Umbridge’s encounter with the locket that turned out to be one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes was indeed an interesting turn of events. To answer the question of whether Umbridge knew she had a Horcrux, we need to delve into the series of events surrounding the acquisition of the locket and Umbridge’s knowledge of its true nature.
First and foremost, it is important to note that Umbridge received the locket as a bribe from the notorious thief Mundungus Fletcher. Mundungus, known for his shady dealings and involvement in the black market, likely had no idea about the true significance of the locket he was passing off to Umbridge. Therefore, it seems highly unlikely that he would have informed her about its true nature as a Horcrux.
Umbridge, being an ambitious and power-hungry individual, was primarily interested in using the locket to enhance her own status and authority. She saw it as a valuable object, perhaps due to its association with the pure-blood lineage of Salazar Slytherin. It is worth noting that Umbridge had a strong affinity for pure-blood ideology and held deep prejudices against non-magical beings, especially Muggle-borns. Thus, the lure of possessing an artifact linked to one of Hogwarts’ founders likely played a significant role in her eagerness to accept the locket.
However, Umbridge’s lack of knowledge regarding Horcruxes suggests that she was unaware of the true nature of the locket. Throughout the series, only a select few characters, such as Dumbledore and Harry Potter, possessed knowledge about Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Given Umbridge’s limited exposure to such information, it is unlikely that she would have recognized the locket as anything more than a valuable artifact.
Furthermore, Umbridge’s reactions and actions after acquiring the locket support the notion that she did not realize it was a Horcrux. If she had known its true nature, it is highly unlikely that she would have casually worn it as a pendant, unknowingly keeping a piece of Voldemort’s soul close to her at all times. Such an act would have been extremely dangerous and foolish if she had been aware of the potential consequences.
While Umbridge may have seen the locket as a valuable and significant object, there is no evidence to suggest that she knew it was a Horcrux. Mundungus Fletcher, the one who provided the locket to Umbridge, likely had no knowledge of its true significance either. Umbridge’s strong affinity for pure-blood ideology and her desire for power likely blinded her to the true nature of the locket, and she unknowingly became a vessel for a piece of Voldemort’s soul.