How exactly did Tom Riddle know he was the "heir of Slytherin" in &quo

Question: How exactly did Tom Riddle know he was the "heir of Slytherin" in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!."

I know Tom Riddle found out he was related to Slytherin through the lady at the orphanage, but how did he know that he was the "heir of Slytherin," and that he was meant to open the Chamber of Secrets!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

well he was the last of the slytherins so that would automaticly make him the heir!. then dumbledore, i think, said that it took him a long time to find the entrance but cause he was smart he did, and obviously realized parsletounge would work!. he wasnt "destined" to open it, he just did it cause he didnt like muggle-bornsWww@QuestionHome@Com

I don't know if he knew at first that it was his destiny!. I think it was just the sort of thing he really, really wanted to do and nothing could have stopped him from looking for the chamber and opening it!. He said he wanted to finish Slytherin's "noble work" so maybe that was the only way he knew how to do that!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, once he got to Hogwarts, he probably started trying to find out everything he could about his magical heritage!. He could have stumbled across the legend, and then figured it out based on that!. He was one smart cookie, and he had been in Hogwarts for several years by then!.Www@QuestionHome@Com