Chamber of Secrets

       Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second book in the Harry Potter series, and Harry’s second year at Hogwarts.  Before he even gets to Hogwarts, he is confronted by a house elf by the name of Dobby in his bedroom at the Dursley’s.  He also misses the Hogwarts Express along with Ron, so they decide to fly the flying car to Hogwarts instead.  They start out the school year by receiving detention.  There is a new defense Against the Dark Arts teacher- Gilderoy Lockheart who is a very egotistical person and thinks he is very great (but turns out to be a fraud).  He meets possibly his greatest fan ever, Colin Creevy; witnesses Ron belching up slugs (the fault of his own defective wand), and continues to play on the Gryffindor Quidditch team as Seeker.  The drama continues with Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy, and he figures out that he is a parseltounge (he can talk to snakes).  There have also been many attacks of mudbloods.  Harry strives to find the secret of the Chamber of Secrets, and who really is the heir of Slytherin—in pure hope and optimism that it’s not him.  In his searches, he comes across a giant spider, and finds a mysterious diary.  With the help of Hermione, he finds that the monster that lies within the Chamber is a Basilisk.  He finds that Tom Riddle is a memory preserved in a diary for 50 years who is possessing Ginny Weasley and controlling her, and gaining her power as she grows weaker. Tom Riddle is the person who is now Voldemort.  With some help of Fawkes the Phoenix, Godric Gryffindor’s sword, and the Basilisk’s fang, he kills the Basilisk and destroys the diary, therefore destroying the living memory of Tom Riddle.