Spur of the Moment

Chapter 18

Harry's head was beginning to pound as he tried to think over all he had seen and learned. Actually, what had he learned? What did any of that have to do with Voldemort? Were the Gaunts perhaps relations of Voldemort's? There had been that young man on the horse named Tom. Was it a coincidence or was he related to Voldemort?

"Harry?" Ivory said softly, bringing Harry out of his racing thoughts.

"Oh, hey, Ivory. I forgot you had stayed," Harry said.

"What is it you learned?" Ivory asked.

"I'm not sure. Do you recognize the surname Gaunt?" Harry asked, looking back at her.

Ivory cocked her head to the side, clearly thinking. "No, it is not familiar."

Harry sighed and began thinking through the memory again. Finally, he shook his head and dragged a piece of parchment towards him. He grabbed a quill and began writing.

Mr. Gaunt - father

Morfin - son

Merope - daughter

Ministry official - Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad

Tom & Cecilia

Ring - belonged to Peverells

Locket - belonged to Slytherin

Gaunts descendants of Slytherin

Harry dropped the quill and picked up the parchment, reading over what he had written.

"You know about that ring, do you not?" Ivory said and Harry nodded.

"Yeah, it used to belong to the Peverells. It has the Peverell coat of arms on it. It was passed through Voldemort's ancestors," Harry told her.

"Well, it seems as though these people are ancestors of Voldemort," Ivory said and Harry looked at the paper again. They were descendants of the Peverells who were also Voldemort's ancestors. They were also descendants of Salazar Slytherin of whom Voldemort was the last living heir.

"Yeah, they must be." Harry nodded. "But how are they related? Voldemort's mother had been a witch and his father a Muggle."

"Who are Tom and Cecilia?" Ivory questioned and Harry looked at the names.

"Muggles that lived in Little Hangleton. They had passed by the Gaunt house. Apparently, Merope fancied him," Harry said and then started at the page in shock. "A Muggle and a witch," he whispered.

"Having a revelation, Harry?" Ivory said in a teasing tone.

"They must've been Voldemort's parents. His name was Tom and he was a Muggle. He was Voldemort's father. Merope was his mother. Which means, Mr. Gaunt was Voldemort's grandfather. His name must've been Marvolo. He was given his middle name after his grandfather and his first name after his father," Harry said, feeling somewhat excited that he had figured it out.

He fell silent again as he continued thinking things over. He assumed that Marvolo and Morfin were eventually arrested for the Ministry official would've certainly told anyone at the Ministry what had happened at the Gaunt house. If they had been arrested, then Merope would've been free of her father who was clearly abusive. The girl had definitely hidden her magical abilities. Well, not hidden, but kept them diminished in fear. Being free of her father, Merope surely used her magic freely.

His thoughts drifted over to the pairing of Merope and Tom Riddle Senior. It was so very unlikely, but it clearly happened since Voldemort was born. He didn't think Tom would've ever liked Merope or fallen for her, but since Merope was so hopelessly in love with him, she may have done something to make him love her. But Tom Senior had abandoned Merope while she was pregnant and, since Voldemort had grown up in an orphanage, his mother must've died.