The Mystery of Voldemort's 7th Horcrux

The wizarding world of Harry Potter is a tapestry woven with magic, mystery, and the ever-present shadow of Lord Voldemort. While the narrative famously details the creation and destruction of six Horcruxes, a lingering question often sparks debate among fans: what about the 7th horcrux? This isn't just a casual query; it's a deep dive into the very fabric of Voldemort's dark magic and his desperate bid for immortality. Understanding this concept requires us to dissect the lore, Voldemort's motivations, and the potential implications of a seventh, perhaps unintended, vessel for his soul.

Voldemort's Obsession with Immortality

From his earliest days as Tom Riddle, a profound fear of death gnawed at Voldemort. This fear wasn't a mere phobia; it was a driving force that shaped his entire existence. He saw mortality as a weakness, an inherent flaw in the wizarding species that he, as the most powerful wizard of his time, would transcend. His research into the darkest of magics, including the forbidden art of Horcruxes, stemmed directly from this all-consuming desire to cheat death.

Horcruxes, as explained by Professor Slughorn, are objects in which a wizard has hidden a fragment of their soul. The act of creating a Horcrux is the most evil act imaginable, involving murder, as it tears the soul apart. The more Horcruxes a wizard creates, the more fragmented their soul becomes, and the harder it is for them to die. Voldemort, in his pursuit of ultimate immortality, pushed this dark art to its extreme. He believed that by dividing his soul into multiple pieces, he would become impervious to death, even if his physical body was destroyed.

The Known Horcruxes: A Trail of Darkness

Before delving into the speculative 7th horcrux, it's crucial to list the Horcruxes that are explicitly confirmed within the Harry Potter series:

1. The Diary: Tom Riddle's diary, which housed a piece of Voldemort's soul, was the first Horcrux Harry encountered. It was destroyed by Harry in the Chamber of Secrets using a Basilisk fang.
2. Marvolo Gaunt's Ring: This heirloom, bearing the Gaunt family crest and the Resurrection Stone, was Voldemort's first Horcrux. Dumbledore destroyed it with the Sword of Gryffindor, imbued with Basilisk venom.
3. Salazar Slytherin's Locket: Once owned by Slytherin himself, this locket was found and corrupted by Kreacher. It was eventually destroyed by Ron Weasley using the Sword of Gryffindor.
4. Helga Hufflepuff's Cup: This artifact was stolen from the goblin vaults and hidden by Voldemort in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault at Gringotts. Hermione Granger destroyed it with a Basilisk fang during their escape from the bank.
5. Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem: Lost for centuries, this diadem was eventually found by Ravenclaw's daughter and later hidden in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts. Crabbe's Fiendfyre, cast uncontrollably, destroyed both the diadem and the room.
6. Nagini: Voldemort's venomous snake, Nagini, was the final Horcrux to be destroyed. Neville Longbottom famously beheaded Nagini with the Sword of Gryffindor during the Battle of Hogwarts.

These six Horcruxes represent Voldemort's deliberate efforts to secure his existence. He believed that by splitting his soul into seven pieces – six Horcruxes plus the piece remaining in his body – he would achieve a state of near-invincibility. The number seven is, of course, a powerful magical number, often associated with completion and perfection in the wizarding world.

The Riddle of the Seventh Piece: Harry Potter?

The most widely discussed and compelling theory regarding the 7th horcrux centers on Harry Potter himself. This theory posits that Harry inadvertently became a Horcrux when Voldemort's killing curse rebounded on Halloween night in 1981.

Let's break down why this theory holds such weight:

• The Rebound Curse: When Voldemort attempted to kill baby Harry, his curse backfired. This was due to Lily Potter's sacrificial protection, a powerful ancient magic that Voldemort, in his ignorance, failed to account for. The curse, instead of killing Harry, shattered Voldemort's physical form and sent him into a weakened, spectral state.
• Soul Fragmentation: According to the established rules of Horcruxes, the act of creating one requires murder. While Voldemort didn't intend to create a Horcrux in Harry, the violent tearing of his own soul during the curse's rebound could have resulted in a fragment of his soul latching onto the only living thing in the vicinity – Harry.
• Harry's Survival: Harry's miraculous survival, coupled with his ability to speak Parseltongue (a rare magical ability associated with Salazar Slytherin, whose lineage Voldemort claimed), and his connection to Voldemort's thoughts and emotions, all point towards an intrinsic link. Dumbledore himself confirms this in Deathly Hallows: "You were the intended victim of the last Horcrux, Harry. ... You were not meant to survive. But then you did. You were not meant to be able to fight him. But you could. ... You have a touch of the unique about you."
• Voldemort's Own Words: Voldemort himself states, "I am going to continue to grow stronger, even when I have no body. When I have come back, I will be at full strength. Then I shall find out who it is that has been working against me. Then I shall have vengeance." This implies he believed he had created enough Horcruxes to survive, and the rebound curse was an unforeseen event.

If Harry was indeed the seventh Horcrux, it would mean Voldemort had divided his soul into eight pieces: the seven Horcruxes and the piece remaining in his spectral form. This would make his claim of being "like a god" even more audacious, as he would have gone beyond the supposed magical limit of seven soul fragments.

The Unintended Horcrux: A Flaw in the Plan?

The idea of Harry being an unintended Horcrux is fascinating because it highlights a critical flaw in Voldemort's meticulously crafted plan for immortality. Voldemort, in his arrogance, believed he had mastered the art of Horcruxes, but the very act that was supposed to solidify his power ultimately led to his undoing.

Consider the implications:

• Vulnerability: By creating Harry as an accidental Horcrux, Voldemort inadvertently created a vessel that could be used against him. Harry's survival meant a piece of Voldemort's soul was tethered to a living, breathing boy who would eventually become his greatest adversary.
• The Prophecy: The prophecy concerning the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord stated that either Harry or Neville would be the one. This prophecy, coupled with Harry's accidental Horcrux status, meant that Voldemort's own actions were setting the stage for his defeat. He "marked him as his equal," as Dumbledore famously put it.
• Destruction: The destruction of this unintended Horcrux was not achieved through a physical object but through Harry's own sacrifice. When Harry willingly walked into the Forbidden Forest to face Voldemort, knowing he would likely die, he was essentially confronting the piece of Voldemort's soul within him. The Killing Curse, cast by Voldemort himself, struck Harry, but because Harry was a willing sacrifice and Voldemort had used Harry's blood in his own rebirth, the curse destroyed the Horcrux within Harry, not Harry himself. This left Harry alive, albeit temporarily, and Voldemort's soul further weakened.

This concept of an unintended Horcrux is a testament to the power of love and sacrifice, themes that consistently undermine Voldemort's dark magic.

Other Speculative Horcruxes: A Deeper Dive

While the Harry Potter theory is the most prominent, some fans have explored other possibilities for a 7th horcrux, or even an eighth, considering Voldemort's fragmented soul.

• The Serpent's Eye: Some theories suggest that Voldemort might have imbued a part of his soul into something as ephemeral as a memory or even a concept. However, the established lore clearly states that Horcruxes must be physical objects or living beings.
• The Sword of Gryffindor: This is highly unlikely. The Sword of Gryffindor was a magical artifact that could be used to destroy Horcruxes, but it was never stated to contain a piece of Voldemort's soul. Its magical properties were inherent to its creation and its association with Gryffindor.
• Gellert Grindelwald's Wand: Similar to the Sword of Gryffindor, this was a powerful magical artifact, but not a Horcrux. Voldemort sought it, but he didn't imbue it with his soul.

The most plausible interpretation of the "seventh" Horcrux remains Harry Potter himself. If we consider the six deliberate Horcruxes, then Harry represents the seventh piece of Voldemort's soul that was in existence outside of Voldemort's physical body at any given time. When Voldemort created the six Horcruxes, he split his soul into seven pieces. The rebound curse then created an eighth piece, which resided in Harry. This makes the numbering a bit complex, but the core idea is that Voldemort's soul was fractured far more than he intended.

The Significance of the Number Seven

In many magical and mythological traditions, the number seven is considered sacred, representing completion, perfection, and spiritual power. Voldemort, a master of dark magic and deeply steeped in ancient lore, would have been acutely aware of this significance. His goal was to achieve ultimate immortality, a state of being beyond mortal limitations. By dividing his soul into seven pieces, he was likely aiming for a form of magical completeness, believing that seven fragments would render him truly invincible.

However, the universe of Harry Potter often demonstrates that true power lies not in dark magic or fragmented souls, but in love, sacrifice, and unity. Voldemort's obsession with the number seven and his rigid adherence to his plan ironically blinded him to the very forces that would ultimately defeat him.

The Ultimate Fate of Voldemort's Soul

When Harry, as the unintended Horcrux, was struck by the Killing Curse in the Forbidden Forest, the fragment of Voldemort's soul within him was destroyed. This act was crucial because it meant that when Voldemort's own Killing Curse rebounded again during the final duel in the Great Hall, there was no Horcrux to protect him. His physical body was annihilated, and with all his Horcruxes destroyed, his soul, utterly fragmented and unable to attach itself to anything, was effectively extinguished. He ceased to exist.

The concept of the 7th horcrux is, therefore, not about a missing object Voldemort failed to create, but about the accidental creation of Harry Potter as a vessel for a piece of Voldemort's soul. This twist of fate, orchestrated by love and sacrifice, is a central theme of the Harry Potter saga. It underscores the idea that even the darkest magic can be overcome by the purest of intentions.

Conclusion: A Soul Divided, a Wizard Defeated

Voldemort's quest for immortality was a descent into the abyss of dark magic, a path that led him to fragment his soul into multiple pieces. While he meticulously crafted six Horcruxes, the most significant and perhaps the true "seventh" piece of his soul was an unintended consequence of his own failed attempt to murder an infant. Harry Potter, bearing this fragment, became the living embodiment of Voldemort's vulnerability.

The destruction of each Horcrux chipped away at Voldemort's power and his connection to the living world. The ultimate destruction of the Horcrux within Harry, achieved through Harry's willing sacrifice, was the final blow that severed Voldemort's hold on existence. The wizarding world was saved not by a more powerful curse or a more potent artifact, but by the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love, proving that even a soul divided can ultimately be defeated. The legacy of the 7th horcrux is a powerful reminder that true strength lies not in conquering death, but in embracing life and the connections we forge within it.