Chamber of Secrets

Chamber of Secrets was created by Salazar Slytherin in Medieval times, the original purpose of which may have been innocent, but eventually the myth spread the opening of the chamber was said to bring about the cleansing of Muggle-borns from the area. Located inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Was said that the chamber could only be opened by the heir of Slytherin.

Cham·ber of Se·crets
/CHāmbər əv sēkrits/
noun

Chamber of Secrets History
Built sometime after the founding of Hogwarts in the tenth century by Hogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin. The Chamber housed an ancient Basilisk, which was intended to be used by the heir of Slytherin to cleanse the school of Muggle-born students. For many hundreds of years, the Chamber was thought to be a myth. However, the rumours persisted over time, and over the years there is evidence that the chamber had been opened by the descendants of Slytherin. One of the descendants of Slytherin, Corvinus Gaunt, couldn’t help but boast of his knowledge of the Chamber, though nobody else could hear the creature. In the eighteenth century, Hogwarts ungraded their plumbing, and the Chamber’s entrance was in danger of being compromised, however, the simple trapdoor was protected secretly by Gaunt, and those who knew how to enter the Chamber, and were Parselmouths, were still able to do so. The Chamber remained a legend to most people, because although many Headmasters searched for the Chamber, no evidence of it every existing was ever found. The opening of the Chamber in 1942-1943 was an event which, for many years, was blamed on the wrong person. Several students were petrified during this school year, and eventually, one student, Myrtle Warren was killed in the Girls’ Bathroom (which happened to be the entrance to the Chamber). Rubeus Hagrid was blamed for the events which transpired, and the true murderer, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, not only got away with it by framing Hagrid (and Hagrid’s pet Acromantula), but was awarded a trophy for Special Services to the School. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named then closed the Chamber, and preserved his sixteen-year-old self within a diary, that one day it might be found and lead another to complete Slytherin’s “noble quest.” In 1992, this diary eventually landed in the possession of Ginny Weasley, and the diary bewitched her to do many acts without being completely aware of what she was doing. Several students became petrified, including Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Penelope Clearwater, and Hermione Granger. Others petrified during this school year were the ghost, Nearly Headless Nick, and Mrs. Norris, the cat of Argus Filch. At the end of the school year, the ancient Basilisk was defeated by Harry Potter with help from Fawkes the Phoenix. With the Basilisk dead, the Chamber held very little threat to the outside world.