The students are finally back in Hogwarts, and we’ve seen a famous moment at last. Filming on HBO’s Harry Potter series officially resumed this week — and fans just got their first look at one of the franchise’s most iconic early moments. At the historic Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire, Dominic McLaughlin, who plays Harry Potter, was spotted shooting the first-year flying lesson sequence — the scene where Harry proves his natural talent on a broomstick for the very first time.

Also spotted on the set were the likes of Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, and the shoot marks the first on-set appearance of Malfoy, Neville and Madam Hooch, with Brealey stepping into the role originally played by Zoë Wanamaker in the film series. Although initial reports claimed it was a “Quidditch” scene, the presence of Hooch and the first-years in their uniforms gave away that this is in fact the original flying lesson from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone — the moment where Harry takes off to chase Malfoy after he steals Neville’s Remembrall. It’s a pivotal scene that introduces Harry’s gift for flying, setting the stage for his future as Gryffindor’s Seeker. Of course, in classic Harry style, he does something he shouldn’t and ends up getting rewarded for it. Classic Potter.

Where Is Harry Potter Being Filmed?

And it’s a familiar location too, for the franchise, as Ashridge Estate carries a special sense of déjà vu. The sprawling property was previously used during the production of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, serving as the forested backdrop for the Quidditch World Cup sequence. According to the National Trust, the estate’s Frithsden Beeches area once featured the gnarled tree from which Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) jumps down in that film. Though the tree split in two in 2014, fans still visit the location to this day.

Earlier this month, large-scale sets for the series were photographed in Hertfordshire, revealing what appeared to be a Hogwarts sports stand, Hagrid’s hut, and even the Weasley family’s Burrow. The series stars John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and will adapt J.K. Rowling’s seven novels across multiple seasons, with plans to run through 2037.

The Harry Potter series is set to premiere on HBO in 2027. You can check out the first look at some of the characters embedded above. And get the dust off your Nimbus 2000, you might need it again soon.

via Collider