A Villain Who Doesn’t Want Redemption- The Riddle Rewritten

[NJ3]

I’ve been thinking a lot about how most dark or villainous characters in fiction eventually get softened.
They either end up with a redemption arc...
Get handed a tragic backstory that “explains” everything...
Or they’re punished in the end as a moral lesson.

But what about a character who is evil, knows it, and doesn’t care to change?
Not cartoonishly evil or chaotically stupid. But methodical, manipulative and intelligent.
Someone who views the world as a chessboard, where morality isn’t a rule...but just another piece to move around.
That’s the kind of story I wanted to explore.
A character who doesn’t want redemption. Who doesn’t want forgiveness.
He already lost once, and now he’s back to make sure he wins.
Not through cruelty for cruelty’s sake, but through patience, strategy, and long-term planning.
The kind of villain who smiles politely while quietly laying the foundation for something far darker.

And that led me to this idea...
Voldemort reborn with all his memories, starting over in the orphanage.
Personally, I always felt Voldemort had wasted potential. A brilliant mind buried under arrogance and theatrics.
But what if he had been colder, sharper, willing to play the long game?
What if he had actually learned from his failures instead of doubling down on them?
That’s where The Riddle Rewritten begins.
And if you are curious here is the synopsis. Do give it a read...

"Lord Voldemort is dead.
His Horcruxes, destroyed. His name, reviled. His legacy, in ruins.
But death is merely a doorway. And he has walked back through it.
Reborn as a child in the same grim orphanage that once shaped him, Tom Marvolo Riddle awakens in silence… with every memory intact.
The Dark Lord is gone, but the mind behind him is sharper than ever. Colder, wiser and unburdened by ego.
This time, there will be no trail of fear. No fanfare. No foolish declarations of supremacy. Only a mask.
With the world unaware of who he truly is, Tom dons the perfect disguise... the obedient child, the polite prodigy, the charming orphan no one would ever suspect.
Every smile is measured. Every word, rehearsed. Every bond, a weapon in the making.
He has no intention of repeating past mistakes.
Let others believe in second chances. Let them see kindness in his eyes.
Behind them lies the most dangerous magic of all... patience.
This is not a story of redemption.
It’s a blueprint for conquest."

 

[CharlesEBrown]

While there is a definite (though perhaps small?) market for Evil Hero stories, two things to keep in mind here:
1) You might be better served with a completely original character rather than fanfiction, as, in this case, familiarity may work AGAINST you as a writer/creator.

2) If the villain has NO redeeming qualities, unless he gets progressively worse as he goes along, either unhinged or just more brutal, you'll fatigue most readers (and if he gets worse, you wind up with "John Norman Syndrome" - Norman wrote the "Gor" novels, where the MC starts out as a heroic champion, fighting against the evil slavers who run the world of Gor, but over the course of the series, winds up becoming that which he fought against - most readers "tune out" around book four when he starts going down the dark path; the few who stick with it to the end that I've talked to said there were moments in the last few books that sickened THEM but otherwise they loved it - but that they would not recommend it to anyone else because of those really bad moments).

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Give em something cute.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Bruh it's a fanfic. No thanks.

 

[NJ3]

While there is a definite (though perhaps small?) market for Evil Hero stories, two things to keep in mind here:
1) You might be better served with a completely original character rather than fanfiction, as, in this case, familiarity may work AGAINST you as a writer/creator.

2) If the villain has NO redeeming qualities, unless he gets progressively worse as he goes along, either unhinged or just more brutal, you'll fatigue most readers (and if he gets worse, you wind up with "John Norman Syndrome" - Norman wrote the "Gor" novels, where the MC starts out as a heroic champion, fighting against the evil slavers who run the world of Gor, but over the course of the series, winds up becoming that which he fought against - most readers "tune out" around book four when he starts going down the dark path; the few who stick with it to the end that I've talked to said there were moments in the last few books that sickened THEM but otherwise they loved it - but that they would not recommend it to anyone else because of those really bad moments).

Thanks for the insight! You raise some really good points. I agree that an entirely original character might give me more freedom in the long run, but I also feel fanfiction gives me a unique sandbox to test this kind of story. With Voldemort/Tom Riddle, readers already have a built-in framework of expectations. They know who he was, what he became, and how it all fell apart. That makes it more interesting (at least to me) to flip the script and ask, what if he learned from his mistakes? What if he became colder, subtler, and patient instead of theatrical?
As for redeeming qualities, I don’t intend to soften him into a “secret good guy,” but I do think a compelling villain can still have charisma, intelligence, and moments of restraint. Not because he’s redeemable, but because he’s playing the long game and understands when cruelty would be counterproductive. It’s less about watching him spiral downward and more about watching him construct something dangerous in plain sight.
I guess that’s part of why I wanted to start in fanfiction: I get to explore a “what if” version of a character people think they already know, and in doing so, test how far I can push the idea of a villain protagonist who doesn’t want redemption.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your perspective. It gave me a lot to think about as I shape this story.

Give em something cute.

I'll try...

Bruh it's a fanfic. No thanks.

Totally understandable. Fanfic isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I just enjoy it (especially when it is Harry Potter related) and I can use it to test ideas with familiar characters. Either way, appreciate you checking out the post!

 

[Eldoria]

That's a shame because you're writing fanfic. While there's nothing wrong with writing fanfic, as the story develops, you'll lose the opportunity to commercialize your fiction due to patent issues unless you rewrite the name and associations from scratch, which is essentially rewriting.

 

[Distinct-unique_bird]

I’ve been thinking a lot about how most dark or villainous characters in fiction eventually get softened.
They either end up with a redemption arc...
Get handed a tragic backstory that “explains” everything...
Or they’re punished in the end as a moral lesson.

But what about a character who is evil, knows it, and doesn’t care to change?
Not cartoonishly evil or chaotically stupid. But methodical, manipulative and intelligent.
Someone who views the world as a chessboard, where morality isn’t a rule...but just another piece to move around.
That’s the kind of story I wanted to explore.
A character who doesn’t want redemption. Who doesn’t want forgiveness.
He already lost once, and now he’s back to make sure he wins.
Not through cruelty for cruelty’s sake, but through patience, strategy, and long-term planning.
The kind of villain who smiles politely while quietly laying the foundation for something far darker.

And that led me to this idea...
Voldemort reborn with all his memories, starting over in the orphanage.
Personally, I always felt Voldemort had wasted potential. A brilliant mind buried under arrogance and theatrics.
But what if he had been colder, sharper, willing to play the long game?
What if he had actually learned from his failures instead of doubling down on them?
That’s where The Riddle Rewritten begins.
And if you are curious here is the synopsis. Do give it a read...

"Lord Voldemort is dead.
His Horcruxes, destroyed. His name, reviled. His legacy, in ruins.
But death is merely a doorway. And he has walked back through it.
Reborn as a child in the same grim orphanage that once shaped him, Tom Marvolo Riddle awakens in silence… with every memory intact.
The Dark Lord is gone, but the mind behind him is sharper than ever. Colder, wiser and unburdened by ego.
This time, there will be no trail of fear. No fanfare. No foolish declarations of supremacy. Only a mask.
With the world unaware of who he truly is, Tom dons the perfect disguise... the obedient child, the polite prodigy, the charming orphan no one would ever suspect.
Every smile is measured. Every word, rehearsed. Every bond, a weapon in the making.
He has no intention of repeating past mistakes.
Let others believe in second chances. Let them see kindness in his eyes.
Behind them lies the most dangerous magic of all... patience.
This is not a story of redemption.
It’s a blueprint for conquest."

Wow that's awesome to read

 

[MasterY001]

I hated Harry Potter, I was so done after book 6 that I couldn't even start The Deathly Hollows. Mind you that I read the saga as a teenage loner who spent most of his school life in the principal's office playing Genshin Impact.

More importantly, villains like Voldemort who are "evil with no motive or redeeming qualities" make for very bad protagonists. Throw in the reincarnation factor, and you have a narrative that'll quickly fall flat. Unless you're trying to write a shallow power fantasy fanfic; in that case, go nuts

 

[Placeholder]

> But what about a character who is evil, knows it, and doesn’t care to change?

Every real person is the hero of their own narrative. Tragic hero or no. Meaning they don't frame their acts as evil.

That drives their motivation and their observe-orient-decide-act (OODA) loops.

If you haven't worked out their framing for their motivations you get a crappy villain.

 

[Gray_Mann]

Every real person is the hero of their own narrative. Tragic hero or no. Meaning they don't frame their acts as evil.

But then you have the typical/clinical(?) psychopath. To them, regardless of what they do, whether evil or not, it's not about good or bad. Psychologically, the terms means practically nothing to them. They can understand the definitions of good and evil sure, but otherwise, it has no meaning to them. It had nothing to do with them.

It's about desire and pleasure. They do what they do because they want to, and enjoy it. Whether it's heinous and awful, or not. They don't think or register their actions within that mental framework. It's all about whether it's pleasurable or not.

This thought process taken to it's logical conclusion, a psychopath would see themselves as a True Neutral even if to us, they are nothing of the sort. So, there can be people who don't consider themselves either the villain or the hero of their own story, because the identifiers of good and evil have no applicable meaning or purpose inside of their mental capacity.

In a way, this reminds me of the Blue & Orange Morality trope, though not an exact replica of it.

 

[NJ3]

That's a shame because you're writing fanfic. While there's nothing wrong with writing fanfic, as the story develops, you'll lose the opportunity to commercialize your fiction due to patent issues unless you rewrite the name and associations from scratch, which is essentially rewriting.

That’s a fair point, and to be honest, though, I never intended to commercialize my fanfic. Writing has always been more of a hobby for me. Something I love doing in my free time.
If an opportunity ever came up for one of my original works (I’m currently working on one called Echoes of Etheria), then maybe I’d consider publishing. But that’s a long way off, if it ever happens at all.
The Riddle Rewritten is just something I wrote out of love. For the source material, the universe in which there are wizards and muggles, and the nearly perfect characters that make the story alive. It’s my way of playing in a world I’ve always admired,

Wow that's awesome to read

Hope you enjoy the story...
I promise I’ll do my best to make sure the story lives up to your expectations.

I hated Harry Potter, I was so done after book 6 that I couldn't even start The Deathly Hollows. Mind you that I read the saga as a teenage loner who spent most of his school life in the principal's office playing Genshin Impact.

More importantly, villains like Voldemort who are "evil with no motive or redeeming qualities" make for very bad protagonists. Throw in the reincarnation factor, and you have a narrative that'll quickly fall flat. Unless you're trying to write a shallow power fantasy fanfic; in that case, go nuts

Honestly, I can see why Voldemort as written in the originals wouldn’t work as a protagonist. He really did come across as “evil for evil’s sake.” That’s actually part of what made me want to experiment with him in the first place.
In The Riddle Rewritten, I’m not going for a shallow power fantasy or a “pure evil” caricature. My take is on a colder, more strategic Tom Riddle. Someone who’s methodical, manipulative, and willing to play the long game instead of shouting about supremacy and leaving a trail of fear. He’s still very much a villain, but one who relies on patience, planning, and subtlety to get what he wants.
So it’s less about “redeeming” him or turning him into a hero, and more about exploring what happens when he actually learns from his past failures and uses that intelligence in ways that are terrifyingly effective.
Thanks for checking out the post. I really do appreciate the perspective. I’ll do my best to make sure the story doesn’t fall flat.

> But what about a character who is evil, knows it, and doesn’t care to change?

Every real person is the hero of their own narrative. Tragic hero or no. Meaning they don't frame their acts as evil.

That drives their motivation and their observe-orient-decide-act (OODA) loops.

If you haven't worked out their framing for their motivations you get a crappy villain.

Fair enough! ? I’ll do my best to make sure he doesn’t turn into a crappy villain.

But then you have the typical/clinical(?) psychopath. To them, regardless of what they do, whether evil or not, it's not about good or bad. Psychologically, the terms means practically nothing to them. They can understand the definitions of good and evil sure, but otherwise, it has no meaning to them. It had nothing to do with them.

It's about desire and pleasure. They do what they do because they want to, and enjoy it. Whether it's heinous and awful, or not. They don't think or register their actions within that mental framework. It's all about whether it's pleasurable or not.

This thought process taken to it's logical conclusion, a psychopath would see themselves as a True Neutral even if to us, they are nothing of the sort. So, there can be people who don't consider themselves either the villain or the hero of their own story, because the identifiers of good and evil have no applicable meaning or purpose inside of their mental capacity.

In a way, this reminds me of the Blue & Orange Morality trope, though not an exact replica of it.

That’s a really interesting take! You’re right. Someone like that wouldn’t even bother framing themselves as good or evil because those labels don’t register in their worldview. For them, it’s all about desire, satisfaction, and whether an action gives them what they want. In that sense, they could genuinely believe they’re “neutral” while still being absolutely terrifying from the outside looking in.
Thanks for sharing this.
P.S. I looked up blue and orange morality. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Thanks for introducing me to a term I’ll now shamelessly drop into every discussion I have with my friends about TV series and movies. You’re a hero! ?

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Fair enough! ? I’ll do my best to make sure he doesn’t turn into a crappy villain.

That’s a really interesting take! You’re right. Someone like that wouldn’t even bother framing themselves as good or evil because those labels don’t register in their worldview. For them, it’s all about desire, satisfaction, and whether an action gives them what they want. In that sense, they could genuinely believe they’re “neutral” while still being absolutely terrifying from the outside looking in.
Thanks for sharing this.
P.S. I looked up blue and orange morality. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Thanks for introducing me to a term I’ll now shamelessly drop into every discussion I have with my friends about TV series and movies. You’re a hero! ?

If I understand correctly (never read those books and only saw the first movie), he became what he was due to the influence of Grindelwald - who WAS "Evil for Evil's Sake" (more an "anti-muggle racist" from what I gather, than anything else).

 

[NJ3]

If I understand correctly (never read those books and only saw the first movie), he became what he was due to the influence of Grindelwald - who WAS "Evil for Evil's Sake" (more an "anti-muggle racist" from what I gather, than anything else).

Not exactly! Grindelwald wasn’t really ‘evil for evil’s sake.’ His ideology was more about ‘the greater good’... but in a deeply twisted way. He truly believed wizards should step out of hiding and guide humanity, which he saw as being for the betterment of everyone. Of course, the way he went about it, through domination, cruelty, and fear. It was truly dark and horrific, and that’s why he was seen as one of the most dangerous dark wizards before Voldemort. Even Dumbledore, in his teenage years, was briefly drawn to that vision (they were both young then, and Dumbledore honestly thought wizards were better suited to lead the entire human race). Grindelwald’s ideology made him complex, but also terrifying, because he thought he was right.
Voldemort’s goals were much simpler. Dominion, pure and simple. He had no interest in the betterment of anyone but himself, and he was willing to sacrifice anything, even his own humanity, to achieve it. While he did believe wizards were superior and better suited to rule, he aligned himself with the pure-blood faction mostly out of convenience. Their ideology served his ambitions, so he made himself their champion. The irony, of course, is that he was a half-blood (witch mother, Muggle father), something he carefully concealed while boasting about his mother’s lineage. Most notably his descent from Salazar Slytherin, one of Hogwarts founders.
And I don't think Voldemort was influenced by Grindelwald at all. They walked completly different paths tbh.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

You are probably right - the only link is both were "Wizard Supremacists" (though Voldemort was more "Voldemort Supremacist" I guess) - that was just the impression I had from seeing Fantastic Beasts and then reading chatter about the other material in that sequence.

 

[NJ3]

You are probably right - the only link is both were "Wizard Supremacists" (though Voldemort was more "Voldemort Supremacist" I guess) - that was just the impression I had from seeing Fantastic Beasts and then reading chatter about the other material in that sequence.

Well I think I studied the harry potter books much thoroughly than my text books tbh.?And I may not be 100% right as there are many new theories coming up day by day. Fantastic beasts potrayed Grindelwald more like the villain suited to battle the MCs (Dumbledore and Newt Scamander). To tell you the truth I only like the first film in the Fantastic beast series. Rest felt like garbage or garbage adjacent.