It is clear from HBP that the Deatheaters, at least most of them, did not know about the horcruxes. Is there a reasonable explanation for Voldemort's words in GoF: "And then I ask myself, but how could they [the deatheaters] believe I would not rise agian? They, who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? THey, who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I was mightier than any wizard living?"

Thanks in advance

The only thing I can think of is that they knew that he had taken steps, but didn't know what those steps were.

It's obvious that Lucius Malfoy didn't know that the diary was a horcrux, otherwise, he wouldn't have used it so carelessly. He would have protected it, and gone to great legnths to figure out how to use it to get LV back.

I'm actually slightly curious about how Pettigrew knew how to ressurect Voldemort. I mean, what was that spell that he did - Flesh Blood and Bone, or something? I wonder if he must've known about the horcruxes, if he knew how to ressurect Voldemort.

Anyway, I agree with samsmom - the majority of The Death Eaters probably didn't know what those steps were. But I think some of them might've found out, if R.A.B. managed to find out about them.

I believe that the majority of the death eaters had a vague idea of his steps, but neither knew what they were or where they were. THey probably did not think that anyone would have been able to find them, after all voldy must have hidden them safetly, not telling anyone where he put them as a safety issue in case any one betrayed him. I believe RAB was a special case because he may have witnessed the making of them, or perhaps he knew about voldy torturing children in the cave. many speculations, no evidence, just theories.

I think that I am thinking on the same lines as those who have already posted. I think that the DE's may have known that he took steps to prevent his death, but not necessarily what those steps were. I would guess that at least some of the DE's may even have known that his steps included the making of a horcrux, but I am under the impression that it was very unheard-of to even possibly make more than a single horcrux, and so, I doubt that any of them even could have known of more than one horcrux. I could be wrong, of course, but that is what I currently choose to believe.

I'll add an extra note to the other good points here: they might not have believed that horcruxes worked. It's a bizarre thing, in the end: sundering one's soul. In fact, one would think that the sundering process would diminish the original, as the soul was now partitioned, but there was no evidence that this had happened (Voldemort appeared as strong as ever).

Good points everybody. They, who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? Maybe Voldemort is referring to his earliest followers. During Dumbledore's meeting with LV, he commented that Nott, Rosier, Mulciber, and Dolohov were at the Hog's Head Inn and traveled far with the Voldemort on a snowy night. Voldemort's features at the time lost its handsome qualities:

That's exactly what I was thinking. Only the Death Eaters closest to Voldemort, possibly those who had been his schoolmates, know that Voldemort made horcruxes and possibly what a few of those horcruxes are. Everyone else knows that he took steps toward immortality, but doesn't know what they are, and I doubt if even those closest to Voldemort know everything. Also, since obviously not much is known about horcruxes, I imagine that no one would be surprised if the magic did not work. Voldemort seemed to be defeated, and how was anyone to know that his soul was just temporarily disembodied?

i think that Voldy didnt mention the horcruxes to his followers incase they turned on him and spilled his secret..that would be the obvious reason to not tell them.

I don't think that DE knew about Horcruxes. I've got the idea from HBP that Voldemort didn't trust any people, including DE so altough they knew that he had done somnething, but not what. I have a theory(again) that Pettigrew didn't know for sure Voldemort was alive, but since he couldn't return to Weaslys, he had no choise but to try find Voldemort and accidently made it.
But a admit that I don't have any idea how did R.A.B found about horcruxes, since I don't belive theories about who he is

I agree that some of the inner circle might have known that steps were taken but not what those steps were.

But at the same time, I think it's pretty stupid on Voldemort's part if he hands out his prized horcuzes to mind and not tell people what they are. I mean, if Lucius Malfoy is so trusted within the circle to be given a piece of Voldemort's soul, wouldn't you have thought that he would have been told- this is my soul, it's important and hang on to it? But instead he hands it off to a young girl.

Now, arguably, Malfoy probably thought that this was the chance at returning Voldemort to some sort of power, if you believe that he believed him still alive, and that he would definatly win against the likes of Harry Potter.... but still- it's pretty risky.

Hmmm, I think that somewhere in HBP Dumbledore tells Harry that Lucius was originally supposed to sneak the diary back into Hogwarts, but it was supposed to be while Voldemort was still in power. Obviously that didn't happen, and then Lucius tried to do it later on because he wanted to get rid of the diary and thought he might be able to get Arthur Weasley's daughter into trouble into the bargain. If I'm right about this (I guess I'll have to check and see ), then Lucius probably knew there was something special about the diary, but not that it was a horcrux. I dunno, I guess the diary was a little different from the other horcruxes, but you're right, it's still pretty risky to just go handing them out.

Remember that the people most likely to know of the Horcruxes are his most loyal followers - and therefore most likely to end up in Azkaban. I think probably the Lestrange's and Crouch were in on this secret.

Pettigrew? I don't think so, but if he did then he would not have been keen to expidite Voldemort's return to power, even if he eventually facilitated it.

I think maybe that the Death Eaters might have known or had a hunch that he definately was doing something to try to stay immortal. But I think that only a select few knew, possibly even by accident. But because the Death Eaters were/are so obedient to LV, they'll do anything for him, even if they don't know what the heck they're doing!
I also think that Lucius got scared when he got the diary, and didn't really know that it was a horcrux, so he didn't treat it like it should have been.

Isnt it obvious?
We found out about horcruxes in HBP and JKR said HBP would have a major reference to COS. So I read COS and worked it out. Voldy returned to a baby like body Harry describes. Dumbledore said "Only when there are none loyal to me will I truely be gone." or something like that. The LeStranges and Crouch tried to find him but didnt. Petigrew did. This meant that there was a loyal follower and revived LV. Maybe this sort of meant that those in possesion/guarding horcruxes would revive him by finding him. This makes me think that Horcruxes will be looked after by Death Eaters.
1)Peter Pettigrew
2)Barty Crouch JR
3)R.A.B
4)Lucious Malfoy
5)Bellatrix Lestrange
6)Rodulfus Lestrange
7)Teacher at Hogwarts?
This may be I think:
Snape
Flitwick
Mcgonnagal
what do you think?

I don't think that Voldemort was reduced to the baby-like body; in one of the books it says that he was less than the meanest spirit, and this was why he had to possess animals and eventually Quirrel. I'm pretty sure that when Pettigrew found Voldemort, he was then able to return to that semblance of a human body. You have me a little confused - could you explain yourself a bit? Pleeease ?

i don't know how many people knew about the horcruxes, but obviously Harry and Dumbledore knew, aswell as R.A.B. However i was re reading the Horace Slughorn chapter when Dumbledore is showing Slughorn Marvalo's ring there is something in that, read pages 68-69 uk edition. I believe Horace knew about the horcruxes as he was the one who told Voldermort about them, but how much does he realy know.

R.A.B. died in 1980, around the same time the prophecy was made. I think Snape or someone told him the prophecy and he already knew about the horcruxes so he decided to act. We don't know the details or anything though. It could've happened after Voldemort disappeared and he realized Harry was "his match" for all we know. The other DE's I'm sure knew he was dishonest with them and killed him.

I personally don't think that the existence of horcruxes is all that secret. It is the darkest of dark arts and is rarely used, but it was common enough for Slughorn to know it and even tell a group of students. I know he realized he shouldn't have done it, but it still shows that it was probably known in the older wiser circles. I would think that a death eater would know exactly what a horcrux is. Also, if Voldemort is telling us that his followers knew the steps he had taken, I think it would be an obvious connection for them to realize that he was using horcruxes. That doesn't mean that they knew the specifics of what and where Voldemort's horcuxes were. I think a select few may be trusted with a single horcrux location each or something like that in order for them to be able to retrieve them in the chance that Voldemort is defeated. Someone would have to act as Wormtail did if Voldemort is without a body and soul to get things prepared.

I totally agree with you. If Slughorn knew about horcruxes, I am sure others do as well.

I think that maybe each horcrux was assigned to a very close death eater to watch over in case something happened. I do not think that a horcrux can spontaneously generate a new Voldy. Someone must take the horcrux and perform some kind of spell to bring him back. Therefore it would be necessary for someone to know that there is a horcrux and they would need to know how to get Voldy's soul out of it.

I also think that the death eaters who were in charge of the horcruxes each thought that the horcrux they had was Voldy's only horcrux. This would make it so that even if someone who was guarding a horcrux turned good, there would still be backups. I think that the Horcrux in the cave was assigned to RAB and when he turned on Voldy he went and destroyed what he thought was the one and only horcrux. That is why he said that his hope is that Voldy would be mortal. If RAB knew about all of the other horcruxes he may have phrased his note differently.

Also, what would be the point in making a horcrux out of the diary only to entrust it to Lucious who had no idea what it was or how to use it. I think that Lucious knew exactly what he was doing when he gave the Horcrux to Ginny. If there is a soul trapped in the diary maybe it would need some kind of host to move into once it was released. Ginny would have made a great choice. She is from a pure blood family and she obviously has some great wizzarding skills (even though they were not that apparent at the time). Not to mention how close she was to Harry. If Voldy could sneak into Ginny, he would be in great position to Kill Harry when he least expected it.

Hmmmm yea this is tricky maybe LV had SOME DEs looking after the some of the horcruex! Obviously Lusius wasnt trusted enough to look after one propperly seeing as he caused it to be ruinned.

Peter P. dident know hot to ressurect voldemort, voldemort told him how to do it. He wasnt really the best wizard around, nor was he the brightest. I dont think hes in on the whole Horcrux thing. On the note of this death eaters guarding them...i dont think so, Voldemort likes working alone, sharing this secret just doesnt seem like a think he would do.

I have heard mention here and there about people saying that the death eaters don't know Voldemort is not pure blood.

I might be crazy, but hear me out. Don't you think the death eaters already know, or else have a pretty good idea that their master is not a pure blood? I mean, it isn't really anything that Voldemort keeps secret. He is open about it to Harry in the Goblet of Fire when he is talking about how he killed his father. On pg. 646 of Goblet of Fire, Voldemort says to Harry (and this is in front of a death eater!!!!) "You stand Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father, a muggle and a fool. Seems quite clear to me that he isn't trying to hide anything. Later when all the death eaters arrive, they are circled around Voldemort's dead father's grave with the heading "Tom Riddle" on it. They must know he is a muggle because they are in a muggle graveyard!!!! They have to know. In the fifth book, when Harry is trying to stall the Death Eaters in the ministry he says something like: "Your master is a mudblood you know!" And though it angers the death eaters, none of them says "No he isn't". Bellatrix just fires a curse at him. They must know he is not a pure blood!!!!! (at least pettigrew knows.)

I'm sure many of them know that he's a Half-Blood. It's pretty hypocritical of them because they think anyone who's not a pure-blood is scum, yet they worship someone who isn't. I don't think that this is very important to the whole plot-line though. Voldy reminds me a lot of Hitler. Hitler was one eighth Jewish and Voldy is half-blood. According to their terms, they should both be dead. Nevermind.

Anyways, I don't think this theory is crazy at all. I think there might already be a thread about this though...Besides, the DEs might not care that he's a half-blood 'cause he has so much power and feels no guilt when he kills someone. I mean, he's killed how many people? And he's killed Karkaroff. I dunno where I read it, but I think it was somewhere where if anyone no - it was Kill Bill. Sorry!

It was in a meeting and the person complains about taking orders from a one third American and one third Chinese person. So she kills him because he uses her background in a negative way. Doesn't that kind of sound like something Voldy would do?

Ya i don't think it has very much importance in the plot either. I just read a post somewhere, and it was all about harry would defeat the death eaters. Everybody seemed to think that if Harry embarassed Voldemort by revealing his "secret", then the death eaters would desert him. I said that i thought all the death eaters already knew, but i just wanted to make sure. I mean, the fact that he is Slytherin's heir is probably more important than the fact that he was born from a muggle father.

It seems like there are a few options:

a. they didn't know about Voldemort's true lineage until they were his servants, by which time they were too scared to leave him, he was far more powerful than he started as, and they realized that whether he was a pureblood or not didn't matter because he believed in the same ideals as they.

b. they simply don't know. they are unable to put 2 and 2 together, and Wormtail doesn't tell them what he heard att the graveyard.

c. they know about it, but don't want to admit that their master is exactly what they hate. This might explain Bella's reaction at the ministry when Harry tells the group that Voldemort isn't a pureblood. In this case, the goal outweighs the means of achieving the goal, so as long as Voldemort is promoting the same ideals as they, they will stay loyal. (of course if they didn't stay loyal they would probably die)

d. they have known all along, and it just doesn't matter to them because he is the heir of Slytherin himself, and after all, they are just following in the foosteps of Salazar's "noble work".

There are some interesting real life parallels. I seem to recall that not only was Adolph Hitler very unAryan in appearance, I believe he had some Jewish blood. I'm sure his followers must have noticed the appearance at least, yet they blindly followed him.

Exactly. And JKR does use real historical data in her books. For example she said in aninterview that Grindelwald was the wizard version of Hitler, and he was defeated by Dumbledore the same year that Hitler fell from power and killed himself. Hitler was a lot like Voldemort. His purge of the Jewish people is not unsilimilar to the Dark Lord's destruction of Muggle's and non-purebloods. They both were raised under-priveledged. They both have the characteristics of what they hate (Hitler was 1/8 Jewish, and Voldemort is not a pureblood). They both are power hungry, merciless, and just as cruel to their followers as their enemies, "yet they blindly followed him".

This may be off topic but is it possible that Macnair knows about the Horcruxes because he's Voldemorts son?

Macnair translates to 'son of the heir' Voldemort is the heir of Slytherin unless its some sort of other Heir

I think the Death Eaters not only knew he took those steps to
make himself immortal, but knew what those steps were.

So why were they surprised to see their master return from the
dead? Simple, they didn't believe he could do it.
We saw in the GOF that most DE's are far from being loyal, although
they returned to their master they were reluctant to do so.

Despite what they say, they still doubt the extent of Voldemort's power. And his enemys understand it completely, ironic, don't you think?

I agree with NightDance saying that the Death Eaters are not loyal, and only rejoined him out of fear, but I do not agree with the death eaters knowing about horcruxs.

If even one Death Eater decided to aboandon lv, (and succeeded) he/she could go searching for the horcruxs and try to destroy them.
This would not be like lv to not care about those kind of risks.

I think that they know that he has tooken steps toward immortality, but do not know what those steps are.

I don't think they returned out of fear. If they had, he'd have known. They may be a part of the "inner circle" but i doubt they posess the capabilities, like Snape, to alter and close their minds.

In regards to the horcruxes, I don't think any of them knew "knew." They might have pondered it, but I doubt any thought he'd actually go through with it.

I think none of the death eaters know about the horcruxes but i like the idea of entusting one to a different death eater. Maybe he just told them the were personally important or had some oter magical capabilities. i think the horcruxes other than the diary were hidden like the locket and the death responsible for them was just supposed to check up on them.

I think Lucius must have some idea. I mean he did aid in the destruction of one. Unless of course Voldemort still didn't tell him why it was so important?

It was important because Lucuis thought it would open the chamber of secrets. If he knew it was a part of Voldemorts soul then he probably wouldn't have risked it and he knows so much about the dark arts he would have known that if voldemort had a horcrux he would have survived.

I think that some of the death eaters must know like maybe Snape? or Bellatrix? In the beginning of book 6 Bellatric calls herself the Dark Lord's most trusted Death Eater. I do not believe this...I think that the Dark Lord trusts Snape over Bellatrix but if Voldemort does trust Bellatrix the most than she may be the one who has the most chance of knowing.

I think that the only people that know that are still alive are Harry, Ron, Hermione, Snape, Petigrew, and Voldemort himself. As for Death Eaters, I assume Dumbledore told snape so that he could assist him like when he got his hand burned. And i have already given evidence to snape knowing how dumbledores hand was burned in another topic. And i think Petigrew knows because Voldemort told him for helping him to come back. And as he said petigrew came back out of fear, he would suspect that he would tell no one else for theese reasons. Petigrew will end up telling Harry where a horcrux is though or even help him retrieve one i think because Petigrew is in Harry's debt and the fact that he was in Gryffindor. We have not yet seen anything couragous that he has done, so im guessing that part will be in this last book.

the ones who knows for sure are Harry, Voldemort, Wormtail, Ron and Hermione, and Snape. but i think the only Death Eaters who know are Voldemorts Loyal and Truthful followers, but not all of the death eaters know about the horcruxs because they could betray Voldemort and do something to the Horcruxs

I don't think that most of his death eaters knew about them...i'm not sure if Wormtail even does...I think that Voldemort just told him what to do to bring him back to life. I think that Snape might know about them though...just becuase Voldemort trusts him so much, and so did Dumbeldore, and he know about them...i dunno though...Bella might know about them...I don't think that Lucius knew about them though...since he sent one of them off to Hogwarts without taking precautions. The only people that we know for sure that know about the Horcruxes are Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, and Voldemort.

The Dark Lord is a wise man, and since I haven't been on in like many many days, I'm gonna sorta keep most of these pretty short, cause I want to get through most of them so I can see what happened whilst I was gone. I doubt that the Dark Lord would reveal anything to anyone, and seeing as he doesn't want anyone to figure out the fact that he has a potential weakness, even if he might not think that anyone would dare try, but I don't think that he's one to share such inner secrets. That thingy about Wormtail, I'm sure the Dark Lord told him, because, let's face it, Wormtail isn't all that bright at all. The Dark Lord told him how to do the magick, or at least, let on enough so that it would be performed correctly, cause he's not a let's share our emotions and secrets sorta person. Other than that, I don't have much else to say on the topic, seeing as most of it's been said, though seeing as it took Dumbledore probably a lot of investigating to find out about the Horcruxs (he was never specific about when he began the search), I doubt that anyone else would have figured it out, though I have a feeling that Slughorn did, he just didn't want to believe his own thoughts, you know?

~La MaitressedeMort

Voldie wouldn't tell his Deatheaters anything, he doesn't trust anyone. He gave riddles diary (horcrux) to Lucious to take care of but he didn't even tell him what it was! I think snape is the only Deatheater who knows. him and..
Harry
Ron
Hermione
Dumbledore (dieseased)
Mcgonagal (Sp?)
Snape.
R.A.B (i believe this is regulas black)
I don't think anyone else knows. Well. maybe a few other Order Members....

in closing Voldie doesn't trust no one.

Well as someome quited Voldemort said in the Goblet of Fire that some of them knew the steps he was taking in order to become immortal... Was he refering to the Horcruxes. I dont think Voldemort trusted evey single one of them to tell them something so secret as to how he was making the Horcruxes. I don't think Snape knew about them. If he did he would have put Dumbledore out of his missery and told him about what and where they were. But then again it all depends as to whether Snape is good or not. Lucius must have known about them or at least the diary because he planted it in Ginny's cauldron, but more to the point how did he get his hands on it and know what to do with it if he hadn't heard from Voldemort since Harry's parents were killed? Sure Voldemort has his favourites but I dont think he is the sort of man to spill his darkest secrets, especially about his half blood line.

Voldemort trust no one, he has no friends. Horocrux, half-blood, and whatever else, he trust no one with his secrets. He built himself up around the idea of pure-blood and of the DE that have actually do anything neither one is pure. Voldemort ordered Death Eaters to watch over specific objects with no more explanation then when I ask for them to be return them to me. Lucius was given the diary, his order was to keep it safe until I call for it. No knowledge of what it was or was for. Malfoy, covering his own hide, went after Mr. Weasly to get back at him the raids on his house. What DEs have been mentioned in other than passing. Snape and Lestrange both show distrust and the ability to close their minds. What was it that Snape said that Draco, I see you have been taking lessons from your aunt, when he was confronted after Slughorn's party. Pettigrew had no knowledge of the Horocrux, he happened to stumble upon Voldemort and assist in giving him a body. There was not a horocrux used for him to regain the body just a servant, bone, blood and the potion. Even Voldy said he came back out of fear. And RAB, well we will find who is the only question is did he/she destroy the horcrux or just steal it.

In my opinion not many people know about LV's Horcrux or what Horcrux are at all. Remember how Hermione herself was unable to find the true description of Horcrux for Harry when he was suppose to find their meaning. I dont think telling people what Hrocrux are and exposing their power in the open would have ever been a fashion in the wizarding world. LV himself had difficulty to get the meaning out of Slughorn. Only because of his effective flattery and carefully worked out words did he managed to wriggle it out of him. Even Ron who's family have always have wizarding connections at the ministry and have been in the wizarding socities dont know its meaning. On the other hand if we are talking about some place like knockturn alley then yeah you might have a chance to find out. Also DD mention in HBP how little people know about LV's past even his Followers arnt that close to him as they might think. Remeber LV works and functions alone and doesnt want assistant.

Well i dont think any of the death eaters were supposed to know, except lucius (the diary).
But, Voldemort has probably told a few of them now, as he will probably know Harry is after the horcruxes (legilimency, he will be looking into Harry's thoughts as in OotP), and will most likely be looking for higher means of security around the horcruxes. The DEs who are in Voldemort's inner circle will probably know about the horcruxes. I think Snape will know. I don't believe he is betraying Voldemort, he is on LV's side in my opinion. So Snape, Lucius and poossibly even Bella, maybe a few more will know about the horcruxes.

amy i have to disagree with you about lucius. i dont think he knew what he had. I mean i do think that he knew a little, that it was Volde's(of course) but i personally dont think he knew it contained his voldes soul. i dont think he would have been so loose with it. I think snape knew and thats it.

I agree Bethany... they had to know something.... why else would Voldemort say that they alone knew the steps he took to gaurd himself from mortality all those years ago, in the graveyard. He was questioning why they believed him to be gone witht he knowledge they posess.... what that knowledge is I do not know... but it was something important

~Albus