(A/N: Alright, now things are going to start getting good. Thank you my reviewers. Please enjoy the story.)

Disclaimer: These are getting annoying.

Chapter 12: The Mystery Solved

Things couldn't be worse. Twelve students were gone and there was a gorgon on the loose. The last 4 disappearances had been the final straw. Scrimgeour was coming down to Hogwarts the next day to discuss closing down the school. Several parents were taking their kids out of the school. The teachers were frantic. Stroder kept insisting that she would do everything in her knowledge in Defense Against the Dark Arts to see that this would be solved quickly, but the ministry didn't want to take any chances. Hogwarts would be closed.

Ginny wasn't doing so well. She was extremely depressed over Ron's disappearance, but was nothing compared to Hermione. While Ginny had Harry to comfort her, Hermione didn't really have anyone. She had spent half her time searching the castle and the other half in the library trying to find a solution to the problem. She refused to eat or sleep and Madam Pomfrey had to actually stun her and drag her to bed.

"I'm so worried." Ginny admitted. "I'm afraid of what's going to happen to everyone."

Harry couldn't agree more. He was worried sick. Worried about the school closing down, worried about Ron and the other students that disappeared, but mostly he was worried about Ginny. She was a pureblood, which made her a target. He tried to stay with her as much as possible and when he couldn't, he watched her on the Marauder's Map. He lost too many people he cared about already. He would not lose her too!

"Don't worry Gin, we'll figure this out." he swore. "I promise."

Ginny suddenly went into her Weasley authority mode. "Harry James Potter you are not getting involved in this any further! You've faced Voldemort and all his bloody minions, and if that wasn't enough you came across a gorgon! I am not going to lose you!"

Harry didn't want to get into an argument with her, not that he would win anyway, so he didn't say anything else on the matter.

The portrait to the Gryffindor common room opened and Professor Turner stepped in. "Miss Weasley, I need you to come with me."

Ginny looked confused. "Why?"

"I'm taking you to the Headmistress' office." Turner explained. "Your parents want to talk to you."

"They're here?" asked Ginny in surprise.

Turner shook her head. "No, they're communicating by Floo. Come now or else they'll send a search party out after us." The last sentence would have been funny if Turner wasn't serious.

"Ok, coming." sighed Ginny. She turned and gave Harry a kiss. "Be back in a bit, love."

Harry nodded, not really wanting her to go. The moment the portrait closed behind them Harry whipped out the Marauder's Map. Even accompanied by a teacher, he was taking no chances.

He watched the two dots labeled Ginny Weasley and Christine Turner. Another name caught his eye. Hermione Granger was heading for the Gryffindor common room. Hopefully she would be in a better mood.

His gaze returned to Ginny and Turner. He suddenly noticed something strange. They weren't heading for McGonagall's office. In fact, they were going the opposite direction.

"What in the name of Merlin?" Harry muttered.

Something was fishy. He watched the two enter into an unoccupied office. The dot labeled Ginny Weasley stopped suddenly and became faint. Then the two started moving again. But now they were leaving. They still weren't heading for McGonagall's office though. They were heading for the grounds.

Harry couldn't take it anymore. Fearing the worst, he threw the map aside and ran out of the common room. He bumped into Hermione outside.

"OW!!! Harry!" Hermione yelled, putting a hand to her head where Harry had ran into her. "What's the hurry?"

"Hermione!" Harry cried. "Hurry, go to McGonagall. Turner is taking Ginny out of Hogwarts."

Hermione looked confused and worried. "What? Why?"

"Don't know. Just go tell them."

Harry didn't wait for a response. He headed straight for the Great Hall, ignoring everyone calling out to him. He burst through the doors and began looking around frantically. Neither Ginny or Turner were in sight, but they were close, Harry could sense it. He chose the direction his heart told him to go in. And that led straight into the Forbidden Forest.

"Forbidden nothing!" Harry growled, and he headed into the dark forest.

Whatever force had been guiding, led him straight where he wanted to go. It wasn't long before he caught up with Turner and Ginny, but they weren't alone. Harry caught a glimpse of the gorgon he had seen earlier. It was carrying a petrified Ginny over its shoulder. Fortunately for Harry, Ginny's stone body was blocking the view of the gorgon's face.

Harry's first thought was to attack, but something stopped him. He realized this was what was happening to the disappearing students. This was his chance to find them. They must be nearby or else Turner would have just disapparated. As much as Harry wanted to help Ginny, he decided to wait until they led him to the other students.

After walking for about five minutes they came to an open area. Harry was shocked and disgusted by what he saw. All the missing students, all petrified, just dumped on the ground like garbage. Turner pointed to a clear area and the gorgon dropped Ginny on the ground like she was nothing.

An uncontrollable rage filled Harry. How dare anyone treat anybody like this; especially Ginny, his Ginny!

Keeping his eyes away from the gorgon, Harry jumped out from his hiding spot and cried "Stupefy!"

Turner looked shocked beyond belief as Harry stunner hit her in the chest. Harry didn't waste a second. Once he saw that he had hit his target he turned to the gorgon. Keeping his eyes on the ground he cast another stunner. From out of the very corner of his eye he saw the hideous creature take flight. Now what was he supposed to do. He could hear it flying over his head, but could look at his target to attack it.

"Ssso, it'sss you again." the gorgon hissed Harry recognized the language of Parseltongue. "You were lucky we were interrupted lassst time. But it will not happen again."

The flapping grew louder. Harry made sure to keep his eyes shut tight as he shouted out spells in the direction he thought the gorgon might be. It laughed at him as every spell missed.

"You missssssed." it mocked. "You can't hit me unlessssss you can sssee me. But if you look, well, you know what will happen."

It was right though. How was he supposed to fight this thing? In desperation he cried out in Parseltongue. "I order you to stop!"

The gorgon laughed. "Parssseltongue won't help you, boy. I only obey my massster."

"He's dead!" Harry shouted.

"But not hisss ssservantsss." the gorgon hissed. "I obey hisss will through them."

Harry felt something heavy slam into his back. The gorgon had whipped him with its tail. Harry fired a spell in the direction the blow had come from. He knew he missed when he heard the gorgon laugh. A second later something slashed his shoulder. It burned like crazy. Something was telling him that this wasn't an ordinary cut.

"Careful, boy. My clawsss are poisssonousss."

It was true. Harry could already feel the venom taking affect. It wasn't as intense as the venom from the basilisk had been, but it was the same feeling.

After firing another missed attack, Harry realized he had to keep the gorgon at bay.

"Ferrum Gladius!" he cried.

His wand turned into a sword. He heard the gorgon coming from behind and swung the sword. The flapping sound retreated.

"Ssso you're sssmarter than you look." the gorgon hissed in annoyance. "No matter, you'll ssstill die!"

He heard the flapping of wings all around him. The gorgon was circling him like a shark stalking its prey. Then the flapping got louder. Harry swung the sword and felt it connect with flesh. The gorgon howled in pain and back off. A loud thud came from something falling on the ground. Harry couldn't help but take a peak. Lying in front of him was a good 12 inches of the gorgon's tail.

Powerful arms grabbed Harry from behind and lifted him into the air. Harry cried out as the gorgon lifted him higher and higher. Then it dropped him. He crashed painfully to the ground. The sound of wings flapping grew louder. Harry, not really thinking about it, looked up, straight into the gorgon's hideous face.

His vision was blurred. Blurry enough to not make out the gorgon's face properly, sparing him the fate of being petrified. His glasses lay broken next to him.

The gorgon was getting closer. Its arms were spread out to tear him apart. Using his remaining strength, Harry swung the sword. A shower of blood flew from the neck of the gorgon as its head was removed.

The heavy body landed on Harry, knocking the breath out of him. It squirmed around for a few seconds before its reflexes died with it.

Harry laid there for a moment, catching his breath. Finally he pushed the heavy body off him. He looked around and spotted the blurry outline of the gorgon's head a few feet away. The creature may be dead, but that hideous face could still petrify anyone who looked at it.

Turning the sword back into his wand, Harry pointed it at the dismembered head. "Incendo! Reducto!"

The head burst into flames and then exploded. The threat was over. Harry picked up his glasses and repaired them before running to Ginny's side.

"Ginny? Ginny, can you hear me?"

"Of course she can't, she's petrified." said a voice in the back of his mind.

Thanking Merlin for Stroder's suggestion, he pulled out a small bottle of Mandrake Juice. The only problem was that Ginny's mouth was frozen shut. Hoping that the potion just needed to touch her bare skin, Harry applied the potion and waited. At first nothing happened, but then Ginny's body relaxed. Her eyes shut and she slumped down as if she were asleep.

Harry lifted her into his lap and gentle stroked her hair. "Thank goodness you're alright." he whispered. "You really scared me. I don't know what I would have done if-"

"Potter!"

Harry turned to see Turner back on her feet with her wand out. He was defenseless. His wand lay a few feet away and he was here cradling Ginny.

"Stupefy!"

A stunner came out of nowhere, stunning Turner once again. Stroder stood behind her with her wand out, looking at the situation with complete shock.

"Merlin's beard, what's happening her?" she asked.

Harry was so relieved to see her. The timing couldn't have been better. Ok, if she had turned up a few minutes earlier to help with the gorgon it would have been nice, but at least she was here now.

"Professor, it was Turner." Harry explained. "She was behind this. She's been using the gorgon to collect purebloods."

Stroder immediately covered her eyes. "The gorgon's here! Where?"

Harry couldn't help but grin at the look on the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher's face. "Don't worry professor. It's dead. I killed it."

Complete shock came over Stroder's face. "You killed…but how…you-great Merlin Potter you could have been petrified again, or even killed!"

"I'm fine." Harry assured her. "I used the Iron Sword spell and cut off its head."

He nodded to his bloody wand. Stroder summoned it to her and observed the blood. A smile crept up her face. "I guess you found my lesson informative?"

Harry nodded. "Sure did. But we should go. We really need to get these students to the Hospital Wing."

Stroder frowned. "Go? Why would we go?" She pointed her wand at him. "The fun is just beginning."

(A/N: I know it may seem like my story is almost over but it's not. It's only about half done. It still feels like I'm moving too quickly though. I really need to work on that. I have a real bad habit of trying to get to the exciting parts. Sigh. Anyway, I hoped you liked it. I'll update soon but I have a really busy week ahead of me.)