When I originally read it: 1999
What I thought of it then: Believe it or not, I don't have a clear memory of checking out the second book like I do with the first. I don't know why though, so much stuff happens! I do remember thinking that Gilderoy Lockhart was obnoxious...
When I re-read it: I may be saying this with every book as I re-read them, but this one might be my favorite! Like I said before, there's so much stuff going on here! Moaning Myrtle! Tom Riddle's diary and learning about Voldemort's past! Seeing Dumbledore's office for the first time! Seeing Ginny's crush on Harry (I only vaguely remember Ginny in the earlier books, and I certainly forgot her song about Harry), Colin Creevy's creepy fanboy obsession, the flying car, whomping willow, Hagrid's friendship with a giant spider, Hagrid going to Azkaban (I COMPLETELY forgot about that happening! Scary!), basilisk, the return of the Sorting Hat, Ron's wonky wand and spitting up slugs after his valiant attempt at cursing Malfoy, new brooms for Slytherin still not being enough for them to win a Quidditch match, Harry overhearing people talk badly about him in the library (that part broke my heart) and so so SO much more. Also, for some reason I remember Dobby having a bigger part...
What my thoughts are now: It's probably obvious from the above post that I really liked this book.. :) And like my re-reading of Sorcerer's Stone, I was more aware of what/who was going to be important in the books so I could keep a closer eye on what they were doing. The added bonus of having some of the visuals from the movie were also fun, and especially helpful in the case of Lockhart and Moaning Myrtle because I could just imagine Kenneth Branagh and Shirley Henderson, and thus I was not as annoyed with them. And Ron (Rupert Grint's) face as he vomited up slugs was also etched into my mind as I read that part. :)
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