is a clear Easter Egg for fans, as well as an allusion to Grindelwald’s and Dumbledore’s shared obsession with the hallows.
Were you paying attention? Did you spot these Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter connections? Let us know which of these hidden Easter Eggs were your favorites in the comments below!
Originally published in November 2018.
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