Tom Riddle was the heir of Slytherin due to his mother’s ancestry. Merope Gaunt was a pure-blood witch and a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As a result, Tom Riddle was related to Salazar Slytherin through his mother’s side.
Tom Riddle’s father, Tom Riddle Senior, was a muggle, meaning he had no magical abilities. However, this did not stop Tom Riddle from being the heir of Slytherin. This is because magical bloodlines are passed down through the mother’s side, meaning that any child of a witch or wizard is considered to be a witch or wizard, regardless of the father’s blood status.
Tom Riddle was a powerful wizard, even as a child. He was exceptionally talented in the Dark Arts and was even able to open the Chamber of Secrets at the age of sixteen. This was a feat that no other student had ever accomplished before. It is believed that this was due to his connection to Salazar Slytherin, as it was his ancestor’s chamber.
Tom Riddle was able to use his connection to Slytherin to gain power and influence in the wizarding world. He was able to manipulate those around him and even gain control of the Ministry of Magic. He also used his power to create his own dark army, known as the Death Eaters.
Tom Riddle was the heir of Slytherin due to his mother’s ancestry. Despite his father being a muggle, Tom Riddle was still able to use his connection to Salazar Slytherin to gain power and influence in the wizarding world. He was a powerful wizard, even as a child, and was able to open the Chamber of Secrets at the age of sixteen. His connection to Slytherin allowed him to gain control of the Ministry of Magic and create his own dark army, the Death Eaters.