The Riddle House

• Type: Residence, Temporary Death Eater Headquarters
• Location: On a hill overlooking the village of Little Hangleton, England
• Owner/Residents:
  • Formerly: The Riddle Family (Thomas Riddle, Mary Riddle, Tom Riddle Sr.)
  • Temporarily: Lord Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, Nagini
  • Groundskeeper: Frank Bryce
• Key Features: A large, once-grand manor that had fallen into a state of severe disrepair; covered in ivy; located in a commanding position on a hillside overlooking its village.

The Riddle House was a large, square mansion that was, for many years, the finest house in the village of Little Hangleton. It was the home of the wealthy Muggle Riddle Family, who were unpopular with the other villagers due to their snobbish and aloof nature. In the summer of 1943, a sixteen-year-old Tom Marvolo Riddle travelled to Little Hangleton to seek out his maternal family, the Gaunts. After learning the story of his heritage from his uncle, Morfin Gaunt, he proceeded to the Riddle House. There, he used the Killing Curse to murder his father, Tom Riddle Sr., and his paternal grandparents, Thomas Riddle and Mary Riddle. By altering Morfin's memory, Tom Riddle framed his uncle for the crimes, leaving Morfin Gaunt to be sentenced to Azkaban for life. Following the triple murder, the Riddle House was sold and passed through a succession of owners, but none ever stayed for long. It was eventually abandoned and fell into a state of dereliction. By the 1990s, the house was damp, dark, and neglected, with boarded-up or broken windows, peeling paint, and a roof with missing tiles. It was considered “creepy” by the local villagers, and boys would sometimes break in on a dare. The only person who cared for the property was the Riddles' former gardener, Frank Bryce, an elderly World War II veteran who lived in a cottage on the grounds.

The Riddle House serves as a critical location at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In August 1994, Lord Voldemort, in his weak, rudimentary physical form, used the abandoned house as his secret headquarters. He was cared for by his servant, Peter Pettigrew, and was accompanied by his snake, Nagini, who was also a Horcrux. From this base, Voldemort and Pettigrew planned the final stages leading to the Dark Lord's restoration to a full body. They discussed the recent murder of Ministry of Magic employee Bertha Jorkins, who had provided them with crucial information, and their plot to capture Harry Potter and use him in a dark magical ritual. Their plans were overheard by the gardener, Frank Bryce, who, upon seeing a light in the supposedly empty house, crept inside to investigate. When Frank Bryce was discovered eavesdropping, Lord Voldemort murdered him with the Killing Curse. Harry Potter witnessed this entire event in a vivid dream from hundreds of miles away at the Dursleys', the pain in his scar waking him. This event marks the first appearance of Lord Voldemort in the series' present-day timeline and establishes the immediate threat he poses, setting the stage for the book's central conflict.

• Upstairs Drawing Room: This was the main room used by Voldemort and Pettigrew during their stay. It featured a fireplace and a high-backed armchair where Voldemort sat, concealed from the doorway. Frank Bryce overheard their conversation while standing in the hall outside this room.
• Entrance Hall: Described as large and echoing, with a dusty, threadbare rug. Frank Bryce entered the house through this hall.
• Kitchen: A large, dark room that smelled of decay and dampness. It had a bare stone floor and a scullery attached. Frank Bryce passed through it to reach the staircase.
• Grounds: The house was set in extensive grounds which included a small cottage where Frank Bryce lived. The grounds overlooked Little Hangleton's church and the graveyard where Voldemort's father and grandparents were buried, the future site of his rebirth.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Riddle House is depicted as a grand, Gothic-style manor. The opening scene, which shows Frank Bryce's investigation and subsequent murder, is a faithful adaptation of the first chapter of the book (film).