Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

Author: J.K. Rowling

Published in: 1998

Date read: 3rd November 2002

Score: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Childrens' fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling is the second book in the Harry Potter series, following Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he uncovers a terrifying secret within the school's ancient walls.

The story begins with Harry Potter enduring another miserable summer with the Dursleys. He's desperate to return to Hogwarts, but a mysterious house-elf named Dobby appears in his room, frantically warning Harry not to go back to school, claiming that terrible things are about to happen. Dobby's attempts to keep Harry away, however, only lead to more trouble with the Dursleys.

Eventually, Harry is dramatically rescued by his best friends, Ron and Fred and George Weasley, who arrive in their father's enchanted flying car. Harry spends the rest of the summer at the chaotic but loving Weasley home, the Burrow.

Upon their return to Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and Hermione Granger find themselves in Gryffindor again. Their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is the conceited and incompetent celebrity wizard, Gilderoy Lockhart. Soon, a chilling series of events begins to unfold: students, particularly Muggle-borns, are found Petrified (paralyzed but still alive), accompanied by cryptic messages written in blood on the walls, stating that the "Chamber of Secrets has been opened" and the "heir of Slytherin" will "purge" Hogwarts of those unworthy to study magic.

Panic spreads throughout the school as students and teachers fear a resurgence of the ancient evil connected to Salazar Slytherin, one of Hogwarts' founders, who believed magic should only be taught to pure-bloods. Harry, Ron, and Hermione take it upon themselves to investigate. Their clues lead them to suspect Draco Malfoy, a prejudiced Slytherin student, and even Hagrid, who was previously expelled decades ago for a similar incident.

To uncover the truth, Hermione brews Polyjuice Potion so the trio can disguise themselves as Slytherin students to interrogate Malfoy. They also discover a mysterious diary belonging to Tom Riddle, a former Hogwarts student. When Harry interacts with the diary, he is shown visions of Riddle's past, including his role in the original opening of the Chamber of Secrets fifty years prior, and the expulsion of Hagrid.

The attacks escalate, eventually resulting in Hermione herself being Petrified. With the help of a clue from Hermione before she was incapacitated, Harry and Ron deduce that the Chamber's entrance is in the girls' bathroom, accessible through the sink of Moaning Myrtle, a ghost who haunts the toilet. They also learn that Hagrid's giant spider, Aragog, was wrongly accused, and that the monster of the Chamber is a Basilisk, a giant serpent whose gaze is instantly fatal.

The climax occurs when Ron's younger sister, Ginny Weasley, is taken into the Chamber. Harry and Ron, accompanied by the useless Lockhart (who tries to erase their memories but backfires), descend into the Chamber of Secrets. Harry finds Ginny, weak and dying, and discovers that the true heir of Slytherin is Tom Riddle himself, a memory preserved in the diary. Riddle reveals he is Lord Voldemort's past self and has been manipulating Ginny through the diary to unleash the Basilisk.

Harry, armed only with Gryffindor's Sword (sent to him by Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes) and the courage to face the monster, defeats the Basilisk. He then destroys Riddle's diary with a Basilisk fang, effectively destroying the piece of Voldemort's soul (a Horcrux) contained within, saving Ginny, and closing the Chamber of Secrets for good. Harry ends his second year a hero, having once again thwarted Voldemort's plans and reaffirmed that bravery and friendship are more powerful than ancient prejudices.

Comments:
Just as exciting and great to read. Once again, I didn't care that I bought it from the children's section.

Books that we've read by J.K. Rowling (7):
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) (1997), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) (1998), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3) (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4) (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) (2003), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6) (2005), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7) (2007)