In the Harry Potter series, a Horcrux is an object in which a wizard or witch has hidden a part of their soul in order to achieve immortality. The concept of Horcruxes is introduced in the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and becomes a key plot point in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Throughout the series, a total of seven Horcruxes are identified and destroyed. These include:
- Tom Riddle’s diary – destroyed by Harry Potter in the Chamber of Secrets.
- Marvolo Gaunt’s ring – destroyed by Dumbledore in the sixth book.
- Salazar Slytherin’s locket – destroyed by Ron Weasley in the seventh book.
- Helga Hufflepuff’s cup – destroyed by Hermione Granger in the seventh book.
- Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem – destroyed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the seventh book.
- Nagini, the snake belonging to Lord Voldemort – destroyed by Neville Longbottom in the seventh book.
- Harry Potter himself, who unwittingly became a Horcrux when Voldemort tried to kill him as an infant – destroyed when Voldemort used the Killing Curse on Harry in the seventh book.
However, there is some debate among fans and scholars of the series as to whether there is an eighth Horcrux. In the final book, it is revealed that Voldemort had inadvertently created a Horcrux when he murdered a young boy named Harry’s parents. This Horcrux was contained within Harry himself, which is why Harry had to die in order to fully destroy Voldemort.
Some argue that this makes Harry an eighth Horcrux, while others argue that he does not technically qualify as a Horcrux since he was not intentionally created as one by Voldemort. Additionally, in the context of the series, the destruction of Harry does not count as the destruction of a Horcrux in the same way that destroying an object containing a piece of Voldemort’s soul does.
In conclusion, while there is some debate over whether there are seven or eight Horcruxes in the Harry Potter series, the generally accepted number is seven. These include Tom Riddle’s diary, Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, Salazar Slytherin’s locket, Helga Hufflepuff’s cup, Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem, Nagini the snake, and Harry Potter himself. While some argue that Harry technically qualifies as an eighth Horcrux, this is not generally accepted within the context of the series.