The best references in LEGO Harry Potter Hogsmeade Village Collectors’ Edition, explained
We’ve broken down some of the best (and sometimes obscure) references hidden away in LEGO Harry Potter 76457 Hogsmeade Village Collectors’ Edition.
Made up of 3,228 pieces, the newly-revealed LEGO Harry Potter 76457 Hogsmeade Village Collectors’ Edition visits Honeydukes, the Owl Post, The Three Broomsticks, Dervish and Banges, Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop, Zonko’s Joke Shop, and the Hog’s Head – the latter two for the very first time. As a Collectors’ Edition set, there are plenty of details woven in that allude to both obvious and lesser-spotted moments in the movies and even the books.
Some are fairly obvious for any Potterhead, like the classic inclusion of butterbeer in The Three Broomsticks or the goat’s horns behind the bar in the Hog’s Head. Others might need a little more explaining. We’ve broken down some of the best references from the Wizarding World we’ve spotted so far below.
Zonko’s products
While we’ve had plenty of Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes products in LEGO sets before, this is the first time the twins’ major competitor has made it into LEGO bricks, meaning the lollipop that Neville never got to eat, the various flavours of ice creams, and Zonko’s own Fizzing Whizzbees and Hiccough Sweets are now ready to build.
The interior of Zonko’s is own of the most colourful areas in the whole set, in no small part thanks to the various colourful boxes and products lining the walls. We’d wager there’s plenty more to find than what we can see in these initial pictures too.
Dumbledore’s Army
76457 Hogsmeade Village Collectors’ Edition is squarely set during the fifth and sixth movies, with various references to The Order of the Phoenix and The Half-Blood Prince woven through it. That includes a reference to Dumbledore’s Army, with the names of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Fred and George Weasley printed on it.
Each character’s ‘signature’ has got its own style to it, reflective of the personality of the person who wrote it, which is a nice extra touch.
A secret visit from Rita Skeeter
The typewriter and quill hidden in the walls of the Hog’s Head might seem random at first, especially as the alcove is too small for a minifigure to fit in. We reckon this is a reference to Rita Skeeter and the time in the Order of the Phoenix, when Hermione blackmailed the journalist to write an exposé on the Ministry of Magic, fuelled by an interview with Harry.
This is a book-only event, but it’s a neat inclusion to flesh out the world of Hogsmeade, even if there’s no sign of the journalist in minifigure form herself.
Cursed Katie
The alternate face for Katie Bell sees her with blue eyes and an open mouth, just as she looks while cursed. It’s quite a dark moment in The Half-Blood Prince, so it’s interesting to see the LEGO Group recreate it in the minifigure, as the company often steers clear of darker moments of horror. The hair piece included is a nice touch: when paired with a ‘normal’ facial expression, she could just be walking, but when paired with the poisoned face, you can imagine the curse that lifts her into the air also affecting her hair.
Ariana Dumbledore
Ariana Dumbledore never appears in person, only as a portrait in her older brother’s pub, the Hog’s Head. She finally makes an appearance as a LEGO minifigure, albeit in what looks like sticker form. The troubled youngest child of the Dumbledores hides a secret route into the school behind her portrait, a function that is also included in the Harry Potter LEGO set.
LEGO Harry Potter 76457 Hogsmeade Village Collectors’ Edition is available from September 1 for LEGO Insiders and from September 4 for everyone else, retailing at £349.99 / $399.99 / €379.99.
Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO sets using our affiliate links, and read more about the wider issues surrounding LEGO Harry Potter.
