Potter. What are you…" the man trailed off, noticing the sorry-looking cat behind him. "Mrs Norris? You've murdered my cat!"
"No…no…" Harry began, backing away as Filch lunged towards him.
"I'll kill ya! I'LL KILL YA!" Filch screamed, grabbing him with both hands.
"Enough!" a silky voice cut through the commotion.
Severus Snape seemed to appear out of nowhere, wand pointing directly at the caretaker.
"Unhand him at once," he ordered, steadily.
"He's killed my cat!" Filch cried, unmoving.
"It's not true! I didn't… I didn't do anything!" Harry stammered.
"Lies!" he cried, shaking Harry furiously.
Snape's wand made contact with Filch's cheek, puckering into his dirty skin.
"You have until the count of three to let go of him, lest you wish to join your feline friend in the beyond," he warned, his voice dangerous. "One…"
"Severus! Argus!"
The crowd parted to make way for Professor Dumbledore, flanked by McGonagall and Lockhart.
Distracted, Filch let go of Harry, and the potions master was between them in an instant.
Dumbledore's eyes moved to the message on the wall.
"Everyone will proceed to their dormitories immediately," he said calmly, before gesturing between Harry and his two friends. "Everyone except you three."
As the other students dispersed, Lockhart stepped closer to examine the cat.
"She's not dead, Argus. She has been petrified," Dumbledore told the caretaker.
"Ah! Thought so. So unlucky I wasn't there – I know exactly the counter curse that could've spared her," the DADA teacher declared.