Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapters 16-18

When Harry and Ron visit a petrified Hermione in the Hospital Wing, they find a paper in her hand that tells of a terrible beast that could be the one inside the Chamber! It is called a...

• Basilisk, a giant snake monster that kills with its stare!

• Mandrake, a troll-like creature known for petrifying its victims!

• Thestral, a ghostly monster that hunts for half-blooded wizards!

• Niffler, a super adorable little mole-like creature that is not really dangerous at all.

The boys try to tell a teacher what they have found about the monster when they overhear a staff meeting about another attack! A student has been taken into the Chamber! That student is...

• Hermione, their best friend!

• Ginny, Ron's little sister!

• Percy, Ron's older brother!

• Collin, one of the first year Gryffindor students!

When the boys try to tell professor Lockhart about the Basilisk, they find him packing up his bags! As it turns out...

• Lockhart was lying about all his adventures and wasn't the one to do any of the things he brags about!

• Lockhart is really allergic to snakes so he just can't bring himself to face the monster!

• Lockhart was actually an imposter who kidnapped the real Lockhart and took his place as their teacher!

• Lockhart was just in a really big hurry to rescue Ginny and he thought he might need all these things. Obviously. Of course.

After the boys capture Lockhart and find the Chamber of Secrets in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Lockhart tries to escape by stealing Ron's broken wand and trying to erase their memories! When the spell backfires, Lockhart erases his own memory and...

• causes a rock slide that closes off the tunnel, forcing Harry to go on alone to save Ginny.

• erases the boys' memories! Luckily Fawkes the Phoenix comes in time to heal Harry and Ron!

When Harry finally gets to Ginny in the Chamber, he is surprised to find the misty figure of ____________________ standing by her.

• Tom Riddle

• Gilderoy Lockhart

• Professor Snape

• Dumbledore

After Tom explains how he was able to control Ginny, he writes his name in the air and when the letters rearrange themselves, he reveals that he is...

• Lord Voldemort!

• Vincent Van Gogh

• Dumbledore's brother, Doverampth

• actually the Basilisk! Surprise, hiss hiss!

When Tom Riddle summons the Basilisk, Harry is glad that Fawkes the Phoenix has arrived and brought him the Sorting Hat, especially when the Hat gives him...

• a book of spells to use against a Basilisk!

• a potion to cure Ginny!

• a sword to battle the Basilisk with!

• really good advice about how to defeat Tom Riddle.

In an exciting turn of events, Harry defeats the Basilisk! BUT he is also bitten and infected with deadly poison. BUT Fawkes the Phoenix has healing tears and heals his wound. BUT Tom Riddle is powerful enough now to cast a curse on Harry! BUT before he can, Fawkes brings Harry the evil diary and Harry destroys it using...

• the poisonous fang of the Basilisk!

• the sword he pulled from the Sorting Hat!

• his wand and the Incendio spell!

• a particularly scathing yelp review!

As soon as the diary is destroyed, Ginny is revived! Fawkes is able to lead her, Harry, Ron, and a very confused Lockhart out of the chamber and to McGonagall's office where they find...

• Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, so glad to see Ginny!

• All the teachers waiting to see how Lockhart did.

• Malfoy's father causing an argument between teachers.

• Harry's muggle family looking very frightened and angry with Harry for getting them into this mess.

After Harry tells the whole story and he and Dumbledore are alone, Lucius Malfoy storms in with Dobby at his heels! Harry gets back at Mr. Malfoy for planting the diary in Ginny's cauldron by...

• Putting his nasty sock in with the book! When Lucius throws it at Dobby, Dobby has been given clothes and is free from serving the Malfoys forever!

• Casting an itching spell on the bottom of Lucius's left shoe so he will always have an itchy spot there when he wears them.