Echoes from the Chamber

Ounce for ounce, pound for pound, I think Chamber of Secrets may be the best book in the series so far.

Let me explain. I love them all, of course, and enjoy re-reading each one of them for different reasons. I have sentimental feelings about Sorcerer's Stone because it's the first book and introduces us to Harry's world; I still shiver whenever we get anywhere near the denouement of Prisoner of Azkaban because the strongest, most-long-lasting emotional/spiritual image for me in the entire series is Prongs; I admire the complexity of the plot of Goblet of Fire and think the graveyard scene remains the most harrowing scene in the series, with the shades of Harry's parents running a close second to Prongs for emotional impact for me. I think the dance of despair and life-giving humor in Order of the Phoenix is very well done, and necessary, and I have a special feeling for that book because I think it will always be the most misunderstood. And when it comes to Half-Blood Prince, I am in awe of the mysterious, brilliant finish that sets us up so well for the finale.

But Chamber of Secrets, of all the books, just feels like the best-told story in and of itself. If there had never been another book, yes, I would have had millions of questions, but I think I still would have been satisfied in some odd way with this story all by itself. It's got some of the funniest scenes and moments in the series (singing Valentines! flying Ford Anglia! Moaning Myrtle! Gilderoy Lockhart's pictures in hairnets! The headless hunt!) and some of the sweetest and most powerful moments at deep symbolic levels (Fawkes; the sorting hat; Gryffindor's sword).

But although I think this is possibly the most tightly-written and best told story of the bunch, I'm glad it wasn't a stand-alone. I think it packs such a wallop for most of us now because of all we know that comes after it. The foreshadowings and echoes are so thick in Chamber of Secrets, you can practically cut them with a butterknife. (You know, the one next to the butterdish that Ginny Weasley sticks her elbow in.)

I was lying sick in bed this afternoon while reading the finale. It's so well-done that it still leaves me a bit breathless even when I know what's coming. But in addition to just enjoying the ride ("Amazing! This is just like magic!") I found myself noting several places that felt extra-heavy with meaning because of the unfolding of later events.

Just a few things I noticed:

"Ginny -- don't be dead -- please don't be dead -- " He flung his wand aside, grabbed Ginny's shoulders, and turned her over." ("The Heir of Slytherin," p. 389)

Beyond the obvious here -- that Harry will one day fall in love with Ginny and come to feel even more protective about her life -- what I found dripping with meaning and hope in this line was "He flung his wand aside..."

It had never struck me before with such force how foolish and dear Harry can be, especially at this stage of the game. He is completely vulnerable. He doesn't know Tom Riddle is down there, I know, and doesn't even suspect him once he first sees him. He cares less about keeping up his guard, even in a very dangerous situation fraught with peril, than he does about caring for the wounded girl lying at his feet. I love his character for just this reason. And I think the flinging of the wand here is in some ways a foreshadowing of what's to come. We know Harry can't best Riddle/Voldemort with a wand in the end. We know that he has to defeat him, somehow, with love. This is Harry, open and vulnerable and loving. Despite the fact that he does what looks foolish and surrenders his wand (Riddle spends the next few minutes taunting him with it and rolling it in his fingers while he explains to Harry who he is; he even uses Harry's wand to write his name in the air, so chilling!) it is Harry who emerges victorious in the chamber.

And then there's this:

"Now, Harry, I'm going to teach you a little lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons Dumbledore can give him..." (p. 402)

Shivers. What have we been seeing in the past four books since CoS? Dumbledore, arming Harry with the "best weapons" he can give him...knowledge of the enemy, yes, but more than that, wisdom, humility, vulnerability, the joy of being human, LOVE.

A few paragraphs earlier, Riddle had derided the "weapons" or one might more accurately say "gifts" sent by Dumbledore: Riddle began to laugh again. He laughed so hard that the dark chamber rang with it, as though ten Riddles were laughing at once -- "This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? Do you feel safe now?" (p. 400)

And oddly enough, Harry feels his courage mounting, even though he can't immediately see the use of the gifts. I love how the gifts are disguised, and look so "foolish to the wise" (who really aren't as wise as they think). I also got some shivers over the "ten Riddles" comment. Such a throwaway little moment, and yet when you begin to consider the "split soul" or split personality of Riddle as we've come to understand it, not so throwaway after all.

Riddle is revealed as the liar he really is throughout this scene, perhaps nowhere more powerfully as when he taunts the wounded Harry, whom he believes is dying. (He doesn't yet realize that Fawkes' pearly tears have the power to heal even a mortal wound like this one.) "So ends the famous Harry Potter...Alone in the Chamber of Secrets, forsaken by his friends..." (p. 407)

But if there is one thing Harry is not in this moment, it's forsaken. Fawkes crying on his wound is the evidence of that, and the evidence of grace and resurrection. Harry's not deserted and never has been, not even the night his parents died. Perhaps one reason Riddle harps on desertion so much is because he himself understands it at a deep soul level.

I can't wait to read the end of Deathly Hallows and find all the echoes there that were first planted here in Chamber of Secrets. I think there will be far more than we expect.