The story of Voldemort’s mother is so tragic even Harry almost felt sorry for He Who Must Not Be Named when he heard it:

‘Merope refused to raise her wand even to save her own life.’

‘She wouldn’t even stay alive for her son?’

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. ‘Could you possibly be feeling sorry for Lord Voldemort?’

‘No,’ said Harry quickly, ‘but she had a choice, didn’t she, not like my mother –’

‘Your mother had a choice, too,’ said Dumbledore gently. ‘Yes, Merope Gaunt chose death in spite of a son who needed her, but do not judge her too harshly, Harry. She was greatly weakened by long suffering and she never had your mother’s courage…’

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Merope might have proven a positive influence on Tom Riddle had she lived to bring him up herself. However, she died soon after his birth without trying to save herself with magic.

The suffering Merope endured at the hands of her cruel father Marvolo and brother Morfin left quite a mark. By the time the two men were locked up in Azkaban by the Ministry of Magic, the damage had been done.

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