Voldemort doesn't literally eat unicorns, but he consumes their blood to sustain his weakened state and maintain a semblance of life.
The Necessity of Unicorn Blood
Voldemort, after his failed attempt to kill Harry Potter as a baby, existed in a spectral form. He needed a way to regain strength and eventually return to a physical body. Unicorn blood offered a temporary solution, albeit a dark one.
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Prolonging Life: Drinking unicorn blood keeps a person alive, even if they are close to death. This was crucial for Voldemort, whose existence was hanging by a thread.
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Temporary Sustenance: Unicorn blood provided Voldemort with the strength he needed to continue plotting his return.
The Cost of Immortality
The use of unicorn blood came at a terrible price.
- Cursed Existence: As stated in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, drinking unicorn blood bestows a cursed half-life.
- Moral Depravity: Killing a unicorn is considered a deeply evil act, due to the creature's purity and innocence. This act further solidified Voldemort's descent into darkness.
Quirrell's Role
Professor Quirrell, possessed by Voldemort, was the one actually killing the unicorns and drinking their blood in the Forbidden Forest. This allowed Voldemort to conserve his remaining strength.
Summary
Voldemort consumed unicorn blood to stay alive and strong enough to eventually regain a physical form, despite the cursed existence it granted and the profound evil associated with the act.
