A/N: So, my friends, here we are :D Calliope tells her friends what exactly happened at the Yule Ball. This chapter is dedicated to Nushka, who was awaiting this chapter for a very long time :) Anyway, enjoy!

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thank you :)

Gotta Dance 88- Yeah, I love reunion scenes too :) I really hope you'll like this chapter too

Bellamort500- Hahahaha, I know you know ;)

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Harry Potter

'The Yule Ball?' Harriet repeated. 'What happened at the Yule Ball?'

'To be honest, Harriet, there are moments where I feel confused too' Calliope answered. 'I try to explain actions, words, feelings, reasons why I did something, and I just can't'

'Don't worry, Callie' Phoebe comforted her. 'We won't judge you. Tell us what happened and maybe we'll help you to clear everything'

'You're right, Phoebs. So, where should I start from?'

'The beginning would be a good start' Lexi winked and Calliope couldn't help but laugh.

'Alright, then. As you know, girls, McGonagall had told us about the traditional Yule Ball that occurred during the Triwizard Tournament and that we should bring dates. You remember what we had said. Harriet was the only one who already had a date, since she would go with Matthew'

'Oh, yeah, now I remember' Elaine took out the packages with the sweets she had bought from Honeyduke's. 'Lexi was wondering if graduates could come, because she wanted you to go to the ball with Oliver'

'Well, what else would Lexi say?' Calliope smiled at her. 'I took it as a joke, although I admit that I actually wanted to go with him. I had thought it was impossible, thought that he wouldn't be allowed to come, because he no longer was a student. But I had forgotten something. That nothing is impossible for the Weasley twins'

" 'Calliope!' Fred and George exclaimed happily when they saw her coming out of the Muggle Studies classroom. 'Just the person we were looking for'

'Why were you looking for me?' Calliope asked and rubbed her hands, since it was particularly cold that morning.

'It's about the Yule Ball, my dear Callie' Fred started.

'And we want to ask you…Do you have a date already?' George continued.

Calliope shook her head. Two guys had asked her already, but she had refused politely because she didn't know them very well.

'No? That's perfect!' the twins clapped in their hands and their identical smiles became wider.

'Perfect because I don't have a date?' Calliope raised her eyebrows. 'Come on, guys, what do you want to tell me?'

'We found you a date!'

'And a date you'll never forget' Fred winked.

'Never forget?' she looked from the one to the other. 'Guys, I'm warning you, if your plan is that I'll go to the ball with Malfoy or Peeves or Snape or…'

'Callie, Callie' George said, while he and his brother were laughing loudly 'would we ever waste our best friend to Malfoy, Peeves, Snape or anyone else totally unworthy for you?'

Calliope sighed relieved. The Weasley twins were her friends, but she wouldn't be surprised if they would come with such a plan. Now that the danger of a bad date was gone, her panic was replaced by curiosity.

'Then, who is it?'

'We'll give you some clues' Fred grinned. 'You two share a common interest, with him being slightly more obsessed than you. George, Lexi and I have told you many times that you would be a wonderful couple. He's your closest friend'

'WHAT?' she yelled and three second-years that were passing by quickly walked away. 'Oliver will come at the Yule Ball AND will be my date? But…But…He's a…He's a graduate…and…'

'If you stop stuttering, we'll fill you in' George laughed. 'We were discussing about the ball and Fred said "Hey, George, what about Callie?" We didn't want you to not have fun and so…'

'…we went to McGonagall' Fred added. 'You won't believe what excuses we told her. That he deserves to be present at such a marvelous event, that you deserve the best date ever, that it will be a great chance for us to see him. And she smiled and said that it won't be a problem at all if good old Woody will come'

'Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a sec!' Calliope stopped hm. 'Okay, Oliver's allowed to come and I'm very happy that I'll see him. But who told you that he wants to be my date?'

'We asked him before going to McGonagall, silly!'

'What did you tell him?' Calliope wanted to know, afraid that the twins had implied something.

'Nothing you should be ashamed of' Fred assured her. 'First of all, we told him about how great it will be, since it's something he never lived before. And then we asked him "Will you leave your beautiful, kind and brave best friend without a date or with a lame date?" Of course, we didn't make it sound as if we were asking for favor, because you wouldn't like it, but we only brought it as an idea, since he would come, you're friends and neither of you has a date.

'And he replied that, if McGonagall agreed, he would come, and, if you had no problem, it would be more than a pleasure for him to escort you' George ended. 'His words, not mine, which means that there's no other girl he wants to bring here. You only need to write to him to arrange the when's, the where's and the how's' "

'I owe them eternal gratitude!' Lexi commented. 'You have to admit, they had arranged everything. They had Oliver's positive answer, his agreement to be your date AND McGonagall's permission'

'Yeah, I have to admit that'

'Don't be so shy, Callie' Phoebe chuckled. 'I still remember your huge smile when Oliver answered to your letter and confirmed that he wanted to come with you'

'That's no surprise' Elaine smiled. 'After all, while we were preparing ourselves, the night of the Yule Ball, she practically said that she has a crush on him'

'Anyway' Calliope said 'when it was sure that I would go to the ball with Oliver, I started to search for dress robes and proper hairstyles. I was feeling unnatural anxious and Lexi's enthusiasm didn't help'

'But the final result was anything but disappointing' Lexi said. 'Seriously, Calliope, you were beautiful that night'

" 'Girls, I changed my mind!' Calliope told them desperately and lied on her bed.

'Shut up, Callie!' Lexi straightened her dress. 'You've been changing your mind for the past five hours! Now it's too late!'

'Why should I go?' Calliope continued whining. 'I'll surely do something stupid, or I'll step on him while dancing or I'll faint!'

'Or you'll have a great time without anything of this happening' Elaine consoled her while wearing her shoes.

'Are you not well, Calliope?' Phoebe asked with concern.

'Oh, despite that my legs are shaking and my stomach hurts, I am well' Calliope responded ironically. 'I'm so freaking nervous!'

'Aha!' Lexi pointed towards her. 'I caught you! No girl is freaking nervous when she goes to a ball with a guy just as friends!'

'I never said we would go just as friends!' Calliope burst out, not enduring it anymore. 'Okay?'

'Well, Lexi, now you can celebrate as loudly as you can' Elaine laughed. 'She finally admits that she has a crush on him!'

'And he won't be happy when he won't see you' Lexi couldn't hold back her wide smile that made her look like a child. 'Come on, girl, dress up, let me fix your hair and, for Godric Gryffindor's sake, stay calm' "

'Wait a minute!' Harriet interrupted her. 'Where was I?'

'You had already left, because you couldn't wait to meet Matthew' Calliope explained. 'May I continue?'

'Just get to the point already!'

'Leave her, Harriet' Lexi smirked. 'Nothing's better than a nice, juicy story with many details'

" 'Wow, Callie, that dress fits you perfectly!' Phoebe said honestly.

It was a violet dress without sleeves that was flowing to the ground and, according to Lexi, it made her look "like an ancient goddess". Calliope had chosen it because she loved the color and Lexi had agreed, because it would totally match her eyes. Her make-up was very light, since Calliope never liked much make-up on her face.

'May I do your hair?' Lexi suggested.

'Of course, Lexi'

Lexi pointed her wand at Calliope's hair and waved. The light brown, gentle waves became silky, half was tied up and half fell on her back.

'It's not something unusual or complicated' Lexi apologized. 'But I'm still a bit inexperienced in styling spells'

Calliope hugged her tightly, feeling lucky that she had so good friends.

'You're great, Lexi, seriously!'

They went to the common room and only Calliope was in a hurry, since she and Oliver had arranged to meet in a few minutes. Lexi's and Phoebe's dates were two guys from Durmstrang, while Elaine would go with Marcus Belby from Ravenclaw. In the common room, they were greeted by the Weasley twins, who were waiting for their own dates, Fred for Angelina and George for Alicia. Lexi winked at them and dragged Phoebe and Elaine away.

'Calliope, you are stunning!' George complimented her.

'Yeah, Callie' Fred nodded. 'Poor Woody will have a hard time keeping you for himself tonight'

'Ah, Freddie, I'll disagree here' George laughed. 'Don't forget that he's a Keeper! And a very good one too, right, Calliope?'

'Anyway' Calliope avoided commenting 'I better go'

'That's right' Fred agreed with a serious expression. 'Don't keep Wood waiting''

Calliope patted them on the arm, waved towards the girls ("You GO, girl!" Lexi said) and went through the portrait hole. The Fat Lady and her friend Violet were giggling like little girls and their fun was transferred to Calliope, who hid her nervousness and wore her brightest smile.

Oliver was waiting for her already and, when she saw him, she had to try very hard to not run towards him. In these months she hadn't seen him, he had grown up and was even more good-looking. Her heart skipped a bit.

At the sound of her steps, Oliver turned around and his honey brown eyes widened when he saw her. Calliope, always the modest girl she was, blushed madly.

'Calliope!' he greeted her happily and kissed her softly on the cheek. 'I'm so glad to see you again! Let me look at you! Honestly, you're…you're beautiful!'

'Thanks. You don't look bad yourself' she smiled at him.

'Shall we go?'

They started walking to the Great Hall, arm in arm, exchanging their news. Oliver basically told her about his Quidditch practices at Puddlemere United and how many considered him a baby because of his age and because of his position as reserved Keeper.

'Don't worry, Oliver, I'm sure they'll recognize how valuable you are!' Calliope comforted him. 'It's a matter of time'

The Great Hall, where most students were already gathered, was beautifully decorated. Oliver and Calliope stood at a corner next to the dancing floor and soon the Weasley twins, Lexi and Phoebe approached them with their dates. They started talking and laughing, but, suddenly, the music started playing and the four champions marched in. First was Fleur Delacour with Roger Davies from Ravenclaw, then Victor Krum with Hermione, Cedric with Cho Chang, also a Ravenclaw, and Harry with Parvati Patil.

'Harry seems embarrassed' Oliver whispered. 'He really hates to be so famous. At least he did well in the first task, as you told me'

Calliope nodded. The champions started to dance and, unlike the other three, Harry had an expression as if he preferred to fight against a dragon again. Of course he was smiling, but only slightly. A few minutes later, more couples started to dance, including Calliope's and Oliver's friends. The two of them stood there and talked for a while, but not for long, because Oliver took action.

'Would you like to dance, my lady?' he bowed towards her, stretching out his hand.

'I would love to, sir' Calliope smiled, curtsied and gave him her hand. "

'Aww, that's really sweet' Phoebe commented. 'You two were adorable! I'm saying the truth, Callie'

'And now comes the big question' Lexi interfered. 'Did you feel anything while you were dancing?'

'Better answer it, Calliope' Elaine advised her. 'After all, you're the one who's confused and it's necessary for us to know how you felt'

'Yeah, I felt something' Calliope looked out of the window. 'I was feeling so comfortable, so warm and…and I didn't want it to end, girls'

'Good. VERY good' Lexi rubbed her hands, grinning. 'And?'

'Well, we were dancing a lot' Calliope told them. 'But then we decided to go for a walk, since Oliver had missed Hogwarts'

'And you guys kissed!' Lexi exclaimed spontaneously.

'No' Calliope shook her head. 'Because sometimes unexpected situations happen and you don't know how to deal with them'

" They were walking silently, enjoying the music echoing from the Great Hall. Calliope was giving her best to stay calm, although a sudden energy was overwhelming her and she had the impression that she would explode. At one moment, they saw Harry and Ron walking in the distance. They waved to them and the two fourth-years waved back.

'The twins surprised me, to tell the truth' Oliver grinned. 'I had thought you would find a date at once'

'Two guys asked me' Calliope informed him. 'But…I didn't know them that well and it would be awkward'

'But…it would only be a dance and maybe you would become friends. You didn't have to…start a relationship or something'

'You mean you're complaining for coming, Ollie?' Calliope wanted to know. She was sounding as if she was mocking him, but she actually feared the answer.

'Of course not' Oliver said. 'You know that. I have a great time here, I'm so happy to see you all and it's you I went to the ball with, not some stranger. I'm only asking this, because I want to find out…well…how you see such things. For example, you wanted to know your date to a simple ball'

'Yes, I feel much more comfortable' Calliope admitted. 'A friend knows you very well. He knows your strengths and weaknesses, he knows what entertains you and what hurts you'

'Callie, it's a ball we're speaking, not a relationship'

'I have the same standards' Calliope looked him in the eyes. 'The exact same standards'

Oliver stopped walking and looked at her. His gaze was so intensive that Calliope shuddered and felt like a statue. She couldn't move, petrified by something in his eyes she couldn't figure out. She didn't know what to do, she felt paralyzed and this feeling grew stronger when Oliver cupped the side of her face and placed his forehead on hers.

'It's cold' she told him and he pulled back. 'Would you mind if…if we go back inside?'

Oliver shook his head and led her to the Great Hall. For the rest of the night they acted normally, dancing, talking and laughing like the best friends everybody knew them to be, although Calliope caught him staring often at her.

When the ball was over, he walked her back to the entrance of the Gryffindor Common Room, still pretending that nothing was wrong.

'Did you have fun?'

'Oh, yes' Oliver smiled at her. 'You're a great dance partner, Calliope'

'I say the same for you' Calliope smiled back. 'Will I see you soon, Oliver?'

'I…I'm not sure' the young Keeper answered. 'But be sure that I'll write as soon as I can. I promise'

He hugged her, kissed her forehead and watched her as she was going through the portrait hole. "

'I so want to kill you, Bowden!' Lexi jumped on her feet and started walking up and down in the dormitory. 'I swear, if I was sure I would be unpunished, you wouldn't live now'

'Oh, stop the empty threats, Lexi' Elaine said and sat next to Calliope, who seemed lost in her thoughts. She rubbed her shoulder, while Phoebe was sitting next to her and Lexi was mumbling.

'The guy you have a crush on practically wants to know what you think about relationships…'

'Well, at least this didn't affect your friendship' Harriet comforted her. 'That's something positive'

'You say that you want to have a relationship with someone who knows you well, meaning that you confessed your crush almost directly…'

'You're neither the first nor the least' Phoebe ignored Lexi. 'Don't feel bad about it'

'Even a first-year could say that he wanted to kiss you…'

'It's actually what Harriet said' Elaine threw an angry look at Lexi, but turned to Calliope again. 'He's still here for you and treats you tenderly, meaning that he's not angry or something like that'

'And the only thing you do is to tell him that it's cold, because of your stupid fear. Oh my God, help me to deal with this'

'Shut up, Lexi!' Harriet snapped at her. 'And sit down, will you!'

Lexi nodded. Elaine stood up and searched in her sweets packages, declaring that chocolate is necessary at moments like these. Lexi took her place on Calliope's bed.

'And what frustrates me more' she continued 'is that we have TOO many kisses here. You peck him, he kisses you on the cheek and the forehead and he would kiss you somewhere else if you had let him! Damn you, Callie!'

'Calm down, Lexi!' Elaine told her. 'Besides, why are you so upset? It's only a crush after all, nothing more. Right, Callie?'

Phoebe and Lexi looked at Calliope, who was still silent. Lexi saw a tear running down her face and understood. Elaine was wrong. SHE was wrong herself.

How stupid could I be?

That was why Calliope was so shy and closed. That was why she had left Oliver after that peck in fifth year. And that was why nothing happened at the Yule Ball. She was afraid that the distance would destroy everything and nobody is afraid of a simple crush.

Calliope only shook her head and Elaine gasped. But Lexi knew that Calliope had to speak about it, otherwise the burden would be insufferable.

'Say it aloud, Calliope' she pleaded her. 'I'm begging you, say it aloud. Say that it's not just a crush'

Calliope looked at her and, this time, she couldn't stop the tears. Phoebe stroke her hair and gave her water, but Calliope didn't drink.

'You're right, Lexi' she whispered. 'It's not just a crush. I'm in love with him and nothing can change that'

A/N: So, everyone, that was it. I hope you liked it :D Now, pull out your wands and practice your spells, because Harry wants to meet us in the Room of Requirement with the rest of the DA members.