Harry Potter, #2
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Chapter 13
Overview
Harry and Ron discover a 50-year-old diary belonging to T. M. Riddle, which mysteriously resists ink and later writes back. On Valentine’s Day, Malfoy briefly seizes it, but Harry recovers it. The diary pulls Harry into Riddle’s memory, where Riddle implicates Hagrid as the culprit behind the past Chamber attacks.
This revelation redirects suspicion toward Hagrid and reframes the historical narrative behind the Chamber, raising new stakes for Harry’s investigation.
Summary
With Hermione still in the hospital wing after the Polyjuice mishap, Harry and Ron visit her and bring homework. They overhear Filch raging about a flood and trace it to Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, where Myrtle complains someone threw a book at her. Harry finds a 50-year-old blank diary labeled T. M. Riddle; despite Ron’s warnings, he keeps it.
Hermione returns in February and links the diary’s date to the Chamber’s last opening, theorizing Riddle earned his award for catching the culprit. Attempts to reveal hidden writing fail, but Harry remains drawn to the diary. They confirm Riddle’s distinctions in the trophy room.
As optimism rises with no new attacks, Lockhart stages a Valentine’s Day spectacle with dwarf “cupids.” A dwarf delivers Harry an embarrassing singing valentine as Malfoy grabs the diary, thinking it’s Harry’s. Harry disarms Malfoy and recovers it. Oddly, the diary is unstained by ink spilled over Harry’s other books.
That night, Harry tests the diary; ink vanishes into the pages and the diary writes back as Tom Riddle. Through written conversation, Riddle claims he caught the Chamber’s opener fifty years ago but was silenced. He offers to show Harry his memory.
Harry is drawn into a vivid memory: Headmaster Dippet refuses Riddle’s request to stay over summer due to the attacks. A younger Dumbledore warns Riddle not to roam. Riddle stalks the dungeons and confronts a large boy—Rubeus Hagrid—accusing him of keeping a monster. A giant spider-like creature bursts out and escapes; Riddle moves to act as Hagrid defends it. The vision ends, and Harry concludes Hagrid opened the Chamber.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterFinds T. M. Riddle’s diary, communicates with it, enters Riddle’s memory, and believes Hagrid opened the Chamber.
- Tom Marvolo RiddleAuthor of the diary; converses with Harry via writing and shows a memory implicating Hagrid.
- Ron WeasleySkeptical of the diary; helps recover it from Malfoy; accompanies Harry in investigations.
- Hermione GrangerReturns from the hospital; theorizes the diary links to the earlier Chamber opening; attempts revealing spells.
- Rubeus HagridIn Riddle’s memory, confronted for keeping a giant creature; becomes suspected as the past culprit.
- Draco MalfoySnatches the diary during the valentine scene; taunts Harry and Ginny; is disarmed by Harry.
- Moaning MyrtleHer bathroom floods; identifies where the thrown diary was found.
- Professor Armando DippetPast headmaster in Riddle’s memory; refuses Riddle’s stay due to the attacks.
- Albus DumbledoreAppears younger in the memory; warns Riddle not to roam the corridors.
- Gilderoy LockhartStages an over-the-top Valentine’s Day event with dwarf cupids, annoying staff and students.
- Percy WeasleyAttempts to enforce rules during the corridor commotion; scolds Harry for using magic.
- Ginny WeasleyWitnesses the valentine incident; reacts fearfully when Malfoy grabs the diary.
- Argus FilchAngrily reacts to a corridor flood near Myrtle’s bathroom.
- Madam PomfreyTreats Hermione; reports progress of Mandrakes toward the cure.
- Professor FlitwickEmbarrassed by Lockhart’s love-potion suggestion; teaches Charms amid cupid interruptions.