The Evolution and Appearance of Voldemort: A Look at His Look and Horcruxes

Sometimes, one cannot help but ponder the question: why does Voldemort look like Tom Riddle as an adult but not as a baby? This article delves into the origins of Voldemort's appearance and how his actions and dark magic influenced this evolution.

Voldemort's Appearance as a Child versus an Adult

Babies, in general, do not closely resemble anyone, especially not their future selves. During the development stages, as demonstrated with Harry Potter, one can identify similar facial features among family members, but these are often negligible. In the case of Voldemort and young Tom Riddle, they shared a similar face shape and dark hair color. This similarity can be attributed to being descendants of Pureblood families and intermarriage within such communities. Purebloods have a tendency to share a common ancestor down the lineage.

The Role of Horcruxes in Voldemort's Appearance

The Dark Lord's appearance underwent significant changes, particularly after the creation of his Horcruxes. While the possession of multiple Horcruxes did not completely oblivate Voldemort's face, it certainly made him look less human and more monstrous. He lost his nose, and his skin took on a more ghastly appearance, with bloodshot eyes and an overall evil demeanor. However, it is crucial to note that the loss of his nose did not occur until he attempted to kill Harry Potter, an event that marked a significant turning point in his existence.

When Voldemort sought to regain physical form after losing his nose, he resorted to dark magic. He used Nagini's venom and milk to create a rudimentary body, which deviated from the human form, incorporating snake-like DNA and characteristics. This altered body became the basis for his subsequent transformations.

The Impact of Multiple Horcruxes on Voldemort's Appearance

According to various interpretations, each Horcrux Voldemort created contributed to his increasingly monstrous appearance:

First Horcrux: Made him paler. Second Horcrux: Continued to make him paler. Third Horcrux: Caused his flawless complexion to deteriorate. Fourth Horcrux: Began to affect his eyes, making them more malevolent. Fifth Horcrux: Accelerated the loss of his hair. Sixth Horcrux: Revealed a more snake-like appearance, symbolizing his darker persona. Seventh Horcrux: Contributed to a more skeletal appearance. Eighth Horcrux: Further deteriorated any remnants of his soul, worsening his appearance.

Concluding Thoughts

The appearance of Voldemort is a direct result of his dark magic and the creation of Horcruxes. Each Horcrux significantly altered Voldemort's appearance over time, making him look more monstrous and less human. The endgame was to create a perfect form - one that was detached from Tom Riddle and represented his new darker self, mirroring his inner transformation. Thus, while Voldemort started with a more human appearance, his obsession with immortality and his dark magic ultimately led to his ghastly and snake-like form.

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