every time i see this edit i remember tom and harry are canonically each other’s mirrors, parallels, foils, SOULMATES

they have so many similarities its so good. like prophesied to e/o yeah ok thats one thing but also… brother wands, both orphans, both halfbloods, both with a temper, both neglected, both call hogwarts their first home, both Parselmouths, both raised without love, although +

harry ended up finding it through his friends while tom just denounced it altogether. i think this is partly one of the reasons harry even feels sympathy for him; he recognises he could have turned out just as vile if he lacked love as severely as tom riddle did 😶‍🌫️

ntm during their very last confrontation in DH where, even after all the wreckage tom’s caused, harry STILL tries to give him one last chance and tells him to try for some remorse (so he can repair his soul), but tom just refuses to be saved… they are my Tragic shaylas

and well if tom in CoS is to be believed they also look alike so that’s another thing to add to the similarity list

actually while i’m here oomf just reminded me they’re also BOTH inheritors of the deathly hallows (ring & cloak), as they’re both descendants of the Peverells. theyre definitely related if u trace it back far enough 🫩 (though everyone in wizarding britain is cousins somehow)