Like Mission Impossible or Avengers Assemble, Harry Potter isn’t a franchise that uses a gruff hero who doesn’t accept help. Harry is often propped up by those around him, and while Neville Longbottom, Sirius Black, and Luna Lovegood are all friends to The Boy Who Lived, their place in the story is fleeting, popping in and out as and when the story requires it. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are different, though. They are Harry’s closest friends and fiercest supporters, and the dynamic between them makes him a better character. Avalanche Software has to tap into this philosophy if it wants to provide a memorable story set in such a beloved world.
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Hermione and Ron’s Place in Harry Potter Lore
Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley couldn’t be more different if they tried. One is headstrong, intelligent, and highly logical whereas the other is fearful, plucky, and very emotionally-driven, so the pair offer stark differences in how they approach any given situation. They each serve as Harry’s confidants during times of crisis, and do well to keep the titular character balanced throughout. Their absence in Hogwarts Legacy will be felt, so it’s important to replace them with personalities who can have the same effect, especially as the game will use plenty of RPG elements.
Hogwarts Legacy takes place far before Hermione and Ron are even born, so any reference to the characters is going to be slim or non-existent. The former hails from a non-magic family so the Granger’s impact on the wizarding world simply doesn’t exist. Ron is from the Weasley family, who will feature in some way in Hogwarts Legacy but Ron himself will, naturally, be absent. The family have been a stalwart inclusion in Harry Potter lore for years, and this should help add more familiar flavor to the game.
Hogwarts Legacy Needs Memorable Companions
It would perhaps be too easy to make one of the player’s companions a Weasley, as it wouldn’t provide enough separation between Hogwarts Legacy and the series that spawned it. However, using the same philosophy as the books and films did would be wise, providing loyal side characters who are completely polarized in personality and aesthetics. Having one book-smart and slightly arrogant companion and a less logical and more passionate companion could be a great way to provide difficult in-game choices as well as entertaining dialogue through the story.
Having side characters who almost exactly parrot the personalities of Hermione and Ron would surely be a mistake, but each character brings something new that the player can use. There’s no telling how well-written and complex the protagonist will be, but as Hogwarts Legacy is a role-playing game with character customization, it would perhaps be safe to assume that the game will rely on players’ imagination for the protagonist’s intricate personality quirks. However, Avalanche Software has a golden opportunity to forge great side characters who can stay with the player throughout. Hermione and Ron are perfect templates to build upon, and their contrasting nature is something that should absolutely be replicated in Hogwarts Legacy.
Hogwarts Legacy launches February 10, 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and at a later date on Nintendo Switch.
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