

Riddle left Mrs Cole’s orphanage to attend Hogwarts, yet this new magical life could not end the resentment he harboured towards his parents. His father was its murder victim while his mother’s side provided the curious heirloom. This Horcrux was intrinsically tied to Voldemort’s family. Another link to the past was Riddle’s victim Myrtle Warren, who never left Hogwarts and now lives her afterlife as Moaning Myrtle. The diary showed preserved memories, like a Pensieve, which included former Hogwarts headmaster Armando Dippet, a teenage Rubeus Hagrid, the infant Acromantula Aragog and a young(ish) Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Harry destroyed the diary with a Basilisk fang then used its remains to trick Lucius Malfoy into freeing Dobby. When a terrified Ginny attempted to dispose of the diary, it fell into the hands of Riddle’s future nemesis Harry Potter. Riddle’s spirit possessed Ginny and used her to reopen the Chamber, freeing Slytherin’s Basilisk to Petrify Argus Filch’s cat, Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Nearly Headless Nick, Penelope Clearwater and Hermione Granger. Malfoy slipped the book to Ginny Weasley, who poured her heart and soul into its pages. Voldemort entrusted his diary to Lucius Malfoy, who later seized the opportunity to smuggle it back into Hogwarts. After opening the Chamber of Secrets, he used the Basilisk to kill Myrtle Warren, providing the murder necessary to craft a Horcrux. The diary dates back to when Voldemort was still Tom Marvolo Riddle.
