They decide that maybe that person is the cause of the problem, not because they seem evil, but just because they seem different. If they see a person who acts a little bit differently to everyone else, they become 'suspicious'. The author shows that when people are frightened, sometimes they can act in a very nasty way.

One of the 'themes' or ideas in this book is ' suspicion'.

As everyone becomes more and more frightened, they start to be suspicious of other people. One by one students, and even the caretaker's cat, are affected by a strange and frightening spell. Harry has not been back at school very long before it becomes clear that everybody inside the school is in danger. Harry and Ron go to school, very late, and in disgrace. But because of strange happenings, Harry and Ron miss the train to school. The magical train leaves Paddington station in London from Platform 9¾. In fact, he drives his family to catch the school train in a magical Ford Anglia. But he does not always do his job in the way the Department would like. It is his job to prevent wizards from illegally enchanting Muggle objects. He is fascinated by 'Muggles' (ordinary people) and the way that they manage to live without magic.

Mr Weasley works for the Department of Magic. The reader is introduced to the Weasley family, including Ron's sister Ginny, who is just starting at Hogwarts. He spends the rest of the summer at the Weasley home, called 'The Burrow'. Harry is rescued by his best friend Ron Weasley in a flying car. They lock Harry in his room for the rest of the summer. Harry doesn't listen to the warning, so Dobby causes a mess to make Harry's aunt and uncle angry. Dobby warns Harry not to go back to Hogwarts, the magical school that Harry went to the year before, saying that terrible things will happen there. Harry is visited by Dobby, a house-elf, who is forced to serve the Malfoy family. The story begins as Harry, orphaned, spends summer with an aunt, uncle and cousin who do not love him.

Harry potter and the chamber of secrets