Harry can't wait for his holidays with the dire Dursleys to end. But asmall, self-punishing house-elf warns Harry of mortal danger awaiting himat Hogwarts School. Returning to the castle nevertheless, Harry hears arumour about a chamber of secrets, holding unknown horrors to magicians ofMuggle parentage. Now someone is casting spells that turn people to stone,and a terrible warning is found painted on the wall. The chief suspect -who's always in the wrong place - is Harry. But something much darker hasyet to be unleashed.