[HPforGrownups] Re: Book Two Discoveries!

[Alina]

No: HPFGUIDX 111764

From: "Brenda M."

> I just had an amusing thought right now. How did Tom Riddle know that
> his mother carried the blood of Salazar Slytherin? Did he discover
> his Heir-of-Slytherin status and deduce that it must be from his
> mother's side? Or did she tell him somehow (in a letter or
> something)? If his mother knew about snaky blood running in her
> veins... could this mean that Tom Riddle Sr found out about this, and
> that is why he left her? He found out she wasn't just an ordinary,
> harmless witch, but a potentially dark, evil witch?
>
> Oooh this could be very interesting!! Yay HP Soap Opera!!
> *happy conspiracy dancing*


Alina now:

Hmm I see two ways Tom could've found out his mother was a descendent of SS.
First: she might have left a letter, like you said, but I think she might've
kept a diary of her own. It might be a family habit. Possibly, there are
also geneology books available in the school library (or some other magical
library) that Tom got access to. It appears he was regarded as one of the
most brilliant and trustworthy students of the school by his teachers
(except DD?) and I don't doubt he could have gotten permission to access the
Restricted Section easily if needed.

I also think that after he got his Hogwarts letter and because he was an
orphan a school teacher (or another member of staff) was sent after him,
like Hagrid after Harry, in order to explain everything to him. They
would've told him a bit about his mother and again he could've done research
to trace his lineage. I can very well believe that he would be near-obsessed
with his mother's lineage, not only to discover a past he's been missing for
eleven years, but to further diminish the father he's learned to hate.