The Very Secret Diary is the thirteenth chapter of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Events[]
Hermione is in the Hospital Wing until February. Harry and Ron have found out it couldn't be Draco who opened the Chamber of Secrets, so the three consider who else the Heir of Slytherin could be. Later, Harry and Ron find Tom Riddle's Diary after someone attempted to throw it away in a rage.
Ron remembers "Tom Riddle" is the name of a student who was given a Special Award for Services to the School. Hermione proposes the Diary could have special powers, before working out it had to be fifty years old which is when the Chamber of Secrets was opened the first time. She thought Riddle was given the award for finding whoever was responsible, and hopes the Diary can tell them what happened but it is blank.
Professor Lockhart has a special Valentine's Day event at Hogwarts, decorating the Great Hall and hiring dwarves to sing songs and deliver presents. Ginny uses a dwarf to deliver a singing poem to Harry but when he realises it is for him, he runs away until the dwarf pins him and forces him to hear the song in front of a big crowd. Harry's school bag is dropped in the process and his books fall out. Ginny notices Tom Riddle's Diary and panics. Draco picks the book up and Harry has to use the Disarming Charm to get it back.
That evening, Harry notices every book in hus bag has spilled ink on it except for the Diary. He is curious so he writes in the Diary. He is surprised when Tom writes back. Harry asks Tom what happened the first time the Chamber of Secrets was opened and he takes Harry into the past through a recording in the book. Harry watches Professor Dippet informing Tom the school will be closed down because a student was killed unless whoever is responsible is caught.
Harry follows Tom towards the school dungeons. Tom talks to Professor Dumbledore who is suspicious and he tells Tom he should go back to his common room, but he instead goes to hide in the Potions classroom for a short time. He then starts following a person walking down the corridor to a dungeon. The person is a young Rubeus Hagrid who is putting an Acromantula in a box. Tom accuses Hagrid and Aragog of being responsible. Hagrid protests and Aragog escapes but Tom tells Professor Dippet anyway.
Hagrid is expelled and Tom is given a Special Award for Services to the School. The whole thing is covered up but Dumbledore argues in Hagrid's favour and secures him a job at Hogwarts. Harry now considers Hagrid could be responsible for opening the Chamber of Secrets again.
Characters[]
Chapter guide[]
| Chapters in Harry Potter books | |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 • 18 |
| Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 21 • 22 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | Companion novels |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 Epilogue |
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them • Quidditch Through the Ages • The Tales of Beedle the Bard |