Voldemort

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Voldemort (伏地魔) 3
Alias(es)	Tom Riddle; the Dark Lord; the second Dark Lord 93 253
Species/Race	Half-blood wizard; descendant of Salazar Slytherin 93 256
Gender	Male 93
Affiliation	Founder and leader of the Death Eaters 3 260
Occupation/Role	Dark Lord seeking to rule the Wizarding World and attain immortality 95 105
Status	Active; latest documented state is an Obscurial 298
First Appearance	Chapter 3 (mentioned) 3

Background / History

Origins and Hogwarts

Tom Riddle was born after Merope Gaunt used a Love Potion to elope with the Muggle Tom Riddle. When the potion's effect ended, his father abandoned Merope; she gave birth outside an orphanage, named the child after the man she loved, and died soon afterward. 93

Riddle grew up isolated in the Muggle orphanage, where other children feared his uncontrolled magic and called him a monster. Albus Dumbledore introduced him to the Wizarding World and brought him to Hogwarts. 171

At Hogwarts, Riddle rapidly learned magic and avidly pursued magical knowledge. Fearing expulsion and a return to the orphanage after causing a major incident, he framed Rubeus Hagrid. 171 During his student years, he created his first Horcrux: a diary containing a severed, teenage version of himself and his memories from that period. 132 150

Horcruxes and First Fall

Voldemort divided his soul through the creation of seven Horcruxes, an exceptionally dangerous use of dark magic. 32 His known Horcruxes included Ravenclaw's Diadem, the Gaunt family ring, Hufflepuff's Cup, Slytherin's locket, his diary, Harry Potter, and later Nagini. 132 253 284

Peter Pettigrew's schemes led to Voldemort's downfall at the Potter home. Voldemort thereafter survived as a weakened soul, while Pettigrew and other enemies targeted his Horcruxes. 31 95 Ravenclaw's Diadem and the Gaunt ring were destroyed before the remaining Cup, locket, and diary became the focus of the hunt. 132

Pettigrew ultimately acquired the Cup, locket, and diary through Bellatrix Lestrange, then destroyed the Cup and locket with Fiendfyre. 148 149 The loss of his Horcruxes left Voldemort humiliated, enraged, and increasingly dependent on Harry and the diary for continued survival. 150 151

Possession of Quirrell

While barely surviving in the Albanian Forest, Voldemort encountered Quirinus Quirrell and made him his servant. He possessed Quirrell, appearing as a grotesque face on the back of the professor's head. 150

Voldemort initially sought to corrupt Vinson Wright through the diary by concealing Fiendfyre within it. Vinson instead discovered Nagini's presence, disrupting the plan. 166

Because Harry Potter was a Horcrux, Voldemort ordered Quirrell to establish a Hogwarts Duel Club and arrange training for Harry. He regarded Harry as both an enemy and a necessary lifeline until new Horcruxes could be made. 178 179

Resurrection and Second Death

At the Mirror of Erised, Quirrell used Harry's retrieval of the Philosopher's Stone to begin Voldemort's resurrection. Quirrell's blood and the Stone were consumed in the process; Quirrell died and the Stone shattered as Voldemort regained a body. 252 255

Newly restored, Voldemort used a Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement to escape Hogwarts through Borgin and Burkes. He murdered Mr. Borgin after recognizing dark objects once given to Death Eaters among the shop's stock. 257

Voldemort soon discovered that Snape had fabricated the prophecy that drove him to the Potters and had manipulated his return for experimentation. His duel with “Snape” was ultimately against Vinson Wright, who had assumed Snape's identity. 260 261 After surviving two Killing Curses and being pinned by Sectumsempra, Voldemort was trapped in a safe house rigged with Muggle bombs. He died from the blast after instructing Barty Crouch Jr. to find his soul in Albania and prepare another resurrection. 262 266

Albanian Revival

Voldemort's residual soul possessed a small snake in the Albanian Forest until Barty Crouch Jr. found him. 282 Using a potion and limited materials, Barty restored Voldemort only to an infant-sized body. 283

When Bellatrix begged for forgiveness, Voldemort killed her with the Killing Curse and used her death to turn Nagini into a new Horcrux. 283 284 After Dumbledore destroyed the diary Horcrux, Voldemort suppressed his magic until an Obscurus manifested within him, transforming him into an Obscurial. 298

Appearance

Voldemort's appearance changes drastically according to his state of resurrection or possession. His restored body is bald and ghastly, while his disembodied soul can inhabit animals or manifest through another person's body. 150 257 282

• While possessing Quirrell, he manifests as a grotesque face on the back of Quirrell's head. 150
• After resurrection with the Philosopher's Stone, he has a bald, bare-headed, corpse-like appearance. 257
• His Albanian resurrection initially produces an infant-sized body. 283
• As an Obscurial, he is enveloped by a black mist-like Obscurus. 298

Personality

Voldemort is driven by a desire to become the most powerful wizard in the world and make all wizards fear his name. 105 His pursuit of immortality is central to his identity; he repeatedly fractures, preserves, and restores his soul despite the danger and instability this causes. 32 260

He is intensely suspicious of his followers and regards loyalty as disposable. After learning of betrayals by Bellatrix, Lucius Malfoy, Peter Pettigrew, and Snape, he describes his Death Eaters as servants and trained hounds rather than trusted companions. 253 260

Voldemort is prideful and easily provoked by humiliation, particularly by being ranked as the “second” Dark Lord behind Grindelwald or by Pettigrew's rise as the third. 253 He can nevertheless act pragmatically: despite hating Harry Potter, he protects him when Harry's existence is required for Voldemort's survival. 150 253

Abilities & Skills

Horcrux Creation and Soul Survival

Voldemort can split his soul into Horcruxes, allowing him to persist after the destruction of his body. 32

• His diary can restore a teenage incarnation of Tom Riddle if another person provides life force. 150
• He created Horcruxes from significant magical objects, including the diary, Cup, locket, ring, and Diadem. 132 148
• He later makes Nagini a living Horcrux by killing Bellatrix. 283 284
• Destroying Horcruxes severely limits his ability to return and leaves him dependent on surviving soul anchors. 150 266
• Dumbledore destroys the diary with Fiendfyre, eliminating its resident soul fragment. 298

Possession and Resurrection

Voldemort can survive in a bodiless state by possessing living hosts.

• He possesses Quirrell after being found in the Albanian Forest. 150
• His soul later inhabits a small snake while waiting for Barty Crouch Jr. 282
• He can be restored through complex potion-based rites, though inadequate materials initially leave him with an infant body. 283
• The Philosopher's Stone restores him to a complete body at the cost of Quirrell's life and the Stone's destruction. 255

Dark Magic and Dueling

Voldemort is an exceptionally dangerous duelist with powerful magical reserves and refined control over spells. 261 262

• He repeatedly employs the Killing Curse, including techniques that amplify and redirect it during a magical tether. 261 262
• His Killing Curse can drain immense life energy even when it does not kill outright. 262
• He can redirect an opponent's unstable magic, leaving them exposed to a counterattack. 261
• He kills Bellatrix and Mr. Borgin with Avada Kedavra. 257 283
• His confidence in dueling leads him to underestimate Vinson Wright's disguised challenge. 261 262

Parseltongue and Serpents

As a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, Voldemort has an affinity for snakes and seeks to use them as servants and vessels. 256 282

• He identifies Nagini in the Albanian Forest and plans to possess her. 282
• He considers Nagini his most powerful potential helper and eventually makes her a Horcrux. 282 284

Obscurial Transformation

Voldemort suppresses his magical instincts in order to produce an Obscurus within himself. 298

• The resulting Obscurus manifests as overwhelming black mist-like dark magic. 298
• The transformation occurs after the destruction of his diary Horcrux and amid his rage toward Dumbledore. 298

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Voldemort's diary — His first Horcrux; contains his teenage self and can restore that incarnation through stolen life force. Destroyed by Dumbledore with Fiendfyre. 132 150 298
• Paired Vanishing Cabinets — One cabinet in the Room of Requirement connects directly to another at Borgin and Burkes, allowing Voldemort to bypass Hogwarts' defenses. 257
• Philosopher's Stone — Used in his first full resurrection; destroyed after Quirrell's life force is consumed. 252 255
• Wand — Even with an ordinary wand, Voldemort can cast extraordinarily powerful magic. 261

Relationships

• Albus Dumbledore — Former Hogwarts professor and Voldemort's foremost opponent; Voldemort remains wary of Dumbledore's power and schemes. 171 253
• Harry Potter — Enemy and Horcrux. Voldemort protects Harry when Harry's survival is necessary for Voldemort's own return. 150 253
• Severus Snape — Former subordinate whose apparent loyalty collapses when Voldemort learns Snape manipulated the prophecy and resurrection process. 254 260
• Peter Pettigrew — Betrayer and primary target of Voldemort's hatred; Pettigrew orchestrates his initial fall and destroys several Horcruxes. 95 149 254
• Quirinus Quirrell — Possessed servant used as Voldemort's host and ultimately sacrificed during the Philosopher's Stone resurrection. 150 255
• Barty Crouch Jr. — One of Voldemort's few remaining loyal followers; finds his soul in Albania and performs his infant-body resurrection. 266 282 283
• Bellatrix Lestrange — Fanatically loyal Death Eater whom Voldemort ultimately kills to create Nagini's Horcrux. 150 283
• Nagini — Intended vessel, companion, and later living Horcrux; she secretly resolves to help destroy Voldemort. 282 284
• Lucius Malfoy — Former Death Eater whose sale of Voldemort's gifts at Borgin and Burkes is treated as betrayal. 258

Notable Quotes

“If one curse can't kill you... then I'll use two.” 262

“The brat I spent so long trying to kill has now become my lifeline...” 253