🔗 Salazar Slytherin's Locket
Salazar Slytherin's Locket was a precious heirloom that became one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. It had extraordinary powers to corrupt and torment those who wore it.
📋 Horcrux Information
- Object: Heavy golden locket with serpentine "S" in green gems
- Murder Used: Muggle tramp
- Created: c. 1946
- Hidden: Cave on seaside cliff (later 12 Grimmauld Place)
- Destroyed By: Ron Weasley
- Destruction Method: Sword of Gryffindor
- Destroyed: December 28, 1997
📖 History
The locket originally belonged to Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts. It passed down through his descendants, eventually reaching Merope Gaunt (Voldemort's mother). Desperate and pregnant, Merope sold it to Borgin and Burkes for 10 Galleons.
Tom Riddle, working at Borgin and Burkes, learned that wealthy Hepzibah Smith had purchased the locket. He murdered her, stole the locket and Hufflepuff's Cup, and framed her house-elf Hokey for the crime.
🎯 Creation
Voldemort used the murder of a random Muggle tramp to create this Horcrux. He chose the locket because of its connection to Slytherin and his own heritage - it was one of his mother's few possessions and a symbol of his pure-blood ancestry.
🏚️ Hidden Location
Voldemort hid the locket in a seaside cave he had visited as a child at the orphanage. The cave was protected by complex magic:
- Hidden entrance requiring blood payment
- Vast underground lake filled with Inferi (reanimated corpses)
- Island in the center with a basin of poison
- The poison had to be drunk completely to reveal the locket
- Drinking caused terrible thirst, and touching the water awakened the Inferi
🔍 R.A.B.'s Theft
Regulus Arcturus Black (R.A.B.), a former Death Eater who turned against Voldemort, discovered the Horcrux's location. With his house-elf Kreacher's help, Regulus drank the poison, stole the real locket, and left a fake with a note:
"To the Dark Lord: I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R.A.B."
Regulus was dragged underwater by Inferi and drowned. Kreacher was unable to destroy the locket and kept it at 12 Grimmauld Place.
😈 The Locket's Corruption
The locket had powerful negative effects on whoever wore it:
- Amplified negative emotions - Anger, jealousy, fear, depression
- Whispered dark thoughts - Fed insecurities and doubts
- Physical exhaustion - Drained the wearer's energy
- Caused conflict - Made the wearer irritable and argumentative
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took turns wearing it during their Horcrux hunt, and it affected Ron worst of all. Combined with the loss of his wand, near-starvation, worry about his family, and jealousy over Harry and Hermione, the locket nearly destroyed Ron from within. He eventually abandoned his friends, though he returned weeks later.
⚔️ Destruction
When Ron returned, Harry let him have the honor of destroying the locket. Using the Sword of Gryffindor, Ron opened the locket by speaking Parseltongue (which Harry helped him mimic). The Horcrux defended itself by projecting Ron's worst fears - visions of Harry and Hermione mocking him and kissing passionately, telling him he was worthless.
Overcoming his fear and insecurity, Ron stabbed the locket, destroying the Horcrux in an explosion of light. The visions vanished, and Ron was freed from the locket's influence. This moment was crucial to Ron's character development.
💭 Significance
The locket's destruction was particularly meaningful:
- Ron's redemption - After abandoning his friends, he proved his loyalty
- Confronting fears - Ron faced his deepest insecurities and overcame them
- R.A.B.'s sacrifice - Regulus Black's brave act was finally completed
- Kreacher's redemption - The house-elf's guilt was partially relieved