Chamber of Secrets - Details

The Chamber itself is reached via a tap in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. Given that it was constructed over 1000 years ago – before bathrooms were invented – the charms placed on the entrance must allow it to attach itself to whatever part of the existing castle it thinks is best, and to change the entrance location as necessary. Scratched on the side of a copper tap is a tiny snake – and this is where the entrance lies.

The procedure for opening the Chamber is to say the words “Open Up” in Parseltongue whilst being the Heir of Slytherin, as the true Heir is the only person able to access the Chamber. This throws up an interesting point as to why Harry can successfully open the entrance when JK claims on her website that he isn’t a descendent of Salazar Slytherin – there must be more to this that meets the eye.

When the words have been spoken, the sink descends out of sight, leaving a large pipe exposed, big enough for a man to slide into. The pipe leads deep beneath the school and ends after some distance in a dark stone tunnel, which is littered with the bones of small animals. After a number of twists and turns it ends in a wall of rock, into which is carved a picture of two entwined serpents. Another command of “Open” in Parseltongue causes the wall crack in the middle and slide smoothly aside. The Chamber of Secrets lies beyond.

The Chamber itself is very long and dimly lit, with a high ceiling lost in the gloom and a strange green glow everywhere. Huge pillars carved with serpents rise all around, forming a causeway to end of to the vast room, where there is a massive statue of none other than Salazar Slytherin himself.

The only inhabitant is the Basilisk – 60 feet in length and with bulbous yellow eyes that can kill with just a glance. When the serpent is called by the Heir, it emerges from the mouth of the statue. It must have free access to the Chamber and beyond at other times, however, as it has survived for 1000 years and has to eat. What’s more, Harry and Ron discovered a shed skin in the passage outside the Chamber, indicating that the snake can gain access to this area at least.

The Basilisk was killed by Harry Potter in 1993, during his battle with the memory of Tom Riddle. The Chamber was closed at this time, and up to the summer of 1996 it was not opened again.

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