• By MuggleNet Editorial Staff
• 15 Nov, 2026
• Latest

HBO has released the first full scene from its upcoming Harry Potter television series, offering an extended look at Hogwarts’ Great Hall and a hint at how the new adaptation plans to expand on the original books.

The approximately 90-second clip, titled “The Start-of-Term Banquet,” takes us to Harry’s first evening at Hogwarts, shortly after the Sorting Ceremony. Students chant Dumbledore’s name as the headmaster, played by John Lithgow, prepares to begin the feast. Harry (Dominic McLaughlin) asks Ron (Alastair Stout) whether Dumbledore is “a bit mad,” to which Ron cheerfully replies, “Yep, totally off his rocker.”

With a snap of Dumbledore’s fingers, the tables fill with food, popping up from the kitchens below. The visuals are both familiar and new at the same time. The magical effects have a whimsy to them, food appearing to maintain some of it’s momentum from the trip up from the kitchens, toppling off platters.

Our First Listen to the New Hogwarts Soundtrack

The clip gives us our first proper taste of Hans Zimmer’s musical approach to the wizarding world, and it’s already making us optimistic.

There are moments that feel wonderfully familiar, particularly the sweeping, upbeat strings, flutes, and full orchestral flourishes that give Hogwarts its sense of grandeur and excitement. But there’s something a little stranger happening beneath the surface, too. Playful, occasionally off-kilter harmonies introduce an almost Danny Elfman-esque quality, bringing a touch of mischief and mystery to the music.

It’s still early, of course, but there’s something delightfully magical about hearing this music alongside the bustle of the Great Hall. We’re beginning to hear what HBO’s Hogwarts sounds like, and it really does feel like coming home.

A New Conversation

As the students begin eating, the scene moves to the staff table, where Dumbledore shares a quiet exchange with Professor McGonagall, played by Janet McTeer. Dumbledore teases McGonagall about Harry being sorted into Gryffindor, suggesting she’s rather pleased to have him in her house. McGonagall, meanwhile, seems struck by Harry’s resemblance to his father, James Potter. Dumbledore gently reminds her that Harry has a nature all his own.

It’s a brief exchange, but a telling one because the conversation doesn’t appear in the original novel.

The Harry Potter books are told (almost) entirely from Harry’s perspective. During the welcome feast, we experience the Great Hall through the eyes of an 11-year-old discovering the wizarding world for the first time. We see the teachers sitting at the staff table, but we don’t know what they’re saying to one another. By allowing the audience to hear conversations Harry isn’t present for, HBO is showing us ahead of time how the TV format will differ from the films.

Importantly (and thankfully), the new dialogue doesn’t contradict what we know about the characters. McGonagall’s reaction acknowledges her history with and the tragedy of James Potter, while Dumbledore’s observation reflects one of the central ideas of the series: Harry may have inherited his parents’ appearance and abilities, but his identity must be shaped by his own choices.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres December 25 on HBO and HBO Max.

Watch the full clip below.

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Feature Image: HBO