Summary
- The Veil in the Department of Mysteries could potentially have been used to destroy a Horcrux, as it serves as an archway to the afterlife.
- While using the Veil could have been an option, there are several uncertainties and risks involved, such as the unknown interaction between the Veil and the fragmented souls within a Horcrux.
- The Golden Trio could have potentially pursued this option while they were already in the Ministry of Magic, but breaking in again likely wouldn’t have been possible.
The Golden Trio spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way to destroy Horcruxes in Harry Potter, but one theory suggests there was a possible solution they never thought of. Handling Voldemort’s stored-away soul fragments was a significant point of frustration, especially since Dumbledore never saw fit to tell Harry how they could be destroyed. Thankfully, Hermione’s skill at research allowed her to work out a solution, but it only meant more jumping through hoops. However, there was a magical artifact that Harry and his friends had been introduced to years before that could have been a convenient option in Harry Potter.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry, Ron, and Hermione successfully obtained Slytherin’s locket, which Voldemort had turned into one of his six intentional Horcruxes. Unfortuantely, they had no way to destroy it, which became a point of serious contention in their journey. Hermione had discovered a couple of known, extremely dangerous methods—basilisk venom and Fiendfyre. The Sword of Gryffindor had absorbed the former, which was how they eventually managed to destroy Slytherin’s locket. However, since Harry didn’t have this weapon until much later, another option would have been helpful.
The Veil In The Department Of Mysteries Could Have Destroyed A Horcrux
A theory suggests that the mysterious Veil—the one Sirius Black fell through in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix—could have destroyed a Hocrux. Stored in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic, the Veil serves as an archway to death. When Sirius went through it, he passed on to the afterlife, unable to return or to be followed. Since a Horcrux is like a body in that it is a vessel for a soul, it stands to reason that tossing a Horcrux through it would see the soul within enter the afterlife.
Of course, the fragments stored within a Horcrux aren’t whole, so how they interact with the Veil could be different. Still, it’s important to remember how Horcruxes work to begin with. When a wizard has a Horcrux hidden away is killed, their soul cannot “move on” since a piece of that soul still exists in the world of the living. The Horcrux serves as a tether to that world. However, since whatever is on the other side of the Veil is not in the world of the living, a Horcrux that passes through would no longer be able to tether its master to life. Therefore, even if the Horcrux vessel weren’t technically destroyed, it would still, in theory, be rendered useless.
The Golden Trio Had To Break Into The Ministry Of Magic Anyway (But It Would Have Been Tricky)
Harry, Ron, and Hermione already planned to break into the Ministry of Magic, so they could have potentially headed to the Department of Mysteries after retrieving Slytherin’s locket from Dolores Umbridge. For this to work, Harry would have had to keep his temper under control, but if he had known that his mission at the Ministry wasn’t over yet, he might have managed to keep things together a little longer. Still, maintaining control was never Harry’s strength—and that’s only the beginning of the difficulties that would have faced the Golden Trio had they decided to head for the Veil.
It’s possible that after the events at the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Veil was moved out of the Department of Mysteries. Or, the Ministry might have realized it needed increased security after a group of teenagers found their way in. Additionally, though the Veil could theoretically disable Slytherin’s locket, there would be no way to prove that this method was successful without getting rid of the other Horcruxes, killing Voldemort, and seeing what happened. If Voldemort’s central soul remained tethered to the world of the living, there might not have been a way to get Slytherin’s locket back from the Veil. Therefore, while interesting, this theory might not have been the best option.
How Did The Veil Really Work In Harry Potter?
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The Department of Mysteries was a fitting home for the Veil in Harry Potter since the details of how it worked were never fully explained. All we know is that when Sirius passed through it, there was no bringing him back. Harry used the Resurrection Stone to temporarily get his godfather back in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, however, so it’s evident that Sirius ended up in the same place as Lily and James, who never had any interaction with the Veil.
When Harry approached the Veil in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, he heard voices coming from the other side, something that, of the group, only Luna could hear as well. Since it was revealed earlier that Harry and Luna could see Thestrals, it’s assumed that the pair could hear those beyond the Veil because of their intimate familiarity with death—they were hearing the voices of their deceased loved ones. This further proves that the Veil in Harry Potter leads directly to the Great Beyond, where fragmented souls, like Horcruxes and Lord Voldemort, cannot survive.
