Merope Riddle (née Gaunt) (c. 1907 – 31 December, 1926) was a pure-blood witch, daughter of Marvolo Gaunt, and sister of Morfin. She was a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin and a Parselmouth. Merope grew up in a shack near Little Hangleton with her father Marvolo and brother Morfin, whom were both mentally and physically abusive. Merope developed an obsessive love for Tom Riddle, a handsome and wealthy Muggle. After both her father and brother were imprisoned in Azkaban she bewitched and married Tom. A year into their marriage he recovered and abandoned her and their unborn child. Merope ended up alone in London and later died at Wool's Orphanage, soon after giving birth to her son whom she had named Tom Marvolo Riddle.