Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second book in the Harry Potter series.
Harry is in the summer holidays after his eventful yet exciting first year at Hogwarts school for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is spending the first part of his summer with the Dursleys and they are expecting a visit from Vernon Dursley's boss so Harry is expected to 'be seen and not heard' 'to make no noise' and to 'shut that bloody owl up'.
When Vernon's boss arrives everything goes smoothly, Harry is quiet and in his room… until Dobby the house elf appears. He warns Harry not to go back to Hogwarts, as well as that Dobby makes a lot of noise causing the dinner party downstairs to hear him. As Harry and Dobby venture downstairs, Dobby bewitches Petunia's prize pudding to fly and tells Harry if he decides to go to Hogwarts he will make the pudding fly into the Dursleys as Harry says he couldn't possibly not go to Hogwarts, Dobby makes the pudding fly and land on the unsuspecting dinner guests, then Dobby rather inconveniently for Harry, disapparates with a loud crack.
A few hours later and a letter from the Ministry of Magic arrives giving Harry a warning because he, as an under age wizard, supposedly used magic outside of school. Harry finds himself locked in his bedroom.
Late at night Harry receives an unexpected visit from a flying car flown by the Weasley twins, Fred and George, and in the back seat sits Ron. They help him escape from the Dursley's and Harry is overjoyed to find out he is going to spend the duration of the summer at the Weasley's house, the Burrow. Upon arriving Mrs Weasley is furious at the Weasley children for borrowing Mr Weasley's bewitched car but after a while they all settle in and prepare to go back to Hogwarts.
When they arrive at King's Cross station Harry and Ron attempt to run into the wall but something prevents them, so, in order that they don't miss out on going to Hogwarts, Harry and Ron decide to take the bewitched car to Hogwarts. When they arrive Harry and Ron expect to be expelled as they land in the forbidden forest and are somewhat coldly greeted by a formidable Professor McGonagall. Thankfully they aren't expelled and they join their fellow Gryffindors as they all marvel at their more than spectacular entrance; the only one unimpressed is their best friend Hermione, who seems to be the only one apart from Professor McGonagall who could see that they could've died or worse: been expelled!
As the year goes on they are greeted by a new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. The new teacher is a well-known author in the wizarding world who Hermione idolises but Harry and Ron aren't so sure about him.
As the year goes on mysterious instances keep occurring as students become petrified; this is, as Dumbledore expects, the result of the Chamber of Secrets opening again. Harry, Ron and Hermione are determined to get to the bottom of it but shockingly Hermione becomes petrified too!
This is another great story by J.K. Rowling. It shows how Harry and Ron get on throughout the 'clever stuff' without Hermione and how the Chamber of Secrets was supposedly opened before by their biggest friend. It also shows a side of Hogwarts possibly without Dumbledore.
Just like the first book this is superbly written with amazing descriptions to make you feel as if you are Harry attending Hogwarts!
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