Chamber of ....Secrets?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 185980

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> > Montavilla47 commented:
> > > 
> > > I think it was probably called the Chamber of Secrets because it 
> > sounded cool.
> 
> > >
> Pippin:
> The name was probably coined by Riddle, with his usual flair for the
> grandiose.

Geoff:
My interpretation is that the name pre-dates Riddle.

Look at Binns' comments:
'Professor Binns paused again, pursing his lips. looking like a wrinkled 
old tortoise.
"Reliable historical sources tell us this much," he said, "but these honest 
facts have been obscured by the fanciful legend of the Chamber of Secrets. 
The story goes that Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of 
which the other founders knew nothing.

Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that 
none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the castle....

...."The whole thing is arrant nonsense of course," he said. "Naturally, the 
school has been searched for evidence of such a chamber many times by 
the most learned witches and wizards. It does not exist..."

..."But, sir," said Seamus Finnigan, "If the Chamber can only be opened by 
Slytherin's true heir, no one else would be able to find it, would they?"

"Nonsense, O'Flaherty," said Professor Binns in an aggravated tone. "If a 
long succession of Hogwarts headmasters and headmistresses haven't 
found the thing -"'
(COS "The Writing on the Wall" from pp.114/15 UK edition)

Binns gives a very distinct impression to me that the name is not unknown
to him both now and in reference to the searches that have taken place.

And again, the way Tom Riddle speaks, later on, suggests that he was 
using a name which he had heard about during his time at Hogwarts and 
not one which he had invented:  
'"I thought someone must realise that Hagrid couldn't possibly be the 
 heir of Slytherin. It  had taken me five whole years to find out everything
I could about the Chamber of Secrets and discover the secret entrance..."'
(COS "The Heir of Slytherin" p.230 UK edition)

Just my own personal reading of canon.