[HPforGrownups] Tom Riddle's Origins and Where Voldemort did his Killing

[Lissa B]

No: HPFGUIDX 57383

> Lissa wrote:
> > I believe Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley may be Tom Riddle's
> > biological parents.

Phyllis wrote:
> Dumbledore to Harry (Ch. 18 Of CoS): "...Lord Voldemort  who is the
> last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin  "
> 
> If Harry and Ginny were Voldemort's parents, one or the other would
> have to also be a descendant of Slytherin, and Dumbledore wouldn't
> have been able to make this statement.


Lissa replied:
I don't think this is a contradiction.  Dumbledore doesn't say "only"
remaining ancestor of Slytherin, he very carefully uses the word
"last".  (In my theory, Tom Marvolo Riddle would be the last of Harry's
family line.)  Dumbledore is clever and knows Harry will interpret his
comment as the equivalent of "only"--especially given that Voldemort is
physically older than Harry.  It's a clever way to misdirect without
outright lying.  I do think, though, that there might be something up
with Dumbledore's use of the word ancestor rather than descendant in
that passage.  (Please see Valky's post on that if you're interested.)


Phyllis wrote:
> Ch. 1 Of PoA:  "Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and their son, Dudley,
> were Harry's only living relatives."
> 
> Voldemort didn't make this list of Harry's "only living relatives."


Lissa replied:
Well, yes.  (sheepish smile)  Ignoring the fact that Voldemort would not
be the best choice of guardians for Harry, he was, it seems to me, in a
bodyless state of limbo between life and death at that point.  In my
opinion he shouldn't make that list.  Then again, some might argue that
he is fully alive even without bodily form, so you could call this an
inconsistency in my theory.  Point well taken, Phyllis.

~Lissa