How long have you been ‘Big D’ then?

Cool name. But you’ll always be Ickle Diddykins to me.

Well, it changes every day, you see.

Yeah, because we’re friends.

Listening to the news.

I WON’T!

I just want to know what Snape did with his first chance, if he’s on his second one.

Nothing. We’re friends. She’s not my girlfriend and she never has been. It’s just that Skeeter woman making things up.

Wangoballwime?

Have you been spying on him too? What d’you do, sneak up here in the evenings to watch the prefects take baths?

There you go. Something for you to wear on Tuesday. You might even have a scar now, if you’re lucky… That’s what you want, isn’t it?

Well, that’s good, just as long as it’s not drawn-out. I don’t want to suffer.

Great. Exactly what I need. More publicity.

What do they want photos for, Colin?

They make them okay at Hogwarts.

Brilliant! It’s Potions last thing on Friday! Snape won’t have time to poison us all!

No, I was born in July.

You know your mother, Malfoy? That expression she’s got, like she’s got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?

Born under — what, sorry?

Where’re your parents? Out there wearing masks, are they?

That was an excellent breakfast, wasn’t it? I feel really full, don’t you?

Dobby was weirder.

Only after Dudley finished with them.

Yes, I have. He was my mum and dad’s best friend. He’s a convicted murderer, but he’s broken out of wizard prison and he’s on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though… keep up with my news… check if I’m happy…

It’s not. It’s a letter from my godfather.

That’ll be good enough for Dumbledore!

Yeah… I bet the Dursleys’d be pleased to let me come… especially after what I did to Aunt Marge…

I don’t want a connection with Pettigrew! He betrayed my parents!

It didn’t make any difference. Pettigrew got away.

It was stupid, thinking it was him. I mean, I knew he was dead.

You told me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs would’ve wanted to lure me out of school… you said they’d have thought it was funny.

He’s packing? Why?

You’re the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we’ve ever had! Don’t go!

Why? The Ministry of Magic don’t think you were helping Sirius, do they?

We did it! Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak…

I think… I think it was my dad.

Sirius, you’d better go, quick. They’ll reach Flitwick’s office any moment, they’ll find out you’re gone.

I just saved all our lives… Get behind here — behind this bush — I’ll explain.

There’s only one thing it could have been, to make the dementors go. A real Patronus. A powerful one.

How can you stand this? Just standing here and watching it happen? I’m going to grab the cloak!

If I just dashed out now and grabbed it, Snape’d never be able to get it and…

Looks even worse from here, doesn’t it? Ouch — look, I just got walloped by the tree — and so did you — this is weird…

I’d — I’d think I’d gone mad, or I’d think there was some Dark Magic going on…

Are you telling me, that we’re here in this cupboard and we’re out there too?

Dumbledore said — he just told us where the window is — the window of Flitwick’s office! Where they’ve got Sirius locked up! We’ve got to fly Buckbeak up to the window and rescue Sirius! Sirius can escape on Buckbeak — they can escape together!

There must be something that happened around now he wants us to change. What happened? We were walking down to Hagrid’s three hours ago…

We’d better get them up to the castle and tell someone.

Three turns? What’s he talking about? What are we supposed to do?

YOU HAVEN’T! YOU’VE GOT THE WRONG MAN!

NO! You can’t kill him. You can’t.

He can go to Azkaban. If anyone deserves that place, he does…

I know. We’ll take him up to the castle. We’ll hand him over to the dementors… He can go to Azkaban… but don’t kill him.

I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it because — I don’t reckon my dad would’ve wanted them to become killers — just for you.

THAT’S NOT TRUE! HE WAS THEIR SECRET-KEEPER! HE SAID SO BEFORE YOU TURNED UP. HE SAID HE KILLED THEM!

You know how to work it?

I understand a lot better than you think. You never heard her, did you? My mum… trying to stop Voldemort killing me… and you did that… you did it…

Peter Pettigrew’s dead! He killed him twelve years ago!

You killed my parents.

The whole story? You sold them to Voldemort. That’s all I need to know.

Why’s that? Didn’t care last time, did you? Didn’t mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew… What’s the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?

It’s us. We’re wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off.

And they’re coming up here to do it. Someone from the Ministry of Magic and — and an executioner.

You — you just told me that the — the Dark Lord’s going to rise again… that his servant’s going to go back to him…

Is there any point asking how you’re going to sit for two exams at once?

But how could you forget? You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!

Don’t complain, this means we’ve finished palmistry. I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my hands.

That’s weird. Maybe — maybe she went to the bathroom or something?

They can’t do this. They can’t. Buckbeak isn’t dangerous.

Why did Snape think I’d got it from the manufacturers?

Do you know them?

My dad didn’t strut. And neither do I.

Maybe he’d better go to Madam Pomfrey. If he’s seeing things like…

He sounds exactly like Moody. ‘Constant vigilance!’ You’d think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls…

The dementors didn’t affect me at all! I didn’t feel a thing!

Yeah… anything… You know what — we should make up with Hermione… She was only trying to help…

You said it’s harder if there are loads of them.

Nothing — I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts too…

Professor Lupin? If you knew my dad, you must’ve known Sirius Black as well.

They’re dead. They’re dead and listening to echoes of them won’t bring them back. You’d better get a grip on yourself if you want that Quidditch Cup.

Yeah… Why — you didn’t know my dad, did you?

I do! I’ve got to! What if the dementors turn up at our match against Ravenclaw? I can’t afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we’ve lost the Quidditch Cup!

I heard my dad. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard him — he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for it…

Sirius Black. He’s supposed to be after me. So McGonagall reckons he might have sent it.

I’m working on it. Professor Lupin said he’d train me to ward off the dementors. We should be starting this week. He said he’d have time after Christmas.

Don’t get excited, Oliver. I haven’t got it anymore. It was confiscated.

I forgot about that! I never wear those socks if I can help it…

That was my dad’s, though. Dumbledore was just passing it on to me. He wouldn’t spend hundreds of Galleons on me. He can’t go giving students stuff like this…

What? Lupin? Listen, if he had this much gold, he’d be able to buy himself some new robes.

Listen, Hagrid, you can’t give up. Hermione’s right, you just need a good defense. You can call us as witnesses…

I’ll never know what they’d have wanted, because thanks to Black, I’ve never spoken to them.

Yeah, let’s go, and I can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told me all about my parents!

Malfoy knows. Remember what he said to me in Potions?

Definitely not.

D’you know what I see and hear every time a dementor gets too near me? I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. And if you’d heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn’t forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her…

What defenses? Can you teach me?

And what do I need with a bit of old parchment?

But Sirius Black escaped from them. He got away…

When they get near me… I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum.

But the match. What happened? Are we doing a replay? We didn’t — lose?

You know, I reckon Ron was right about you. There are plenty of mice around this place — go and chase them. Go on. Leave Scabbers alone.

I know he’s after me. I heard Ron’s dad telling his mum. Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic.

We’ve got our first match on Saturday! I’ve got to train, Professor!

Some people reckon — some people reckon he’d do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.

I didn’t think of Voldemort. I — I remembered those dementors.

Professor Snape’s very interested in the Dark Arts.

Why didn’t you let me fight it?

Yes. You know that day we fought the boggart?

Don’t worry about me, I’ll see you at the feast. Have a good time.

But — Professor, my aunt and uncle — you know, they’re Muggles, they don’t really understand about — about Hogwarts forms and stuff. If you said I could go…

Yeah, that’s right.

We’re witnesses. You said hippogriffs attack if you insult them. It’s Malfoy’s problem that he wasn’t listening. We’ll tell Dumbledore what really happened.

He’s faking it. Madam Pomfrey can mend anything. She regrew half my bones last year. Trust Malfoy to milk it for all it’s worth.

Yeah, I have. I saw one the night I left the Dursleys’.

’Course he will. Madam Pomfrey can mend cuts in about a second.

When you’ve all finished deciding whether I’m going to die or not!

A load of soggy brown stuff.

I’ve already had some. Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us.

You didn’t pass out, though, did you?

But didn’t any of you — fall off your seats?

I’m not delicate!

New teacher. What were you saying, Malfoy?

Yeah. What happened? Where’s that — that thing? Who screamed?

I can’t go. The Dursleys didn’t sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn’t either.

’Spect it will. You’ll have to tell me when you’ve found out.

Stick it back in the trunk, or it’ll wake him up.

Why would I go looking for someone I know wants to kill me?

I — er — I heard you and Mrs. Weasley talking last night. I couldn’t help hearing. Sorry…

No — honestly, it’s okay. This way, you haven’t broken your word to Fudge and I know what’s going on.

So am I. Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested. Your dad doesn’t know why Fudge let me off, does he?

There’s a magical creature shop just over there. You could see if they’ve got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl.

It’s been a very weird night, Hedwig.

I didn’t mean to. I just — lost control.

But you’re the Minister of Magic. If you gave me permission…

Have you had any luck with Black yet?

I always stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays, and I don’t ever want to go back to Privet Drive.

Hang on. What about my punishment? I broke the law!

He murdered thirteen people? With one curse?

And it’s really none of your business.

Neville Longbottom. So — so this bus, did you say it goes anywhere?

That man! He was on the Muggle news!

She deserved it. She deserved what she got. You keep away from me. I’m going. I’ve had enough.

I didn’t do it on purpose.

They didn’t die in a car crash!

Oh, yeah, loads of times.

Hedwig, you’re going to have to clear off for a week. Go with Errol. Ron’ll look after you. I’ll write him a note, explaining. And don’t look at me like that, it’s not my fault. It’s the only way I’ll be allowed to visit Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione.

Yes. All the time.

Exactly. It’s a lot to remember. I’ll have to make it sound convincing, won’t I? What if I accidentally let something slip?

But if you sign my permission form, I swear I’ll remember where I’m supposed to go to school, and I’ll act like a Mug — like I’m normal and everything.

Well, it’ll be hard work, pretending to Aunt Marge I go to that St. Whatsits…

Like I wanted to come. I want to ask you something. Third years at Hog — at my school are allowed to visit the village sometimes. I need you to sign the permission form.

Aunt Marge? Sh — she’s not coming here, is she?

This is called a telephone number. I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer — he’ll know. Call me at the Dursleys’, okay? I can’t stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to…

It only put me in Gryffindor, because I asked not to go in Slytherin…

Least I could do, Dobby. Just promise never to try and save my life again.

I don’t think I’m like him! I mean, I’m — I’m in Gryffindor…

So I should be in Slytherin. The Sorting Hat could see Slytherin’s power in me, and it…

There’s no need to sound so disappointed.

Professor Dumbledore… Riddle said I’m like him. Strange likenesses, he said…

It’s all right, Riddle’s finished. Look! Him and the basilisk. C’mon, Ginny, let’s get out of here…

You’re not the greatest sorcerer in the world. Sorry to disappoint you and all that, but the greatest wizard in the world is Albus Dumbledore. Everyone says so. Even when you were strong, you didn’t dare try and take over at Hogwarts. Dumbledore saw through you when you were at school and he still frightens you now, wherever you’re hiding these days…

No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me. I don’t know myself. But I know why you couldn’t kill me. Because my mother died to save me. My common Muggle-born mother. She stopped you killing me. And I’ve seen the real you, I saw you last year. You’re a wreck. You’re barely alive. That’s where all your power got you. You’re in hiding. You’re ugly, you’re foul…

He’s not as gone as you might think!

Well, you haven’t finished it. No one’s died this time, not even the cat. In a few hours the Mandrake Draught will be ready and everyone who was Petrified will be all right again…

Why do you care how I escaped? Voldemort was after your time…

I bet Dumbledore saw right through you.

Hagrid’s my friend. And you framed him, didn’t you?

Shouldn’t have let Professor Snape teach us that one.

You’ve got to help me, Tom. We’ve got to get her out of here. There’s a basilisk… I don’t know where it is, but it could be along any moment… Please, help me…

Pipes. Pipes… Ron, it’s been using the plumbing. I’ve been hearing that voice inside the walls…

…The crowing of the rooster… is fatal to it! Hagrid’s roosters were killed! The Heir of Slytherin didn’t want one anywhere near the castle once the Chamber was opened! Spiders flee before it! It all fits!

The basilisk kills people by looking at them. But no one’s died — because no one looked it straight in the eye. Colin saw it through his camera. The basilisk burned up all the film inside it, but Colin just got Petrified. Justin… Justin must’ve seen the basilisk through Nearly Headless Nick! Nick got the full blast of it, but he couldn’t die again… and Hermione and that Ravenclaw prefect were found with a mirror next to them. Hermione had just realized the monster was a basilisk. I bet you anything she warned the first person she met to look around corners with a mirror first! And that girl pulled out her mirror — and…

The water… The flood from Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. I bet you Mrs. Norris only saw the reflection…

That Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets. He was innocent.

This is it. This is the answer. The monster in the Chamber’s a basilisk — a giant serpent! That’s why I’ve been hearing that voice all over the place, and nobody else has heard it. It’s because I understand Parseltongue…

I bet he thought Aragog wouldn’t hurt friends of his.

There’s something moving over there. Listen… sounds like something big…

I can’t believe it’s him this time, but if he set the monster loose last time he’ll know how to get inside the Chamber of Secrets, and that’s a start.

It was Hagrid, Ron. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago.

My name is Harry Potter.

We’d better not all drink them in here… Once we turn into Crabbe and Goyle we won’t fit. And Millicent Bulstrode’s no pixie.

I’m at Hogwarts, and horrible stuff’s been happening. Do you know anything about the Chamber of Secrets?

I wish I knew why someone did try to chuck it. I wouldn’t mind knowing how Riddle got an award for special services to Hogwarts either.

Professor. Your bird — I couldn’t do anything — he just caught fire…

But what about you? Whose hair are you ripping out?

Er, yes. Er — sorry to bother you — I wanted to ask…

You’re wrong.

Professor, I swear I didn’t…

It’s not possible to live with the Dursleys and not hate them. I’d like to see you try it.

D’you want to tell me what’s wrong with stopping a massive snake biting off Justin’s head? What does it matter how I did it as long as Justin doesn’t have to join the Headless Hunt?

I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once — long story — but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I sort of set it free without meaning to — that was before I knew I was a wizard…

You’d better get lost before my bones come back, Dobby, or I might strangle you.

No. But it doesn’t do anything else either.

Oh, is that all? I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me why you wanted me sent home in pieces?

It was you! You stopped the barrier from letting us through!

No! I’ll keep it like this, thanks…

The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin; he’s always boasting about it. They could easily be Slytherin’s descendants. His father’s definitely evil enough.

That I’m Slytherin’s heir, I expect.

I knew I could do it this time, because I’d already done it. Does that make sense?

Proud? Are you crazy? All those times I could have died and didn’t manage it? They’ll be furious…

You’re the one who is weak. You will never know love or friendship. And I feel sorry for you.

Wow, I wonder what it’d be like to have a difficult life?

But we’ve got no proof! Quirrell’s too scared to back us up. Snape’s only got to say he doesn’t know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor – who do you think they’ll believe, him or us? It’s not exactly a secret we hate him, Dumbledore’ll think we made it up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn’t help us if his life depended on it, he’s too friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better, he’ll think. And don’t forget, we’re not supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That’ll take a lot of explaining.

We’d better get to bed before Snape comes along and tries to frame us for something else.

Can you taste it if you walk through it?

I’d swap anytime. I’ve had loads of practice with the Dursleys. Answering Lockhart’s fan mail… he’ll be a nightmare…

Hands on? Hermione, he didn’t have a clue what he was doing…

Maybe he’s left, because he missed out on the Defense Against the Dark Arts job again!

Come on, we’d better get up to the school…

I think we’d better go and wait by the car.

WATCH OUT FOR THAT TREE!

The Dursleys haven’t given me pocket money for about six years.

Dudley would think it was a brilliant joke if I got lost up a chimney, don’t worry about that…

He hasn’t got a brother, has he?

This is the best house I’ve ever been in.

W-what? But I’ve got to go back — term starts on September first. It’s all that’s keeping me going. You don’t know what it’s like here. I don’t belong here. I belong in your world — at Hogwarts.

I’m trying to decide what would be the best spell to set it on fire.

Oh, I will. They don’t know we’re not allowed to use magic at home. I’m going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…

Well done. So you’ve finally learned the days of the week.

Not where I’m going, I promise you.

Hagrid, he’d have found out somehow, this is Voldemort we’re talking about, he’d have found out even if you hadn’t told him.

It’s not a stoat sandwich, is it?

Yes, him – Quirrell said he hates me because he hated my father. Is that true?

Well… Voldemort said that he only killed my mother because she tried to stop him from killing me. But why would he want to kill me in the first place?

Yes, sir. Well, Voldemort’s going to try other ways of coming back, isn’t he? I mean, he hasn’t gone, has he?

Sir? I’ve been thinking… Sir – even if the Stone’s gone, Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who…

Sir! The Stone! It was Quirrell! He’s got the Stone! Sir, quick…