(A/N: Howdy! I'm grateful for all the reviews. It seems like there was some confusion on what a gorgon is. Well let me clear this up. I'm sure you all know the legend of Medusa, the snake haired woman who turned you to stone if you looked at her. Well, she was a gorgon. The gorgon in my story is not Medusa herself, just another magical, yet dangerous creature. And now on with the story.)

Disclaimer: ZZZZZ… Huh… I'm awake. No I don't own anything.

Chapter 11: Ron's Apology

Ginny was shocked and scared by Harry's reply. She hoped to Merlin that it wasn't as bad as that.

"Harry, are you sure?" she asked.

Harry nodded. "Positive. I don't know how it could have slipped my mind. I'll never forget that face. It was a gorgon alright, no doubt about it."

Ginny could feel her heart racing. "But Harry, they're supposed to be extinct."

This was true. Gorgons were wicked creatures. They were serpent like creatures with snake hair. A few theories were that they were a distant relative of the basilisk due to there power. Anyone that looked at the hideous face of a gorgon was instantly turned to stone. Due to this great danger, the gorgon had been put on the ministry's extermination list after one got lose in the muggle world. It took many years and plenty of Memory charms, but the gorgon became a muggle legend known as Medusa who was said to have been killed by Perseus. But that was just one of the many legends that came from muggles that had been exposed to the Wizarding world.

"Yes I know." said Harry impatiently. "But apparently someone didn't tell this one that."

Trying not to fear the worst, Ginny tried another approach. "Harry, are you sure it was a gorgon?"

"What other creature has snakes for hair?" he asked.

Ginny didn't have an answer for this. "You should tell McGonagall."

"Doing that right now." said Harry getting up.

He made it halfway to the door before Madam Pomfrey blocked his path. "Going somewhere, Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, I'm going to see McGonagall." Harry replied.

Madam Pomfrey shook her head. "No, you are going back to bed. You have been petrified for four weeks. Your body still needs time to recover from being dormant for so long."

"I know what petrified me." said Harry aggressively. "I have to tell Professor McGonagall what's going on before anything else happens."

Madam Pomfrey pointed back to the bed. "You shall lay down and I will get the Headmistress for you."

Harry gave up. "Fine!" At least he would be able to get his message to McGonagall.

Madam Pomfrey returned 5 minutes later with McGonagall and Stroder folowing closely behind. Harry was glad Stroder came. She was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher after all.

"Mr. Potter, you remember what petrified you." asked Stroder.

Harry nodded. "Yes. It was a gorgon."

All 3 woman gasped, the color draining from their faces.

"You are certain?" asked Stroder, sounding as worried as Harry felt.

He nodded. "There's no doubt in my mind."

Stroder turned to McGonagall who looked at a loss for words. "But the ministry was supposed to have exterminate them years ago." she said, thinking along the same lines as Ginny.

"Just like they did with the basilisk?" asked Harry. "Who knows, maybe a cockatrice will show up next." (A/N: For those of you that don't know, a cockatrice is a giant creature with the head and legs of a rooster, body of a snake, and wings of a dragon, with the same deadly stare as a basilisk.)

Stroder looked thoughtful. "Could You-Know-Who have managed to save one?"

McGonagall considered this for a moment. "It's possible. When he was first in power there were quite a few petrifications due to the few remaining gorgans." She turned back to Harry. "Thank you for telling us this Mr. Potter. I shall inform the ministry at once. Also get Professor Turner to make a lot more mandrake juice."

Stroder nodded. "I also suggest Potter carries some around with him. If the gorgon becomes aware of his-"

"Yes good idea." McGonagall agreed. "We must make haste. Great Merlin, students disappearing, gorgons on the loose. What's next? It's a wonder the ministry hasn't closed us down yet."

Harry's heart sank. He had a feeling that if something good didn't happen soon Hogwarts would be closed.

"But Harry, they're extinct." Hermione said for the thousandth time.

"Can gorgons become ghosts?" Harry asked.

"No but-"

"Is there a spell that can petrify someone?"

"No but-"

"Is there any other creature that can petrify a person by looking at them?"

"NO-"

"Then they're obviously not extinct." Harry concluded. "I know it was no basilisk I saw. It obviously wasn't a spell that petrified me. And if gorgons can't become ghosts, then it must have been alive. That means they're not extinct just yet."

"OK!" Hermione cried. "I see what you're saying. It's just that the ministry reported gorgons to be extinct 12 years ago."

Harry rolled his eyes. "And how long ago did they report basilisks to be extinct?" he asked. Hermione didn't reply. "Exactly my point. If Voldemort could hide a herd of basilisks, I'm sure he could hide a single gorgon."

"Then why didn't he use it during the final battle?" asked Ron, speaking for the first time in hours.

Harry glared at Ron. "Oh, so you're talking to me again?"

Ron winced. He gave Ginny and Hermione a look who returned it with a look of their own. Ron sighed. "Alright Harry. I'm sorry. We had a talk while you were… out, and I realized I've been a prat. It was stupid and inappropriate for me to think you would do anything to hurt Ginny. I know you would never take advantage of her like that. I was just being the overprotective big brother and I wasn't thinking straight. I should have known it was bound to happen eventually considering how much you love each other. I just didn't think it would be so soon. I know that you and Ginny can make your own decisions- you know, you can stop me at anytime."

Harry smirked. "I know." He had already forgiven Ron but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He wondered what exactly Ginny and Hermione had said to him.

Ron gave a nervous laugh. "Ok, I've been a prat." Ginny cleared her throat. "Fine, I've been the world's biggest prat. I'm sorry. Friends?"

He held out his hand hopefully. Harry smiled and took it, but used it to pull Ron into a hug. "Of course we're still friends. You just needed to let the air out of your head."

Ron laughed nervously. "Well can you blame me? I mean, I go to wake you up and I see you and my sister like that." He shivered. "That image is permanently burned into my mind. It will haunt my dreams from this day forward."

Harry laughed. "I'm sure Hermione will be able to sooth you when you wake up screaming."

Hermione turned beet red. "Ok, that's enough! Let's get back on topic!" she cried in a desperate attempt to change the subject. "Voldemort wouldn't have used his gorgon in the final battle because anyone, including his own servants, would have been petrified. Plus, I don't think he wanted anyone knowing he had a gorgon."

"That's a good point." said Ginny. "But what does this gorgon's presence have to do with the students disappearing?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. That's the big mystery."

Ginny smirked. "Well I'm sure you could find the answer in the library." she suggested.

Hermione's face lit up. "Yes! Of course! I should be researching this! Come on Ron!"

She grabbed her boyfriend's hand and dragged him in the direction of the library. Ron gave Ginny a look that said "thanks a lot" before he disappeared.

Harry turned to Ginny. "You know you should be nice. He did apologize."

Ginny smiled mischievously. "That's not why I got rid of them." She moved over to Harry and grabbed his shirt collar, pulling him towards her. "You've been petrified for four weeks and are only now getting out of the Hospital Wing. In the meantime, I've been her all alone, craving my stone cold boyfriend."

How could he resist that? "Well we better make up for lost time."

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

It was several hours later that Harry and Ginny were sitting in the Gryffindor common room doing their homework. Harry had a lot to catch up on. Being petrified was apparently no excuse for not getting your homework done. He wished Hermione was here to help him, but she and Ron were out doing their Prefect duties.

After getting fed up, Harry pushed his books aside and rubbed his eyes. "Merlin, I never knew 7th year would be this bad, let alone having to make up all this rubbish."

Ginny giggled. "Well it's your fault you got petrified."

Harry smiled slightly. "No, it's Brandelhook's fault. The big jerk. Accusing you of attacking the Slytherins."

Ginny smiled nervously. "Well a lot of the disappearances have been Slytherins."

Suddenly something clicked inside Harry's head. He jumped up startling Ginny.

"Harry what is it?" she asked concerned.

"Ginny, most of the Slytherins are purebloods, right?"

"Uh… yeah. So?"

Harry grabbed a piece of paper and began writing down names. Once he was done he looked it over.

"How could I not have seen it?" he muttered.

"What?" asked Ginny, getting up to see what the problem was.

"It's the purebloods." said Harry. "First it was Neville, then Luna, then the 3 Slytherins, after that came Brandelhook, Malfoy, and Susan. They were all-"

"Purebloods!" Ginny exclaimed. Her expression suddenly became terrified. "Harry, my family's pureblood!"

It took Harry a moment to realize what she meant.

"Ron!" they cried together.

"Accio map!" Harry cried. The Marauder's Map flew towards them. Harry snatched it out of the air. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"

The map appeared. Harry and Ginny scanned it anxiously. They found Hermione patrolling the halls. Then they began looking for Ron. Since only the Prefects, and Filch, were out, it became clear immediately. Not only was Ron gone, but Ernie MacMillian and the Slytherin Prefects were too. They all had been purebood. The targets of the disappearances were revealed, but it was too late for Ron.

(A/N: Well that's part of the mystery revealed. Things will start to get more intense in later chapters. Stay tuned.)