Lord Voldemort | The Harry Potter Encyclopedia

🐍 Lord Voldemort 🐍

The Dark Lord • Born Tom Marvolo Riddle • He Who Must Not Be Named

"There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it."

Overview

Lord Voldemort, born Tom Marvolo Riddle on December 31, 1926, was the most dangerous and feared dark wizard in history. Obsessed with conquering death and achieving pure-blood supremacy, Voldemort waged two devastating wizarding wars that left countless dead and the magical world fractured. His quest for immortality led him to create multiple Horcruxes, splitting his soul and transforming himself into something barely human.

The name "Voldemort" is an anagram of "Tom Marvolo Riddle" (I AM LORD VOLDEMORT), chosen to distance himself from his "filthy Muggle father" and create an identity that inspired fear. His name became so terrifying that most witches and wizards referred to him only as "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," and during his reign a Taboo curse was placed on his name to track anyone brave enough to speak it.

Voldemort was ultimately defeated twice by Harry Potter—first as an infant in 1981 and finally in 1998 at the Battle of Hogwarts, where his own Killing Curse rebounded and destroyed him forever.

Early Life: Tom Marvolo Riddle

Conception & Birth

Tom Riddle was conceived under a love potion. His mother, Merope Gaunt, was a witch from the ancient pure-blood House of Gaunt, descendants of Salazar Slytherin. She fell in love with the wealthy Muggle Tom Riddle Sr. from the nearby village of Little Hangleton. Too shy and beaten down by her abusive father and brother to approach him naturally, Merope used a love potion to ensnare him.

They married and Merope became pregnant. Believing (or hoping) that Tom Sr. had truly come to love her, Merope stopped giving him the potion. The moment the enchantment wore off, Tom Riddle Sr. abandoned his pregnant wife in disgust and returned to his manor, wanting nothing to do with magic or her ever again.

Heartbroken, destitute, and pregnant, Merope made her way to London. On New Year's Eve 1926, she stumbled into Wool's Orphanage and gave birth to her son. Her final acts were naming him Tom Marvolo Riddle—Tom after his father, Marvolo after her father—and begging the matron to make sure the child was cared for. Then she died, having lost the will to live.

Childhood at Wool's Orphanage

Tom Riddle grew up in the Muggle orphanage in London, unaware of his magical heritage but conscious he was different. From an early age, he exhibited disturbing behaviors:

Discovery of powers: Could make things move without touching them, make animals do his bidding, make bad things happen to people who annoyed him
Cruelty to others: Terrorized other children, hung a boy's rabbit from the rafters, took two children into a cave where something traumatic happened (they were never the same)
Trophy collecting: Stole small objects from his victims to keep as mementos
Isolation: Had no friends and wanted none; preferred power over people to relationships
Pride and superiority: Believed he was special and above others even before knowing about magic
Inability to love: Conceived under love potion, possibly incapable of feeling real love

When matron Mrs. Cole spoke to Dumbledore years later, she described Tom as a "funny boy" who frightened the other children. Even as a child, Tom Riddle showed the traits that would define Lord Voldemort: cruelty, manipulation, love of power, and complete absence of empathy.

Dumbledore's Visit (1938)

On August 1938, shortly before Tom's eleventh birthday, Albus Dumbledore arrived at Wool's Orphanage to inform Tom he was a wizard and invite him to Hogwarts. This meeting was crucial, as Dumbledore immediately recognized dangerous qualities in the boy:

Tom demanded proof that Dumbledore was really a wizard
When Dumbledore set Tom's wardrobe on fire to demonstrate magic, Tom showed no fear—only fascination
Tom revealed he could "make bad things happen to people" who annoyed him
He had a box of stolen treasures hidden in his room
He showed no remorse for hurting others, only concern for avoiding consequences
When Dumbledore mentioned Diagon Alley, Tom immediately asked if he'd need Muggle money—showing he already understood wizarding superiority

Dumbledore left the meeting deeply troubled, recognizing that Tom possessed not just power but also a cruel, manipulative nature that enjoyed dominating others. He asked Tom to call him "Professor" or "sir," not "Dumbledore," establishing from the start that he would not be manipulated like Mrs. Cole had been.

Hogwarts Years (1938-1945)

Sorting & Slytherin House

Tom Riddle was sorted into Slytherin House—unsurprising given his ancestry as a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin. At Hogwarts, Tom presented two faces: the model student that teachers adored, and the dark wizard-in-training hidden underneath.

Public Persona

To the vast majority of the Hogwarts staff and students, Tom Riddle was exemplary:

Academic excellence: Brilliant student who mastered magic with ease
Prefect: Appointed in fifth year
Head Boy: Selected for the prestigious position in seventh year
Charm and charisma: Could be intensely charming when he wanted something
Special Award for Services to the School: Received for "catching" the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets (he himself had done it)
Teacher favorite: Particularly favored by Horace Slughorn, who considered him his most brilliant student

Secret Dark Activities

While maintaining his perfect image, Tom secretly pursued dark magic:

Discovered his ancestry: Learned he was heir of Slytherin through his mother's Gaunt family
Opened the Chamber of Secrets: In his fifth year (1943), unleashed the Basilisk that killed Myrtle Warren (later Moaning Myrtle)
Framed Hagrid: Blamed Rubeus Hagrid and his Acromantula Aragog for the attacks, getting Hagrid expelled
Created first Horcrux: Used Myrtle's murder to split his soul and place the fragment in his diary
Gathered followers: Assembled a group of students who would become the first Death Eaters
Researched Horcruxes: Approached Slughorn about making multiple Horcruxes (six plus his body, seven parts total)
Sought immortality: Obsessed with conquering death from a young age

Visits to Little Hangleton

During his years at Hogwarts, Tom researched his family and discovered the truth:

His father was a Muggle named Tom Riddle Sr.
His mother was Merope Gaunt, a witch
His maternal family, the Gaunts, lived in squalor near Little Hangleton

This discovery filled him with rage and shame. He despised his Muggle father for abandoning his mother and blamed him for her death. He also loathed being named after his father. From this point, Tom Riddle began plotting to erase his "shameful" Muggle heritage and create a new identity.

Post-Hogwarts: The Transformation Begins

Rejection from Hogwarts Staff

After graduating in 1945, Tom asked Professor Dippet (the Headmaster) and later Dumbledore for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position. Both refused—Dippet because Tom was too young, Dumbledore because he didn't trust him. This rejection deeply embittered Tom and became a source of obsession. He would apply for the position twice more, and when continually rejected, cursed the position so no teacher would last more than a year.

Working at Borgin and Burkes

Tom took a job at Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley, dealing in dark magical artifacts. This position served multiple purposes:

Access to dark magical objects and knowledge
Opportunity to manipulate wealthy pure-blood families into selling family heirlooms
Used his charm to convince Hepzibah Smith to show him her treasures: Helga Hufflepuff's Cup and Salazar Slytherin's Locket
Murdered Hepzibah, stole the Cup and Locket, and framed her house-elf Hokey
Disappeared after the murder, leaving Borgin and Burkes forever

The Riddle Murders (1943)

During one of his visits from Hogwarts (or shortly after graduating), Tom Riddle visited the Riddle House in Little Hangleton and murdered his father, paternal grandparents, and possibly his uncle. The Muggle investigation found no cause of death—they simply died, terrified expressions on their faces. Tom used these murders to create more Horcruxes, further fracturing his soul.

Rise of Lord Voldemort

Creating the Persona

After leaving Borgin and Burkes, Tom Riddle vanished and began transforming himself through dark magic:

Name change: "Tom Marvolo Riddle" became "Lord Voldemort" (I AM LORD VOLDEMORT)
Physical transformation: Dark magic twisted his appearance from handsome to monstrous
Soul fragmentation: Created six Horcruxes, splitting his soul into seven pieces
Power gathering: Studied dark magic worldwide, particularly in Albania
Recruiting followers: Gathered his former Hogwarts followers and other dark wizards into the Death Eaters

The Horcruxes

Voldemort's quest for immortality led him to create six Horcruxes, plus his body as the seventh piece:

Tom Riddle's Diary: Created with Myrtle's murder (1943)
Marvolo Gaunt's Ring: Created with Tom Riddle Sr.'s murder (contained Resurrection Stone)
Salazar Slytherin's Locket: Created with a Muggle tramp's murder
Helga Hufflepuff's Cup: Created with Hepzibah Smith's murder
Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem: Created with an Albanian peasant's murder
Nagini: His pet snake, only living Horcrux
Harry Potter: Accidental Horcrux created when curse rebounded in 1981

First Wizarding War (1970-1981)

Terror & Tactics

Voldemort and his Death Eaters waged a campaign of terror against the wizarding world:

Targeting Muggles and Muggle-borns: Believed in pure-blood supremacy
Torture and murder: Used Unforgivable Curses freely
Imperius Curse: Placed Ministry officials under control
Dark Mark: Left his symbol (skull and snake) at murder scenes
Infiltration: Death Eaters embedded throughout society
Climate of fear: People afraid to speak his name

Opposition

The Order of the Phoenix, led by Dumbledore, fought against Voldemort's forces. Notable losses included:

Fabian and Gideon Prewett (Molly Weasley's brothers)
The original McKinnons (entire family)
The Bones family
The Longbottoms (tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange)
James and Lily Potter

The Prophecy

Sybill Trelawney made a prophecy to Dumbledore about a child born at the end of July who would have the power to defeat the Dark Lord. Severus Snape, then still a Death Eater, overheard part of the prophecy and reported it to Voldemort. The prophecy could have applied to either Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom, but Voldemort chose to target Harry—a half-blood like himself.

The Attack on the Potters

After learning the Potters were in hiding at Godric's Hollow under the Fidelius Charm, Voldemort discovered that Peter Pettigrew (their Secret-Keeper) had betrayed them. On October 31, 1981, Voldemort attacked:

Murdered James Potter first (who tried to hold him off wandlessly)
Killed Lily Potter when she refused to stand aside (Snape had begged Voldemort to spare her)
Cast the Killing Curse at baby Harry
The curse rebounded due to Lily's sacrificial protection
Voldemort's body was destroyed, reduced to less than spirit
A fragment of his soul latched onto Harry, accidentally making him a Horcrux

Years as a Spirit (1981-1994)

Survival Without Body

Voldemort's Horcruxes kept him tethered to life even after his body was destroyed. He existed as a weak, barely alive spirit:

Unable to take physical form
Required possession of other creatures to survive
Fled to Albania where he hid in the forests
Too weak to seek help from remaining Death Eaters
Possessed snakes and other animals
Waited for an opportunity to return

Quirrell & The Philosopher's Stone (1991-1992)

Professor Quirinus Quirrell encountered Voldemort in Albania and became possessed. Voldemort used Quirrell to attempt stealing the Philosopher's Stone from Hogwarts, which could create the Elixir of Life and restore him to a body. Harry Potter thwarted this plan, and Quirrell died when Harry's touch (protected by Lily's sacrifice) burned him.

The Diary and Chamber of Secrets (1992-1993)

Lucius Malfoy planted Tom Riddle's diary (a Horcrux containing a memory of sixteen-year-old Tom) on Ginny Weasley. The diary possessed Ginny, forcing her to open the Chamber of Secrets and release the Basilisk. Harry destroyed the diary with a Basilisk fang, unknowingly destroying his first Horcrux and saving Ginny.

Restoration to Power (1994-1995)

Servant's Return

Peter Pettigrew, in hiding as a rat for twelve years, heard that Voldemort was in Albania and sought him out. Pettigrew helped Voldemort create a rudimentary body—a weak, infant-like form that required Nagini's venom milk for sustenance.

The Triwizard Plan

Voldemort engineered an elaborate plot centered on the Triwizard Tournament:

Barty Crouch Jr., a loyal Death Eater, impersonated Mad-Eye Moody for an entire year
Crouch ensured Harry's name entered the Goblet of Fire
Helped Harry through the tournament tasks to ensure he reached the Triwizard Cup
Turned the Cup into a Portkey leading to the graveyard in Little Hangleton

The Graveyard Resurrection

On June 24, 1995, in the graveyard of Little Hangleton, Voldemort was restored to full power through a dark ritual requiring:

"Bone of the father, unknowingly given": Pettigrew took a bone from Tom Riddle Sr.'s grave
"Flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed": Pettigrew cut off his own hand
"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken": Harry's blood, taken by force

The ritual succeeded, giving Voldemort a new body. Crucially, by using Harry's blood (which contained Lily's protection), Voldemort inadvertently tethered Harry to life—as long as Voldemort lived, so would Harry.

Priori Incantatem

Voldemort immediately challenged Harry to a duel. When their brother wands (both containing Fawkes's feathers) connected, they produced Priori Incantatem—a reverse spell effect that forced Voldemort's wand to regurgitate echoes of recent victims, including James and Lily Potter and Cedric Diggory. These echoes gave Harry the distraction needed to escape with Cedric's body.

Second Wizarding War (1995-1998)

Secret Return

The Ministry of Magic, led by Cornelius Fudge, refused to believe Voldemort had returned. This allowed Voldemort a full year to operate in secret:

Gathered Death Eaters and rebuilt his forces
Recruited giants, Dementors, and other dark creatures
Operated from Malfoy Manor
Created a mental connection with Harry due to the Horcrux
Sought the prophecy in the Department of Mysteries

Battle of the Department of Mysteries (1996)

Voldemort planted false visions in Harry's mind of Sirius Black being tortured at the Ministry. When Harry and friends arrived, Death Eaters ambushed them, seeking to retrieve the prophecy. The prophecy was destroyed in the battle, but Voldemort briefly possessed Harry before Dumbledore arrived. The duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort showcased their immense power, but Voldemort fled when Ministry officials arrived, finally confirming his return to Fudge and the world.

Ministry Falls (1997)

After murdering Minister Rufus Scrimgeour, Voldemort took control of the Ministry through Pius Thicknesse (under Imperius). He established:

Muggle-Born Registration Commission: Persecuted Muggle-borns
Snatchers: Bounty hunters searching for "undesirables"
Control of education: Placed the Carrows at Hogwarts to torture students
Propaganda: Rewrote history to promote pure-blood supremacy
Taboo on his name: Speaking "Voldemort" aloud triggered tracking

Quest for the Elder Wand

Voldemort learned of the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in existence. He believed that only the Elder Wand could overcome the connection between his wand and Harry's. Voldemort's pursuit:

Stole the wand from Dumbledore's tomb
Believed he became its master by killing Snape (who had killed Dumbledore)
Did not realize Draco Malfoy was the true master (having disarmed Dumbledore)
Never knew Harry disarmed Draco, making Harry the wand's true master

Battle of Hogwarts & Final Death (May 2, 1998)

Assault on Hogwarts

Learning the final Horcrux was at Hogwarts, Voldemort laid siege to the school with his entire army—Death Eaters, giants, Acromantulas, and Dementors. The defenders included students, teachers, and members of the Order of the Phoenix.

Murder of Severus Snape

Believing Snape was the Elder Wand's master, Voldemort had Nagini kill him in the Shrieking Shack. This was both cold and pointless—Voldemort killed one of his most valuable servants based on faulty logic. Snape's death allowed Harry to collect his memories and learn the truth about Dumbledore's plan.

Harry's "Death"

Harry walked into the Forbidden Forest and allowed Voldemort to cast the Killing Curse at him. The curse destroyed the Horcrux inside Harry but didn't kill him—because Voldemort had used Harry's blood to restore himself, Harry was protected. Harry pretended to be dead, and Voldemort ordered Hagrid to carry his "corpse" back to Hogwarts to break the defenders' spirit.

Final Duel

When Harry revealed he was alive, the battle resumed. In the Great Hall, Harry confronted Voldemort one last time:

Harry explained that Snape was never the Elder Wand's master
Draco had disarmed Dumbledore, becoming the wand's true master
Harry had disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor, making Harry the wand's master
Harry offered Voldemort one last chance at remorse (which could have healed his soul)
Voldemort refused and cast Avada Kedavra
Harry cast Expelliarmus
The Elder Wand refused to kill its true master and rebounded the curse
Voldemort's own Killing Curse struck him, killing him instantly
Tom Riddle died as he had feared most—as a mortal, with his soul too damaged to move on

Physical Appearance

As Tom Riddle (Pre-Transformation)

Face: Strikingly handsome, pale
Hair: Dark, well-groomed
Eyes: Dark, intense
Build: Tall, slender
Demeanor: Charming, charismatic when he wanted to be

As Lord Voldemort (Post-Transformation)

Face: Flat, snake-like, skull-like
Nose: Gone, replaced by slit nostrils like a serpent
Eyes: Scarlet red with vertical slit pupils
Skin: Chalk white, almost translucent
Hands: Long, pale fingers with long nails
Voice: High, cold, terrifying
Overall: More serpent than human, horrifying to behold

The transformation from handsome Tom Riddle to monstrous Voldemort reflected the corruption of his soul. Each Horcrux made him less human, until he barely resembled a man at all.

Magical Abilities & Powers

Magical Profile

Wand: Yew wood, phoenix feather core, 13½ inches (brother to Harry's wand)
Later wand: Elder Wand (stolen from Dumbledore's tomb)
Special ability: Parseltongue (inherited from Slytherin)
Patronus: None (incapable of producing one—requires positive emotion)
Skills: Legilimency, Occlumency, flight without aid, Horcrux creation

Extraordinary Talents

Prodigious magical power: One of the most powerful wizards ever
Dark Arts mastery: Unparalleled knowledge of dark magic
Legilimency: Could penetrate minds with ease
Occlumency: Nearly impenetrable mental shields
Unforgivable Curses: Cast with ease and power
Wandless magic: Capable of complex spells without a wand
Flight: Could fly without a broom (very rare ability)
Horcrux creation: Successfully split his soul six times
Manipulation: Extraordinarily skilled at getting others to do his bidding

Personality & Psychology

Core Traits

Incapable of love: Conceived under love potion; may have been born unable to love
Fear of death: His greatest weakness and driving motivation
Desire for power: Wanted to be the most powerful wizard ever
Grandiosity: Saw himself as superior to all others
Cruelty: Enjoyed inflicting pain and suffering
Paranoia: Trusted no one completely, not even his most loyal followers
Pride: Arrogance led to critical mistakes
Lack of empathy: Completely unable to understand human emotion

The Name Taboo

Voldemort's name became so feared that most dared not speak it. This served Voldemort in multiple ways:

Increased his mystique and terror
Made it easier to identify brave opponents (who said his name)
During his reign, he placed a Taboo curse on his name to track speakers
The fear of his name demonstrated his power over the populace

Dumbledore, Harry, and a few others made a point of using his name, refusing to let fear control them.

Relationships

Death Eaters

Voldemort inspired fanatical loyalty in his followers but felt no loyalty in return. Notable Death Eaters included:

Bellatrix Lestrange: Most loyal, possibly in love with him
Severus Snape: Believed to be loyal, actually a double agent
Lucius Malfoy: Wealthy supporter who fell from favor
Peter Pettigrew: Cowardly servant who restored him
Barty Crouch Jr.: Fanatically loyal, brilliant strategist

Nagini

Voldemort's pet snake was his closest companion—perhaps the only being he felt any attachment to. He made Nagini a Horcrux, linking them even more closely. She acted as his eyes and ears and killed on his command.

Harry Potter

Voldemort's connection to Harry was his greatest vulnerability. The prophecy bound them together, the shared wand cores linked them, the Horcrux inside Harry created a mental connection, and Voldemort's use of Harry's blood tied their lives together. Harry became his obsession—the one person who had defeated him, the symbol of his failure.

Fatal Flaws

What Led to His Defeat

Fear of death: His obsession with immortality led to creating Horcruxes, which ultimately weakened him
Inability to understand love: Never grasped that Lily's sacrifice protected Harry
Arrogance: Underestimated opponents, particularly Harry
Chosen prophecy: By targeting Harry based on prophecy, he created his own nemesis
Poor understanding of wand lore: Didn't realize the Elder Wand wouldn't serve him
Trust issues: Killed Snape needlessly; never shared plans fully
Viewing others as tools: Disposable servants meant no one was truly loyal

Legacy

Lord Voldemort remains the most infamous dark wizard in history, his name a byword for evil. His two reigns of terror shaped the wizarding world:

Exposed weaknesses in magical society (prejudice, corruption)
Inspired resistance movements (Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Army)
Demonstrated the power of love over fear
Proved that immortality through dark magic corrupts absolutely
Showed that choices matter more than abilities or prophecies

His defeat marked the end of an era and the beginning of healing for the wizarding world.

Quotes

"There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it." — Voldemort/Quirrell

"I, who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality." — Tom Riddle's diary

"Harry Potter, the boy who lived... come to die." — Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest

Trivia

His name is an anagram: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE → I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
He shares Harry's birthday month (December 31 vs July 31)
He was the last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin
The only spell he never mastered was the Patronus (requires happiness)
His mother died naming him after his father and grandfather—two men he would grow to hate
He never learned about his mother's love for his father
He couldn't see Thestrals despite causing many deaths (never processed death properly)
His greatest fear was his own corpse—he feared death above all
He never attended his own resurrection ritual fully; appeared from the cauldron