Though it tends to be powerful witches and wizards that get the lion's share of attention in Hogwarts Legacy, the game also shines a spotlight on some of the many fantastic beasts that inhabit the wizarding world. After learning how to rescue beasts during one of the game's main story missions, there'll be numerous side quests dedicated to these often cute and cuddly-looking creatures.
One such side quest is called "A Thief in the Night," which becomes available once players have met with Sebastian in Feldcroft as they are preparing for their search for the final keeper. Like several of Hogwarts Legacy's other side quests, it can be triggered in Irondale, with players this time needing to speak with a vendor named Padraic Haggarty to get the ball rolling.
Updated May 6, 2023, by Tom Bowen: There are more than 100 relationship and side quests in Hogwarts Legacy, yet each manages to feel distinctly unique in its own special way. A Thief in the Night has players track down a family heirloom on behalf of two squabbling siblings, taking them on a wild and at times dangerous journey in the process. By knowing where to look though, players can save themselves an awful lot of time and avoid having to take part in one or two challenging combat situations.
How to Complete the A Thief in the Night Side Quest in Hogwarts Legacy
It turns out that somebody has been stealing things from Padraic's stall during nighttime hours, including a priceless family heirloom. To track down the thief, players will need to visit Padraic's stall at night, which, for some players, may mean hopping onto the map screen and then pressing in the right analog stick to advance time.
Once it gets dark, players will be able to use Revelio to reveal a trail of coins, which will eventually lead them to the thief. This trail passes through several Goblin camps, though players don't actually need to clear these strongholds if they don't want to. In fact, if players aren't interested in the XP or collecting the coins, it's possible to fly on one's broomstick to speed things up quite a bit.
Eventually, the trail will lead to a Niffler's den, at which point, the player's objectives will change. First, they'll need to recover the family heirloom for Padraic, which can be done by climbing up onto the rocks directly above the Niffler's treasure horde. After that, they'll need to catch the adorable little beast using the Nab Sack, which can be a little tricky due to the uneven terrain.
Once players have both the heirloom and the Niffler, they can head back to Irondale to turn in the quest. There, they'll be rewarded with 180 XP as well as the Niffler Mask: a special cosmetic item that can be used to change the appearance of certain pieces of Gear. Players can also get themselves a few extra Galleons by asking for a reward, which Padraic doesn't seem to mind too much.
How Long Does it Take to Complete A Thief in the Night?
If players know exactly where to look, A Thief in the Night can be completed in a matter of minutes. However, those who follow the trail of coins as intended will find themselves having to take down several groups of powerful enemies, which will result in the time needed to complete A Thief in the Night going up by quite a bit. Even when heading straight to the quest's final location, players may find that they need a few minutes to catch the thief, as the adorable little Niffler can move surprisingly quickly and, unlike in the Rescuing Rococo side quest, has a wide-open space in which to run around.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. A Switch version is currently in development.