Riddle House & Riddle Estate

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 90669

Berit: 
<huge snip> I think the owner (of the Riddle Mansion) could possibly
be Voldemort himself. There would have been plenty of time for him to 
buy it between the time of his Muggle father's death <snip>

> bboy_mn:
> 
> That brings up a very interesting question, it seems that in a small
> town like Little Hangleton, it would be known that Tom Jr. was the
> senior Riddle's son; and apparently his only son. So, did Tom M.
> Riddle ever lay claim to the Riddle Family Estate? 
> 
<snip>
> Speculation aside, the basic question is, did Tom M. Riddle ever lay
> claim to the Riddle Family Estate? It certianly would have been his
> without question.
> 
> Just a thought.
> 
> bboy_mn

Carol:
I disagree that there would have been no question of Tom Jr's
ownership of the house. First, if Tom's mother left town before anyone
knew she was pregnant, no one would know of his existence or his name.
Second, his father could have written him out of the will (perhaps in
some discreet way that would not require naming him and thereby
creating an awareness of his existence)--another reason for Tom to
hate his father. And third, Tom would have been the prime suspect in
the murder of his father and grandparents if anyone knew of his
existence, and he could hardly claim any inheritance he may have had
without revealing his identity. (Remember the teenage boy that Frank
Bryce saw at the time of the murder? If the police knew about Tom's
existence, wouldn't they have put two and two together?)

My theory (okay, opinion) is that Voldemort was altogether penniless
when he wandered the world trying to find the secret of immortality.
He may have used his good looks to charm people into funding (or
feeding) him before his looks were ruined by too many transformations,
but I doubt he had any money--or a house--of his own.

If he owns the house now, IMO, it would have to be through the
seemingly unlikely connection of DEs and Muggles buying it for him,
perhaps through the kind of business relationship that bboy suggests,
but it would not be in the name of Tom Riddle, Jr., for the reasons
I've already mentioned. One additional point--the new owner, who
supposedly owns the house "for tax reasons," must not be named Riddle
or the villagers would comment on it.

Carol