* Tom Riddle is revealed as the Heir of Slytherin: Harry, Ron, and Ginny discover that Tom Riddle, a former student of Hogwarts, is the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets and is responsible for the attacks on the Muggle-born students. Riddle is revealed to be the young Lord Voldemort.
* Ginny is rescued: Harry confronts Tom Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets and manages to rescue Ginny from the clutches of the Basilisk, a giant serpent controlled by Riddle.
* The Basilisk is slain: Harry kills the Basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor, which he found in the Chamber.
* Tom Riddle's diary is destroyed: Harry realizes that the diary is a Horcrux, containing a piece of Voldemort's soul. He destroys the diary, effectively destroying a part of Voldemort.
* The Chamber is closed: Harry, Ron, and Ginny return to Hogwarts, where Dumbledore reveals that Tom Riddle's memory was erased by Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, before it could be used against the wizarding community. Dumbledore also closes the Chamber of Secrets.
* Harry's reputation is cleared: Harry is finally recognized as a hero after the events of the Chamber, and his reputation is cleared after being wrongly accused of opening the chamber in the previous year.
* Life returns to normal: Hogwarts returns to its usual state, with the magical community celebrating the defeat of the Chamber.
* A hint of future danger: The ending also hints at the looming threat of Lord Voldemort, leaving the readers with a sense of anticipation for what's to come in the next book.