🐍 Voldemort's Timeline 🐍
The rise and fall of the Dark Lord
Birth & Early Life (1926-1938)
Tom Marvolo Riddle Born
Born in Muggle orphanage in London. Mother: Merope Gaunt (witch, descended from Salazar Slytherin). Father: Tom Riddle Sr. (Muggle). Merope used love potion on Tom Sr. When she stopped giving it (hoping he'd really love her), he abandoned her. She died giving birth. Named son after father and grandfather (Marvolo Gaunt).
Orphanage Years
Grew up at Wool's Orphanage. Already showing signs of cruelty and power. Could talk to snakes (Parseltongue). Stole from other children. Terrorized them. Hung Billy Stubbs's rabbit from rafters. Took two children into cave and did something terrible to them (they were never the same). Mrs. Cole (matron) feared him.
Dumbledore Visits
Age 11. Dumbledore came to tell him about Hogwarts. Tom already knew he was special, called himself "different." Dumbledore immediately distrusted him but gave him chance. Tom demanded proof of magic. Dumbledore set his wardrobe on fire. Tom went to Hogwarts with suspicion and arrogance.
Hogwarts Years (1938-1945)
Sorted into Slytherin
Sorting Hat barely touched his head before shouting "SLYTHERIN!" Felt at home immediately. Began researching his heritage. Discovered he was Heir of Slytherin.
Model Student, Secret Monster
Handsome, charming, brilliant student. Teachers loved him. Prefect. Won Special Award for Services to School. Perfect grades. Horace Slughorn's favorite. Secretly researching Dark Arts, Horcruxes, his ancestry. Gathered followers who became first Death Eaters.
Murders Riddle Family
Age 16. Visited Little Hangleton. Found Gaunt shack. Uncle Morfin attacked him. Tom stunned him, stole his wand. Went to Riddle House, murdered Tom Riddle Sr. (father), Thomas Riddle (grandfather), Mary Riddle (grandmother). Framed Morfin with false memory. Morfin died in Azkaban still believing he'd done it. Tom created his first Horcrux from these murders: the diary.
Opens Chamber of Secrets
Discovered how to open Chamber of Secrets (Slytherin's chamber). Released the Basilisk. Attacks on Muggle-borns. Moaning Myrtle killed. Dumbledore got suspicious. Tom framed Hagrid and his Acromantula. Hagrid expelled but allowed to stay as gamekeeper. Tom got Special Award. Chamber closed.
Final School Years
Made more Horcruxes (ring with Resurrection Stone, possibly others). Head Boy. Continued charming teachers. Slughorn told him about Horcruxes (forever regretted it). Graduated with top marks.
Between School & Rise to Power (1945-1970)
Working at Borgin and Burkes
Applied to be Defense Against Dark Arts teacher - Dumbledore refused. Took job at Borgin and Burkes (Dark Arts shop). Used position to find valuable Dark objects. Charmed Hepzibah Smith, murdered her, stole Slytherin's locket and Hufflepuff's cup. Made them into Horcruxes. Disappeared.
The Lost Years
Traveled world learning Dark Arts. Became unrecognizable - no longer handsome. Features became snake-like from creating Horcruxes and Dark magic. Red eyes with slits. Chalk-white skin. Adopted name "Lord Voldemort" (anagram of Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort). Built army of followers. Experimented with darkest magic.
Applies for DADA Position Again
Returned to Hogwarts to ask Dumbledore for teaching job again. Now looked monstrous. Dumbledore refused. Voldemort cursed the position - no DADA teacher lasted more than a year afterwards. Hid Ravenclaw's diadem in Room of Requirement during this visit.
First Wizarding War (1970-1981)
War Begins
Open warfare against Muggles and Muggle-borns. Death Eaters terrorized Britain. Dark Mark appeared over murders. Ministry in chaos. Dumbledore formed Order of the Phoenix to fight him.
The Prophecy
Sybill Trelawney made prophecy to Dumbledore: Child born end of July to parents who'd thrice defied Voldemort would have power to vanquish Dark Lord. Severus Snape overheard first part, reported to Voldemort. Prophecy could mean Neville Longbottom or Harry Potter. Voldemort chose Harry (half-blood like himself).
Snape's Defection
When Snape realized Voldemort interpreted prophecy to mean Lily Potter's son, he begged Voldemort to spare her. Then went to Dumbledore, begging him to hide the Potters. Snape agreed to spy for Dumbledore in exchange.
Peter Pettigrew's Betrayal
James and Lily Potter in hiding under Fidelius Charm. Secret Keeper: Peter Pettigrew (Sirius Black suggested it as he'd be obvious target). Peter betrayed them immediately, told Voldemort their location at Godric's Hollow.
Downfall at Godric's Hollow
Voldemort attacked Potters. Killed James. Killed Lily (she died protecting Harry). Tried to kill Harry. Curse rebounded due to Lily's love sacrifice. Voldemort's body destroyed. Soul remained (protected by Horcruxes). Accidentally made Harry into Horcrux. Wizarding world celebrated. Everyone thought he was dead.
Spirit Years (1981-1994)
Ghostly Existence
Barely alive. Weaker than weakest ghost. Fled to Albanian forests. Possessed snakes and small animals to stay alive. Death Eaters either imprisoned (Bellatrix, Barty Crouch Jr.) or claimed Imperius Curse (Lucius Malfoy).
Possessed Quirrell
Possessed Professor Quirrell. Tried to steal Philosopher's Stone from Hogwarts to restore body. Harry Potter stopped him. Quirrell died.
Diary Opens Chamber
His diary Horcrux (given to Lucius Malfoy for safekeeping) planted on Ginny Weasley. Possessed her. Used her to open Chamber of Secrets again. Memory of 16-year-old Tom Riddle nearly became solid again. Harry destroyed diary with Basilisk fang, saving Ginny.
Peter Pettigrew Returns
Peter found Voldemort in Albania. Brought him back to Britain. Helped him create rudimentary body using Dark magic and Nagini's venom. Voldemort a grotesque baby-like creature, weak but no longer helpless spirit.
Return to Power (1994-1995)
The Resurrection
Barty Crouch Jr. (disguised as Mad-Eye Moody) ensured Harry got to Triwizard Cup portkey. Transported to graveyard. Peter killed Cedric Diggory. Used Harry's blood, his father's bone, and his own hand in potion. Voldemort reborn in full body. Summoned Death Eaters. Dueled Harry. Harry escaped with Cedric's body.
Ministry Denial
Minister Fudge refused to believe Voldemort returned. Smear campaign against Harry and Dumbledore. Voldemort operated in secret, rebuilding forces.
Second Wizarding War (1995-1998)
Building Power
Recruited Death Eaters. Tortured and killed enemies. Made Nagini final Horcrux. Sought prophecy from Department of Mysteries. Battle there exposed his return - Ministry finally believed.
Open War
Attacks on Muggles and wizards. Placed Severus Snape as Headmaster of Hogwarts. Took over Ministry. Terror campaign. Muggle-born Registration Commission. Hunted Harry Potter.
Hunt for Elder Wand
Learned about Deathly Hallows. Sought Elder Wand to defeat Harry. Stole it from Dumbledore's tomb. Didn't know wand's allegiance had passed to Draco, then Harry.
Final Death
Battle of Hogwarts. Harry revealed himself alive. Voldemort cast Killing Curse at Harry, who cast Expelliarmus. Elder Wand refused to kill its true master (Harry). Curse rebounded. Tom Riddle fell dead. Soul too damaged to return. Harry Potter had fulfilled prophecy. War ended.
The Dark Lord's Legacy
Voldemort's quest for immortality destroyed his humanity. His fear of death led him to split his soul seven times, creating Horcruxes. But this made him less than human - incapable of love, remorse, or compassion.
His obsession with pure-blood supremacy was ironic - he himself was half-blood. He chose Harry (also half-blood) over Neville (pure-blood) as his enemy. His inability to understand love was his greatest weakness. Lily's love protected Harry. Harry's willingness to die for others gave him power Voldemort could never have.
"There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!"
"You are quite wrong. Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness."
— Voldemort and Dumbledore