The Chamber of Secrets was first opened by Tom Marvolo Riddle, who later became the infamous Lord Voldemort. During his time as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Riddle, a brilliant yet sinister Slytherin, discovered and unleashed the ancient power hidden within the Chamber.
The Identity of the Heir of Slytherin
The individual responsible for the initial opening of the Chamber of Secrets was Tom Marvolo Riddle, a sixteen-year-old student from Slytherin house during the 1942–1943 school year. Riddle, a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin, harbored a deep disdain for Muggle-born wizards and witches, aligning perfectly with the Chamber's dark purpose. His actions during this period marked the beginning of his transformation into the most feared dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort.
Tom Riddle meticulously planned and executed the opening, manipulating events to unleash the monstrous creature within and further his own supremacist agenda. His rare ability to speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes, was crucial in accessing and controlling the Chamber's ancient defenses.
The Chamber's Purpose and Mechanism
The Chamber of Secrets was built by Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, with the express intention of purging the school of students deemed unworthy – specifically, those not of pure-blood wizarding lineage. Riddle, as Slytherin's heir, used this ancient power to target Muggle-borns.
- Parseltongue: Access to the Chamber and control over its inhabitant, the Basilisk, required the rare ability to speak Parseltongue. Tom Riddle possessed this ability, a genetic trait passed down from Slytherin.
- The Basilisk: The creature residing within the Chamber was a gigantic serpent known as a Basilisk. Its gaze was instantly fatal, and even its indirect reflection could petrify victims. Riddle unleashed this beast upon the school.
Key Events and Repercussions
Tom Riddle's initial opening of the Chamber in 1942-1943 led to a reign of terror within Hogwarts, resulting in several petrified students and ultimately, the death of a young girl named Myrtle Warren, who later became the ghost Moaning Myrtle.
Chronology of Riddle's First Opening:
- 1942-1943: Tom Riddle, as a sixteen-year-old student, first opens the Chamber of Secrets.
- Attacks: Multiple students are petrified by the Basilisk's gaze.
- Death of Myrtle Warren: A student is directly killed by the Basilisk in the girls' bathroom.
- Frame-up: Riddle frames Rubeus Hagrid, a third-year student at the time, for opening the Chamber and unleashing his pet Acromantula, Aragog, leading to Hagrid's expulsion.
- Sealing the Chamber: Fearing the school would close and he wouldn't complete his education (and thus investigate his lineage further), Riddle temporarily sealed the Chamber, but not before preserving his memories in a magical diary.
Years later, an echo of Tom Riddle, preserved within his enchanted diary, orchestrated the second opening of the Chamber in 1992-1993, using Ginny Weasley as his unwitting pawn. This event brought his past actions to light and nearly caused the closure of Hogwarts.
Table: Key Details of the Chamber's First Opening
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Opened By | Tom Marvolo Riddle |
| When | 1942–1943 school year |
| Riddle's Age | Sixteen years old |
| Hogwarts House | Slytherin |
| Creature Unleashed | Basilisk |
| Key Ability for Access | Parseltongue |
| Victims | Multiple petrified students, one fatality |
| Consequence for Hagrid | Expulsion (framed by Riddle) |
| Future Identity | Lord Voldemort |
Why Tom Riddle Opened the Chamber:
- To prove his heritage as the true Heir of Slytherin.
- To fulfill Salazar Slytherin's ancient mission of purging Hogwarts of Muggle-borns.
- To test and demonstrate his own dark powers and control over ancient magic.
- To gain infamy and instill fear, laying the psychological groundwork for his future as Lord Voldemort.
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