Filch arrives at the scene and in his distressed state instantly accuses Harry of the crime. He is about to attack Harry to avenge Mrs. Norris' apparent murder when Dumbledore arrives, accompanied by Professors Snape, McGonagall and Lockhart. They calm the situation, taking the three students and Filch to Lockhart's office. Upon closer inspection, it is discovered that Mrs. Norris isn't dead but petrified, something that can be reversed with a magic potion.
Attention is turned to Harry, and his involvement is questioned. Snape questions Harry, Ron and Hermione first, wanting to know why they were absent from the Halloween feast in the Great Hall. Thankfully, their whereabouts can be proved, with hundreds of ghosts at Nick's party able to support the fact that they were in the dungeon and not at the scene.....
