"Are you sure he isn't back yet" Ron asked impatiently

"Ron, don't you think that if Harry had come back I would have told you?" said Ron's younger sister Ginny. Ginny and her brother were sitting in the Gryffindor common room. It was past midnight so they were the only ones up. This was Ginny's seventh year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "Besides, it's not like this is the first time he's just wandered off without telling anyone" she continued. Harry Potter, Ginny's boyfriend and Ron's best friend, had gone on a recon mission to gain information on something that Harry had suspicions about, but had refused to tell anyone. He and Remus Lupin were supposed to be back nearly two days ago.

"But he didn't just wander off. He was with Remus."

"And he probably still is" Ginny pointed out. "You're so hot-headed, honestly."

"Wh-What?" Ron stammered. "He was supposed to be back two days ago!"

"So maybe the mission is just running a bit behind"

"No bloody way. We didn't get any owls from Harry or Remus." Ron raised his voice. "And why hasn't the Order sent out a search party yet?"

"Your just miffed because Hermione's not here." Ginny stated

"Why did she have to go to Australia anyway?" Ron muttered under his breath.

"We've discussed this already, Hermione said that now it would be safe to try and find her parents since Voldemort's gone."

"I just wish I knew when she would be back. There are still dark forces out there." Ron said looking at his feet

"She said it would a while, a few weeks if not a couple of months. But she's sending you owls and she has Tonks with her." Ginny said reassuringly

"I'm going to see McGonagall" Ron stood up and stormed out. Ginny tried to stop him but he'd already made up his mind. Ginny followed him. They walked up two flights of stairs and a corridor when they arrived at a stone griffin statue.

"Password" it asked

Ron was steamed "Just let us through!"

"Password" it repeated

"Move out of the way!"

"Password"

"Uh... Acid pops!"

"Password"

"Chocolate frogs"

"Password"

"AAGH!" Ron ran up to the statue and began pounding it with his fists. Ginny stood in front of the statue and said flatly:

"Licorice wand"

"THANK YOU!" exclaimed the griffin. "My job is to stand guard of the secrets in the room beyond these stairs! Not to say password to every dunderhead who comes by and demands entry!" he looked at Ron. "I don't need this! I was here since Armondo Dippett! I've traveled the world! If I could just leave this spot, just for a minute!" he took a breath and calmed down "Just to stretch my wings"

"I'm so sorry" said Ginny

"Well, it is what it is" the griffin said "I'll tell you what, little girl, I'll do you one favor."

"Um, gee, thanks, but why?" Ginny asked

"It's the least anyone could do for someone who has to deal with a burden like yours" he looked back over at Ron.

"Git" Ron said

"Thank you, Mr. Griffin" said Ginny

"Please, call me Astor" the griffin asked

"Ok. Thank you, Mr. Astor" Ginny and Ron walked up the spiral staircase to a large door. Ron knocked.

"Who's there?" Came the voice of an old woman from the inside of the room.

"Ron and Ginny, Professor McGonagall" Ron answered

"Come in, come in. I was hoping you would stop by" Prof. McGonagall opened the door and guided them to a couple of chairs across from her desk. Ginny and Ron sat down.

"I need the four of you to go, well, on a quest of sorts" McGonagall said

"What do you mean a quest?" asked Ron

"You four need to find Mr. Potter" she stated

"I knew it! Harry's in trouble! I was right!" Ron shouted

"Yes, Mr. Weasley. You were right. Brag about it on the way" the Professor said. Ron sat back down.

"Wait," Ginny said "where are we going?"

"America"

"America?" Ginny repeated

"A place called New York City, precisely"

"Why?"

"We have gotten hints that Mr. Potter may be there"

"Hold on a second," Ron interrupted "you keep saying 'the four of you'. Who else is going?" suddenly the door opened and in walked Neville Longbottom.

"There you are" said McGonagall "And there you have it. Your things are already packed. You should take off immediately."

"Then who's the fourth?" Ginny asked

"Fortitude, obviously" McGonagall answered "how else will you travel?"

"I'm sorry, did you say Fortitude?"

"He most likely introduced himself as Astor" Ginny and Ron looked at each other and shared the same thought: The stone griffin?