Harry Potter ultimately killed Voldemort, bringing an end to the reign of terror by the Dark Lord.
The Final Confrontation and Voldemort's Demise
Lord Voldemort's downfall occurred during the climactic Battle of Hogwarts, a pivotal event detailed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The final duel between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort took place in the Great Hall, a culmination of years of conflict in the Harry Potter series.
Key Factors in Voldemort's Defeat
Several critical elements converged to enable Voldemort's demise, making it distinct from a simple magical duel:
- Elder Wand's Allegiance: Unknown to Voldemort, the Elder Wand — one of the legendary Deathly Hallows he wielded — did not truly belong to him. Its true master was Harry Potter, who had disarmed Draco Malfoy, the previous master of the wand after Malfoy had disarmed Albus Dumbledore. Because the wand would not harm its true master, Voldemort's most powerful curses against Harry were rendered ineffective.
- Destruction of Horcruxes: Prior to the final confrontation, Harry and his allies tirelessly hunted and destroyed all of Voldemort's Horcruxes. These magical containers held fragments of Voldemort's soul, granting him near-immortality. With each Horcrux destroyed, Voldemort's soul became more complete, yet his link to life became progressively more fragile. The final Horcrux, his snake Nagini, was destroyed by Neville Longbottom.
- Harry's Sacrifice: Harry's willingness to sacrifice himself in the Forbidden Forest, allowing Voldemort to cast the Killing Curse upon him, inadvertently destroyed the fragment of Voldemort's soul residing within Harry (the final Horcrux). This selfless act also provided a profound protective charm for all those fighting for Hogwarts, further disarming Voldemort of his ability to fully wield the Elder Wand's true power against them.
The Decisive Moment
In their ultimate duel, Voldemort unleashed the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra, against Harry. However, because the Elder Wand would not attack its true master, the spell rebounded harmlessly off Harry. Harry, in turn, cast a simple but strategically powerful disarming spell: Expelliarmus. This act reflected Voldemort's own curse back at him, leading to his ultimate destruction. The event is dramatically depicted in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2, where Harry successfully defeats Voldemort using only an Expelliarmus spell.
Why Voldemort Could Not Be Killed Sooner
Voldemort's prolonged survival was due to his creation of Horcruxes. He intentionally ripped his soul into fragments and encased them in various objects and beings to tether himself to life:
| Horcrux | Original Object/Being | Destroyer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Riddle's Diary | Diary | Harry Potter (with a Basilisk fang) |
| Marvolo Gaunt's Ring | Ring | Albus Dumbledore (with Gryffindor's Sword) |
| Salazar Slytherin's Locket | Locket | Ron Weasley (with Gryffindor's Sword) |
| Helga Hufflepuff's Cup | Cup | Hermione Granger (with a Basilisk fang) |
| Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem | Diadem | Harry Potter (destroyed by Fiendfyre) |
| Harry Potter (Accidental) | Living Being | Voldemort (when he cast Avada Kedavra on Harry) |
| Nagini | Snake | Neville Longbottom (with Gryffindor's Sword) |
The destruction of each Horcrux incrementally eroded Voldemort's connection to life, rendering him mortal once more and vulnerable to Harry's final, decisive strike.
The defeat of Voldemort was not merely a display of magical prowess, but also a profound triumph of love, friendship, and sacrifice over dark ambition and tyranny.
