25 Most Dramatic Deaths In The Harry Potter Books - Ranked

24. The Gaunts

Book: Before Harry's time at Hogwarts How they died: Died from broken hearts Death: The Gaunts were the last known descendants of Salazar Slytherin and opted for marrying their cousins to ensure that their offspring were born as pure bloods. Despite the abnormalities and the mental illnesses that came with generations of incestuous breeding, both Merope and Marvolo Gaunt died from broken hearts. Marvolo was sent to Azkaban and during his return home, expected his daughter Merope, to give him a warm greeting, but upon learning about her marriage to Tom Riddle Snr, the shock basically led to his untimely death. Merope also died from a broken heart but her death was a result of guilt and a longing for love, unlike her father who presumably died from shame. She used magic to trick Riddle into marrying her and when he found out about it, he left her and his unborn son. She later died at the orphanage and gave birth to one of the most powerful Dark wizards of all time. At least that would have made her father happy.