Hogwarts Legacy Minding Your Own Business: Complete Walkthrough & Guide (2026)

Hogwarts Legacy is packed with side quests that expand the game’s already rich world, and “Minding Your Own Business” is one of those quests that’s easy to overlook but rewarding once you immerse. This mission involves helping a character named Penny Hopewell, and while it’s not the longest quest in the game, it has its share of combat encounters, puzzle elements, and a decent haul of loot if you’re thorough.

Whether you’re tackling this quest early in your playthrough or coming back to mop up side content before finishing the main story, this guide will walk you through every step. We’ll cover how to unlock it, what you’ll need to do, the best spells and strategies for the encounters you’ll face, and what rewards you can expect. If you’ve been stuck on a particular puzzle or combat section, or if you’re just looking to optimize your approach, you’re in the right place.

What Is the Minding Your Own Business Quest?

“Minding Your Own Business” is a side quest in Hogwarts Legacy that becomes available relatively early in the game, though it’s easy to miss if you’re not actively seeking out secondary content. The quest revolves around Penny Hopewell, a character you’ll encounter in the Hogsmeade Valley region. Penny runs a small shop and is dealing with a problem involving some troublesome individuals who’ve taken over a nearby mine.

The quest itself is straightforward in structure: you’ll be tasked with investigating the mine, dealing with the enemies inside, retrieving some items, and eventually resolving Penny’s issue. It’s not a branching quest with multiple outcomes, you follow a linear path from start to finish. The mine itself is moderately sized, with a handful of combat encounters, a few environmental puzzles, and some collectibles tucked away if you’re thorough.

What makes this quest worth your time? Beyond the experience points and gold, you’ll pick up some decent gear (especially useful if you’re still building out your equipment loadout in the early-to-mid game) and a few cosmetic items. It’s also a good opportunity to practice combat combos and spell rotations in a controlled environment before tackling tougher main story missions.

The quest typically takes 20-30 minutes to complete, depending on how much you explore and whether you run into any of the bugs that have been reported (more on that later). It’s scaled to your current level, so the enemies you face will match your progression, making it accessible whether you’re level 15 or level 35.

How to Unlock Minding Your Own Business

Prerequisites and Level Requirements

Unlocking “Minding Your Own Business” requires you to progress through the main story to a certain point. Specifically, you need to have completed the “In the Shadow of the Bloodline” main quest, which opens up more of the Hogsmeade Valley region and makes Penny Hopewell’s location accessible.

There’s no hard level requirement, but the quest will scale to your current level. Most players encounter this quest naturally between levels 12 and 20, though you can complete it later without issue. If you’re below level 10, you might find the combat encounters a bit spiky, especially if you haven’t unlocked a solid variety of offensive and defensive spells yet.

You’ll also want to have access to basic exploration spells, Revelio is particularly useful for spotting collectibles and interactive objects in the mine, and Lumos will help with a couple of environmental puzzles. Both of these should be part of your toolkit well before you reach this point in the game.

Starting Location and How to Begin the Quest

To start the quest, head to Hogsmeade Valley and look for Penny Hopewell. She’s located near her shop, which is northwest of the Lower Hogsfield Floo Flame. If you’ve been exploring the area and clearing out other side content, you’ve probably passed by her location already.

Once you’re in the general area, use Revelio to highlight any nearby quest markers if you’re having trouble spotting her. Penny will have a blue quest icon above her head, indicating she has a side quest available. Approach her and initiate the conversation to begin “Minding Your Own Business.”

She’ll explain that a group of criminals has taken over a nearby mine and is interfering with her business operations. She’ll ask you to investigate, clear out the threats, and retrieve a few items that belong to her. Accept the quest, and the objective marker will update to point you toward the mine entrance.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Completing Minding Your Own Business

Meeting Penny Hopewell and Initial Objectives

After accepting the quest from Penny, your first objective is to travel to the mine she mentions. The mine entrance is a short distance from her location, follow the objective marker on your minimap. It’s nestled in a rocky outcrop, and you’ll see a wooden entrance frame marking the way inside.

Before you enter, make sure you’ve stocked up on Wiggenweld Potions (at least 3-5 if you’re undergeared or underleveled) and have a few offensive potions like Edurus Potion or Maxima Potion if you want to make combat easier. These aren’t strictly necessary, but they’ll smooth out the rougher encounters.

Once inside, the mine opens into a series of interconnected tunnels. Your minimap will guide you, but the layout is fairly linear, you won’t get lost as long as you follow the main path. The first stretch is clear of enemies, giving you a chance to explore and loot a few containers scattered around.

Locating and Collecting the Required Items

Penny’s items are located deeper in the mine, past the first combat encounter. After you clear the initial group of enemies (more on that below), you’ll reach a chamber with several crates and containers. Use Revelio here, it’ll highlight the specific items Penny needs, which are marked with a golden glow.

You’ll need to collect three crates of supplies. They’re not all in the same room, so you’ll need to explore the adjoining tunnels. One is in the main chamber, another is tucked behind some debris to the left, and the third is in a side alcove guarded by a couple of low-level spiders. Clear out the spiders first (a quick Incendio or Confringo works well) and then grab the crate.

As you’re collecting the items, keep an eye out for additional loot. There are a handful of ingredient plants (useful for potion crafting) and a few chests containing gold and random gear. If you’re a completionist, this is also a good time to scan for any field guide pages or other collectibles tucked away in the corners.

Navigating the Mine and Dealing with Enemies

The mine has three main combat encounters, each progressively more challenging. The first group consists of 4-5 Ashwinders (or whatever enemy faction the game has scaled to your level). They’re relatively straightforward, basic spellcasters with low health pools. Focus on taking them down one at a time using offensive spells like Levioso into Descendo or a quick Expelliarmus followed by a basic cast combo.

The second encounter is in a larger cavern and includes a shielded enemy (look for the colored aura). If they have a yellow shield, use Levioso or Accio to break it. If it’s purple, you’ll need Crucio or Imperio (if you have the Unforgivable Curses unlocked) or alternatively Depulso or Flipendo. This fight also includes a few ranged attackers, so prioritize them to reduce incoming damage.

The third and final combat section is the toughest. You’ll face a mini-boss enemy, typically an Ashwinder Executioner or a similar elite unit, depending on your level and the current patch version. This enemy has significantly more health and deals heavy damage with melee attacks. Keep your distance, use Protego to counter their red-aura attacks (this will stagger them and open a window for a powerful counter-spell), and cycle through your offensive spells to maximize damage. If you have ancient magic built up, this is a good time to use it.

Solving Puzzles and Overcoming Obstacles

There are two minor puzzles in the mine, both environmental rather than complex logic challenges. The first involves using Lumos to guide a group of moths to a nearby door mechanism. Equip Lumos, stand near the moths until they start following your wand light, then walk slowly toward the door. Once the moths settle on the mechanism, the door will unlock.

The second puzzle is a simple block-moving challenge. You’ll see a large stone block obstructing a passage. Use Accio to pull it toward you, then Wingardium Leviosa to move it to the pressure plate on the floor. This opens the gate ahead and lets you proceed to the final chamber.

Neither puzzle is particularly difficult, but if you’re rushing through, it’s easy to miss the visual cues. Take a moment to look around each room and use Revelio if you’re stuck, it’ll highlight interactive objects.

Final Confrontation and Quest Resolution

After clearing the third combat encounter and solving the final puzzle, you’ll reach the deepest part of the mine. Here, you’ll confront the leader of the group causing trouble for Penny. This is typically another elite enemy, similar to the mini-boss from the previous encounter, but with a slightly different attack pattern.

The fight itself is manageable if you’ve been keeping up with gear upgrades and have a decent spell loadout. Use the same strategies as before: maintain distance, counter red-aura attacks with Protego, and cycle through your offensive spells. Watch for the leader’s AoE attack (a ground slam or explosive spell), dodge roll out of the way when you see the telegraph.

Once the leader is down, loot their body for some decent gold and a chance at a rare gear drop. Then, interact with the final objective marker to collect the last of Penny’s items. You’ll automatically exit the mine via a shortcut passage that opens near the boss arena.

Return to Penny Hopewell in Hogsmeade Valley to complete the quest. She’ll thank you, hand over your rewards, and the quest will close out.

Combat Tips and Recommended Spells for This Quest

Best Spell Combinations Against Quest Enemies

The enemies in “Minding Your Own Business” are mostly standard Ashwinders or similar faction enemies, so your core offensive rotation will work just fine. That said, a few spell combinations are particularly effective in the tight corridors of the mine.

Levioso + Descendo is a solid choice for crowd control and burst damage. Levioso lifts an enemy into the air, leaving them vulnerable, and Descendo slams them down for significant damage. This combo works especially well against the shielded enemies if they don’t have an active shield at the moment.

Incendio and Confringo are your go-to fire spells for dealing consistent damage over time. Fire spells are particularly effective against the spiders you’ll encounter in the side tunnels, and they also work well against grouped enemies since they can spread damage.

For the elite enemies and the final boss, Crucio (if you have it) is incredibly strong. It deals damage over time and makes the target vulnerable to additional damage from all sources. Follow up with heavy-hitting spells like Confringo or Bombarda to capitalize on the debuff.

Don’t sleep on Accio and Depulso. These utility spells are great for breaking shields and repositioning enemies. In the narrow mine tunnels, you can use Depulso to knock enemies into walls for extra damage and a brief stun.

If you’re running a more defensive build, Glacius is useful for freezing enemies in place, giving you breathing room to heal or reposition. It’s especially helpful during the second and third combat encounters when you’re dealing with multiple attackers at once.

Defensive Strategies and Potion Recommendations

Defensive play is just as important as offense, especially if you’re tackling this quest at a lower level or with underleveled gear. Protego is your most important tool, time it correctly to block incoming attacks, and you’ll stagger the enemy, opening them up for a powerful counter-spell. Practice the timing in the early encounters so you’re ready for the tougher fights later.

Wiggenweld Potion is your primary healing option. Make sure you have at least 3-5 in your inventory before entering the mine. You can chug these mid-combat by holding down on the D-pad (console) or pressing the assigned hotkey (PC). Don’t wait until you’re at critical health, pop a potion when you drop to around 50% to avoid getting bursted down.

For offensive buffs, Maxima Potion increases your spell damage for a short duration. Use this before the elite enemy encounters or the final boss fight to maximize your DPS window. Edurus Potion provides a temporary damage reduction shield, which is invaluable if you’re struggling with incoming damage.

If you’re playing on Hard difficulty, consider bringing a Focus Potion as well. This refills your ancient magic meter, giving you access to powerful ancient magic throws or finishers. Save your ancient magic for the toughest enemies, don’t waste it on trash mobs.

Finally, don’t forget about your dodge roll. It’s easy to over-rely on Protego, but some attacks (especially AoE slams from elite enemies) can’t be blocked. When you see a red-aura telegraph, dodge roll to the side instead of trying to block it.

Rewards and Loot from Minding Your Own Business

Experience Points and Gold Earned

Completing “Minding Your Own Business” grants a solid chunk of experience points, though the exact amount scales with your current level. If you’re in the level 12-20 range, expect around 500-800 XP. Players tackling the quest at higher levels will see proportionally higher XP rewards, but it won’t be a massive boost if you’re already deep into the endgame.

You’ll also earn 300-500 gold as a direct quest reward from Penny, plus additional gold from looting containers and enemy drops throughout the mine. If you’re thorough and open every chest, you can walk away with close to 1,000 gold total, which is decent for a mid-length side quest.

The XP and gold aren’t game-changing, but they’re a nice bonus, especially if you’re working toward a level threshold for unlocking new talents or saving up for a big gear purchase in Hogsmeade.

Unique Gear and Collectibles

The real value of this quest comes from the gear drops. You’ll receive a piece of random rare-quality gear as a quest completion reward from Penny. The exact item varies (it’s generated based on your current level and what slots you have equipped), but it’s typically a robe, cloak, or headwear piece with decent stats.

Also, the elite enemies and final boss in the mine have a chance to drop rare or better gear. If you’re lucky, you might snag an item with a high item level and useful trait bonuses. These drops are RNG-based, so don’t expect anything specific, but it’s worth looting every enemy body just in case.

There’s also a cosmetic appearance item available if you explore thoroughly. In one of the side alcoves near the second combat encounter, you’ll find a chest containing a unique hat appearance. It’s not tied to stats (you can apply appearances independently of gear in Hogwarts Legacy), but it’s a nice collectible for players who enjoy customizing their character’s look.

Finally, keep an eye out for ingredient plants and potion recipes scattered throughout the mine. While these aren’t unique to this quest, they’re valuable for restocking your potion supplies, and some of the rarer ingredients (like Shrivelfig Fruit or Horklump Juice) are always useful to have on hand.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

One of the most common mistakes players make during “Minding Your Own Business” is rushing through the mine without using Revelio regularly. This spell highlights collectibles, interactive objects, and the items Penny needs you to retrieve. If you’re not scanning each room, you’ll miss loot and might even overlook one of the required crates, forcing you to backtrack.

Another mistake is underestimating the shielded enemies. A lot of players try to brute-force through shields with basic casts, which is inefficient and wastes time. Learn which spells break which shield colors (yellow shields break with Control spells like Levioso or Accio: purple shields break with Force spells like Depulso or Flipendo) and you’ll breeze through these encounters.

Don’t ignore the mini-boss and final boss telegraphs. The red-aura attacks deal massive damage and can’t be blocked with Protego, you have to dodge roll. If you’re taking huge chunks of damage and burning through potions, it’s probably because you’re trying to tank unblockable attacks instead of dodging them.

Some players also forget to equip their best gear before starting the quest. Hogwarts Legacy’s gear system is stat-driven, and even a few item levels can make a noticeable difference in your survivability and damage output. Before heading into the mine, open your gear menu and make sure you’re wearing your highest item-level pieces, even if you don’t love the appearance (you can always transmog later).

Finally, don’t skip the environmental puzzles. They’re simple, but if you try to bypass them or brute-force your way through, you’ll hit locked doors that won’t open until you complete the mechanics. Take a minute to solve the moth puzzle and the block puzzle, they’re not difficult, and they’re mandatory for progression. Many players find guides about action RPG mechanics helpful for understanding these types of environmental challenges.

Troubleshooting Quest Bugs and Glitches

Like many open-world RPGs, Hogwarts Legacy has had its share of quest bugs, and “Minding Your Own Business” is no exception. One of the most frequently reported issues is Penny Hopewell not appearing at her location to start the quest. If you’re at the right spot but she’s not there, try the following:

1. Fast travel away and return. Sometimes NPCs fail to spawn correctly. Use a Floo Flame to travel elsewhere, wait a few minutes, then return to Hogsmeade Valley.
2. Progress the main story. If you haven’t completed “In the Shadow of the Bloodline,” Penny won’t spawn. Make sure you’ve cleared that prerequisite.
3. Check for quest conflicts. If you have another active quest in the same area, it might be blocking Penny’s spawn. Try completing or abandoning other nearby quests first.

Another common bug involves the crates not being interactable. If you find one of the crates Penny needs but can’t pick it up, this is usually a collision or interaction glitch. Save your game, quit to the main menu, and reload. In most cases, the crate will be interactable after reloading.

Some players have reported the final boss not spawning in the deepest part of the mine. This seems to be tied to progression order, if you explore the mine before officially starting the quest, the boss might not trigger correctly. The workaround is to reload a save from before you entered the mine and make sure you’ve started the quest from Penny before going inside.

There’s also an occasional bug where the quest marker disappears mid-quest, leaving you without guidance. If this happens, open your map and manually set a waypoint to the mine entrance or the objective location. You can usually navigate by memory and complete the quest without the marker, but it’s annoying. This bug has been reported to the developers and may be fixed in future patches.

If you’re still stuck after trying these solutions, check community resources like forums or comprehensive game guides for additional troubleshooting tips. The Hogwarts Legacy community is active, and someone has likely encountered and solved your specific issue.

Conclusion

“Minding Your Own Business” isn’t the flashiest side quest in Hogwarts Legacy, but it’s a solid addition to your quest log if you’re looking for a mix of combat, exploration, and loot. The mine itself is well-designed, the encounters are balanced for most levels, and the rewards are worthwhile, especially if you’re still gearing up in the mid-game.

The key to a smooth run is preparation: stock up on potions, equip your best gear, and use Revelio liberally to avoid missing collectibles or quest items. If you run into bugs, most of them have known workarounds, and the community is helpful if you need additional guidance. For more detailed walkthroughs and strategies, the broader gaming community offers plenty of resources.

Whether you’re a completionist working through every side quest or just someone who enjoys a good dungeon crawl, this quest delivers. Clear out the mine, help Penny sort out her business troubles, and enjoy the loot. It’s a straightforward mission, but it’s executed well, and that’s what makes it worth your time.