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{{Quote|Voldemort Stupefied his uncle, took his wand, and proceeded across the valley to 'the big house over the way.' There he murdered the Muggle man who had abandoned his witch mother, and, for good measure, his Muggle grandparents, thus obliterating the last of the unworthy Riddle line and revenging himself upon the father who never wanted him.|Description of the Riddle murders|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
{{Quote|Voldemort Stupefied his uncle, took his wand, and proceeded across the valley to 'the big house over the way.' There he murdered the Muggle man who had abandoned his witch mother, and, for good measure, his Muggle grandparents, thus obliterating the last of the unworthy Riddle line and revenging himself upon the father who never wanted him.|Description of the Riddle murders|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
−
The '''Murder of the [[Riddle family]]''' was committed by the future [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in [[1943]], when Riddle ventured to his parents' hometown of [[Little Hangleton]] in order to learn more about his heritage. When Riddle learned from his [[Gaunt family|maternal]] uncle [[Morfin Gaunt]] that the former's [[Tom Riddle Snr|father]] was a Muggle, the younger Riddle proceeded to the [[Riddle House]] and murdered his [[Tom Riddle
,
Snr
|father]], [[Thomas Riddle|paternal grandfather]], and [[Mary Riddle|grandmother]] with the [[Killing Curse]]. The next morning, the rest of the villagers were genuinely stunned by the murders, despite their general disgust with the Riddle family. The local [[police]] were baffled by the murders, though [[Frank Bryce]] was initially blamed. The [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], however, immediately recognised that the crime had been committed by a [[Wizardkind|wizard]], but arrested [[Morfin Gaunt]], who had a history of abusing [[magic]] to torment [[Muggles]] for his own amusement, for the crimes.
+
The '''Murder of the [[Riddle family]]''' was committed by the future [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in [[1943]], when Riddle ventured to his parents' hometown of [[Little Hangleton]] in order to learn more about his heritage. When Riddle learned from his [[Gaunt family|maternal]] uncle [[Morfin Gaunt]] that the former's [[Tom Riddle Snr|father]] was a Muggle, the younger Riddle proceeded to the [[Riddle House]] and murdered his [[Tom Riddle
Senior
|father]], [[Thomas Riddle|paternal grandfather]], and [[Mary Riddle|grandmother]] with the [[Killing Curse]]. The next morning, the rest of the villagers were genuinely stunned by the murders, despite their general disgust with the Riddle family. The local [[police]] were baffled by the murders, though [[Frank Bryce]] was initially blamed. The [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], however, immediately recognised that the crime had been committed by a [[Wizardkind|wizard]], but arrested [[Morfin Gaunt]], who had a history of abusing [[magic]] to torment [[Muggles]] for his own amusement, for the crimes.
This massacre turned out to be a pivotal event in [[Wizarding world|Wizarding]] history, as this was the first known murder that Riddle had committed. In addition, the deaths of the elder generations of the [[Riddle family]] would become the prelude of the [[pure-blood supremacy|anti-Muggle]] [[First Wizarding War|campaign]] that the youngest Riddle would lead as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]. Finally, this would lead to the creation of [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|his second]] [[Horcrux]].
This massacre turned out to be a pivotal event in [[Wizarding world|Wizarding]] history, as this was the first known murder that Riddle had committed. In addition, the deaths of the elder generations of the [[Riddle family]] would become the prelude of the [[pure-blood supremacy|anti-Muggle]] [[First Wizarding War|campaign]] that the youngest Riddle would lead as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]. Finally, this would lead to the creation of [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|his second]] [[Horcrux]].
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Around [[1925]], [[Merope Gaunt]], the mother of the [[Tom Riddle|younger Tom Riddle]] began to have [[love|romantic feelings]] for a man named [[Tom Riddle Snr|Thomas Riddle]], a Muggle who lived across town in the [[Riddle House]]. When Merope's [[Marvolo Gaunt|father]] and [[Morfin Gaunt|brother]] discovered this, Morfin [[Morfin Gaunt's curse|cursed]] Riddle with hives to make him less appealing to his (Morfin's) sister. Marvolo reacted by proceeding to choke his daughter for her lack of allegiance to the Gaunt family [[pure-blood supremacy|beliefs about Muggles]].
Around [[1925]], [[Merope Gaunt]], the mother of the [[Tom Riddle|younger Tom Riddle]] began to have [[love|romantic feelings]] for a man named [[Tom Riddle Snr|Thomas Riddle]], a Muggle who lived across town in the [[Riddle House]]. When Merope's [[Marvolo Gaunt|father]] and [[Morfin Gaunt|brother]] discovered this, Morfin [[Morfin Gaunt's curse|cursed]] Riddle with hives to make him less appealing to his (Morfin's) sister. Marvolo reacted by proceeding to choke his daughter for her lack of allegiance to the Gaunt family [[pure-blood supremacy|beliefs about Muggles]].
−
For these and other crimes, the Gaunt men were arrested by the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] and were sentenced to Azkaban. Afterwards, Merope [[Love Potion|seduced]] Riddle with [[Love Potion]] and [[Wedding of Tom Riddle Snr and Merope Gaunt|married]] him. When Merope became pregnant with their [[Tom Riddle|son]], she ceased giving the elder Riddle the [[Love Potions]] out of a vain belief that Tom would genuinely love her. Upon regaining his free will, the elder Riddle abandoned his pregnant wife and returned to his [[Riddle House|family home]]. Merope, however, managed to find an [[orphanage|Wool's Orphanage]], where she gave birth to [[Tom Riddle|their son]]. Shortly thereafter, Merope died, due to the heartbreak of her husband's abandonment.
+
For these and other crimes, the Gaunt men were arrested by the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] and were sentenced to Azkaban. Afterwards, Merope [[Love Potion|seduced]] Riddle with
a
[[Love Potion]] and [[Wedding of Tom Riddle Snr and Merope Gaunt|married]] him. When Merope became pregnant with their [[Tom Riddle|son]], she ceased giving the elder Riddle the [[Love Potions]] out of a vain belief that Tom would genuinely love her. Upon regaining his free will, the elder Riddle abandoned his pregnant wife and returned to his [[Riddle House|family home]]. Merope, however, managed to find an [[orphanage|Wool's Orphanage]], where she gave birth to [[Tom Riddle|their son]]. Shortly thereafter, Merope died, due to the heartbreak of her husband's abandonment.
−
The younger Riddle then spent the first eleven years of his life in the orphanage, completely unaware of the existence of the [[Wizarding world]]. In [[1938]], Riddle's future enemy [[Albus Dumbledore]] visited the orphanage to inform Riddle of the latter's acceptance into [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]. Immediately after this, Riddle became convinced that his [[Tom Riddle
,
Snr
|father]] was a [[Wizard]] and that his mother was a [[Muggle]] out of the belief that the latter could not have died if she was a witch. Upon entering the school, Riddle became concerned about learning about his heritage. After learning of his descent from Hogwarts co-founder [[Salazar Slytherin]], Riddle became interested in [[pure-blood supremacy]] and the [[Dark Arts]]. In particular, Riddle became obsessed with the creation of [[Horcrux]]es. In addition, Riddle began painstaking research on his father's name before eventually accepting that he had never set foot in Hogwarts. With only his middle name, "Marvolo", to go on, which he knew from the orphanage was his maternal grandfather's name. After researching through old book of wizarding families, Riddle learned of the surviving Gaunt line and in the summer of his sixteenth year, set out for Little Hangleton to find his relatives. This would provide an unstable mixture for Riddle's adult personality and led to terrible events.
+
The younger Riddle then spent the first eleven years of his life in the orphanage, completely unaware of the existence of the [[Wizarding world]]. In [[1938]], Riddle's future enemy [[Albus Dumbledore]] visited the orphanage to inform Riddle of the latter's acceptance into [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]. Immediately after this, Riddle became convinced that his [[Tom Riddle
Senior
|father]] was a [[Wizard]] and that his mother was a [[Muggle]] out of the belief that the latter could not have died if she was a witch. Upon entering the school, Riddle became concerned about learning about his heritage. After learning of his descent from Hogwarts co-founder [[Salazar Slytherin]], Riddle became interested in [[pure-blood supremacy]] and the [[Dark Arts]]. In particular, Riddle became obsessed with the creation of [[Horcrux]]es. In addition, Riddle began painstaking research on his father's name before eventually accepting that he had never set foot in Hogwarts. With only his middle name, "Marvolo", to go on, which he knew from the orphanage was his maternal grandfather's name. After researching through old book of wizarding families, Riddle learned of the surviving Gaunt line and in the summer of his sixteenth year, set out for Little Hangleton to find his relatives. This would provide an unstable mixture for Riddle's adult personality and led to terrible events.
===Murder===
===Murder===
{{Quote|Meanwhile, in the village of Little Hangleton, a maid was running along the High Street, screaming that there were three bodies lying in the drawing room of the big house: Tom Riddle Senior and his mother and father.|After a mid finds the bodies of the Riddle family|Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince}}[[File:Morfin.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Morfin Gaunt]] telling his [[Tom Riddle|nephew]] the truth about the former's heritage.|left]]
{{Quote|Meanwhile, in the village of Little Hangleton, a maid was running along the High Street, screaming that there were three bodies lying in the drawing room of the big house: Tom Riddle Senior and his mother and father.|After a mid finds the bodies of the Riddle family|Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince}}[[File:Morfin.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Morfin Gaunt]] telling his [[Tom Riddle|nephew]] the truth about the former's heritage.|left]]
−
In the summer of [[1943]], [[Tom Riddle]] visited the village of [[Little Hangleton]] after tracing the source of his [[Marvolo Gaunt|middle name]]. He first stopped at the [[Gaunt shack]], only to find his maternal uncle [[Morfin Gaunt]], who had long been released from [[Azkaban]]. Morfin, upon seeing his nephew, threatened him with a knife and wand, believing the boy to be his [[Tom Riddle
,
Snr
|father]]. Even though Riddle did not disclose his identity during this meeting, Riddle spoke [[Parseltongue]] to calm Morfin down. The two then discussed the whereabouts of [[Marvolo Gaunt]] (who had died years before), the [[Tom Riddle Snr|elder Riddle]], and [[Merope Gaunt]]. When Morfin revealed to Riddle that his (Riddle's) father was a Muggle, Riddle [[Stupefy|Stupefied]] his uncle and stole [[Morfin Gaunt's wand|his wand]] and the [[Gaunt ring]].
+
In the summer of [[1943]], [[Tom Riddle]] visited the village of [[Little Hangleton]] after tracing the source of his [[Marvolo Gaunt|middle name]]. He first stopped at the [[Gaunt shack]], only to find his maternal uncle [[Morfin Gaunt]], who had long been released from [[Azkaban]]. Morfin, upon seeing his nephew, threatened him with a knife and wand, believing the boy to be his [[Tom Riddle
Senior
|father]]. Even though Riddle did not disclose his identity during this meeting, Riddle spoke [[Parseltongue]] to calm Morfin down. The two then discussed the whereabouts of [[Marvolo Gaunt]] (who had died years before), the [[Tom Riddle Snr|elder Riddle]], and [[Merope Gaunt]]. When Morfin revealed to Riddle that his (Riddle's) father was a Muggle, Riddle [[Stupefy|Stupefied]] his uncle and stole [[Morfin Gaunt's wand|his wand]] and the [[Gaunt ring]].
−
Riddle then proceeded to the [[Riddle House]] and found his [[Tom Riddle
,
Snr
|father]], [[Thomas Riddle|grandfather]], and [[Mary Riddle|grandmother]] in the drawing room. It is unknown if there were any words exchanged with the Riddles, but the youngest Riddle used his [[Morfin Gaunt's wand|uncle's wand]] to cast the [[Killing Curse]] on his father and grandparents. Riddle then returned to the [[Gaunt shack]] and [[False memory charm|altered]] Morfin's memory, causing Gaunt to believe ''himself'' to be the murderer.
+
Riddle then proceeded to the [[Riddle House]] and found his [[Tom Riddle
Senior
|father]], [[Thomas Riddle|grandfather]], and [[Mary Riddle|grandmother]] in the drawing room. It is unknown if there were any words exchanged with the Riddles, but the youngest Riddle used his [[Morfin Gaunt's wand|uncle's wand]] to cast the [[Killing Curse]] on his father and grandparents. Riddle then returned to the [[Gaunt shack]] and [[False memory charm|altered]] Morfin's memory, causing Gaunt to believe ''himself'' to be the murderer.
===Aftermath===
===Aftermath===
−
{{Quote|You stand, Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father. A Muggle and a fool... very like your dear mother. But they both had their uses, did they not? Your mother died to defend you as a child... and I killed my father, and see how useful he has proved himself in death ''[...]'' |Lord Voldemort on the murder of his father|Harry Potter and the goblet of Fire}}After the attack, the [[Riddles' maid]] ran across the town, screaming about the corpses of the [[Riddle family]]. The Muggle [[police]] were confused about the deaths of the Riddles, since there were no [[Killing Curse|visible signs of damage]] on any of the bodies. The deaths of the Riddle family greatly shocked the other denizens of [[Little Hangleton]], despite the fact that most of the villagers resented the Riddles for their arrogance and wealth. The Riddles were later interned in the [[Little Hangleton graveyard|town cemetery]]. Since it was unknown that [[Tom Riddle, Snr]] had sired a [[Tom Riddle|son]], the Riddle House was purchased by a succession of owners, none of whom ever physically occupied the House. In addition, the police at [[Great Hangleton|the nearby town]] suspected [[Frank Bryce]], the Riddle family's gardener, of being the murderer. Bryce remembered seeing "[[Tom Riddle|a dark-haired and pale" teenage boy]] climbing the hill on the night of the murders, which the police did not believe at first. Even though the police dropped the charges due to lack of evidence, the cloud of suspicion hovered about Bryce for the rest of the life until he himself was murdered by the same teenage boy (by then known as [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]), decades later.
+
{{Quote|You stand, Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father. A Muggle and a fool... very like your dear mother. But they both had their uses, did they not? Your mother died to defend you as a child... and I killed my father, and see how useful he has proved himself in death ''[...]'' |Lord Voldemort on the murder of his father|Harry Potter and the goblet of Fire}}After the attack, the [[Riddles' maid]] ran across the town, screaming about the corpses of the [[Riddle family]]. The Muggle [[police]] were confused about the deaths of the Riddles, since there were no [[Killing Curse|visible signs of damage]] on any of the bodies. The deaths of the Riddle family greatly shocked the other denizens of [[Little Hangleton]], despite the fact that most of the villagers resented the Riddles for their arrogance and wealth. The Riddles were later interned in the [[Little Hangleton graveyard|town cemetery]]. Since it was unknown that [[
Tom Riddle Senior|
Tom Riddle, Snr]] had sired a [[Tom Riddle|son]], the Riddle House was purchased by a succession of owners, none of whom ever physically occupied the House. In addition, the police at [[Great Hangleton|the nearby town]] suspected [[Frank Bryce]], the Riddle family's gardener, of being the murderer. Bryce remembered seeing "[[Tom Riddle|a dark-haired and pale" teenage boy]] climbing the hill on the night of the murders, which the police did not believe at first. Even though the police dropped the charges due to lack of evidence, the cloud of suspicion hovered about Bryce for the rest of the life until he himself was murdered by the same teenage boy (by then known as [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]), decades later.
However, the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] instantly deduced that a [[Wizardkind|wizard]] must have murdered the Riddles. The Ministry's first suspect was [[Morfin Gaunt]], who had cursed the younger Riddle nearly eighteen years before. Upon being interrogated, the Ministry did not bother to use [[Legilimency]] or [[Veritaserum]]. Morfin, still under the effects of the [[False memory charm]], confessed himself to be the murderer and willingly allowed himself to be arrested. All that had bothered him was the fact that he lost his [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|father's ring]], which were said to be his last words. Morfin then spent the rest of his life locked up in Azkaban. Meanwhile, Tom Riddle began to wear the [[Gaunt ring]] as a trophy around Hogwarts. He would later use the ring as one of his [[Horcruxes]], and hid it away in the [[Gaunt shack]].
However, the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] instantly deduced that a [[Wizardkind|wizard]] must have murdered the Riddles. The Ministry's first suspect was [[Morfin Gaunt]], who had cursed the younger Riddle nearly eighteen years before. Upon being interrogated, the Ministry did not bother to use [[Legilimency]] or [[Veritaserum]]. Morfin, still under the effects of the [[False memory charm]], confessed himself to be the murderer and willingly allowed himself to be arrested. All that had bothered him was the fact that he lost his [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|father's ring]], which were said to be his last words. Morfin then spent the rest of his life locked up in Azkaban. Meanwhile, Tom Riddle began to wear the [[Gaunt ring]] as a trophy around Hogwarts. He would later use the ring as one of his [[Horcruxes]], and hid it away in the [[Gaunt shack]].
[[File:Little Hangleton graveyard Pottermore.png|thumb|249x249px|Little Hangleton graveyard]]
[[File:Little Hangleton graveyard Pottermore.png|thumb|249x249px|Little Hangleton graveyard]]
−
[[1994|Over half a century later]], Riddle, by then known publicly as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] returned to the [[Riddle House]] while being tended to by his [[Death Eaters|servant]] [[Peter Pettigrew]] while discussing the former's [[Rebirth of Tom Riddle|return]]. When Voldemort's plan came into fruition [[1995|roughly a year later]], Pettigrew used some of the bones of [[Tom Riddle, Snr]] as part of an ancient [[Regeneration potion|potion]] that returned the Dark Lord to his former glory. Immediately afterwards, Voldemort told [[Harry Potter]], who was kidnapped as part of the same ritual, about how he killed his (Voldemort's) father and paternal grandparents.
+
[[1994|Over half a century later]], Riddle, by then known publicly as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] returned to the [[Riddle House]] while being tended to by his [[Death Eaters|servant]] [[Peter Pettigrew]] while discussing the former's [[Rebirth of Tom Riddle|return]]. When Voldemort's plan came into fruition [[1995|roughly a year later]], Pettigrew used some of the bones of [[
Tom Riddle Senior|
Tom Riddle, Snr]] as part of an ancient [[Regeneration potion|potion]] that returned the Dark Lord to his former glory. Immediately afterwards, Voldemort told [[Harry Potter]], who was kidnapped as part of the same ritual, about how he killed his (Voldemort's) father and paternal grandparents.
Sometime after Morfin's arrest, [[Albus Dumbledore]], seeking information regarding to Voldemort, managed to secure a visit with Morfin. Upon discovering the true memory suppressed under the false one, Dumbledore realised that Morfin was wrongly charged, and used it as evidence for Morfin's release from Azkaban. However, before the Ministry could reach their decision, Morfin succumbed to his heavily weakened state from the gruelling prison and died. Before the [[1996-1997 school year]], Dumbledore, while researching possible locations for Voldemort's [[Horcruxes]], decided that a good hiding spot would be the abandoned Gaunt shack. Dumbledore was correct, as he had found the [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|Ring Horcrux]], which also contained the [[Resurrection Stone]]. During the course of that year, Harry and Dumbledore [[Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons|discussed]] the Riddle's family murder and other areas about Voldemort's past in order to learn about the [[Horcruxes]].
Sometime after Morfin's arrest, [[Albus Dumbledore]], seeking information regarding to Voldemort, managed to secure a visit with Morfin. Upon discovering the true memory suppressed under the false one, Dumbledore realised that Morfin was wrongly charged, and used it as evidence for Morfin's release from Azkaban. However, before the Ministry could reach their decision, Morfin succumbed to his heavily weakened state from the gruelling prison and died. Before the [[1996-1997 school year]], Dumbledore, while researching possible locations for Voldemort's [[Horcruxes]], decided that a good hiding spot would be the abandoned Gaunt shack. Dumbledore was correct, as he had found the [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|Ring Horcrux]], which also contained the [[Resurrection Stone]]. During the course of that year, Harry and Dumbledore [[Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore's private lessons|discussed]] the Riddle's family murder and other areas about Voldemort's past in order to learn about the [[Horcruxes]].