Here’s Why Voldemort Couldn’t Kill Harry as a Baby

Harry Potter is believed to be the most famous child ever and a favorite fictional character among children and young adults. He is equally celebrated in his fictional Wizarding World and the school he is attending as he is in the real world. Harry became popular for being the first person ever to survive a killing curse and defeat the Dark Lord, Voldemort, when he was just a baby. So how come Voldemort failed to kill him despite killing much more powerful characters?

What is Sacrificial Protection?

Ancient and potent, sacrificial protection requires no incantation. Activated by a selfless act of sacrificing one’s life out of profound love, it is considered the ultimate defense. The protector, given an option to live, consciously chooses death, and the protection persists in the blood of the saved person. In Harry’s case, it caused intense pain to Lord Voldemort upon touching him. If involving multiple people, the full extent remains unknown.

In cases of a blood-related sacrifice, an additional layer of protection, known as the bond of blood, can be cast on the saved person. This charm shields them from harm by the one who attempted to hurt them while in the home of a blood relative. The bond activates when the living blood-relative willingly takes the saved person into their home. The protection ceases when the saved person permanently moves out or turns seventeen, whichever comes first.

Harry Potter- “The boy who lived“

Born on July 31, 1980, Harry’s life took a significant turn as the child of Lily and James Potter, members of the wizarding group, The Order of the Phoenix, fighting against the dark forces of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. On October 31, 1981, when Harry was just a year old, Voldemort attacked their home at Godric’s Hollow. James sacrificed himself in an attempt to protect his family, while Lily, in an act of ultimate love, shielded Harry from the Dark Lord. Unaware of the protection, Voldemort’s killing curse rebounded, leaving Harry unharmed with only a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. This event marked Harry as “The Boy Who Lived.”

Avada Kedavra – The Killing Curse

Avada Kedavra is one of three Unforgivable Curses, The Killing Curse, The Cruciatus Curse, and The Imperius Curse. They are named Unforgivable because their use is forbidden and the use is punishable by a life sentence in Azkaban, the wizarding prison. The Killing Curse manifests as a jet of green light coming from the tip of the wizarding wand. It causes immediate and painless death. The curse can be dodged, blocked with solid objects, or intercepted with only a few very powerful and fast spells. Harry is the only known person to survive The Killing Curse, which he did twice. He was also the only one ever to nullify and deflect the curse. 

The Prophecy – Why did Lord Voldemort want to kill Harry Potter?

Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy, made during her Divination professor interview at Hogwarts, foretells the birth of a child destined to defeat Lord Voldemort. The prophecy describes the child as born to those who defied Voldemort thrice, born as the seventh month dies. Voldemort, aware of only the first part, marks Harry Potter as his equal, setting in motion the events that lead to their fateful confrontation. Dumbledore advises both Harry’s and Neville Longbottom’s parents to hide, but due to a traitor, Voldemort locates the Potters. After the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Harry is recognized as “The Chosen One,” destined to confront Voldemort in the Second Wizarding War.

The End of Lord Voldemort – Horcruxes and Elder Wand

The journey to Voldemort’s demise involved the concept of Horcruxes, objects containing a part of the creator’s soul to achieve immortality. Horcruxes are created by committing murder, and Voldemort, an adept dark wizard, made six. Destroying a Horcrux also destroys the part of the soul within it. Voldemort’s quest for immortality led to the creation of these dark objects, making him virtually indestructible as long as at least one Horcrux remained.

Harry Potter unknowingly became an unintentional Horcrux when a part of Voldemort’s soul latched onto him during the failed killing curse. In the pursuit of defeating the Dark Lord, Harry and his friends discovered and destroyed all known Horcruxes, including an unexpected one—Harry himself.

The Elder Wand, featured in the ‘Tale of Three Brothers,’ became a crucial element in the battle. The wand was sought after for its unmatched power, and its legend traces back to three brothers who cheated Death. The eldest brother received the Elder Wand, capable of defeating all others, adding another layer to the struggle against Voldemort.

The Elder wand has since had many owners, and it is very loyal- it cannot kill its owner, but it does switch allegiance when the owner loses a duel.  When Draco Malfoy killed Dumbledore, the wand became his. Harry later disarmed Draco and became the wand’s owner. That is why, when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, the spell rebounded on Voldemort and killed him instead, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Harry killing Lord Voldemort. 

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