Horcruxes-how do they work exactly?(Harry Potter)

[FaxModem1]

Say you capture one Tom Riddle, and shoot him in the head. What happens?

Does the body heal it's wounds, and Tom Riddle is down one horcrux? Does his body rematerialize where a horcrux is located? Does he have to go through another ceremony, with a bone from his father, flesh from his followers, and blood from his enemy? Does the bullet bounce off because of his horcrux protection?

Just what happens?

[Eternal_Freedom]

IIRC, the Horcruxes work to keep your soul in this reality, so if your body is destroyed or you otherwise die your soul doesn't pass over. Kinda like a ghost but with a few more abilities, like possession. You then need a ritual to restore your body.

You don't apparently lose a horcrux after "respawning" as Voldie never made a replacement one.

[Crazedwraith]

We see what happens. He gets ghostified and is in need of dark ritual to get a new body. All Horcruxes are fine unless they specifically are harmed by something especially destructified.

[Solauren]

Actually, IIRC from readings, Voldemort was supposed to be unkillable. He would eventually heal from any injury, as his soul would not pass over and 'die'.

He didn't anticipate there might be a way for his entire body to be destroyed.

Otherwise, he would have had the needed set up for the ritual on stand-by, and had a few trusted lieutenants know about it.

Because he didn't, it took years to recover, when, quite frankly, if he'd been prepared, Wormtail could have went to him after he was initially destroyed, taken what was needed to the graveyard, and kidnapp a random Auror to complete the ritual.