Tom Riddle

Tom Marvolo Riddle (beginning of 6th year)

Birth and childhood
Born on December 31, 1926, in the Muggle orphanage "Wool," he was the son of the abandoned witch Merope Gaunt and the Muggle Tom Riddle Sr. Merope died in childbirth, and his father fled before he was born. Tom grew up in the orphanage, knowing neither love nor family. He displayed unusual abilities early on: he could make things move, speak to snakes, and punish those who offended him with his mind. He was withdrawn, cold, and hated the Muggle world for its weakness and cruelty.

In July 1938, Professor Dumbledore came to him at the orphanage, revealing the truth about magic for the first time. Tom eagerly absorbed this new knowledge and, on the train to Hogwarts, proved himself, charming and intimidating his future classmates. The Sorting Hat unhesitatingly placed him in Slytherin—the house once ruled by his ancestor, Salazar Slytherin.

Tom became the ideal student: top grades, impeccable behavior, charm, and intelligence. He quickly gained respect among faculty and students, but secretly studied the Dark Arts, read forbidden books, and inquired about the origins of Slytherin. He discovered he was the founder's heir and obsessively searched for the way to the Chamber of Secrets. Outwardly, he was the pride of the house, a prefect, and a winner of school awards.

In his fifth year, Tom discovered the Chamber of Secrets and controlled a basilisk using Parseltongue. He unleashed the beast on a student, Myrtle Warren, killing her—thus creating his first Horcrux by imbuing a portion of his soul into a diary. He carefully concealed this event, framing Rubeus Hagrid (who had been expelled). He also received a special merit award from Dumbledore, but the headmaster had already begun keeping a close eye on him.

Tom tracked down his Muggle father and parents to the village of Little Hangleton. He killed them all, making their deaths look like accidents, and forever renounced his Muggle name. It was then that he rearranged the letters in his full name—Tom Marvolo Riddle—and became Lord Voldemort, though he continued to go by the name Tom at school.