The Dark Mark

History: The Dark Mark was first introduced by Lord Voldemort during the first wizarding war, when he rose to power as a Dark Lord. He created the Dark Mark as a symbol of his power and a way to communicate with his followers, known as The Death Eaters.

It is said to be a magical tattoo, which is burned into the forearm of those who become members of the inner circle of The Death Eaters. The tattoo takes the shape of a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth, both of which are made up of green flames. The Dark Mark can be activated by The Dark Lord himself or one of his most trusted followers, and it causes a green skull with the same snake to appear in the sky. This is a warning to those in the vicinity that The Death Eaters are on the move and that they should be on high alert.

The Dark Mark became a symbol of fear and terror throughout the wizarding world, as it was often used to mark the scene of Death Eater attacks. People who saw the Dark Mark would know that Death Eaters were responsible for the attack, and they would often flee the area in fear. The Dark Mark was also used to summon Death Eaters to Lord Voldemort's side. When The Dark Lord was ready to attack, he would activate The Dark Mark, and The Death Eaters would Apparate to his location. The Dark Mark played a significant role in the events of The Harry Potter Series, particularly in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Dark Lord used the mark to summon his Death Eaters to his side and to mark the deaths of those who opposed him. In the end, the mark was destroyed when Lord Voldemort was defeated once and for all.

Notable Users:

The Dark Mark was primarily used by Death Eaters during the first and second wizarding wars. Some of the notable Death Eaters who used The Dark Mark include Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, Peter Pettigrew, and Severus Snape. It was also briefly used by Bartemius Crouch Jr., who impersonated Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Interesting Facts:
The Dark Mark is an incredibly powerful magical artifact that cannot be removed without great difficulty. Even after Voldemort's defeat, some Death Eaters were still able to summon The Dark Mark, indicating that their loyalty to The Dark Lord remained strong. The Dark Mark is also a symbol of fear and terror in the wizarding world, and it was often used to mark the scenes of Death Eater attacks during the second wizarding war. Its appearance would strike fear into the hearts of all who saw it.

Tom Riddle's Diary

History: Tom Riddle's diary, also known as the diary of Tom Marvolo Riddle, is a magical artifact that is central to the plot of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It was originally owned by the young Tom Riddle, who used it to store a piece of his soul in the form of a Horcrux.

Tom Riddle created the diary during his time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1940s. The diary was initially blank, but Riddle enchanted it with dark magic that allowed him to transfer his memories and thoughts into the book. In particular, Riddle stored a memory of his teenage self, in which he revealed to the diary his plan to create Horcruxes and become immortal.

In 1943, Tom Riddle opened The Chamber of Secrets and unleashed the Basilisk on the Hogwarts students. He then used the diary to frame his classmate Hagrid for the crime, before disappearing from Hogwarts and eventually reemerging as Lord Voldemort. Many years later, in 1992, the diary fell into the hands of Ginny Weasley, who had just started her first year at Hogwarts. Ginny wrote in the diary, which responded by possessing her and using her to reopen The Chamber of Secrets. Harry Potter eventually discovered the diary's true nature and destroyed it by stabbing it with a Basilisk fang.

Notable Users:

Tom Riddle himself and Ginny Weasley, who was possessed by the diary's malevolent spirit. Interestingly, Harry Potter himself was briefly possessed by a piece of Voldemort's soul in a similar way through the use of another Horcrux, Slytherin's locket.

Interesting Facts:
In the book, the diary is depicted as having a special ability to communicate with its user, and to possess and control those who write in it.

Helga Hufflepuff's Cup

History: Helga Hufflepuff's Cup is one of the seven Horcruxes created by dark wizard Lord Voldemort in order to attain immortality. The cup was originally owned by Helga Hufflepuff, one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is believed that the cup was passed down through the Hufflepuff family for centuries until it was stolen from the Hufflepuff family and eventually found its way into the possession of Hepzibah Smith, a wealthy witch who was murdered by Voldemort in order to obtain the cup and turn it into a Horcrux.

The original purpose of Helga Hufflepuff's cup is not known, but it is believed to have been a precious artifact or trophy belonging to the founder of Hogwarts, Helga Hufflepuff. It is possible that it was used as a ceremonial drinking vessel or a symbol of Hufflepuff's wealth and influence.

Notable Users:

The most notable user of Helga Hufflepuff's Cup was Lord Voldemort, who turned it into a Horcrux to ensure his immortality. Hepzibah Smith, the previous owner of the cup, also used it as a valuable and treasured heirloom.

Interesting Facts:
In the book, the diary is depicted as having a special ability to communicate with its user, and to possess and control those who write in it.

Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem

History: Rowena Ravenclaw, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was known for her wisdom and intelligence. She created a magical diadem that enhanced the wearer's wisdom and knowledge. The diadem was said to be studded with precious stones and inscribed with runes.

After her death, the diadem was passed down through her family until it was stolen by her daughter, Helena Ravenclaw. Helena fled to Albania with the diadem, but was pursued by her mother's ghost who wanted her to return it. When Helena refused, the ghost cursed her and she died without revealing the location of the diadem.

Centuries later, the diadem was discovered by Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort) while he was searching for objects to make into Horcruxes. He tracked down the location of the diadem through his knowledge of Hogwarts and the Ravenclaw family. He retrieved the diadem from the hiding place in the Room of Requirement and turned it into a Horcrux.

Notable Users:

The most notable users were Rowena Ravenclaw, Helena Ravenclaw, and Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort

Interesting Facts:
In the book, the diary is depicted as having a special ability to communicate with its user, and to possess and control those who write in it.

Marvolo Gaunt's Ring

History: Marvolo Gaunt's Ring is a powerful magical item in the world of Harry Potter. The ring belonged to Marvolo Gaunt, who was the father of Merope Gaunt, the mother of Lord Voldemort. The ring has been passed down through the Gaunt family for generations and is believed to have been owned by Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts.

The ring is said to have been cursed, and those who wear it will meet a terrible end. Marvolo Gaunt inherited the ring from his father and believed it to be a family heirloom of great importance. He treasured it and wore it often, even though he suffered greatly from its curse. The curse on the ring was created by none other than Lord Voldemort himself, who was known for his skill in dark magic.

While still known as Tom Riddle, Voldemort was a student at Hogwarts and learned about Horcruxes from Professor Slughorn. He decided to use the Gaunt family ring as one of his Horcruxes and used a killing curse on his own grandfather, Marvolo Gaunt, to obtain it.

The ring remained hidden for many years until it was discovered by Albus Dumbledore, who was searching for Voldemort's Horcruxes. Dumbledore had suspected that the ring was a Horcrux and he was proven correct when he tried to destroy it. When he put on the ring, he was cursed with a terrible affliction known as the "Ring Curse," which was slowly killing him.

Notable Users:

The most notable user of the ring was Tom Riddle, who later became Lord Voldemort. After murdering his grandfather, Marvolo Gaunt, Voldemort turned the ring into a Horcrux. He also placed a powerful curse on it that caused a painful, slow-acting death to anyone who touched it.

Interesting Facts:
The ring was made of gold and had a large black stone, which turned out to be The Resurrection Stone, one of The Deathly Hallows.

Salazar Slytherin's Locket

History: Salazar Slytherin was one of the founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and he had a locket that was believed to have been passed down through generations of his family. The locket was made with dark magic and contained a piece of Slytherin's soul, turning it into a Horcrux. After creating the Horcrux, Slytherin hid the locket in a secret place to keep it safe.

During the First Wizarding War, Voldemort retrieved the locket from its hiding place and made it one of his Horcruxes, along with six other objects. He entrusted it to one of his most trusted Death Eaters, Regulus Black, to keep it safe. However, Regulus realized the evil nature of Voldemort's plan and decided to turn against him. Regulus tried to destroy the locket but was killed in the process. The locket was later recovered by Mundungus Fletcher, a thief who stole it from the house where Regulus had hidden it.

The locket remained lost until Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger discovered a fake Horcrux locket in The Lestrange Vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank. They realized that the real locket was stolen by Mundungus and tracked him down to a house in London. The trio later discovered that Dolores Umbridge had taken the locket from Mundungus and was using it as a means of control during her time as Head of The Muggle-Born Registration Commission. Harry, Ron, and Hermione infiltrated The Ministry of Magic to retrieve the locket and succeeded in their mission after a dangerous battle with Umbridge and a group of Death Eaters.

Notable Users:

The most notable users were Salazar Slytherin, Lord Voldemort, Regulus Black, Mundungus Fletcher, and Dolores Umbridge

Interesting Facts:
The locket was cursed by Voldemort to bring about misery to anyone who wore it, causing it to be very heavy and uncomfortable. The locket was also one of the most difficult Horcruxes for the trio to destroy, as it required a powerful sword infused with Basilisk venom to destroy it.

Nagini - Voldemort's Pet

History: Nagini is a giant female snake and one of the Horcruxes created by Lord Voldemort to keep a piece of his soul safe. She was originally owned by a mysterious malevolent circus performer named Circus Arcanus, who had kept her captive in a small tank before Voldemort purchased her. Voldemort then used Nagini's venomous poision to kill, and he ultimately used the Horcrux spell to turn her into his, presumed, final Horcrux.

Voldemort had a close relationship with Nagini, often referring to her as "my most faithful servant" and even sharing his mind with her. Nagini was the only known living Horcrux. Voldemort usually sent or possessed Nagini to do his bidding, and many people suffered by her. For example, Nagini nearly took the life of Arthur Weasley, who had to spend Christmas in Hospital because Nagini’s venom kept his wounds from healing.

Nagini was Maledictus, a female who carried a blood curse that eventually turned her permanently into some type of beast. The curse was carried from birth and passed down from mother to daughter. They are not in any way destined to become evil, yet their beast form may often be aggressive. Before their permanent transformation, they had the ability to change shape at will, which would gradually become uncontrollable.

By the events of Harry Potter, Nagini was seemingly permanently in snake form and "belonged" to Lord Voldemort, with whom she had some very special bond, possibly due to becoming a Horcrux after her master had killed Bertha Jorkins in 1994.

Notable Users:

The most notable users were Salazar Slytherin, Lord Voldemort, Regulus Black, Mundungus Fletcher, and Dolores Umbridge

Interesting Facts:
Much of Nagini's histrory is learnt primarily in film, having her character back story explained in the movie Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.