Tomb

• Type: Funerary monument, place of interment.
• Location: Various. The most prominent examples are located on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and in the graveyard of Little Hangleton.
• Owner/Residents: The deceased interred within, most notably Albus Dumbledore and the Riddle Family.
• Key Features: Typically constructed of stone or marble, ranging from simple headstones to elaborate, stand-alone structures. They serve as the final resting place for deceased witches and wizards.

A tomb is a structure built to house the remains of the dead. In the Wizarding world, as in the Muggle world, these vary in size and design. Two tombs hold particular significance in the events of the Second Wizarding War. The Tomb of Albus Dumbledore Following his death at the hands of Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore was honoured with a magnificent white marble tomb. In a break with all precedent, the Ministry of Magic agreed that he could be buried on the grounds of Hogwarts, making him the only Headmaster to be laid to rest there. The tomb was placed beside the Great Lake, where his funeral was held. It is a simple, elegant rectangular structure of white stone, magically sealed to contain his body and his wand. The Grave of the Riddle Family The Riddle Family's grave is located in the churchyard of the village of Little Hangleton. The site includes a large, marble headstone marking the graves of Thomas Riddle, his wife Mary Riddle, and their son, Tom Riddle Sr.. An angel of death statue overlooks this family plot. The grave of Tom Riddle Sr. was pivotal in the rebirth of his son, Lord Voldemort.

The two primary tombs in the series serve as critical settings for major turning points in the narrative, one representing a desecration for power and the other, a place of ultimate peace and sacrifice. Dumbledore's Tomb Dumbledore's tomb initially symbolizes the end of an era and the immense loss felt by the anti-Voldemort resistance. However, its role becomes far more active in the hunt for the Deathly Hallows. In his quest for the Elder Wand, Lord Voldemort travels to Hogwarts and desecrates the tomb, blasting it open to seize the powerful wand from Dumbledore's possession. This act highlights Voldemort's complete lack of respect for the dead and his single-minded pursuit of power. After the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter, the true master of the Elder Wand, uses it to repair his own broken holly and phoenix feather wand. Rather than keep the Hallow for himself, Harry chooses to break the wand's bloody history by returning it to Dumbledore's tomb, which he magically repairs. He intended for the wand's power to be extinguished when he died a natural death. The Riddle Grave The graveyard in Little Hangleton, specifically the grave of Tom Riddle Sr., is the setting for Lord Voldemort's terrifying return to a physical body. Guided by Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew uses a bone from the grave as a key ingredient in the dark potion that restores his master. The act of using his hated Muggle father's bone is a deeply symbolic one for Voldemort. The subsequent duel between Harry and Voldemort amongst the tombstones results in the Priori Incantatem effect, which forces the echoes of Voldemort's most recent victims to emerge from his wand and aid Harry's escape.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, the scene where Lord Voldemort opens Dumbledore's tomb is depicted. He fires a spell that cracks the white marble, and he triumphantly takes the Elder Wand. (film)
• A significant departure from the novel occurs in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2. Instead of returning the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's tomb, Harry Potter snaps it in two and throws the pieces into the chasm below the Hogwarts bridge. (film)
• The graveyard set for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire featured a large, imposing Angel of Death statue looming over the Riddle family grave, which became an iconic part of the film's visual design for the climax. (film)