Harry Potter can't wait for his holidays with the dire Dursleys to end. But a small, self-punishing house-elf warns Harry of mortal danger awaiting him at Hogwarts. Returning to the castle nevertheless, Harry hears a rumour about a Chamber of Secrets, holding unknown horrors for wizards of Muggle parentage. Then students are found as though turned to stone, and a terrible warning is discovered painted on the wall. The chief suspect - always in the wrong place - is Harry. But something much darker has yet to be unleashed.