Three days before the first examination all pupils from Hogwarts get to know that the Mandrake Restorative Draught will be finished by today. On the way to Prof. Binns lesson Ron and Harry sneak away and promptly get caught by Prof. McGonagall. They excuse that they want to visit Hermione and fortunately get the permission now. By a lucky coincidence Harry discovers a sheet in her hand, which conceals an important message. Hermione found out that a basilisk lives inside the castle. Through the pipes it can move. This explains the mysterious voices Harry is always hearing. Because he speaks Parsel, he can understand snakes. Then they recapitulate the attacks and think that the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets must be in the girls toilet.
When they want to pass on their information to Prof. McGonagall, they hear how she orders all teachers to the teachers room. The two hide out in an old cabinet and listen to the conversation. With fright they get to know that Ginny was kidnapped by the monster and taken to the chamber. Prof. Lockhart boasts about the fact that he already knows for a long time, where the hiding place is. He is almost predestined to visit the hiding place that night. When all teachers disappear, Harry and Ron set off to Lockhart, because he could use their information well. But Lockhart doesn′t think of a rescue. Harry and Ron are stunned by that fact. They bring him to task and get to know that he hasn′t done any of his heroic deeds. Others have done them and Lockhart only changed their memories by the use of magic. Now he tries to do so with Harry and Ron too. With some luck Harry and Ron bring along Lockhart to Moaning Myrtle. Myrtle tells them that she saw two yellow eyes close to the taps
before she died. Harry finds a sign of a snake on a pipe. He speaks parsel and the entrance to a big pipe opens. Harry, Ron and Prof. Lockhardt go down the pipe. As Lockhart sees the enormous skin of the basilisk, he apparently faints. But he distracts the two boys and so he gets the wand of Ron. When he wants to use it to change their memories, it explodes and he curses himself. Also stones fall down and separate them. Harry gets off alone. He gets to a wall with two snakes carved in the stone. He asks them in parsel to open the Chamber of Secrets.
