Voldemort’s decision to turn his pet snake Nagini into a Horcrux has long intrigued and confused Harry Potter fans. As one of Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes, Nagini played an instrumental role in keeping her master tethered to life and making him impossible to kill. But why did Voldemort choose to make Nagini of all creatures into a repository for a fragment of his soul?
What are Horcruxes?
Before analyzing Voldemort’s motivations regarding Nagini specifically, it’s important to understand what Horcruxes are and their significance. A Horcrux is an object that contains a fragment of a wizard’s soul that has been intentionally detached from the whole. As long as the Horcrux remains intact, the wizard who created it cannot truly die. Destroying a Horcrux is one of the few ways to kill an otherwise immortal dark wizard.
To create a Horcrux, a wizard must commit the most evil act of murder and cast a spell to split their soul and encase a piece of it in an object. The process literally rips the soul apart, which explains why the creation of multiple Horcruxes can make a wizard unstable and less human. Voldemort created a total of seven Horcruxes, the maximum number believed to be magically significant, in his quest for immortality.
Why did Voldemort create Horcruxes?
Horcruxes appealed to Voldemort for several key reasons:
- His fear of death – Having grown up in a Muggle orphanage, Voldemort was terrified of death from an early age.
- His obsession with immortality – Cheating death became a lifelong obsession and goal for Voldemort.
- To protect his fragmented soul – By hiding pieces of his soul in Horcruxes, Voldemort safeguarded himself against permanent death.
- His arrogance – Voldemort was arrogant enough to believe he could split his soul without ill effects.
Overall, Horcruxes allowed Voldemort to come as close to true immortality as any wizard had before. He hoped they would ensure his rise to and permanent reign over the wizarding world.
Why was Nagini chosen as a Horcrux?
So why did Voldemort pick his pet snake Nagini to house a piece of his soul as one of his precious Horcruxes? Several factors help explain this unusual choice:
Nagini was remarkably intelligent for a snake
Nagini was no ordinary snake. She understood Voldemort when he spoke Parseltongue and could communicate with him in return. Voldemort likely appreciated having a Horcrux that could think for itself, report back to him, and act as a living weapon.
Nagini was strongly bonded to Voldemort
Familiars have powerful magical connections to their wizard masters. After years together, Nagini’s loyalty to Voldemort was complete. He could trust Nagini to stay by his side and protect his soul fragment.
Nagini enhanced Voldemort’s image
Having a deadly giant snake at his side helped cement Voldemort’s image as an intimidating Dark Lord. Nagini inspired fear in Death Eaters and opponents alike.
Nagini wasn’t an obvious Horcrux
An object like a cup or a locket could be more easily identified and tracked down as a Horcrux. But who would suspect Voldemort’s pet snake? Nagini could stay by Voldemort’s side and blend in as one of his companions.
Nagini was difficult to destroy
As a living creature with venom and fighting instincts, Nagini was much harder to kill than an inanimate object Horcrux. This provided extra protection for the soul fragment housed inside her.
| Advantages of Nagini as a Horcrux |
|---|
| Intelligent and could interact with Voldemort |
| Completely loyal and bonded to Voldemort |
| Enhanced Voldemort’s feared image |
| Was not an obvious inanimate object |
| Difficult to track down and destroy |
When did Voldemort make Nagini a Horcrux?
It’s unclear precisely when Voldemort turned Nagini into a Horcrux. Some possibilities include:
- Shortly after his rebirth in Goblet of Fire – Voldemort returned to physical form in a temporary body and needed Horcruxes to stabilize himself.
- After the Ministry battle in Order of the Phoenix – With his return to the open, Voldemort may have wanted an additional safeguard.
- During the First Wizarding War – Nagini may have been one of Voldemort’s earlier Horcruxes, created before his initial downfall.
Regardless of the exact timing, Voldemort seems to have renewed his efforts to protect his immortality after his resurrection. Nagini as a Horcrux guarded one of the last intact pieces of his fractured soul.
Nagini was likely made a Horcrux between Voldemort’s resurrection and the battle at the Ministry
Considering her key role in stabilizing Voldemort after he regained physical form, the most likely period for Nagini to have been made a Horcrux was sometime between Voldemort’s resurrection in Goblet of Fire and the Ministry battle in Order of the Phoenix. Creating an additional Horcrux during these vulnerable years would have appealed to Voldemort’s paranoia about his immortality.
How was Nagini destroyed?
Nagini met her end in the Battle of Hogwarts at the fangs of Neville Longbottom. After pulling the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat, Neville was able to use the blade imbued with basilisk venom to behead Nagini. Her death marked the destruction of the sixth Horcrux, allowing Voldemort to finally be killed.
Key facts about Nagini’s destruction:
- Took place during the Battle of Hogwarts
- Performed by Neville Longbottom
- Using the Sword of Gryffindor
- Nagini was beheaded
- This destroyed the sixth Horcrux
Nagini’s death was a critical accomplishment in destroying Voldemort’s remaining soul anchors tying him to life. Shortly after Nagini perished, Voldemort dueled Harry Potter and his Killing Curse famously rebounded, finally ending the Dark Lord’s reign of terror.
Why was Neville able to kill Nagini?
As a living Horcrux capable of fighting back, Nagini was not easy to kill. So how did Neville manage this impressive feat?
The Sword of Gryffindor
The legendary sword was imbued with the venom of basilisk fangs, making it one of the few substances capable of destroying Horcruxes.
Neville’s bravery
It took tremendous courage for Neville to rally the resistance at Hogwarts and step forward to kill Nagini.
Element of surprise
Striking unexpectedly from out of the Sorting Hat gave Neville an advantage against the giant serpent.
Voldemort’s arrogance
Overconfident in his supremacy, Voldemort likely did not expect anyone to be brave or clever enough to kill Nagini.
| Enablers of Neville Killing Nagini |
|---|
| Sword of Gryffindor’s basilisk venom |
| Neville’s bravery |
| Element of surprise |
| Voldemort’s arrogance |
Why was Neville the one to kill Nagini?
Neville being the one to kill Nagini at the Battle of Hogwarts is poetic on many levels. Here are some key reasons it was destined to be Neville:
Neville stood up to Voldemort before
As a 1st year, Neville stood up to Voldemort’s supporters and proved his courage. Killing Nagini required similar bravery years later.
Neville led Dumbledore’s Army at Hogwarts
After Harry, Ron, and Hermione left Hogwarts, Neville became a leader of the resistance. This set the stage for his heroics.
Voldemort chose Harry over Neville as his equal
Per the prophecy, Neville could have been the Chosen One. Killing Nagini let Neville live up to his potential.
Neville understood Horcruxes
Harry confided in Neville about Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Neville knew he had to kill Nagini to help defeat Voldemort.
| Why Neville Was Destined to Kill Nagini |
|---|
| Stood up to Voldemort’s supporters as a 1st year |
| Became leader of Dumbledore’s Army at Hogwarts |
| Was the other candidate of the prophecy Voldemort heard |
| Understood Nagini was a Horcrux that must be destroyed |
Conclusion
Voldemort’s decision to make his pet snake Nagini into one of his seven Horcruxes provides unique insights into his psychology and motivations. Nagini represented an intelligent weapon bound to Voldemort and difficult to kill. Her demise at Neville’s hands destroyed the second-to-last Horcrux, setting the stage for Voldemort’s final defeat. Nagini’s role as a living Horcrux that needed to be killed shows how far Voldemort went in his ruthless quest for immortality and power.