Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

A closer look at the story

Before his second year at Hogwarts even begins, Harry Potter receives an odd visitor: the house-elf Dobby, who insists that terrible things will happen if he goes back to school. Harry ignores the warning and returns to Ron and Hermione, but nothing goes smoothly this year. The famous and thoroughly self-admiring Gilderoy Lockhart joins the staff, words daubed on a wall announce that a long-hidden chamber is open again, and students begin to be found turned to stone. Chris Columbus returns as director, with Steve Kloves once more adapting the book by J.K. Rowling; the 161-minute 2002 film adds Kenneth Branagh to the young cast, with Toby Jones voicing Dobby.