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Voldemort was said to be very interested in the four founders of Hogwarts. He created a Horcrux from the Ravenclaw diadem, the Hufflepuff cup, and the Slytherin locket. Did he try to find a Gryffindor relic to complete the set, or did he not bother?

I can't see him giving up on such a task, but maybe there was insufficient time.

Gryffindor's sword was hiding 'inside' the Sorting Hat, but a famous family usually has some other heirlooms too.

If there are no canon answers I'd be interested in your own speculation!

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5 Answers 5

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From Dumbledore himself in HBP, while discussing Voldemort's horcruxes with Harry:

"I am confident, however, that the only known relic of Gryffindor remains safe."

HBP, Chapter 23, p505, Scholastic Edition. Emphasis added

So, I believe we can take this as confirmation that no other family has another heirloom. Else, Dumbledore and other magical historians (like Bagshot) would've known about it.

And, as we know, only Gryffindors can take the sword from the Sorting Hat. Voldemort, as a Slytherin, wouldn't be able to even if he wanted; he's really better off giving up since he is unable to acquire it by himself. Though he may be able to trick a Gryffindor into getting it from the Hat for him, remember that Voldemort likes to operate alone, especially when it comes to his horcruxes. So I don't think that plan would appeal to him.

(It's worth noting too that the Sorting Hat is a relic of Gryffindor's. I don't know if it can be turned to a Horcrux tho, given its current enchantment.)

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    One of his followers did have access to the sword; Bellatrix had it (or at least thought she did).
    – Valorum
    Commented Feb 7, 2015 at 21:38
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    @Richard, yep but that was only in DH, way after he has begun with his horcrux scheme; at the time, he's got more pressing issues than horcruxes. And he only realized that his horcruxes were in trouble after Harry has broken in the Lestrange vault; even if the vault held the true sword, and he decided to turn it to a horcrux, Harry would've already stolen it. Lastly, thanks for the edit tip. That's what I wanted indeed.
    – skytreader
    Commented Feb 7, 2015 at 21:45
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    Regardless of whether you can do it, turning a sentient object which can blab on you and which lives in the Hogwarts headmaster’s office seems like a bad idea.
    – alexwlchan
    Commented Feb 8, 2015 at 7:45
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    Snape did have the sword when he took it to the Forrest of Dean, and he is not a Gryffindor.
    – sassie
    Commented Feb 8, 2015 at 16:17
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    It would be rather disadvantageous to Voldemort if his horcrux vanished into the hands of a Gryffindor.
    – TheNumberOne
    Commented Feb 8, 2015 at 16:28
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I think the answer is simply that it would be impossible to protect, seeing as ANY Griffindor could pull the sword out of the hat. No matter what protections he put on it, any one of his enemies who was in Griffindor would have easy access. It would never be safe.

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  • Not to mention that the sword only takes what makes it stronger. I doubt that it would consider being a Horcrux stronger (though this is obviously debatable).
    – kaine
    Commented Feb 23, 2015 at 18:57
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Even though he probably didn't realize it, he did have a Horcrux in each house.

  • The Locket/Slytherin.
  • The Cup/Hufflepuff.
  • The Diadem/Ravenclaw.
  • Harry Potter/Gryffindor.
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    Harry is not a Horcrux, nor is he a "Gryffindor heirloom"
    – Skooba
    Commented Dec 6, 2017 at 15:48
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    @Skooba Harry is indeed a Horcrux made by accident on the 31st of October 1981
    – Hermione Granger
    Commented Jul 21, 2018 at 20:11
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Gryffindor is his enemy, so it's probably too risky to put a part of his soul in his enemy's hands.

If he obtained it and hid it, the Gryffindors will go searching for it.

That's my speculation.

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  • I'm not convinced there would have been a mass stampede of Gryffindors clambering to recover the Sword of Gryffindor from Voldemort, were he to have taken it. There is no canon evidence that the Hufflepuffs, Slytherins, or Ravenclaws went searching for their respective founders' heirloom after each heirloom went missing. I mean, that would be very noble, and I think of all the houses, were that to happen, Gryffindor would lead the charge, but I personally (and YMMV, of course) don't see this happening on a house-wide scale. :)
    – Slytherincess
    Commented Feb 7, 2015 at 22:06
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    @Slytherincess: an awful lot of people (not just Ravenclaws) went looking for the diadem, as I recall. Was it commonly known that the other heirlooms were missing?
    – Harry Johnston
    Commented Feb 7, 2015 at 23:02
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The sword only takes in that which makes it stronger. Voldemort's repulsive soul is not something the enchantment would accept as making it more powerful.

And even if this weren't the case, and Dark Lord Soul is something to be acquired for strength, it appears as though Dumbledore himself was personally protecting the sword, since he alone admits to having created the enchantment that prevents the sword from presenting itself to ill-deserving individuals.

I daresay Voldemort was apprehensive to touch or even be near the actual sword himself, as he did not inspect the fake in the Lestange Vault and he did not show any desire to pick it up after killing Griphook. Perhaps he fears anything enchanted by Dumbledore?

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  • -1. I very much doubt the sword was enchanted by Dumbledore.
    – JohnP
    Commented Aug 24, 2015 at 20:35

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