Hi, I just joined this forum because I hope someone here might have a theory about something I don't really understand in the HP books.
In book 2, Lord Voldemeort claims to be Tom Riddle, and that he was 16 years old when he went to Hogwarts 50 years ago. He says his muggle father was also called Riddle and abandoned him and his mother before he was even born. Now, in book 4, the first chapter begins with the Riddle story, and states that 50 YEARS AGO all three Riddles were killed (Mr. Riddle, Mrs. Riddle and theit GROWN UP son: TOM). It also states that a stranger, a pale teenage boy with black hair, was seen the day of the killing.
I don't understand how this could be. Who is Lord Voldemort in this case? Is he the grown up son Tom Riddle (accurate according to name, but not according to age, timing, status etc) Or is he the teenage black-haired boy seen that day? But how can that be then? Did his father already have a son (and a wife) when Voldemort was conceived?
If this is true, who then is the other Tom Riddle or is he irrelevant?
Maybe I've missed something and makes this a really stupid question, but please let me know what you think about this.