scorecard14 'Harry Potter' references and details you may have missed in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
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14 'Harry Potter' references and details you may have missed in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'

Palmer Haasch,Kirsten Acuna   

14 'Harry Potter' references and details you may have missed in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Newt gives Jacob a coreless wand with a connection to a famous wizard in "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."Warner Bros.
  • Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."
  • There are plenty of callbacks to the first two prequel films and the "Harry Potter" franchise.

Jacob's coreless wand bears a connection to Salazar Slytherin.

Jacob
Newt gives Jacob a wand in "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."      Warner Bros. Pictures

Jacob's wand, while lacking a core, is said to have been crafted from a rare material: snakewood.

The material is linked to at least one other famous wand: that of Salazar Slytherin, the founder of Slytherin house. Slytherin's wand, when it was buried outside of the grounds of the American magic school Ilvermorny, sprouted a snakewood tree whose leaves bore medicinal properties and which was resistant to being pruned, according to an official history Ilvermorny.

A photo of Tina Goldstein can be seen in Newt's briefcase.

A photo of Tina Goldstein can be seen in Newt
A photo of Tina replaces the one of Leta.      Warner Bros.

Near the film's start, Newt opens his briefcase and there's a photo of Tina, his future wife, staring back.

In the first film, Tina noticed a photo of Leta Lestrange, Newt's first love, in his suitcase. The image of Tina is now in her place.

Jacob drinks Gigglewater, a beverage he had in the first "Fantastic Beasts" film, on the train.

Jacob drinks Gigglewater, a beverage he had in the first "Fantastic Beasts" film, on the train.
Jacob drinks Gigglewater in "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."      Warner Bros. Pictures

After being bestowed with his wand, Jacob takes a drink of a beverage that makes him let out a bark of laughter.

It's most likely Gigglewater, a beverage that he and Queenie enjoyed together in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

Albus Dumbledore confirms his sister, Ariana, was an Obscurial, like her nephew Credence.

Albus Dumbledore confirms his sister, Ariana, was an Obscurial, like her nephew Credence.
A photograph of Ariana Dumbledore can be seen in Hog's Head pub in both franchises.      Warner Bros.

Though this was heavily implied in the past, it's not until "Secrets of Dumbledore," as the brothers discuss Ariana's untimely death and Credence's existence, that Albus and Aberforth acknowledge their sister's condition.

We previously learned in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" that Ariana became an Obscurial after a group of boys attacked her at the age of six, leaving her unable to control her magic. Since Obscurials were dangerous to exposing the Wizarding World and usually didn't live past the age of 10, Ariana was kept hidden.

Despite efforts to protect her, Ariana accidentally killed their mother during a magical outburst. It's implied that Grindelwald may have gone searching for Obscurials because he knew Ariana was one and that she survived to the age of 14 until her untimely death.

Dumbledore's message to Vogel echoes some wisdom he imparted in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

Dumbledore
Albus Dumbledore passes along a message to German Prime Minister Anton Vogel.      Warner Bros. Pictures

When Newt meets German Prime Minister Anton Vogel, who is also the head of the International Confederation of Wizards, he passes along a message from Albus Dumbledore to "do what is right, not what is easy."

After speaking to Newt, Vogel announces that he is pardoning Gellert Grindelwald of his crimes, freeing him up to run in the upcoming International Confederation of Wizards election.

Dumbledore's message to Vogel echoes something that he tells Harry in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" following Voldemort's return.

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead," Dumbledore says. "Soon, we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."

Pickett picks his way out of a cage after he's locked up.

Pickett picks his way out of a cage after he
We weren't shocked Pickett made an escape once he was locked up.      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

This was a nice callback to the first film. More than halfway through the 2016 movie, Gnarlak tells Newt that he's interested in his Bowtruckle, Pickett, because of Pickett's ability to pick locks.

Pickett also used his skill in "The Crimes of Grindelwald" to get Newt out of a tight spot when he was locked up by Yusuf Kama.

The suitcase gimmick at film's end mirrors a trick deployed in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

The suitcase gimmick at film
"Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" uses a gimmick similar to one from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."      Warner Bros. Pictures

When the group travels to Bhutan, they each grab one of the several duplicate suitcases that Bunty has prepared in the room of requirement. Only one of the suitcases contains the Qilin, which is crucial to the group's plans. The other suitcase all contain a matter of other decoys or diversionary measures.

The gimmick echoes the "seven Harrys" plot in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." In order to whisk Harry to safety from Little Whinging, six of Harry's comrades use Polyjuice Potion to disguise themselves and confuse Death Eaters who may pursue them. The ensuing battle ends with Alastair Moody and Hedwig, Harry's owl, dead, as well as George Weasley down an ear.

Pastries were in the briefcase Jacob was holding late in the movie, a nod to his first meeting with Newt.

Pastries were in the briefcase Jacob was holding late in the movie, a nod to his first meeting with Newt.
Jacob's pastry-filled suitcase from the first "Fantastic Beasts" film.      Warner Bros. Pictures

It was a funny nod back to the first film. When Newt first met Jacob at a bank, the two had similar briefcases. Jacob's was filled with baked goods that he was showing off to receive a loan to open a bakery. His suitcase got mixed up with Newt's.

When Newt later opened his suitcase thinking it had magical beasts inside, he was upset to find it filled with Jacob's pastries.

The Monster Book of Monsters makes a brief appearance.

The Monster Book of Monsters makes a brief appearance.
Harry's copy of The Monster Book of Monsters in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."      Warner Bros. Pictures

There's a copy of "The Monster Book of Monsters," an infamous "Harry Potter" textbook, in one of the decoy suitcases. After it's opened, a copy of the book springs out and begins to attack Grindelwald's followers.

Hagrid famously assigns the sentient book during his time as the Care of Magical Creatures professor. It has teeth and is frequently aggressive.

Dumbledore catches a snitch out of a case with Quidditch equipment in it.

Dumbledore catches a snitch out of a case with Quidditch equipment in it.
Dumbledore catches a Golden Snitch in "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."      Warner Bros. Pictures

Another one of the decoy cases is full of Quidditch equipment, including bludgers and a golden snitch.

Dumbledore eventually captures, and pockets, the snitch after it's released.

The Qilin chooses Dumbledore for a position that he would later hold decades down the line.

The Qilin chooses Dumbledore for a position that he would later hold decades down the line.
Dumbledore became Supreme Mugwump later in his life, years after the Qilin acknowledged him.      Warner Bros.

After Credence exposes the Qilin first used in the ceremony as being fake, the real one doesn't choose Grindelwald. Rather, it gravitates to Albus Dumbledore, who rebuffs it and prods it to choose another leader. Eventually, it chooses Vincência Santos.

While Dumbledore refuses the Qilin's judgment at the time, he eventually took on the mantle of Supreme Mugwump much later in life. He was eventually expelled from the position in 1995 when Ministry wizards voted him out for insisting that Voldemort had returned.

Grindelwald casts the same curse on Jacob that he does on Aberforth in the books.

Grindelwald casts the same curse on Jacob that he does on Aberforth in the books.
Mads Mikkelsen as Grindelwald.      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

At the election ceremony, Grindelwald casts the Cruciatus Curse on Jacob.

He cast the same curse on Aberforth, the younger Dumbledore brother tells Harry, Ron, and Hermione in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," after he confronted Albus and Grindelwald about their plans.

Grindelwald, Aberforth, and Albus get locked in battle late in the film, recreating an important duel from their youth.

Grindelwald, Aberforth, and Albus get locked in battle late in the film, recreating an important duel from their youth.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald face off.      Warner Bros.

When Grindelwald attempts to attack Credence, he, Albus, and Aberforth inadvertently recreate an important duel from years ago.

The three-way duel between them eventually resulted in the death of Ariana Dumbledore, Albus and Aberforth's younger sister.

Aberforth quotes one of the most famous lines from the franchise when he reunites with Aurelius.

Aberforth quotes one of the most famous lines from the franchise when he reunites with Aurelius.
"The Secrets of Dumbledore" reveals that Credence Barebone is actually Aberforth Dumbledore's son.      Warner Bros. Pictures

Credence Barebone — or rather, Aurelius Dumbledore — finally meets his father Aberforth near the end of "The Secrets of Dumbledore."

When Credence asks if Aberforth if he ever thought of him, Aberforth replies, "Always."

Snape utters the same word when Albus Dumbledore asks him if he still loves Lily Potter "after all this time."

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