Chapter Summaries

Albert disguised himself as Lockhart with Polyjuice Potion and cautiously tested Tom Riddle’s diary, finding that it reacted to some Dark Magic detectors but resisted damage from spells and fire. He tried to contact Tom, but the diary showed no response, leaving Albert to wonder whether Riddle had grown wary of him.

• Albert drank Polyjuice Potion made with Lockhart’s hair and transformed into Lockhart while recording the potion’s effects.
• Albert used protective boxes and controlled gloves to remove Tom Riddle’s diary without touching it directly.
• Albert tested the diary with Dark Magic detectors; the Peeping Mirror did not react, but the Honesty Detector and Detection Device did.
• Albert found that water soaked the diary, but neither a Cutting Curse nor ordinary fire damaged it.
• Albert greeted Tom through the diary, but the words vanished without any reply, and Albert suspected Tom was wary of him.

Tom Riddle tried to manipulate Gilderoy Lockhart through the diary, but Lockhart already knew the diary was a Dark Magic item and questioned him about the Chamber of Secrets. Tom realized Lockhart had been leading him into exposing his lies and was left furious and trapped in the diary.

• Tom Riddle recognized Gilderoy Lockhart's writing and suspected he was the person who had ambushed him and cut off his connection to Ginny Weasley.
• Tom Riddle introduced himself as a harmless record of memories, but Lockhart challenged him with evidence that the diary was a Dark Magic item.
• Lockhart questioned Tom about the Chamber of Secrets and the Special Contribution Award, and Tom claimed he had caught the person who opened it.
• Lockhart revealed that Hagrid had told him Tom accused him of opening the Chamber, exposing Tom's lie and leaving Tom furious.

Albert manipulated Tom Riddle into revealing nothing, then sealed the diary away and focused on preparing defenses against the Basilisk. When Harry asked about ingredients for Polyjuice Potion, Albert advised him to buy them from Mundungus Fletcher, while Hermione considered stealing them from Snape.

• Albert completed a task by exposing Tom Riddle's deception, guided the diary's thoughts toward Slytherin's Chamber, and sealed the diary away.
• Albert decided to limit his contact with the diary and developed magical items to help defend against the Basilisk.
• Harry asked Albert how to obtain Bicorn horn and African tree snake skin, and Albert warned him that Mundungus Fletcher might overcharge him or sell fakes.
• Hermione told Harry and Ron she might sneak into Snape's office if they could distract him during Potions class.
• Hermione proposed making a cauldron explode to keep Snape occupied, alarming Harry and Ron.

Hermione, Harry, and Ron sought Bicorn horn and African tree snake skin from Mundungus Fletcher, but he demanded ten Galleons. Albert warned them the price was a rip-off and explained how to arrange a safer purchase, leaving them to decide whether to wait for a Hogsmeade trip or pay someone to go sooner.

• Hermione wrote to Mundungus Fletcher, who agreed to find the ingredients and quoted her ten Galleons.
• Hermione showed Mundungus's reply to Harry and Ron, and Harry offered to pay until Hermione persuaded him to ask Albert for advice.
• Albert said the ingredients were worth about one Galleon and advised them to negotiate face-to-face and pay only when they received the goods.
• Albert told them about a secret passage to Hogsmeade and suggested asking Fred and George to handle the purchase or paying them to make a special trip.

Albert and Isobel discussed their Christmas plans, but Isobel hesitated to travel with his family because she wanted to spend the holiday with her own. Later, Albert received an invitation to a French wizard’s wedding, and Morg and others urged him to attend despite his plans to visit Italy.

• Isobel and Albert looked through photos of Tom while Katrina joined them for tea and asked whether Albert would spend Christmas at Morg’s estate.
• Albert considered inviting Isobel to Italy with his family, but Isobel declined because she wanted to reunite with her mother and Katrina for Christmas.
• Katrina sensed the awkwardness between Albert and Isobel and left them alone in the Room of Requirement.
• Albert received an invitation from Mr. Delacour to attend his son Hebra’s wedding in France.
• Morg and others encouraged Albert to attend the wedding and use it to build connections in the French magical community.

As December arrived, Albert learned that Harry’s deal with Mundungus Fletcher had collapsed after Ministry officials confiscated Mundungus’s goods and sent him to Azkaban. Albert refused Kenneth Towler’s offer to share profits from the amulet business, and later learned Kenneth had been beaten after selling counterfeit amulets to students.

• Lee Jordan took over organizing the Wizard Card Competition but attracted only thirty-two contestants and no girls.
• Daisy and Herb told Albert they planned to visit France before traveling to Italy for the holidays.
• Hermione told Albert that Harry had failed to make a deal with Mundungus Fletcher, who had been fined and sentenced to six months in Azkaban after a Confundus Charm rebounded.
• Kenneth Towler offered Albert half the profits from selling protective amulets, but Albert refused and offered to sell him the technique instead.
• Kenneth declined Albert’s offer and later sold counterfeit amulets to Muggle-born students, who beat him up and demanded refunds.

Albert arranged for Isobel to accompany him to Mr. Delacour's wedding in France and travel to Italy over Christmas, then reassured her when she felt she had been maneuvered into agreeing. The chapter ended with Isobel asking whether Albert had foreseen something again.

• Percy warned Albert that Kenneth's family dealt in the black market, while Albert watched the snowstorm and considered that profit could still make them partners.
• Wood pushed the young Gryffindor Quidditch team through harsh winter training, and Albert was glad he had retired.
• Professor McGonagall assigned Christmas homework and asked students who would stay at Hogwarts; the Weasley children planned to remain while their parents visited Bill in Egypt.
• Isobel agreed to attend Mr. Delacour's wedding with Albert, and Mrs. McDougal approved their plans to travel to France and Italy over Christmas.
• Isobel told Albert she had felt anxious and tricked by how the wedding and trip had been arranged, and Albert said he did not want to make her wait too long before asking if he had foreseen something again.

Hermione recorded how Albert helped her succeed in stealing ingredients from Snape’s storeroom for the Polyjuice Potion and how she suspected the Chamber of Secrets monster was a Basilisk. She ended the entry believing Albert already had a way to deal with it, while the Chamber and the creature’s hiding place remained unknown.

• Hermione recalled how Albert had helped her adapt to Gryffindor and how Harry and Ron helped distract Snape so she could steal potion ingredients.
• Hermione described picking the storeroom lock with a hairpin and taking Bicorn horn and African tree snake skin for the Polyjuice Potion.
• Hermione questioned whether their plan to disguise themselves as Slytherins and question Malfoy would reveal the Slytherin Heir.
• Hermione remembered telling Albert she suspected a Basilisk was in the Chamber of Secrets, and he suggested carrying a rooster for protection.
• Hermione wrote that she believed Albert already knew how to deal with the Basilisk.

As Christmas approached, Albert discussed the stolen Potions ingredients and rumors accusing Hagrid of being the Slytherin Heir before visiting Hagrid’s cabin. He gave Hagrid a Detection Orb to test against Dark Creatures, hoping it might help with the search for the Chamber of Secrets monster.

• George and Lee Jordan told Albert that Snape’s office had been broken into and that Lockhart was spreading rumors that Hagrid was the Slytherin Heir.
• Albert said Hagrid had told him about his expulsion and insisted that Hagrid had merely been made a scapegoat.
• Albert struggled through the snow to reach Hagrid’s cabin and advised him that The Monster Book of Monsters was unlikely to be popular with students.
• Albert gave Hagrid a Detection Orb and asked him to catch a Dark Creature so they could test its detection range.
• Hagrid warned Albert to tell the professors if he found any clues and not to act rashly while searching for the Chamber of Secrets monster.

Lockhart proposed a Duelling Club to ease the students’ fear after the attack on Colin Creevey, and Dumbledore approved the idea. Dumbledore privately explained that Snape would help, expecting Lockhart’s poor performance to expose him to the students.

• Lockhart visited Dumbledore’s office during his patrol and proposed a Duelling Club to help students defend themselves and ease the oppressive atmosphere.
• Dumbledore approved Lockhart’s proposal and asked him to prepare a detailed plan.
• Lockhart invited Snape to assist him, and Dumbledore made clear that Snape would help.
• After Lockhart left, Snape objected to the plan and offered to run the club himself.
• Dumbledore told Snape that Lockhart was more suitable to lead it and hoped the club would reveal Lockhart’s true abilities.

Albert examined Fred and George’s Canary Cream prank biscuits and learned that Hogwarts was starting a Duelling Club that evening. He expected Lockhart to lead it and predicted that Lockhart would choose Harry, leaving Albert and his friends curious about the spectacle to come.

• Fred and George gave Albert Canary Cream biscuits for Christmas, and Albert tested one after watching it turn Lee Jordan into a canary.
• Albert told Fred and George their prank biscuits were easy to spot and offered to help improve them when he had time.
• Albert, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan read the notice announcing the Duelling Club and decided to attend that evening.
• Albert guessed that Lockhart had arranged the club and predicted he would use Harry for attention rather than pick Albert.

Albert and Isobel went to Hogsmeade, where Hagrid gave Albert a Grindylow and Mr. Morg offered to help with his sweet-wine business. Mr. Morg took them to a secluded house to teach them social etiquette and gave Albert its key, suggesting it could serve as a place for future dates.

• Albert and Isobel discussed her plans to learn Apparition and their acquaintances while walking through the snow to Hogsmeade.
• Hagrid met them on the road, gave Albert a Grindylow he had obtained from Aberforth, and asked him to bring another Detection Orb.
• Albert and Isobel went to the Three Broomsticks, where Mr. Morg joined them and offered to help Albert sell his sweet wine for a share of the profits.
• Mr. Morg led Albert and Isobel to a secluded house to teach them social etiquette and dancing.
• Mr. Morg gave Albert the house key and suggested he and Isobel could use the place for dates after her graduation.

Albert and Isobel visited Mr. Morg to learn about Apparition rules and practice the magic. Albert demonstrated a clean Apparition, while Isobel succeeded on her fourth try but was Splinched, and Mr. Morg repaired her hair.

• Mr. Morg explained Apparition licensing, its risks, and the upcoming Hogwarts lessons as Albert and Isobel read the Ministry booklet.
• Albert recounted Charlie Weasley's disastrous first Apparition test, and Mr. Morg recommended that Albert keep practicing.
• Mr. Morg took Albert and Isobel outside and asked Albert to demonstrate Apparition into a wooden hoop.
• Albert Apparated into the hoop without Splinching, then Isobel fell during her first attempt and struggled with the next two.
• Isobel Apparated successfully on her fourth attempt but left some of her red hair behind, and Mr. Morg reattached it with his wand.
• Mr. Morg advised Isobel on avoiding Splinching and reminded Albert not to Apparate far from Hogsmeade.

Albert explored the Shrieking Shack with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, deducing that a werewolf had once used it to transform. They discovered a secret passage leading toward Hogwarts, and Albert suspected it connected to the passage beneath the Whomping Willow.

• Albert met Fred, George, and Lee Jordan in Hogsmeade and invited them to explore the Shrieking Shack.
• Albert cut a hole through the shack’s wall, allowing the four of them to enter despite its sealed doors and windows.
• Albert examined claw marks and reasoned that a werewolf had used the shack to transform during the full moon.
• The group found a trapdoor and descended into a dark passage beneath the shack.
• Albert recognized that the passage likely led to Hogwarts and speculated that it connected to the tunnel beneath the Whomping Willow.

Albert returned to Morg's house with Isobel, who had grown dizzy from Apparition practice, and Mr. Morg prepared them for attending a wizarding wedding. After explaining banquet etiquette, he taught them to dance, leaving Albert and Isobel sore-footed but better prepared.

• Albert failed to stop Fred, George, and Lee Jordan from exploring the secret passage, then returned to Morg's house and found Isobel struggling with Apparition practice.
• Albert suggested Isobel rest, and Mr. Morg welcomed them inside and presented them with formal robes for the wedding.
• Mr. Morg explained wizarding banquet etiquette and arranged for Albert and Isobel to practice dancing to a Muggle record.
• Albert and Isobel stumbled through their first dance, repeatedly stepping on each other's feet.
• Albert raised Dancing to Level 2 on his Skill Panel and guided Isobel through the dance more smoothly, while Mr. Morg urged them to keep practicing.

Albert returned to Hogwarts after dance practice, then joined the crowded Duelling Club meeting, where Snape quickly knocked Lockhart off the stage with a Disarming Charm. The demonstration was about to continue after Lee asked how to stop the spell.

• Albert returned to the Gryffindor Common Room and found George with a broken arm after the twins and Lee emerged from a passage beneath the Whomping Willow.
• Albert visited Madam Pomfrey to treat his sore feet, then discussed her pain-relieving ointment with her.
• Albert joined Fred, George, Shanna, Angelina, and Aylia at the Duelling Club, where Lockhart appeared with Snape as his assistant.
• Snape struck Lockhart with a powerful Disarming Charm, sending him flying into a wall.
• Lockhart tried to pass off his defeat as a demonstration, and Lee asked him to show how students could stop the spell.

Lockhart agreed to duel Snape again and was knocked into the wall despite attempting a Shield Charm, then began pairing students for practice duels. Harry and Malfoy broke the duelling rules and fought until Lockhart intervened, leaving the professors to continue coaching them.

• Lockhart agreed to another duel with Snape, but Snape's Disarming Charm sent him crashing into the wall even after Lockhart tried to cast a Shield Charm.
• Lockhart explained the Shield Charm and Snape described how a skilled wizard could anticipate and counter an opponent's spell before Lockhart paired the students for duelling practice.
• Lockhart paired Harry with Malfoy, and Malfoy attacked before the count ended, only to fall as Harry's protective talisman deflected the attack.
• Malfoy then cast the Dancing Feet Spell at Harry, but the spell rebounded toward Snape, and Harry retaliated by making Malfoy collapse with a Tickling Charm.
• Snape ended Harry's spell and accused him of using a protective talisman, while Harry and the Gryffindors protested that Malfoy had attacked first.
• Lockhart called for calm, announced that the duel would continue, and the professors gave Harry and Malfoy advice to make their fight seem more friendly.

During the Duelling Club, Lockhart made Harry Potter’s duel with Mr. Malfoy more dangerous, and Harry revealed that he could speak Parseltongue. The students grew suspicious of Harry as Albert urged his friends to judge the matter for themselves.

• Lockhart failed to give Harry useful advice, and Mr. Malfoy cast a spell before the countdown ended, conjuring a black snake.
• Lockhart tried to stop the snake but made it grow larger, then hid behind Harry as it prepared to attack a student.
• Harry spoke Parseltongue, calming the snake, while Snape turned it into smoke and Ron led Harry away through the uneasy crowd.
• Lee Jordan suggested Harry might be Slytherin’s descendant, and Albert mocked the students’ rumors while advising his friends to think for themselves.
• Albert told Lee Jordan to make the most of the Duelling Club, doubting Lockhart would hold another session.

After the Duelling Club, Albert reasoned that a Parselmouth might be needed to find and open Slytherin’s Chamber of Secrets, and he suspected a Basilisk lived inside. Harry faced growing suspicion over his Parseltongue, while Hermione and Ron considered investigating the Chamber and Harry proposed questioning Malfoy first.

• Lee Jordan complained that Lockhart had ignored him, and Albert suggested the Chamber’s monster might be a Basilisk controlled by the Slytherin Heir through Parseltongue.
• Albert told Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to keep his Basilisk theory quiet, then revealed that he had already arranged for House-elves to raise roosters.
• Albert told Hermione that Parseltongue might be the key to finding and opening the Chamber, and warned her and Ron not to enter it without professors’ help.
• Hermione concluded that Albert had hinted they should search for the Chamber, while Ron worried about the danger inside it.
• Harry returned after arguing with Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Hermione advised him not to waste his breath trying to change Justin’s mind.
• Harry suggested that he, Hermione, and Ron seek information from Malfoy before attempting to find the Chamber.

Dumbledore concluded that Harry’s Parseltongue might come from a piece of Voldemort’s soul and considered how Harry could help open the Chamber of Secrets if needed. Meanwhile, Albert tested his Detection Orb with Hagrid, who learned that Harry was a Parselmouth and defended him against suspicion.

• Dumbledore speculated that Voldemort had accidentally transferred part of his soul to Harry, giving him the ability to speak Parseltongue.
• Dumbledore fed the newly reborn Fawkes and examined Albert’s Detection Orb, suspecting Albert might help locate the Chamber of Secrets.
• Albert tested the Detection Orb with Hagrid and found its detection range was too broad for use inside Hogwarts.
• Hagrid suggested improving the Orb to locate Dark Creatures before Christmas, but Albert warned that the work would be difficult.
• Albert told Hagrid that Harry was a Parselmouth and that the school suspected him of being Slytherin’s heir.
• Hagrid defended Harry, and Albert explained that Parseltongue was only an ability and did not make someone evil.