The Burrow: Maybe It’s Tom Riddle

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by Norma Rosado

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. That’s the title for book six, as all Harry Potter fans already know. But, who is this Prince? At first, I must admit, I thought it was Harry. I didn’t know by then that J.K.Rowling said it wasn’t him, okay? But now, I have another theory:

Maybe it’s Tom Riddle.

Yes, Tom Marvolo Riddle, the diary guy from the Chamber of Secrets. Now, before you go “But JKR said that it wasn’t Voldemort!” allow me to explain myself.

So Tom himself said that he was Voldemort. Big deal. As Dobby said in the American version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, page 339:

“I’ve just got one question, Dobby,” said Harry as Dobby pulled on Harry’s sock with shaking hands. “You told me all this had nothing to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, remember? Well-”

“It was a clue, sir,” said Dobby, his eyes widening as tough this was obvious. “Was giving you a clue. The Dark Lord, before he changed his name, could be freely named, you see?”

So, Tom really is Voldemort, but at the same time, he isn’t. I know it sounds weird but maybe Miss Rowling did that just to throw us off. Or, I might be insane. And if I am, so is Dumbledore when he said:

“Oh, no one will be able to do that” said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry. “Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out anymore of Lord Voldemort’s old school things. If anymore of them find their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you.” -Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, American version, page 336-337

So maybe Tom left something else besides his diary for innocent people to find? Pretty convenient, huh? But why would Riddle do that? Why would he leave even more things with his 16-year-old self (or even older or younger self. Who knows?) residing in it? Let’s see what JK Rowling says on her website. On the FAQ section, someone asked: In Chamber of Secrets, what would have happened if Ginny had died and Tom had escaped the diary?

“I can’t answer that fully until all seven books are finished, but it would have strengthened the present-day Voldemort considerably”

Well, if it strengthened present-day Lord Voldemort considerably, he would surely love to have Riddle around. Also, why can’t JK Rowling answer the question fully until all seven books are finished? Maybe because we’ll see Tom again? And if we do, why not on book six, as the Half Blood Prince. After all, Riddle is a Half Blood and, considering that Voldemort would self-name himself the King, Riddle, being related to Voldemort (or being Voldemort himself but somewhat younger) would be the Prince.

So, in conclusion, maybe T. M. Riddle is the half-blood prince, and maybe not. But, well, I really don’t think that the Chamber of Secrets did Riddle any justice. There are so many things we still don’t know about him. Wouldn’t it be nice to read about them in book six, from Tom Riddle himself?