A Horcrux is an object in which a Dark wizard or witch has hidden a fragment of their soul for the purpose of achieving immortality. It is a way for the wizard or witch to continue living even after their physical body has died. In the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort created a total of seven Horcruxes in an attempt to become immortal.
The First Horcrux: Tom Riddle's Diary
The first Horcrux that we are introduced to in the series is Tom Riddle's diary. This Horcrux was created by Lord Voldemort while he was still a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He used the diary to contain a piece of his soul and then used it to manipulate and possess Ginny Weasley in order to return to his physical form.
The Second Horcrux: Marvolo Gaunt's Ring
The second Horcrux was created by Lord Voldemort after he killed his father and grandfather. It was a ring that belonged to his ancestor, Marvolo Gaunt, and contained a piece of his soul. The ring was eventually destroyed by Albus Dumbledore.
The Third Horcrux: Helga Hufflepuff's Cup
The third Horcrux was a cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, one of the founders of Hogwarts. Lord Voldemort hid a piece of his soul inside the cup and it was eventually discovered and destroyed by Hermione Granger.
The Fourth Horcrux: Salazar Slytherin's Locket
The fourth Horcrux was a locket that belonged to Salazar Slytherin, another founder of Hogwarts. Lord Voldemort hid a piece of his soul inside the locket and it was eventually discovered and destroyed by Ron Weasley.
The Fifth Horcrux: Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem
The fifth Horcrux was a diadem that belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, another founder of Hogwarts. Lord Voldemort hid a piece of his soul inside the diadem and it was eventually discovered and destroyed by Vincent Crabbe, a Death Eater who was acting under the influence of the Imperius Curse.
The Sixth and Seventh Horcruxes: Nagini and Harry Potter
The sixth Horcrux was Lord Voldemort's snake, Nagini. He hid a piece of his soul inside the snake and it was eventually destroyed by Neville Longbottom. The seventh and final Horcrux was Harry Potter himself, who unknowingly contained a piece of Lord Voldemort's soul after the Dark wizard attempted to kill him as a baby. This piece of the soul was eventually destroyed when Harry defeated Lord Voldemort in the final battle of the series.
List of Horcruxes
- Tom Riddle's diary
- Marvolo Gaunt's ring
- Helga Hufflepuff's cup
- Salazar Slytherin's locket
- Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem
- Nagini
- Harry Potter