Harry Potter: Biggest Question About Voldemort's Horcruxes Was Never Answered

Summary:

• The Harry Potter series never explained whether Horcruxes were reusable or not.
• If they weren’t reusable, then Voldemort’s resurrection must have used up one of them, bringing their total number up to eight.
• If they were reusable, then Voldemort’s decision to create six Horcruxes made no sense as it would have been unnecessary.

While Horcruxes are the crucial plot point of the Harry Potter series, the principle of their work has never been exactly explained. Dark matters or not, it’s important to understand how they function: whether they anchor the soul to this world or actually get used up upon their master’s resurrection, there’s a question unanswered.

If Horcruxes Are Used Up, Then The Math Is Wrong

One theory is that for each death and resurrection, a Horcrux is used up. This would explain why Voldemort, the man who feared death so desperately, wanted to create so many Horcruxes: he wished for more attempts in case he was killed by his enemies. But in this case, the total number of Horcruxes doesn’t make any sense.

If this theory is true, then Voldemort’s resurrection should have used up one of the Horcruxes. Still, after being reborn, he had six intentional and one unintentional Horcrux, which would imply that his initial plan of having seven pieces of his soul wasn’t followed and somewhere out there, there was the eighth Horcrux that he used.

Which makes no sense.

If Horcruxes Are Anchors, Then The Math Is Weird

Another theory claims that a Horcrux is merely an “anchor” that disallows its creator’s other piece of soul to leave this world upon his death. Kept on earth by its missing part, the piece of soul that lived in the dead wizard’s body would then scout the lands until it would find a way to be resurrected — which is exactly what Voldemort did.

However, in this case, the number of Horcruxes created by Lord Voldemort also doesn’t seem quite right. If Horcruxes are reusable, there’s no need in making a bunch of them. Two would be understandable as a failsafe, but tearing one’s soul into seven pieces would have been an extreme and entirely unjustified measure.

This, too, doesn’t make sense… But appears more likely, knowing Voldemort’s bizarre obsession with staying alive for as long as possible. It’s just lowkey dumb.