With the release of the new film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, I thought it would be fun to explore Hogwarts a bit more. In my last article, we took a look at the tiny details of the massive microscale set 71043 Hogwarts Castle. Today, let’s take a photographic journey into the Wizarding World at minifigure scale into the classroom moments of Hogwarts.

I think these brick-built books are a wonderful addition to the LEGO Harry Potter product line. While some complained they don’t fit in with the castle, they overlook that the sets come with a detailed and natural backdrop for photography: the covers!

Hogwarts Moment sets are rich in interesting references to the history of Hogwarts and perfectly reflect the heritage of different Hogwarts houses. For example, the Charms classroom represents Ravenclaw with Professor Filius Flitwick and the blue room with bronze accents from the Ravenclaw emblem. The Herbology classroom represents Hufflepuff with Pomona Sprout, the warm color palette of the greenhouse, and even the inclusion of The Fat Friar, the resident ghost of Hufflepuff.

So let’s open these books to explore the scenes within them, using the covers as backdrops and reenacting the exact scenes from each movie through LEGO and photography.

Hogwarts Moment: Charms Class

The Charms master Professor Filius Flitwick's lesson starts with teaching one of the wizards' common skills—the ability to make objects fly. The students have gathered feathers for their first experience of levitation.

Filius: “Now, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practicing—the swish and flick. And enunciate: ‘Wingardium Leviosa.’ Everyone!”

Hermione: “No, stop, stop, stop! You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's "LeviOsa", not "LeviosAh".”

Ron: “You do it then if you're so clever. Go on, go on...”

Hermione: “Wingardium Leviosa!”

Filius: “Well done! See here, everyone, Miss Granger's done it! Splendid!”

Meanwhile, Seamus Finnigan, an excessively impulsive student, waves his wand with great hopes, but… he doesn't levitate the feather—no, he blows it up!

Harry: “I think we're going to need another feather over here, Professor!”

Hogwarts Moment: Herbology Class

Professor Pomona Sprout enters the greenhouse and greets the students. Today they will be doing something quite special and dangerous…

Pomona: “Welcome to Greenhouse №3, gather around! Today we are going to re-pot Mandrakes. Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake root?”

Hermione: “Mandrake is used to return those who have been petrified to their original state. It is also quite dangerous: Mandrake cry is fatal to anyone who hears it.”

Pomona: “As our mandrakes are still only seedlings, their cry won't kill you yet, but they can knock you out for several hours! That's why I’ve given each of you a pair of earmuffs.”

Pomona: “Remember to grasp your mandrake firmly, pull it sharply out of the pot, then dump it down into the other larger pot and cover it with soil until it can't move.”

Pomona: “There are plenty of pots to go around! You may start. Grasp your mandrake and pull it up.”

After a few unsuccessful attempts, the students succeed in repotting mandrakes!

The book sets can also be used for a few scenes in other books, like when potions master Professor Horace Slughorn visits the empty greenhouse in order to “study” flora for exceptionally personal purposes…

Horace: “Tentacula leaves are very valuable indeed: ten galleons a leaf to the right buyer! Not that I'm familiar with any such prices, but one hears rumors. My own interests are purely academic, of course.”

In these photos, I’ve tried to show how these Hogwarts Moment book sets can be even more flexible with photography than regular sets. You don’t have to worry about a roof that gets in the way, walls won’t block your view, you can use the covers as a backdrop, and lighting is not a problem. I look forward to the next sets like these to explore even more photographic possibilities!

What do you think of the Harry Potter book sets? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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