Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I haven't posted a spoiler alert for these posts because I've just assumed that anyone who reads them have either read the books for themselves or has seen all of the movies. Just be warned, I will be discussing connections between ALL SEVEN BOOKS. This means that I will assume things have already been revealed to you.

I finally finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! When I was young, this was one of my least favorite HP books. The plot just never appealed to me, and the Deathday Party terrified me and gave me nightmares.

There were many details in this book that are carried through the rest of the series. For example, this is where Harry learns Expelliarmus!, which will later become one of his signature spells and helps his characterization. Also, we see Polyjuice Potion, which for such a dangerous potion, is used quite frequently through the rest of the series (GoF and DH come to mind instantly).

The most important item from this book that will be relevant later is, of course, Riddle's diary. This is our first look into Riddle's past and the dark magic that created Lord Voldemort. What struck me the most was that JKR even told us that Harry is a Horcrux.

"Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" Harry said, thunderstruck.
"It certainly seems so." (Dumbledore)

At this point, we didn't know that this "bit" was a part of Voldemort's soul, but Dumbledore had knowledge of Harry's destiny. But he gives him a warning that should sum up the difference between Harry and Voldemort: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities".

Pages read: 650/4195
Time read: 4 hr 47 min 03 sec