‘Harry Potter‘ is an all-time favorite seven fantasy novel written by J.K. Rowling, which was adapted into eight-part movies by Warner Bros. The Harry Potter era was magical, and new and had us all waiting for our letter from Hogwarts. On the surface, the story is about three friends embarking on an unknown and surprising journey, but deep within the story, the theme is rather disturbing. According to J.K. Rowling, death, prejudice, corruption, and madness are the major themes of ‘Harry Potter‘.
Harry Potter along with his two best friends Ron Weasely and Hermoine Granger adjust their lives at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, by uncovering its deepest secrets. Furthermore, their obsession begins with Harry’s psychic connection to the Dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, and the need to destroy him. The Dark Lord is immortal and cannot be destroyed unless all his Horcruxes are destroyed. The story is about finding each of the Horcruxes and destroying them, weakening the Dark Lord.
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What Are Horcruxes?
In simple words- Horcruxes are extra lifelines. In the world of Wizards, Horcruxes are left untampered as it opens up the window for Dark Magic. It is an object or a number of objects in which a witch or wizard hides a fragment of his or her soul, allowing them to live an immortal life. The body can be destroyed, but the soul can never unless the Horcruxes are properly destroyed.
Horcruxes are created only after committing heinous murders, the supreme act of evil. The process of creating Horcruxes involves a spell and a horrific act of murder. They are precious to anyone who made them, thus hiding them with utmost precaution and protecting them from being stolen. It takes potent wizarding weapons to destroy a Horcruxes.
Lord Voldemort’s Seven Horcruxes
Lord Voldemort created seven Horcruxes for the survival of his soul, meaning seven horrifying murders without any remorse. And his obsession with killing Harry Potter was justified, as he was one among the seven Horcruxes. Harry was a pseudo-Horcrux, as he was not created intentionally. After Voldemort’s curse rebounded on him, a piece of his mangled soul split off and latched onto Harry.
1. Tom Riddle’s Dairy
Lord Voldemort, initially known as Tom Riddle in his Hogwarts days, created the first Horcruxes using his dairy. This dairy was introduced in the Chambers of Secret by Ginny Weasely who accidentally brought it from a bookstore. In fact, the diary had the ability to take hold of Ginny’s strength, nearly killing her.
After murdering Myrtle, a fellow Hogwarts student, with the help of the ancient monster that dwelled within the depths of the castle, the Basilisk, Tom’s soul split for the first time. The diary was the first of Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes to be destroyed, by Harry Potter who stabbed it with the fang of the Basilisk that was used to commit murder in the first place. Basilisk venom is extremely rare and powerful, one of the few things powerful enough to destroy a Horcrux.
2. Marvolo Gaunt’s Ring
Marvolo Gaunt’s Rings or the resurrection stone was Tom’s second Horcruxes. This particular Horcrux was discovered by Albus Dumbledore explaining that it would be something of historical and sentimental value to Dark Wizard. This Horcrux was a family heirloom and was obtained by murdering his own father, Tom Riddle Sr.
Albus Dumbledore was able to retrieve the Horcrux and destroy it with the Sword of Gryffindor. Unfortunately, he discovered the ring to be cursed, which blackened his hand and left him with a death sentence. However, he was able to retrieve the Resurrection Stone and was able to coach Harry Potter to finish what he started.
3. Slytherin’s Locket
This locket belonged to Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, and was also an heirloom. Using the murder of a Muggle Riddle turned the locket into his third Horcrux and hid it in the cave where he used to torture the two boys from his orphanage.
However, it would not be easy to destroy the locket. After seeking the original, the trio discovered that the Horcrux instilled terrible thoughts in the one who possessed it, nearly driving vulnerable Ron to madness. Eventually, he was the one to destroy it, after Severus Snape sent his Patronus to guide Ron into finding a weapon that would help him: the Sword of Gryffindor
4. Hufflepuff Cup
The Hufflepuff Cup belongs to Helga Hufflepuff one of the four founders of Hogwarts, which has a badger engraved on the surface. Tom Riddle stole the Hufflepuff cup from Hepzibah Smith and killed her. Riddle, transformed the cup into his fourth Horcrux using Smith’s murder as the tool, leaving it in the care of his trusted Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange
The trio found the existence of the cup within the Bellatrix Lestrange vault. During the battle, Ron and Hermoine ventured down the Chambers of Secret and acquired the Basilisk fangs, which Hermoine used to destroy the Hufflepuff Cup.
6. Ravenclaw’s Diadem
Another piece of an heirloom that belongs to Rowena Ravenclaw. Unlike the Ring and Locket, the other two Horcrux were hidden in plain sight. Lord Voldemort discovered that this ancient diadem, supposedly brings wisdom to the wearer, by persuading Helena to tell him. Harry had passed by this tiara before knowing the existence of Horcruxes, as it was living amongst all the junk in the Room of Requirements at Hogwarts.
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Upon recovering it, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle ensued, with Crabbe using the cursed flames of Fiendfyre to destroy the room. However, he ended up both dying in the fire and destroying the diadem, as Fiendfyre was another Dark magic that could take on a Horcrux.
7. Nagini
Nagini, the snake was Lord Voldemort’s favorite and most precious Horcrux. She was originally a female human Maledictus with the ability to transform into a snake. Nagini seemingly was the last Horcrux created by the murder of Bertha Jorkins. Nagini’s past is well described in the ‘Crimes of Grindelwald‘, the spin-off.
She was beheaded heroically by Neville Longbottom (arguably the chosen one) with the sword of Gryffindor during the final battle. After the last Horcrux was destroyed, Lord Voldemort succumbed to dust screaming in rage.
