Tom Riddle's Gravestone

The Riddles' grave
Location information
Location	Little Hangleton graveyard, Little Hangleton
Permanent residents	Mary Riddle Tom Riddle Sr. Thomas Riddle
Affiliation	Riddle family

This grave was the final resting place of Thomas, his wife Mary and their son Tom Riddle Sr.. The grave was located in the Little Hangleton graveyard near the centre of the graveyard and had a clear view of the Riddle House in the distance.

History

In the summer of 1943, the members of the Riddle family were murder by sixteen year old Tom Riddle, the son of Tom Riddle Sr. and Merope Gaunt. After the discovery of the crime by the Riddles' maid and investigation by the police, the Riddles were buried in the local graveyard in a family plot marked by a grand marble headstone. No one paid their respect afterwords as the Riddles had been despised by all in the village.

Harry before the Riddle family grave

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In May 1994, the grave would serve an important role in Tom Riddle's, now known as Lord Voldemort, plan to return to true body and strength. Along with his servantPeter Pettigrew, the pair obtained one of the necessary ingredients required for his regeneration potion, the bone of his father. Later, during the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry Potter was transported to the Little Hangleton graveyard by means of the Triwizard Cup along with Cedric Diggory. After ordering for Cedric to be killed, Wormtail secured Harry to the headstone with rope and gagged him. Wormtail proceeded with the dark ritual and combined Voldemort's remedial body and the three important ingredients to the rebirth potion. Moments later, the Dark Lord regained his true body and powers once again.

Harry remained tied to the headstone as Voldemort reacquainted himself with his body and used Pettigrew's Dark Mark to summon his Death Eaters. As he struggled against his bonds, Harry witnessed Voldemort address his followers and voice his disappointment with them and how he spent the past thirteen years in exile. After taunting and inflicting him with the Cruciatus., the Dark Lord ordered Wormtail to untie Harry so he could duel the young wizard.

During the course of the duel, the wands of Harry and Voldemort became connected through the effect of Priori Incantatem. As a result, the echos of Harry's parents and those Voldemort had killed where able to provide Harry with cover while he retrieved the portkey and return himself and Cedric's body back to Hogwarts.

Physical description

Riddle family Tombstone

The Riddle grave was marked by a towering marble headstone. The names of Thomas Riddle, Mary Riddle and Tom Riddle were written on the front in descending order and had the dates of their birth and death. The Riddle family name was displayed on the headstone's side. A large striking statue of the winged Angel of Death stands beside the headstone holding a raised scythe in its right hand.

Behind the scenes

• The novel does not state that Tom Riddle was buried along with his parents as the name of Tom Riddle was the only one Harry saw and says he was tied to "the headstone of Voldemort's father," but it is possible they where all buried next to each other in the same plot.

• In the film adaptation of Goblet of Fire, the Grave is marked with a large stone statue of the Angel of Death which is not mentioned in the novel.

• In the opening scenes of the film, Nagini is seen slithering over the grave.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)