The world of Harry Potter is one that engages readers and viewers of the books and films because it is so expansive, with the only limit seeming to be one’s imagination. However, while this is the greatest strength of the franchise, it is also a weakness that can rear its head from time to time. Simply put, when almost anything is possible, and powerful spells are introduced, it becomes difficult to avoid plot holes where fans call out a type of spell that could have been used to simply fix a situation. One of those aspects of the franchise most criticized by fans is Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) hiding of the Horcruxes.
Most questions revolve around why he should have used objects less likely to arouse suspicion, and why hide them in places that held meaning to him? In theory, rather than keeping a prized locket in a cave from his youth, he should have used an old napkin he could throw into a bin and let disappear into landfill forever. Most of these questions can be waved away by simply telling fans there wouldn’t be a story in that case. However, one that does pose a problem worth analyzing is the idea that Voldemort should have used a Fidelius charm, which would have hidden the horcruxes in the most secretive way possible. However, when we dig into what would be required, we see that Voldemort’s greatest weakness prevented this from being possible.
A Fidelius Charm in ‘Harry Potter’ Hides Secrets By Imbuing Them Into One Person For Safe Keeping

Image via Warner Bros.

The Fidelius charm is considered to be one of the most powerful and dangerous spells in the franchise. This spell works by hiding the secret inside a living individual, of their own free will, and making that secret undiscoverable unless the Secret Keeper gives the information away willingly. The most famous example of this charm is when James (Adrian Rawlins) and Lily Potter (Geraldine Somerville) used it to hide themselves and a baby Harry, portrayed in his later youth by Daniel Radcliffe, from Voldemort. The original plan was to make Sirius (Gary Oldman) the Secret Keeper, but because it seemed too obvious, they changed this at the last minute to Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall). While this should have kept their location unknown forever, the risk the Fidelius charm carries was exposed when Peter, who had already been working for Voldemort out of fear, betrayed them.

Related

10 Must-Read Series if You’re Getting Into Fantasy Books

Fantasy can be daunting, but these series are great entry points.

Voldemort Would Have Needed to Trust Someone With His Life to Create a Fidelius Charm in ‘Harry Potter’

For Voldemort to use this charm, he would have required someone to be his Secret Keeper. However, since the keeper ends up holding the power over the secret, able to reveal it when they please, they would have held power over the Dark Lord, and Voldemort’s arrogance wouldn’t be able to handle that. He never told anyone about the Horcruxes, let alone let them be a willing safeguard for them. Yes, he did give Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) and Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) certain ones, such as the diary in Chamber of Secrets and Hufflepuff Cup in Deathly Hallows, but he only did so because he believed they would be hidden away without the knowledge of the item’s true purpose, as his followers would be too terrified to ask any more questions.
Voldemort Not Using a Fidelius Charm on the Horcruxes Exposes His Biggest Weakness in ‘Harry Potter’

Image via Warner Bros.

In the end, this is another supposed plot hole in Harry Potter that can be solved by looking at the franchise’s theme that love conquers all. Consistently, Harry wins because he chooses human connection over hatred, with the clearest example coming in Order of the Phoenix, when he tells Voldemort he feels sorry for him “because you’ll never know love, or friendship.” Because Voldemort had none of that, he lost, and it is tragic to think about how he wanted immortality but would never get to live it with anyone or tell anyone how he obtained it. When most people talk about immortality, they talk about only accepting it if their loved ones can live on too, but Voldemort completely misuses this power and ends up vanquishing himself because of it.
There are so many issues with Harry Potter in this day and age due to the writer’s disgraceful opinions that have come to light. However, one thing that can never be taken away from this franchise is the message of inclusivity. That is Voldemort’s greatest weakness, and it may have become the writer’s too, but that doesn’t change the fact that these are important themes which even help us to solve some of the more complex mysteries that the franchise leaves us with.