The Untold Secrets Behind Voldemort's Sinister Appearance

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Evil exists solely in contrast to goodness, often manifesting as something repugnant and disorganized, capable of causing fear merely through its appearance. Devotees of the Harry Potter series concur that the Dark Lord Voldemort epitomizes this notion flawlessly, haunting the dreams of children ever since they first witnessed his image on the back of Professor Quirrell's head in the initial installment, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

It took another trilogy of films/books for the infamous antagonist to materialize into a complete physical entity, standing menacingly above Harry and his fellow incantation-wielding companions. His ghastly presence became even more formidable when the once legendary figure, previously only a fragment of a grim tale from yesteryears, was resurrected in the flesh with reptilian attributes.

What Did Voldemort Look Like Originally?

The infamous He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named entered the world as Tom Marvolo Riddle, born into a complex lineage – his father, Tom Riddle Sr., a muggle, and his witch mother, Merope Gaunt. Accounts from his early years depict Merope as unappealing, her appearance burdened by the consequences of intermarriage, resulting in a "rather heavy face" accompanied by a lazy eye. Conversely, Tom Sr. was a striking dark-haired charmer, whom Merope was eager to be with, hoping that their offspring would inherit the same captivating beauty.

Merope used spells and potions to manipulate Tom Sr. into fathering a child with her. However, once he snapped out of his trance, he abandoned Merope, leaving her to raise their child alone. Sadly, Merope's motherhood was short-lived as she passed away soon after giving birth to little Tom. Despite this, Tom inherited his father's good looks and used them to his advantage, becoming as attractive as his father while using his inherited traits for his own malicious purposes.

Although it is unclear at what point Tom began using his attractive appearance as a tool, he was known to have enticed other children from his orphanage to various places, such as caves, despite the eerie reputation he had acquired. It is possible that even as a young boy, Tom's natural attractiveness gave him a trustworthy facade, making it easier for him to approach other children without raising suspicion. However, as he grew older and his malevolent intentions became more evident, Tom came to believe that his muggle father's only redeeming quality was his physical appearance.

As Tom's fascination with the Dark Arts grew, he became increasingly obsessed with the idea of achieving immortality. He would devote himself to studying and practicing dark magic in secret, eventually attracting his own followers who shared his desires. When Tom finished his studies at Hogwarts, he approached Albus Dumbledore with the request to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, but Dumbledore, who had harbored suspicions about Tom's sinister intentions since their days at the orphanage, denied his request. This rejection only fueled Tom's determination to become the most powerful wizard in the world, and he eventually discovered a means to achieve immortality: the horcruxes.

Assuming the identity of Lord Voldemort, Tom embarked on his quest for eternal life. By creating seven horcruxes and splitting his soul, he knew that even after his physical demise, his spirit would endure. Among the horcruxes he crafted were a locket from Salazar Slytherin and a cup from Helga Hufflepuff, both of which he obtained by manipulating and ultimately killing the elderly Hepzibah Smith. Tom gained her trust, feigning love and closeness, before poisoning her and seizing the precious artifacts for himself. However, he remained unaware of the toll this path of immortality would take on his own body.

Why Did Voldemort's Appearance Change?

Tom's relentless pursuit of immortality led him to search for the horcruxes, fragments of his soul scattered throughout the world. This resulted in both his soul and body deteriorating. As his soul slowly left his body to inhabit a new host, the identity of the once orphan boy faded away, giving birth to a completely transformed being, both physically and spiritually.

Tom's eyes permanently turned bloodshot, and his skin grew increasingly pale with each murder he committed and every horcrux he utilized. After acquiring six horcruxes, he no longer resembled Tom Riddle. Instead, he became the Dark Lord Voldemort in every aspect. However, in his attempt to eliminate the prophecy of his downfall by killing Harry Potter, his forbidden curse rebounded, destroying the body that housed the remaining fragments of his soul. Nevertheless, fragments of his soul survived, including one that unknowingly resided within Harry himself.

Voldemort spent years existing as a specter before attaching himself to Professor Quirrell and surviving by consuming the blood of unicorns. When Quirrell died, Peter Pettigrew took it upon himself to resurrect Voldemort. Using dark magic, Pettigrew developed a potion that would provide Voldemort with a physical form - a distorted, scaly infant-like body. By incorporating the blood of an enemy, the bone of a father, and the flesh of a servant into another potion, Voldemort was reborn into the recognizable body viewers are familiar with.

The reason behind Voldemort's snake-like appearance, with slits for nostrils, serpent-like eyes, and ghostly pale skin, is not entirely clear. Some fans speculate that it may be because one of Voldemort's horcruxes is a python named Nagini, leading to his physical form reflecting the creatures linked to his fragmented soul. Additionally, Voldemort has always possessed the ability to speak parseltongue and had a familial connection to Salazar Slytherin, which may explain his affinity for snakes.

Throughout the Harry Potter stories, the acts of terrorism and dark magic committed by Voldemort, along with the multitude of times his soul was shattered and his chosen methods of resurrection, caused a significant transformation in his physical appearance. This transformation was a direct reflection of the deep-rooted evil within his heart.