Basilisk venom is a very poisonous substance in the Harry Potter book series. The venom is in the fang of a Basilisk and it is capable of destroying Horcruxes.
About[]
Basilisk venom is a very poisonous substance capable of killing a person in less than a minute. It causes drowsiness and blurry vision before they die. It has one known cure, the tears of a phoenix but it is exceptionally rare. Basilisk venom is a rare "foolproof" substance capable of fatally damaging and completely destroying a Horcrux.[1][2] In the case of a human Horcrux, e.g. Harry Potter, he will have to die for it to be destroyed because they need to be damaged beyond repair - simply being poisoned isn't enough because phoenix tears are able to heal it.[3]
History[]
During their invention of the Sword of Gryffindor, the goblins imbued Basilisk venom into it.[4] In May 1993, Harry Potter used the sword to kill a Basilisk and further imbued the venom into it. Harry was stabbed by a fang and it poisoned him, but he deduced it was able to destroy Tom Riddle's Diary and he stabbed it, damaging it beyond repair. Fawkes then healed Harry.[1]
Three years later, Professor Dumbledore used the sword to destroy a second Horcrux, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring[5], and less than a year later Ron used it to destroy Salazar Slytherin's Locket.[6] In May 1998, Ron and Hermione Granger used the sword to destroy Helga Hufflepuff's Cup[7] and Neville Longbottom to kill Nagini.[8]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 17
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 6
- ↑ J.K. Rowling Just Answered 3 Lingering Harry Potter Questions
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 15
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 13
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 19
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36