Sharing names - Tom's story truth or fiction?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 98788

> Pippin:
<snipping of good historical information>
>  The child's true name and ancestry were sealed. Tom wouldn't 
> have known his real name until his Hogwarts letter came.  But I  
> don't suppose   the files of an orphanage would have been safe 
> from TM Riddle, so he could have found out who his father was 
> that way.  His mother might have left a letter for him explaining 
> who she was. But I rather like the idea that Salazar left all sorts
> of  goodies in the Chamber for his heir.


Jen: The idea of Tom finding out his Slytherin heritage through 
opening the chamber, and not before, is a compelling idea. I like 
this possibility better than a letter from Mum, since she probably 
died during childbirth or shortly thereafter and wouldn't have much 
time to write a letter *and* make sure it was delivered to the 
orphanage with Tom.

Oooh, I just thought of something though. Wouldn't it be another 
interesting parallel if Tom Jr. was left on the orphanage doorstep 
with a couple of letters, one for the staff and one magically-sealed 
letter for Tom Jr.? Very similar to Harry's entry into the Muggle 
world.

Still, the idea of Tom Jr. opening the Chamber, thus verifying his 
suspicion that he was related to Salazar Slytherin, makes for a very 
dramatic moment.