Hogwarts Legacy follows a young fifth-year student during their time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Shortly after they arrive at the wizarding school, they can meet a variety of friendly faces, some of whom even offer them side quests to complete in exchange for various rewards.
While a lot of Hogwarts Legacy's NPCs provide fun side quests for players to complete, only Sebastian, Poppy, and Natsai offer relationship quests. These quests require the player to team up with the quest-giver in order to solve a mystery, but not all of them are easy to complete. A Basis for Blackmail is a fine example of this, as its requirements can get a little complicated.
How To Begin A Basis For Blackmail In Hogwarts Legacy
To begin A Basis for Blackmail, the player will first need to have completed all of Natsai's previous relationship quests. On top of completing the Mum's the Word relationship quest, they will also need to complete the two main quests, It's All Gobbledegook and In the Shadow of the Mine.
Once all these requirements have been met, Natsai will send an owl to the protagonist asking them to meet her outside Hogsmeade, where the two can begin their next investigation into Theophilus Harlow.
Speaking With The Townsfolk
According to Archie Bickle during The Lost Child, Harlow and his goons have been blackmailing certain Hogsmeade residents into doing some questionable things. Sadly, aside from Archie's words, there is no evidence confirming this to be true, so the protagonist must find the residents in question to obtain proof.
The player will need to speak to three NPCs during this quest if they wish to progress the story, and thankfully, their exact locations are showcased on the minimap.
The order in which each resident is spoken to won't affect the quest's outcome, so players should start by heading to the Three Broomsticks and speaking with Daisy Rabe on the third floor. The player will then be given the option to inquire more about the details of Daisy's blackmail, or they can select the "That is what I needed" option and move on to the next NPC.
The next resident, Otto Dibble, can be found just to the left of Gladrags Wizardwear, north of the Three Broomsticks. Like Daisy, Otto is more than willing to explain how Harlow is blackmailing him. Once he finishes detailing his involvement, the player can choose to ask more questions or select the "Thank you for talking with me" option and head to the final NPC.
To find Agabus Philbert, the player must venture to the western side of Hogsmeade and travel just south of The Magic Neep. He can be seen standing outside a tall house, just next to a door with a Level 3 Lock on the handle.
Unlike with the previous NPCs, the player will be given the option to either scold Agabus for not speaking up or praise him for keeping a low profile. Both choices lead to the same outcome, so the player can choose whatever they wish. Once the conversation ends, the protagonist will suggest they need to reconvene with Natsai at the southern entrance of Hogsmeade.
How To Find Natsai
Upon returning to the meeting spot just south of Hogsmeade, the protagonist will find that Natsai is nowhere to be seen. In order to find her, they must travel to the Hog's Head in the southwest corner of the Hogsmeade map. Upon reaching the infamous inn, the player should venture to the dock next to the river, where they will find Natsai's wand resting next to a wooden crate.
Interacting with the wand will prompt the player to cast Revelio, a handy charm that reveals nearby secrets. Using this spell will reveal orange footprints on the ground leading away from the docks, so the player must follow them if they hope to save Natsai from the Ashwinders.
The footsteps lead to the entrance to the Ashwinder Hideout just outside the Hog's Head beside its western wall. Once it has been found, the player can interact with the doorway to enter inside.
Exploring The Ashwinder Hideout
Once inside the Ashwinder Hideout, the player will need to cast Accio on the left and right barrels in order to open the way forward. Each barrel needs to be pulled as far as it can go, as only partially moving them will cause them to return to their previous positions. Once both barrels have been moved, the center barrel will open, permitting the protagonist to enter a new area.
At the end of the newly opened corridor, the player will find a balcony overlooking a lower floor. This floor is crawling with Ashwinders, so the player should ensure to equip their most powerful spells before heading further. The Disillusionment charm can help a great deal during this section, as casting it and sneaking up behind an enemy will allow the protagonist to cast Petrificus Totalus, an especially convenient spell that immediately incapacitates most Hogwarts Legacy enemies.
Aside from the Ashwinders in this area, the player will also need to take out Gwendolyn Zhou, one of the twenty-one Infamous Foes in Hogwarts Legacy. Gwendolyn has a lot more health than the rest of her lackeys, so Petrificus Totalus won't work on her. The best way to approach this battle is to petrify as many Ashwinders as possible before launching an all-out attack and eventually focusing on Gwendolyn.
Where To Find Otto Dibble's Love Letter & Agabus Philbert's Book Of Poems
Once all the Ashwinders have been dealt with, the player can either continue searching for Natsai or take a moment to find Agabus Philbert's book of poems and Otto Dibble's love letter by exploring the hideout's more hidden areas. The book of poems can be found inside a chest on the bar on the left-hand side of the room, while the love letter can be found by traveling up the southeastern stairs and opening the chest next to the giant cage.
The Huge Table can also be found in the western section of the arena, inside a chest beside a collection of barrels. This item is purely decorative and can be placed in the Room of Requirement.
How To Complete A Basis For Blackmail In Hogwarts Legacy
Once these optional collectibles have been obtained, the player can travel north, up the stairs, and enter through the door at the back of the room. Inside, they will find Natsai and Isko Rabe imprisoned in separate rooms. To free them, the player should cast Revelio while standing next to the desk in the center of the room. Doing so will reveal a chest with a Level 1 Lock that, when opened, will reward the protagonist with Isko Rabe's wand.
Upon obtaining the wand, the player should interact with Isko, who will then use the wand to unlock the doors keeping him and Natsai trapped. When Isko Apparates away, the protagonist and Natsai can return to the exit and leave. This is also a good time to double-check the area and loot whatever gear and Galleons are lying around.
Just outside the Ashwinder Hideout, the player can speak to Officer Singer to end the A Basis for Blackmail side quest.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4 and Xbox One versions will release on April 4, and a Switch version will release on July 25.