'What's going on out here?'

'Trouble, Filch,' said Hagrid, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the fallen helicopter. 'We need to speak to Professor Dumbledore!'

'I suppose I'd better let you in, then! Dumbledore's gone to the Owlery, to send an urgent letter to the Ministry.'

'Doesn't miss a trick, that man!' said Price, as the group passed through the large doorway. 'What about Professor McGonnagal?

'How should I know?!'

'Fair enough! Has Madame Pomfrey arrived yet?'

'Wouldn't have thought so,' Finch replied, closing the door behind him. 'She'll need to get her things together, and she lives on the far side of the village.'

'So I believe. Anything unusual happening in here?'

'Not that I've noticed.'

'Are you sure, Mr Filch?' asked Ginny, a worried expression forming on her face.

'Of course I'm sure!'

'Then why am I suddenly feeling as if something's wrong upstairs?'

Without another word, Ginny suddenly turned and ran up the nearby staircase, with Ron hot on her heels.

'Now what?' cried Price. 'Right, Harry, Hermione, with me! Hagrid,you better get these two' here she pointed to Beckett and Kontarsky, 'to the Hospital Wing to wait for Madame Pomfrey! NOW!'

As the officer and the two remaining teens raced upstairs, Beckett turned to Filch 'That is one young lady I wouldn't want to argue with!'

Arriving upstairs, Harry, Hermione and Price found Ron standing by an ornate door, which had a crudely painted "Out of Order" sign hanging from the handle.

'Where's Ginny?' Hermione asked, looking around with a puzzled expression.

'In there!' said Ron, jerking his head towards the door. 'Ran straight in, and pushed the door shut behind her!'

'Why didn't you follow her in?'

'Into the girl's toilets?!'

'Well, it wouldn't be the first time you've been in there!'

An ear piercing shriek, from inside the room, suddenly split the air, prompting Price and the teens to rush past the door. They found Ginny quickly stepping backwards towards the cluster of washbasins, fear in her eyes and her right hand clamped over her mouth. As Ron rushed to his sister, the others walked towards the unmistakable shape of a human body on the floor, in front of the toilet stalls.

Thanks to the light, which suddenly appeared from the tips of Harry and Hermione's wands, Price realised that the figure, lying on it's front, was dressed in an older style female Hogwarts uniform. Gently she turned the body over, revealing the face of the prone figure, drawing a gasp from Hermione.

'What is it?' asked Ron anxiously, a noticeably calmer Ginny next to him.

'It's Myrtle!' breathed Hermione.

'Myrtle?!'

'Yes,' responded Harry. 'And she's no longer a ghost!'

Price slowly leaned forward, and gently pressed two fingers against the girl's neck.

'I've found a pulse – she's alive!'

'Surely that's impossible!' exclaimed Hermione.

'Apparently not, and don't call me Shirley!' replied Price, who was already gathering the unconscious Ravenclaw student in her arms. 'Now, how do we get to the hospital wing from here?

'Follow us' said Ron, who was heading towards the door with Ginny, while Harry and Hermione extinguished the light from their wands.

As the group reached the Hospital Wing entrance, they were greeted by a kindly looking, white bearded gentleman in flowing purple robes, and a stern looking woman wearing emerald green dress, cloak and pointed hat. Both of them wore spectacles on their noses, half mooned for the gentleman, while the woman's were square shaped.

'Good evening, young lady,' said the man. 'I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, and this is my friend and deputy, Professor Minerva McGonagall.'

'And I'm Major Marion Price. I hope you'll forgive me for not shaking hands!'

'Of course,, replied McGonagall nervously 'You better bring Miss Warren inside. Hopefully, Madame Pomfrey won't be too much longer!'

'Indeed,' added Dumbledore. 'The two gentlemen you sent on ahead with Hagrid are already here.'

At that point, the group became aware of an argument below them, at the main door.

'You can't bring him in here!' yelled Filch. 'We're overrun with muggles as it is!'

'Oh for crying out loud!' bellowed the unmistakable voice of Madame Pomfrey. 'Step aside, and let us through!'

'Or what?'

'I hope, for your sake, you never find out!' replied the gravely voice of the man who had clearly arrived with Madame Pomfrey.

'Let them in, Argus,' Dumbledore called out, as Price carried Myrtle into the Hospital, gently placing her on the second left hand side bed. 'Madame Promfrey's expertise is sorely needed, and her new companion is more than welcome to join our other visitors.

'That's very kind of you, sir,' replied the man, as the pair made their way up the stairs.

'Not at all.' replied Dumbledore. While the Hogwarts matron rushed into the Hospital Wing, her companion, a grey haired, wrinkle faced man, dressed in pale blue jeans, red and white checked shirt, with a white t-shirt underneath, and decorated light brown shin high boots, joined the group, and nodded in greeting before they went through the double doors.

As they entered, Major Price steeped out from the screens that now surrounded the second bed, quickly whispered something to Madame Pomfrey and, pausing to give a comforting glance to the four concerned teens, and the nervously waiting Hagrid, approached the new arrival with her right hand outstretched and a light smile on her face.

'Hello, I'm Marion Price, and who might you be?

'His name is Mitchell Gant,' came the icily cold voice of Colonel Kontarsky, from the corner bed next to Myrtle's. 'And I would strongly advise you not to trust him!'