The Secret Riddle

Calendar and Dates

The chapter takes place the Monday evening following the previous chapter's trip to Hogsmeade. All we know about the date is that it is in the middle of October.

Interesting facts and notes

"Oh, and Malfoy knows, of course," said Harry to Ron and Hermione, who continued their new policy of feigning deafness whenever Harry mentioned his Malfoy-Is-a-Death-Eater theory.

To Hermione, this is a repeat of the debacle at the Ministry of Magic when Harry was convinced that Sirius Black was being tortured by Voldemort. In this case, however, the situation is reversed. Harry is correct, and it will be the failure of everyone else to take Harry seriously which will cost someone his life. 

"Impertinent," said a soft voice from one of the portraits on the wall, and Phineas Nigellus Black, Sirius's great-great-grandfather, raised his head from his arms where he had appeared to be sleeping. "I would not have permitted a student to question the way Hogwarts operated in my day."

Dumbledore poured the fresh memories into the Pensieve and began swirling the stone basin once more between his long-fingered hands.

"He only gave her ten Galleons?" said Harry indignantly.

That’s actually worth a little more than it seems, if the exchange rate has remained the same. Ten Galleons in 1926 was worth £3,076.33 in 2020’s money. 

The blank piece of paper "(t)hat seems perfectly in order," she said placidly, handing it back. Then her eyes fell upon a bottle of gin and two glasses that had certainly not been present a few seconds before.

"Nothing," said Dumbledore.

Dumbledore is effortlessly performing some really nifty bits of magic here.

"... on the summer outing — we take them out, you know, once a year, to the countryside or to the seaside — well, Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop were never quite right afterwards, and all we ever got out of them was that they'd gone into a cave with Tom Riddle. He swore they'd just gone exploring, but something happened in there, I'm sure of it. And, well, there have been a lot of things, funny things. . . ."

It was a small bare room with nothing in it except an old wardrobe and an iron bedstead. A boy was sitting on top of the gray blankets, his legs stretched out in front of him, holding a book.

There was no trace of the Gaunts in Tom Riddle's face. Merope had got her dying wish: He was his handsome father in miniature, tall for eleven years old, dark-haired, and pale.

"Tell the truth!"

He spoke the last three words with a ringing force that was almost shocking. It was a command, and it sounded as though he had given it many times before. His eyes had widened and he was glaring at Dumbledore, who made no response except to continue smiling pleasantly. After a few seconds Riddle stopped glaring, though he looked, if anything, warier still.

Tom is making a clumsy attempt at Legilimency here, which should be way beyond his capabilities. Dumbledore blocks the attempt with Occlumency, but both he and Riddle learn something very important about the other in that moment.

"I can speak to snakes. I found out when we've been to the country on trips — they find me, they whisper to me. Is that normal for a wizard?"

Exceptional character moments

Tom Riddle, aged eleven, has a great deal of control over his magic for one so young. He steals from his fellow orphanages and he bullies them. He has no friends and he is independent.

Memorable lines

"Oh, and Malfoy knows, of course," said Harry to Ron and Hermione, who continued their new policy of feigning deafness whenever Harry mentioned his Malfoy-Is-a-Death-Eater theory.

"Nice suit, sir."

"It's very hard to catch him at it. There have been incidents.... Nasty things..."

"I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to."

Words and phrases

• Muggle
• Merlin’s Beard
• Dark magic items
• Parselmouth
• Wardrobe

Characters Introduced

• Amy Benson
• Mrs. Cole
• Dennis Bishop
• Billy Stubbs
• Eric Whalley