If Tom Riddle Had Won ... ?

JKR was asked about 'What would have happened if Tom Riddle had won in CoS?' She answered:

"I can't answer that fully until all 7 books are finished but it would have strengthened the present day Voldemort considerably".

We know something that HArry discovered in CoS is important to the last books.



What would have happened if Tom Riddle had been reborn?
Will we see Tom Riddle again?

Really we are going to see Tom Riddel again?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????

Cool I cant wait till all books are out

I don't want them to end, but I need them to fing out whats next

I hope Harry dose'nt die in destroying Voldemort !!!!!

But he has to
I wil hate JK if he is just left alive
with out us knowing about anything

No way! Our Jo knows everything and she won't leave us wanting. Have you heard her in interviews? There's no hesitation at all even when she's asked really obscure stuff like "What's Ginny's middle name?" She just trows the answer back at them!! We'll know everything too. It is a bloody long wait though. I know exactly what you mean about the torture of the wait, the xtc of the knowing but the terror of no more books!!!

OK so if Tom Riddle had survived, Voldemort would be way more powerful... why?
What did Tom discover/ know that Voldemort does not?
Maybe Tom discovered / knew that Lily protected Harry with that Old Magic: Love...??
I reckon that Voldemort thinks that Harry had some kind of protection spell that Lily gave Harry by her sacrifice (he says this in the graveyard in GoF). Voldemort doesn't say anything about love. Therefore, he hasn't learnt, as Tom did, that this love/ Old Magic, is stronger than he can imagine or deal with.
We discover in CoS, that Tom is a totally independent being from Voldemort. He finds out Voldemort's/ his, history from Ginny; he doesn't 'remember'/ 'know' any of it!. Therefore, Voldemort does not know anything that Tom discovered. Thus, Voldemort hasn't learnt, as Tom did, that this love/ Old Magic, is stronger than he can imagine or deal with.

Jo's told us that the primary question we should be asking ourselves is "Why did the curse rebound?"

Voldemort still doesn't understand what he's up against ; love. He still underestimates the power of harry's arsenal -; his Mum's CONTINUED protective love - and the scar is not only a symbol of Voldemort's ignorance, it is a warning to him! Harry is still protected. Therefore, what if Tom had won ? BAD BAD Things - a Voldemort that would finally appreciate the power of Harry!! Fortunately, Tom no longer exists (that we know of!). Therefore, Voldemort STILL has no idea what he's up against.

Sorry this point is SO garbled but it's been a heck-ova-day! BUT:
What do you think?
What do you think of the idea that only Tom knew the truth of why the curse backfired but Voldemort does not?

JKR has said that we should be asking "Why did the curse rebound?" What do you think of the above suggestion ???
What about the rumour/ fact(?) that the last word of the 6th book is "scar" ??? Does this connect to my/our thoughts or does Harry get anothery!??

Tom Riddle was a memory from Memory Land. He could not have won because, as a memory, he had no current insight. He gathered facts from Ginny and strung them together in a rememberd way. He did not understand the significance of the Phoenix or the Sorting Hat because when he was at Hogwarts, Dumbledore was not as important as he grew to be in Harry's time. Riddle underestimated Dumbledore's influence.

As for the curse rebounding, it all has to do with the Prophecy. Voldemort cannot kill Harry because Harry is destined to kill Voldemort. The curse bounced off of Harry and struck Voldemort as an indication of things to come. If Voldemort were wise, he would steer clear of Harry instead of tempting fate. But pride goeth before a fall and Voldemort's pride tells him that he is mightier than fate.

Of course, pride altho goeth before a good story line. So Potterheads, give it up for the greatest of the 7 capital sins--Pride! Without it, we would not have Harry Potter books, movies or chat! Hip Hip Hooray!!!

Zonko: Hello. Long time waiter and first time (for zonks) hearer.. !!- where have you been??!! * read in a Mrs Weasley's angry tone*.

Gathering my pride around me like a Flaminco dancer's skirt and chin held high, I advance on you el Zonko: Naaaaaaaaaa! I don't reckon that Tom is just a memory. Doen't it say, in CoS, that Tom was draining the life outta Ginny; that she was dying as Tom was becoming alive??? He manipulated and drained Ginny and was therefore, way more than any forgettable dream or transluecent ghost, he could and would become as real as his intent! Tom was more than a figment or a shadow, he was real.

Sorry my lovely Zonko, who i adore like a brother and, with the greatest respect, I say: ... WHAT??! There is nothing in the CoS that suggests that Tom isn't a livin', breathing, thinking, kinniving, scheming, ambitious, ruthless mungrel (well except for the 'livin and breathin' bit)! Yeah Tom underestimated the powers of Good but then again so did/ does Voldemort.

Jo says that we should be asking ourselves: "Why did the curse rebound?" and the last word of the next book (so we're told) is 'scar'. The link between Voldemort and Harry has not been fully explained. If, as zonko says, Voldemort may not be able to kill Harry, can Harry kill Voldemort?

I think that Voldemort can't kill Harry 'cause the same protection spell that saved him 15 years ago is as strong today and forever. But the relationship and the 'killability' of either Voldy or Harry, really hasn't been tested. Maybe Voldemort can't kill Harry but maybe Harry can't kill Voldemort....???

Voldemort has mammoth pride, and we all know what happened to the mammoth!

I was just wondering, if Tom Riddle had killed Ginny, and come back to life, he would've gone and helped Voldemort, right?

Maybe you guys have gotten this already (but I'm just a blonde) wouldn't he go and make Voldemort an even stronger "person" and in the 4th book, Harry prolly wouldn't've won because Tom was also there.

"Why did the curse rebound?" Because... because... well, i need help on this one.

oh, and wasn't it the last word of the last book "scar" or is it the 6th book?

rita: Jo was asked the question "what would have happened if Tom had won..?" and said that Voldemort would be much stronger. So, yep, you're right! That's kinda what inspired this line of discussion.

What do you think about the idea that Tom kinda got it... ; got more insight and understanding about the power/ the love protection and what it might mean to the future than Voldemort will???

The "Why did the curse rebound?" question is difficult..??? I think that Jo's words were more"You should be asking yourself: What did Voldemort do to protect himself and why did the curse rebound?" ?????? (On JKR's official site and the Leaky Culdron and, probably MuggleNet and... well, every other site as well!) This question just complicates things more though. What do you think??? I'll try to find the exact quote and post it K? Doesn't stop our thoughts and theories though. so....

Hmm... the memory can't come back, can it? But dont you think that Tom and Voldemort have some kind of "connection" (like, communication)

I think we will see Tom farther on, whether in a memory, or something like that. Maybe we will learn something out of a pensive of Dumbledore's, or someone like that.