Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets By J. K. Rowling chapter one the Worst Birthday

“Come… come to me… Let me rip you.. .Let me tear you.. .Let me kill you…” 
Harry gave a huge jump and a large lilac blot appeared on Veronica Smethley’s street. 
“What?” he said loudly. 
“I know!” said Lockhart. “Six solid months at the top of the best-seller list! Broke all records!” 
“No,” said Harry frantically. “That voice!” 
“Sorry?” said Lockhart, looking puzzled. “What voice?” 
“That — that voice that said — didn’t you hear it?” 
Lockhart was looking at Harry in high astonishment. 
“What are you talking about, Harry? Perhaps you’re getting a little drowsy? Great Scott — look 

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at the time! We’ve been here nearly four hours! I’d never have believed it — the time’s flown, 
hasn’t it?” 
Harry didn’t answer. He was straining his ears to hear the voice again, but there was no sound 
now except for Lockhart telling him he mustn’t expect a treat like this every time he got 
detention. Feeling dazed, Harry left. 
It was so late that the Gryffindor common room was almost empty. Harry went straight up to the 
dormitory. Ron wasn’t back yet. Harry pulled on his pajamas, got into bed, and waited. Half an 
hour later, Ron arrived, nursing his right arm and bringing a strong smell of polish into the 
darkened room. 
“My muscles have all seized up,” he groaned, sinking on his bed. “Fourteen times he made me 
buff up that Quidditch cup before he was satisfied. And then I had another slug attack all over a 
Special Award for Services to the School. Took ages to get the slime off… How was it with 
Lockhart?” 
Keeping his voice low so as not to wake Neville, Dean, and Seamus, Harry told Ron exactly 
what he had heard. 
“And Lockhart said he couldn’t hear it?” said Ron. Harry could see him frowning in the 
moonlight. “D’you think he was lying? But I don’t get it — even someone invisible would’ve 
had to open the door.” 
“I know,” said Harry, lying back in his four-poster and staring at the canopy above him. “I don’t 
get it either.”