What is a horcrux in the Harry Potter books?

Answer 1

In the Harry Potter series, a horcrux is an object that contains part of a witch or wizard's soul. Through murder, the book says they can split their soul and put one of the pieces in a vessel or container. This stops them from dying, because even if they are killed, part of their soul is still kept safe in the horcrux. However, the soul depends on the container it is stored in, and it cannot survive if the container is destroyed.

It is very difficult to destroy a horcrux, with methods shown in the book including basilisk venom or fiendfyre. It is also possible for the maker of the horcrux to make their soul whole again through remorse. The topic of horcruxes is said to be very taboo in the series, with most books mentioning horcruxes removed from the Hogwarts library.

In the book, it was said that Voldemort created seven: his grandfather's ring, his diary, Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, Salazar Slytherin's locket, Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, his snake Nagini, and (accidentally) Harry Potter himself. For each horcrux, a different murder had to be committed. Although Voldemort made seven, this was shown to be unprecedented, as it is very rare for hrocruxes to be made at all, and when they are, usually only one is made.