Voldemort planned to make six Horcruxes, leaving his soul in seven parts when the fragment in his own body was counted. Harry became an unintended seventh Horcrux after Voldemort’s attempt to kill him failed. Each of the seven fragments was eventually destroyed, though not all by the same method—or on purpose.
Why are there seven Horcruxes if Voldemort planned six?
A Horcrux is an object in which a person conceals part of their soul. Voldemort wanted to divide his soul into seven parts: six fragments hidden in vessels, plus the fragment that remained in his body. His plan went awry when the curse aimed at infant Harry rebounded. A piece of Voldemort’s soul broke away and attached itself to Harry, making him an accidental Horcrux. The official Horcrux encyclopedia entry describes the intended vessels; the official history of the Horcruxes explains how Harry became one unintentionally.
The six intended vessels were five objects and the snake Nagini. Harry was the additional, accidental host. Voldemort’s body could be destroyed while fragments of his soul survived elsewhere, so destroying every Horcrux was necessary to defeat him permanently. As Wizarding World’s Gringotts heist feature puts it, “All Horcruxes had to be destroyed otherwise Voldemort could not be destroyed.”
All seven Horcruxes, in the order they were destroyed
| Horcrux | Vessel | How it was destroyed | Who or what destroyed it | Deliberate or accidental? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Riddle’s diary | Object | Stabbed with a Basilisk fang in the Chamber of Secrets | Harry Potter | Deliberate |
| Marvolo Gaunt’s ring | Object | Struck with the Sword of Gryffindor | Albus Dumbledore | Deliberate |
| Salazar Slytherin’s locket | Object | Stabbed with the Sword of Gryffindor | Ron Weasley | Deliberate |
| Helga Hufflepuff’s cup | Object | Destroyed with a Basilisk fang | Hermione Granger | Deliberate |
| Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem | Object | Destroyed by Fiendfyre in the Room of Requirement | Fiendfyre unleashed by Vincent Crabbe | Accidental |
| Nagini | Living animal | Beheaded with the Sword of Gryffindor during the Battle of Hogwarts | Neville Longbottom | Deliberate |
| Harry Potter | Unintended human host | The soul fragment was destroyed when Voldemort’s curse struck Harry in the Forbidden Forest | Voldemort, unknowingly | Accidental |
How each Horcrux was destroyed
1. Tom Riddle’s diary: Harry Potter used a Basilisk fang
The diary was the first Horcrux destroyed. Harry stabbed it with a Basilisk fang in the Chamber of Secrets. Basilisk venom could destroy Horcruxes, making the fang an effective weapon against the fragment hidden in the diary.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Intricately detailed and painted.
- Removable cover and creature.
- Display case measures approximately 7 inches x 4.25 inches.
- Officially authorized by Warner Brothers.
- Part of the Harry Potter Magical Creatures series - Collect them all!
2. Marvolo Gaunt’s ring: Albus Dumbledore used the Sword of Gryffindor
Dumbledore destroyed the ring with the Sword of Gryffindor. It also contained the Resurrection Stone and was cursed. Destroying its Horcrux did not remove the curse, which injured Dumbledore.
3. Salazar Slytherin’s locket: Ron Weasley used the Sword of Gryffindor
Harry, Ron and Hermione recovered the real locket after it passed through the hands of Mundungus Fletcher and Dolores Umbridge. Ron ultimately stabbed it with the Sword of Gryffindor, destroying the soul fragment inside.
Rank #2
- TRUE-TO-LIFE DESIGN - Crafted for collectors! From his Gryffindor robes to Harry Potter's notable lightning scar, glasses and snowy owl these realistic figurines bring the Boy Who Lived to life in spellbinding style.
- ICONIC COLLECTIBLES FOR POTTERHEADS - Officially licensed and crafted with premium detail, these schleich Harry Potter figurines are perfect for display, collecting, & recreating unforgettable wizarding world scenes.
- A GIFT FULL OF WIZARDING WONDER - Straight from Hogwarts to your shelf, these detailed figures capture the spirit of Harry Potter and are a must-have for anyone who's ever dreamed of casting spells and taming Hippogriffs!
- a. GET READY FOR MAGIC IN THE WIZARDING WORLD - From the bustling shops of Diagon Alley to the shadowy Forbidden Forest, every part of this world is packed with spells, friendship and discovering you're more than a Muggle.
- IMAGINATION WITHOUT LIMITATION - Schleich toys come in all shapes and sizes to bring every story to life. We value sustainability which is why we have created diverse worlds of durable toys built-to-last that can be treasured for generations to come.
4. Helga Hufflepuff’s cup: Hermione Granger used a Basilisk fang
The trio retrieved the cup from Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault at Gringotts. Hermione destroyed it with a Basilisk fang. The official Gringotts heist account covers the cup’s recovery.
5. Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem: Fiendfyre destroyed it by accident
In the Room of Requirement, Vincent Crabbe unleashed Fiendfyre. The dangerous magical fire destroyed the diadem, but Crabbe did not know it was a Horcrux. Unlike the deliberate attacks with a fang or sword, this destruction was an unintended result of an uncontrolled spell.
Rank #3
- Intricately detailed and painted.
- Removable cover and creature.
- Display case measures approximately 7 inches x 4.25 inches.
- Officially authorized by Warner Brothers.
- Part of the Harry Potter Magical Creatures series - Collect them all!
6. Nagini: Neville Longbottom used the Sword of Gryffindor
Nagini was the living-vessel exception among Voldemort’s intended Horcruxes. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Neville beheaded her with the Sword of Gryffindor.
7. Harry Potter: Voldemort destroyed the fragment without knowing
Voldemort’s curse struck Harry in the Forbidden Forest, destroying the foreign soul fragment within him. Harry survived; the fragment’s destruction was not the destruction of Harry’s own soul. The official full-circle feature explains the accidental connection and its end.
Rank #4
- Intricately detailed and painted.
- Removable cover and creature
- Display case measures approximately 7 inches x 4.25 inches.
- Officially authorized by Warner Brothers.
- Part of the Harry Potter Magical Creatures series - Collect them all!
What the destruction methods have in common
The objects were not vulnerable to ordinary damage. The diary and cup were destroyed with Basilisk fangs; the ring, locket and Nagini with the Sword of Gryffindor. Fiendfyre destroyed the diadem, while Voldemort’s curse destroyed the fragment in Harry. These events differ in both method and intent: Crabbe’s Fiendfyre and the curse in the Forbidden Forest destroyed Horcruxes without their users understanding the full consequence.
The vessels also reflected Voldemort’s identity and ambitions. The diary preserved an image of his school self; heirlooms linked other objects to Hogwarts founders and his family history. That attachment helps explain why he chose significant objects rather than treating the vessels as interchangeable containers.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
