Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

You could also call this one Harry, There's Always Money in the Banana Stand because of the cryptic “help” Hagrid and Dumbledore provide as they abruptly leave Hogwarts while students are dropping like flies.

I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book. I did enjoy the comic relief from the twins, Lockhart, and the maturing Mandrakes. The main thing tripping me up is an emerging disconnect in the portrayal of good and evil.

Harry has imposter syndrome, but his friends and mentors provide reassurance: agency is what matters, not destiny. People can challenge what's assumed about them. People are dimensional; they defy expectations. People have the ability to surprise themselves and others, to change course. That's up to them. That's up to all of us. Nothing is set in stone. There is always reason to hope, because we all hold potential to make choices that make the world better.

Sold. But if that's the case...why does Harry need to be in Gryffindor to be good? Why couldn't he be in Slytherin? Why couldn't Hermione be in Ravenclaw? Why couldn't Harry, Ron and Hermione be best friends sorted into three different houses? Don't the people sorted into Slytherin also have agency? Why is this color-coded Myers-Briggs thing deeming a quarter of the school Just Bad™?

I haven't read Harry Potter in so long that I don't remember how this develops, so I might be putting my foot in my mouth. Onto book three!