Lord Voldemort

Lore & Background

Lord Voldemort is the primary antagonist of the Harry Potter series. He is a Dark Wizard who leads a group of followers called Death Eaters. After his apparent defeat when he attacked Harry Potter as a baby, he spent years in a weakened state before regaining power. The Ministry of Magic, under Cornelius Fudge, initially claimed that Harry and Dumbledore were lying about Voldemort's return. Voldemort's snake, Nagini, is used to attack Arthur Weasley, and Voldemort later lures Harry to the Department of Mysteries using a false vision. Voldemort wishes to hear a prophecy contained in a glass sphere at the Ministry. When Voldemort appears at the Ministry, Dumbledore arrives and thwarts his attempt to kill Harry. Fudge and other Ministry employees witness Voldemort just before he flees.

In Their Own Story

The air in the Little Hangleton graveyard turned thick with the scent of damp earth and decay as the green light of the wand carved a grotesque silhouette against the night. The face that emerged was no longer human—a pale, serpentine mask with slits for nostrils and eyes that burned like red coals. His voice, a cold sibilant hiss, seemed to suck the warmth from the very ground. There was no fear in those slit-pupiled eyes, only an arrogant certainty that he had finally cornered his prey. Yet, as twin cores of phoenix feather locked together, a golden web of light erupted between them, singing a mournful song of connection. From this shimmering bridge, the shadows shifted and coalesced into the spectral faces of those he had murdered— Cedric Diggory, Frank Bryce, Bertha Jorkins—the ghosts he had tried so desperately to erase now standing as witnesses to his undoing.

Reader's Guide

Lord Voldemort is the main antagonist of the Harry Potter series. He is a Dark Wizard who leads the Death Eaters. His return is initially denied by the Ministry of Magic under Cornelius Fudge, who wages a smear campaign against Harry and Dumbledore. Voldemort's mind is connected to Harry's, allowing Harry to see visions of Voldemort's actions, such as the attack on Arthur Weasley by Nagini. Dumbledore orders Professor Snape to teach Harry Occlumency to keep Voldemort out of his mind. Voldemort uses a false vision to lure Harry to the Department of Mysteries, where he wishes to obtain a prophecy contained in a glass sphere. The prophecy was made by Professor Trelawney and predicted the birth of a child with the power to vanquish Voldemort. This prophecy caused Voldemort to murder Harry's parents. At the Ministry, Voldemort appears and tries to kill Harry, but Dumbledore arrives and thwarts him. Fudge and other Ministry employees witness Voldemort just before he flees.

Did You Know?

• Voldemort's snake Nagini attacks Arthur Weasley, and Harry dreams about this event.
• Voldemort uses a false vision to lure Harry to the Department of Mysteries.
• The prophecy that caused Voldemort to murder Harry's parents was made by Professor Trelawney.
• Fudge and other Ministry employees witness Voldemort at the Department of Mysteries just before he flees.
• Dumbledore orders Professor Snape to teach Harry Occlumency to keep Voldemort out of his mind.