Look, if you’re trying to navigate the messy moral compass of Sebastian Sallow, you already know things are getting dark. By the time you reach the quest In the Shadow of Time Hogwarts Legacy players usually realize this isn't just about a simple school field trip anymore. It’s heavy. You’re heading into the Feldcroft Catacomb, a place that feels damp, smells like ancient dust, and is absolutely crawling with spiders. Honestly, if you hate spiders, this quest is a nightmare. But we’re here for the relic. Or rather, Sebastian is here for the relic because he’s convinced it’s the only way to save his sister, Anne.
It’s a turning point.
The quest starts near the Feldcroft Catacomb, and you’ll need to be at least Level 17 to even get the prompt from Sebastian. If you haven't been keeping up with his "Shadow" questline, this one won't trigger. You’ve gotta be his partner in crime first. When you meet him outside the tomb, he’s already buzzing with that desperate energy that makes everyone in the game—including Ominis Gaunt—really nervous. He’s looking for a lost Slytherin relic. He thinks it can reverse dark magic curses. Is he right? Probably not, but that's what makes this quest so gut-wrenching.
Navigating the Feldcroft Catacomb Without Losing Your Mind
The layout of this place is a bit of a labyrinth. It’s not just a straight shot to the loot. Once you step inside, you’re greeted by a lot of cobwebs and a few initial skirmishes with spiders. Incendio or Confringo are your best friends here. Use them. A lot. You’ll eventually hit a room where the floor is basically a bone-strewn puzzle.
This is where people usually get stuck.
You need to find specific skeletal remains to build a bone bridge. It sounds macabre because it is. You use Wingardium Leviosa (or just Accio if you’re lazy) to drag these piles of bones toward the center totems. If the bridge doesn't form, you've probably missed a pile tucked away in one of the side alcoves. It’s sort of a "Lego-building with human remains" vibe that really drives home how far Sebastian is willing to go. While you’re doing the heavy lifting, Sebastian is just yapping about how the end justifies the means. He’s obsessed.
The Imperio Choice: To Learn or Not to Learn?
This is the big one. This is why you’re actually reading this. During In the Shadow of Time Hogwarts Legacy gives you the chance to learn the second Unforgivable Curse: Imperio.
Sebastian finds a note. It explains that the relic requires dark magic to be accessed. He turns to you, all casual, and asks if you want to learn the Mind Control Curse. You have two choices. You can say you want to learn it, or you can refuse. If you refuse, don't worry—you can actually learn it later from him in the Undercroft if you change your mind, provided you don't turn him in later in the story.
But honestly? If you’re doing a "dark wizard" run, just take it. Imperio is incredibly powerful for crowd control. It turns an enemy into an ally for a short duration, making them take damage from their own friends while you sit back and sip some Wiggenweld potion. It’s useful. Is it evil? Yeah, probably. But in the context of the game's mechanics, it’s a total game-changer for those high-level goblin camps.
Dealing with Ominis Gaunt’s Dramatic Entrance
Just when you think you’ve got the relic and you’re home free, Ominis shows up. He’s been following you. He’s blind, but he’s definitely not oblivious. The tension between Ominis and Sebastian is at an all-time high here. Ominis is terrified of the Dark Arts because of his family history—the Gaunts are legendary for their cruelty—and he sees Sebastian sliding down a slippery slope.
You have to mediate.
This is a great piece of writing in the game because you can actually feel the rift forming. You can side with Sebastian and lie to Ominis, or you can try to talk Sebastian down. Spoiler alert: Sebastian doesn't really listen to anyone at this point. He’s too far gone. You end up having to convince Ominis to let you leave with the relic. If you’ve learned Imperio, the irony of the situation is pretty thick. You’re standing there with a soul-crushing curse in your pocket while arguing about "safety."
The Fight for Feldcroft
Once you leave the catacomb, you think the quest is over. It isn't. You get back to Feldcroft only to find it under attack by Ranrok’s Loyalists. It’s a chaotic fight. Goblins everywhere. Fires. Screaming.
This is where the quest gets its controversial ending. Sebastian uses Imperio right in front of everyone—including his uncle, Solomon Sallow—to stop a goblin from killing Anne. It’s a split-second decision. He saves her life, but he does it with a curse that is strictly forbidden. Solomon is furious. He banishes Sebastian from the village. It’s a brutal scene because there’s no "right" answer. If Sebastian hadn't used the curse, Anne might have died. Because he did use it, he lost his family anyway.
Tips for Completing the Quest Efficiently
Don't just rush the main path. There are chests tucked away in the side rooms of the catacomb that contain high-tier gear and some decent gold.
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- Stock up on health potions. The spider ambush near the end of the tomb can get hairy if you're playing on Hard difficulty.
- Equip fire spells. Every enemy in this quest—spiders and undead Inferi—is weak to fire. If you aren't using Confringo, you're making it harder on yourself.
- Check the notes. The letters scattered around the catacomb give a lot of backstory on why the relic was placed there in the first place. It adds a lot of flavor to the "why" of the mission.
- The Bone Bridge. Remember, you need three sets of bones to finish the bridge. If you only see two, look up. Sometimes they are on high ledges you need to pull down.
The quest ends with a somber walk away from the Sallow home. You’re left with the relic, a new curse (maybe), and a very fractured friendship. It sets the stage for the final act of Sebastian’s story, which, as most players know, doesn't exactly get happier from here.
How to Handle the Fallout
After finishing the quest, your next step should be checking your Owl Post. Characters will react to what happened in Feldcroft. If you're looking to maximize your power, take some time to upgrade the gear you found in the catacomb back at the Room of Requirement. The "In the Shadow of Time" mission is a long one, so make sure your gear slots aren't full before you enter the tomb, or you'll be deleting items in the dark like a crazy person.
Check your talents too. If you did learn Imperio, there’s a talent in the Dark Arts tree that makes any enemy you've cursed with Imperio "spread" the cursed status to others they hit. It’s an infectious bit of magic that turns a single cast into a room-clearing strategy. Use the remaining time after the quest to practice the timing of the curse on some local poacher camps near the coast.
To keep the momentum going, head back to the Undercroft once Sebastian sends word. The story moves fast after this, and you’ll want to be prepared for the final confrontation in the Sallow saga. Keep your fire spells slotted and your moral ambiguity ready—you're going to need both.