Scrope’s Last Hope

The quest “Scroop’s Last Hope” is a story quest available exclusively to Slytherin students. If you have chosen another house, please refer to the alternative quest “The Ghost of Richard Jackdaw.”

Search for Scroup’s notes

After receiving a letter from the house elf Scroop, go to the fast travel point “Clock Tower Courtyard.” The elf says he has information about the book you found, but it is too dangerous to meet openly, so he has left a series of notes instead.

The first note is hidden right in the courtyard. Examine the central well—there is a mysterious message in the mouth of one of the griffin statues in the corner. From it, you will learn that it is unsafe to talk in public, and you will receive instructions to move toward the wooden bridge.

The second note is located behind the bridge, on a raised platform on the left. To reach it, cast the Accio spell on one of the nearby boxes and use it as a step. The message will direct you to the pumpkin patch at the foot of the hill.

The third note is hidden inside a pumpkin. Break the fruit with a basic attack, and you will find the message you are looking for in one of the large pumpkins around the corner of the building, on the right-hand side.

Meeting with Scroup

Once you have collected all three notes, go down to the coast near the ruined docks. Here you will find Scroup himself. The elf serves as the school’s director and risks serious trouble if he is spotted.

Scroop tells us about his former mistress, Apollonia Black, who knew about the pages torn from the book. The answer may lie in her private grotto nearby. The elf also asks for a favor: if you find a ring in the grotto, take it—Scroop wants to present the jewelry as a gift to the director.

Finally, he explains how to enter: inside the grotto, you need to place a slice of toast on a special pedestal.

Research on the Grotto of Apollonia

The grotto is located in the cliff directly beneath Hogwarts. Follow the coastline until you find a small cave—you will need to swim to reach the entrance.

Inside, you will find a fresco depicting a giant squid living in the lake and the pedestal itself. Interact with it: the fresco will come to life, accept a toast, and open a secret passage.

Deep inside the cave, Apollonia Black’s diary lies on a table. As soon as you pick it up, a headless ghost appears from the wall — Richard Jackdo.

The ghost confesses: he sold the ring many years ago, and stole the pages from the book himself, wanting to impress Apollonia. Following the map on these pages, Richard went to the Forbidden Forest, where he died. The pages are still with his body somewhere in the forest. You agree to meet at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Return to Scroop

Return to the coast to the elf. Tell him that the search for the pages has progressed, but that the hope for the ring has been in vain — there are no jewelry in the grotto. Scroup thanks you for your help and disappears using apparition.

The quest is complete. You have completed a unique task for the Slytherin faculty.