A/N: Hello, everyone, how are you? I'm so sorry for the delay. So, new chapter is up and someone from the Golden Trio has his birthday. Callie, after debates, suddenly realizes who Draco could be after and decides to act.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

'So, Malfoy bought that cursed necklace from Knockturn Alley!' Calliope concluded after listening carefully to Phoebe's and Oliver's story. 'Okay, guys, this is the proof! Katie's lying in St. Mungo's because of that git and we don't know who Draco can actually be after!'

'Wait a minute!' Elaine stopped her. 'When I asked Harry to tell me what he knew about this case, he told me that Malfoy wasn't even in Hogsmeade the day Katie was cursed. He was in detention with McGonagall'

'Are you kidding me?' Oliver snapped at her, standing up, making Elaine sink a few inches in her seat. 'Phoebe and I transfigured ourselves in evil wizards, we went to the filthiest place in the whole wizarding world, I still have the smell of that shop in my nose, I told Borgin the lies of my life and you're telling us this NOW?'

'First I wanted to make sure that Malfoy was behind that blasted necklace, okay?' Elaine defended herself. 'Calm down! What you found out is very important'

'It's not only very important, it's also very useless!' Oliver yelled. 'I thought we had caught him, but now…'

'Use your mind, Wood, or don't you have something like that?' Elaine raised her voice. 'The fact that Malfoy wasn't in Hogsmeade, doesn't mean that he's innocent. He could have partners-in-crime, who could Imperio Katie…His mother or Crabbe and Goyle or I don't know who else'

'And how exactly will we prove that?' the Keeper left an ironic laughter. 'Will you go to the Three Broomsticks and interrogate Madam Rosmerta about who was there the day and time of the crime?'

'There's no need to be ironic, Oliver, you're not the only one who is confused with all this! Instead of yelling around, why don't you sit down, so that we can make a new plan?'

'Will both of you stop?' Calliope interfered, exchanging looks between them. 'We're going through hell already, let's not argue, please!'

'Yeah, guys, Calliope is right' Phoebe, who seemed exhausted, as if Knockturn Alley had taken all her energy, had tears of despair in her eyes. 'Fighting won't help us, so, let's be rational'

A few moments of silence passed and Calliope had the feeling that the walls of the apartment were coming closer, keeping her prisoner. If they started arguing so intensively, then everything was lost from the beginning. She and Phoebe exchanged worried and sad looks and the trainee healer knew they were thinking the same.

'It's…It's better if we go home' Elaine spoke in a tone of reconciliation. 'We're all tired…We all need rest…Calliope, I'll come tomorrow evening so that we can continue with the research, okay?'

'Okay, Lany, good night'

'Be careful' Oliver told them and the wish of reconciliation was also obvious in his own voice. Elaine didn't respond, but she gave him a small smile and left, Phoebe following her.

The sound of the door closing behind the two women soon faded, leaving the young couple in silence, during of which they avoided to look at each other. Calliope was staring at the fireplace, while Oliver had lowered his head and seemed defeated, feeling ashamed for his outburst. He didn't want to react like that, it was just the moment, the impression Knockturn Alley had given him and everything he had found out, as if the darkness of this place was still surrounding him.

After some minutes, the silence had become suffocating and Calliope felt as if a tight hand was gripping her heart. Without words, she sat next to Oliver and hugged him. Spontaneously, he placed his head on her shoulder and grabbed her arm, making her wince a little. Just as he had done after they had lost against Hufflepuff and he had cried in her arms in the showers. And at this moment, Calliope had the impression that Oliver was having the same urge again, to simply let everything out.

'I'm sorry' he whispered in her shoulder. 'It's just that sometimes…I can't hold back…I can't be strong and brave all the time, although I really try to…'

'Don't apologize' Calliope comforted him with a gentle voice. 'It's natural…I understand…It's okay, Ollie, I'm serious, it's okay'

'You weren't there' he told her and she realized that he was speaking about Knockturn Alley. 'That place is yelling from far away "I'm evil, people!" And in the shops…there were skulls…poisons…dark objects. And I had to pretend that I was some vicious wizard and I hated myself…But do you know what's the worst?'

'What is it, Oliver?'

'That, when I lied to Borgin to gain information, I was sounding convincing' Oliver trusted her with what he feared most. 'I was actually sounding as if I wanted to get that necklace. What does this mean, Calliope?'

Calliope opened her mouth to answer, but he prevented her by raising his hand, his expression turning from defeated to tormented.

'Does it mean that I have a dark side inside of me? Because, if that's what it means, then…'

'Stop it!' the trainee healer interrupted him sternly, hugging him even more tightly. 'Stop talking and listen to me! Oliver, everyone has a dark side, we're not angels. We have a good and a bad side, but the difference, the HUGE difference, is which side we defend and truly believe in. And this is the positive, because otherwise Borgin could see through you and find out your true nature, notice that you're lying'

'So…So…You don't think that deep down I'm…I'm drawn to Dark Arts or something?'

'Of course not' Calliope reassured him. 'Ollie, if you were drawn to the Dark Arts, you would betray us to Voldemort months ago. You're a good person and you prove this every day, not only in the Order, but also outside of it'

Oliver nodded and his grip on her hand, grip that was reminding Calliope of someone wanting to be rescued, became more relaxed and a smile appeared on his face. Calliope returned the smile to him and caressed his back.

'Don't be scared to burst out. It doesn't mean that you're weak, but that you're a human being'

'Callie!' the twins exclaimed simultaneously when they saw Calliope entering their shop and gave her a hug. 'It's been a while'

'You're right. Sorry for not coming earlier, guys, but something my training, something the Order…'

'Ah, we won't bite you' Fred laughed. 'We're so happy to see our old friend Callie. How are you?'

'Pretty good' Calliope smiled widely. 'What about you? How's the shop going?'

'Really good, thank God' George beamed. 'Alone, Calliope? Where's your Lover-Boy? The ladies?'

'Oliver's at practice, Lexi with Phoebe and Elaine, and Harriet with Matt, as usual' she replied, winking. 'Anyway, I just wanted to ask you if you guys want us to hang out all together tomorrow'

'Oh, sorry, Callie' Fred looked with guilt towards her. 'We'd love to, but Ickle Ronniekins has his birthday tomorrow…'

'…and we'll go to give him our present' George completed his brother's sentence.

'Oh, yeah, I totally forgot!' Calliope exclaimed. 'Please, give him my wishes. He's now becoming an adult, right?'

'Yep, the little bro becomes seventeen, although he still behaves like a baby' George commented, making Calliope roll her eyes in fake despair.

'And I don't understand how he got the girls to run after him' Fred continued. 'Did he cast the Imperius Curse on them? Because that would explain everything'

'Fred!' Calliope couldn't help but laugh. 'Ron's an adult now, it's perfectly normal to have a crush or a relationship with someone and if there's a girl who's interested in him, then why not?'

'You're too romantic, Callie' Fred shook his head. 'Don't tell me now that you've become a damsel-in-distress who's depending on her oh-so-perfect prince, because I'm gonna throw up, I swear'

'HEY!' the young woman pointed her wand at him. 'You know very well that I'm not and I'll NEVER ever be a damsel-in-distress. I HATE depending on someone, I'd rather rescue myself'

'Don't tell Woody this, the poor guy will take it personally' George chuckled. 'And then he'll burst it out on us'

'Don't worry, Georgie, there's no such possibility! We may love each other, but he appreciates that I want to be my own protector…even if sometimes he is TOO overprotective. Anyway' she quickly changed the subject 'have you found a gift for your brother?'

'Oh, yeah' Fred said. 'But we won't reveal it to anyone…It's a surprise'

'I only hope that it's not some gigantic spider or something that will embarrass him'

'Trust us, my dear Callie' George winked 'this present will make Ronnie's seventeenth birthday unforgettable'

'So, Ron becomes an adult today' Lexi said the next morning. She and Benjy had visited Calliope and Oliver and they were in a relaxing mood.

'Yeah' Calliope confirmed. 'I hope that Hogsmeade visits would be allowed. Spending your birthday inside the castle isn't the best thing, right?'

'Yeah, but it's safer' Benjy argued. 'Especially after Katie's accident, the teachers have to be even more careful'

'And how's Katie, by the way?' Oliver asked. 'Has she woken up?'

'Not yet, but I'm really glad to say that she's improving' Lexi was optimistic. 'Her pulse is finally stronger and she doesn't look like a corpse anymore'

'I really hope that she will recover' Calliope added. 'All these months are horrible for her family and she has been through hell'

Their conversation was interrupted by a Patronus in the shape of a cat that flew inside the room and spoke with Professor McGonagall's voice.

'Mr. Weasley has been poisoned! If you do not mind, can you stop by, please? He needs as much help as possible!'

The second it had delivered the message, the silver animal disappeared, leaving the four friends staring shocked at each other.

'What the bloody…' Lexi started, but was interrupted by Calliope's terrified voice.

'LET'S GO, LEXI!'

'Be careful, girls' Oliver shouted after them, as they ran out of the apartment to disapparate.

'Poisoned?' Benjy stuttered. 'Oh, no, another attack! But why…how?'

'I don't know, Benjy, I don't know! Although…' Oliver's eyes travelled out of the window 'I think I have a suspicion about who behind this is'

'Who?'

''I'll just wait for the girls to return to see if I'm correct' Oliver avoided to answer specifically. 'And if I am, then things are far worse than I was afraid'

Lexi and Calliope, after apparating in Hogsmeade, covered the distance to the school in a few minutes. McGonagall was waiting for them in the yard and, after a lot of arguments with Filch, who didn't want to let them in, they ran to the hospital wing, where Harry, Hermione and Ginny were waiting. Harry was walking up and down, Ginny couldn't leave her eyes from the closed door and Hermione seemed distraught, with traces of tears on her face.

'Thank you so much for coming' Ginny whispered. 'Harry found him…I swear, if it wasn't him…'

'Come on, Ginny, I didn't do anything' Harry blushed. 'I only want him to be well'

Before anyone could reply, Madam Pomfrey marched out of the hospital wing very alarmed. When she saw Calliope and Lexi, she smiled relieved.

'Miss Bowden! Miss Stone! I am so happy you were willing to come!' she said. 'Come, follow me inside, we should not waste time'

'How is he?' asked Harry worried.

'It is still too early to tell, Mr. Potter. Once I have news, I will inform you at once'

'Come, Calliope' Lexi pulled Calliope's sleeve, but her friend pulled away.

'Would you mind going alone at the beginning, Lex?' she asked and looked Harry in the eyes. 'I'd like to ask Harry how it happened exactly'

A suspicion had started to form in her mind. Months after Katie ending in St. Mungo, another attack against a student occurred. She wanted Harry to tell her everything, to see if Malfoy was, for one more time, responsible. And if the boy's story was leading to that conclusion, she decided to speak to Dumbledore afterwards.

McGonagall, who was already informed about the circumstances of Ron's poisoning, said that she would go to see the Headmaster and left, with the four friends staying behind.

'Ron drank a Love Potion accidentally and I went with him to Professor Slughorn, our Potions master, who could prepare him an antidote' Harry started. 'It worked very well and Slughorn offered us a drink, due to Ron's birthday. And suddenly Ron…fell on the ground and started shaking, his mouth filling with foam…'

For a second, Calliope thought she heard a low sob from Ginny, but when she looked at her, the young girl was as calm as always, keeping her composure.

'I searched in Slughorn's office to find something to help him, until I discovered a bezoar and put it into his mouth. And then Ron just laid there' Harry ended.

'He was damn lucky' Calliope sighed and patted Harry on the shoulder. 'He could be much worse, but you saved his life'

'Callie!' Lexi's angry voice echoed in the silent corridor. 'Will you come to help us or did you follow me for tea and chit-chat?'

'Sorry, Lexi, I'm coming at once'

Calliope, Lexi and Madam Pomfrey tended to the unconscious Ron for hours, giving him potions to help him recover faster. His life wasn't in danger, something that brought great joy to them. Harry and the bezoar had done their work.

At eight o' clock, they allowed Harry, Hermione and Ginny to come in and they sat silently next to his bed. Ten minutes later, Fred and George arrived, holding a large present.

'So, all in all, not one of Ron's better birthdays' Fred commented bitterly, standing next to Calliope's chair and she gave him a small smile to comfort him.

'This isn't how we imagined handing over our present' George agreed and sat next to his sister, caressing her ginger hair.

'Yeah, when we pictured the scene he was conscious' Fred spoke again.

'There we were in Hogsmeade, waiting to surprise him…'

'You were in Hogsmeade?' Ginny looked up.

'We were thinking of buying Zonko's' Fred explained and Lexi chuckled. 'A Hogsmeade branch, you know, but a fat lot of good it will do us if you lot aren't allowed out at weekends to buy our stuff anymon…But never mind that now'

He took a chair and sat next to Harry, staring at the pale face of his younger brother. Calliope's heart ached to see him like this. Voldemort, his Death Eaters and the Slytherins in general, considered the Weasleys "blood traitors", because they had no problem to associate with Muggles. They would be more than delighted to hear the news that Ron was poisoned.

'How exactly did it happen, Harry?' Fred wanted to know and Harry repeated his story.

'…and then I got the bezoar down his throat and his breathing eased up a bit, Slughorn ran for help, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey turned up and they brought Ron up here. After that, McGonagall called Lexi and Calliope, who arrived a few minutes later. They reckon he'll be alright, right, girls?'

'Of course' Calliope answered at once and Lexi nodded. 'He'll be fine, but he has to rest. He'll have to stay here a week or so and keep taking essence of rue'

'Blimey, it was lucky you thought of a bezoar' George told Harry and his voice was quiet, without the usual mocking tone.

'Lucky there was one in the room' Harry said and shuddered.

'Do Mum and Dad know?' Fred asked Ginny, who gave him a slight nod.

'They've already seen him, they arrived an hour ago. They'll in Dumbledore's office now, but they'll be back soon'

They fell back in silence for a few minutes and Calliope looked secretly towards Harry. She wanted to ask him if he had any clue about the culprit and if Malfoy was to blame again, but she couldn't ask that in front of the others. But she wasn't the only one who wanted to solve this mystery.

'So, the poison was in the drink?' Fred wanted to confirm what Harry had told him.

'Yes. Slughorn poured it out…'

'Would he have been able to slip something into Ron's glass without you seeing?'

'Probably' Harry said after thinking 'but why would Slughorn want to poison Ron?'

'No idea' Fred rubbed his chin and frowned. 'You don't think he could have mixed up the glasses by mistake? Meaning to get you?'

'Why would Slughorn want to poison Harry?' Ginny disagreed.

Ginny's right! Calliope thought. So, what does this mean? That Harry isn't the intended victim of the cursed necklace and the poisoned drink? Or that he IS, and Slughorn was only used as the path that would lead to Harry getting killed?

'I dunno' Fred replied to his sister's question 'but there must be loads of people who'd like to poison Harry, mustn't there? The Chosen One and all that?'

'So, you think Slughorn's a Death Eater?'

'Anything's possible'

'He could be under the Imperius Curse' George gave another explanation.

'Or he could be innocent' Lexi spoke for the first time. 'The poison could have been in the bottle, in which case it was probably meant for Slughorn himself'

'Who'd want to kill Slughorn?' Fred raised his eyebrows.

'Dumbledore reckons Voldemort wanted Slughorn on his side' Harry informed them. 'Slughorn was in hiding for a year before he came to Hogwarts. And…And maybe Voldemort wants him out of the way, maybe he thinks he could be valuable for Dumbledore'

'But you said Slughorn had been planning to give the mead to Dumbledore for Christmas' Ginny reminded him.

'WHAT?' Calliope yelled, but, after noticing her friends' furious looks, she quickly lowered her voice. 'Sorry. Anyway…What was that again?'

'Yeah, Harry told us that Slughorn mentioned it a few seconds before giving them the drinks' Ginny told her. 'So the poisoner could just as easily have been after Dumbledore'

'Then the poisoner didn't know Slughorn very well' Hermione interfered hoarsely. 'Anyone who knew Slughorn would have known there was a good chance he'd keep something that tasty for himself'

'Er-my-nee' Ron mumbled in his sleep and relaxed again.

There was silence, but then Hagrid entered in the hospital wing with noise, holding his crossbow. He smiled to Lexi and Calliope and they smiled back at the friendly and funny giant.

'Bin in the forest all day' he said. Aragog's worse, I bin readin' to him…didn' get up ter dinner till jus' now an' then Professor Sprout told me abou' Ron. How is he?'

'Not bad' Harry consoled him. 'They say he'll be okay'

'No more than six visitors at a time' Madam Pomfrey came out of her office.

'Hagrid makes six' George told her. 'And Lexi and Calliope are here as Healers, so they're excused, right?'

'Oh…yes' Madam Pomfrey whispered embarrassed and left them to clear the mud on the floor with her wand.

'I don't believe this' Hagrid gasped and stared at the Gryffindor student. 'Jus' don' believe it! Look at him lyin' there…Who'd want ter hurt him, eh?'

'That's just what we were discussing' Harry said darkly. 'We don't know'

'Someone couldn' have a grudge against the Gryffindor Quidditch team, could they?' Hagrid asked them nervously and scared. 'Firs' Katie, now Ron…'

'I can't see anyone trying to bump off a Quidditch team' George responded.

'Wood might've done the Slytherins if he could've got away with it' Fred said honestly, throwing a sly gaze towards Calliope, who couldn't help but smirk.

'I don't have the slightest doubt for that' she commented quietly.

'Well, I don't think it's Quidditch, but I think there's a connection between the attacks' Hermione, despite beingterrified for Ron, tried to stay her reasonable self and find answers.

'How'd you work that out?' Fred asked and Calliope waited impatiently for the answer, wondering if Hermione's thoughts on the matter were the same with her own.

'Well, for one thing, they both ought to have been fatal and weren't, although that was pure luck. And, for another, neither the poison nor the necklace seems to have reached the person who was supposed to be killed. Of course' she raised her voice that makes the person behind this even more dangerous in a way, because they don't seem to care how many people they finish off until they actually reach their victim'

Death silence followed her words and Calliope nodded in agreement. It was exactly the way she was thinking, although now, another thought had come on surface, a flash of a memory. Harry had told Lexi that he was there when Katie had accidentally touched the cursed necklace. And her friend, Leanne, had informed her that Katie was ordered to bring the package to someone in Hogwarts.

But this means that Harry isn't the actual victim either! Calliope realized with a shudder. Otherwise, Katie would turn around and give it to him! And the only person who COULD be the victim then…Oh, bloody…

'Excuse me, but I have to go and see Dumbledore!' she took her decision immediately and jumped on her feet. 'I have to…to ask his own opinion on the matter. I'll see you later!'

A/N: So, that was itfor now, my friends, I hope you enjoyed it :)