My Year with Harry: Rereading Chamber of Secrets

My new year started off with a bang - not unlike the ones heard during a game of Exploding Snap in the Gryffindor common room - when I decided to make it one of my 2018 resolutions to reread every book in the Harry Potter series. After a very successful return to the first novel, I took a brief reading break before embarking on the second in the series, and was surprised to find that I enjoyed it even more than the first one... and even made a party out of finishing it! 

personal history

Published on July 2nd, 1998, and with a movie adaptation that premiered on November 14th, 2002, the second novel in the Harry Potter series has never exactly been one of my faves. With a fairly dark plot, uncomfortable social dynamics for Harry, and its status as a sophomore effort, I was never drawn to it over the more alluring installments within the collection.

This probably says a lot about me as a kid - and as an adult - but I used to get incredibly anxious reading this book, especially with how quickly everyone would turn on Harry once things started to connect him to the legend of the Heir of Slytherin. The idea that a school full of people who had been so excited to get to know him only a short time before, would openly shun and be afraid of him such a short time after, was disconcerting to me. Maybe it's a symptom of being an older child, or someone who was bullied when they were younger, but being publicly shamed and blamed for something I had no hand in and did not do, and having people hate me for it, was absolutely one of my biggest fears.

And for those who've visited Universal Studios Hollywood in recent years, one of my least favorite sequences from the "Unexpected Journey" ride - aka, the part of it we got stuck in front of for at least two minutes in the dark - also comes from this book (And for those who haven't been subjected to the experience, I'll give you a hint: it involves characters with more than two legs).

So, in a nutshell, I didn't exactly enter into this rereading with the highest hopes.

the reread

In fact, I loved this book a whole lot more than I did as a kid. I believe this was mainly due to my ability to reread it not just as an adult, but someone who's been able to watch how the rest of the series plays out: not only does Harry's second book include a lot of the classic Potter elements that made the books a phenomenon, continuing to successfully build out the world and occupy it with intriguing and unexpected characters, but it lays significant groundwork for other important plot pieces that come along in later books. 

This deliberate sewing of seeds for what would be integral to later installments - including the ideas of parts of Voldemort being present in Harry, and the Death Eaters' possession of the Dark Lord's belongings - was done so masterfully, that spotting various forms of it throughout the book almost felt like ferreting out Easter eggs. Even other intra-novel plot devices, like Ron's broken wand, are constructed so confidently, the whole thing is practically a masterclass in foreshadowing. 

Some of the other parts of the novel I loved:

• How quickly passages and quotes I hadn't read in years could spark debates between family members. Discussing everything from why Percy wasn't in Slytherin, to whether Harry and Ginny's status as imprints and conduits for Voldemort's power were part of why they ended up together, abounded across frantically-typed texts. These kinds of discussions are absolutely a testament to the staying power of the world Rowling created with this series. 
• The discovery that Gilderoy Lockhart was a Ravenclaw... but then again, so was Quirinus Quirrell! My brother and I launched deep into the Hogwarts back-history available online to figure out which houses each of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers belonged to, and I was surprised - but not shocked - that these two belonged to mine. 
• Like I mentioned before, the book contains many classic themes, but also happens to be very deliberately scary. From parties with ghosts and rotting food, to hearing a voice no one else can talking about murdering children, and then having the actual bodies start piling up (though only petrified), is very intense for young readers. Particularly due to the middle-grade-esque writing style of the first two books, this seemed notable, just because it's a little difficult to match a voice selected for young readers, with so many dark elements. 
• Before embarking upon this reread, I definitely remembered Quidditch as being a fundamental aspect of Hogwarts life, but didn't recall it factoring in quite as heavily as it actually does. Funny how one of the nerdiest book series in the history of fandom, centers around an unabashed jock! 

favorite quotes

“What exactly is the function of a rubber duck?” 

“Do you think we should go and ask Hagrid about it all?”
“That’d be a cheerful visit,” said Ron, “ ‘Hello, Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?”

“What does she understand?” said Harry distractedly, still looking around, trying to tell where the voice had come from.
“Loads more than I do,” said Ron, shaking his head.
“But why’s she got to go to the library?”
“Because that’s what Hermione does,” said Ron, shrugging. “When in doubt, go to the library.” 

the party! (part one)

When I originally commenced with rereading this latest Harry Potter novel, I asked my younger brother - who is undertaking the challenge at the same time as me - if he felt like re-watching all of the movies, as well. Together, we decided to have a little fun with finishing the first two books, by having a Potter Party double feature of the first two movies (while the rest of the family was otherwise occupied, because we're not that annoying). 

We picked up Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer from local standby store Crescent Moon, and dug out the Chocolate Frogs we'd purchased in Universal Studios Hollywood late last August. We also made a feast of our own, with main meals of Beef Pot Pie and a green salad, to go with Deviled Dragon's Eggs, Cauldron Cakes, and Pumpkin Pasties (with a vegan batch whipped up for our sister Maddie to enjoy, too!). 

The spread was grand, and even our parents said that they were impressed with the lengths we'd gone through for the celebration. I think for our next, when we finish up the third and fourth books, we'll let them join us. (Maybe.) I've already got a few recipes and craft ideas lined up, and I can't wait to get reading again! 

the end

 Like I said before, this was a genuinely enjoyable reread that actually surprised me, something I didn't think was possible with a series I've been reading and rereading for most of my life. I can't wait to get out of the middle grade reading style of these early novels, but it's still fun to revisit the early installments.

How are your own reading resolutions coming along? What do you think of the first two Harry Potter movies? Do you have any great wizarding world recipes you think I should try? Let me know, in the comments below!