It was still the night of Saturday, September 1st, 2018, and Harry and Lily had just gotten home from Parvati's Pizza Parlor.
Ginny hadn't yet returned from visiting George and dad and daughter were both in exceptionally good moods.
"Lily, " said Harry with a kind smile, "I'm glad to see our day out together brought you some fun and happiness. Before Ginny gets home, I'd like to play one last game with you."
"What is this game?' asked Lily curiously.
"Follow me to the game room, " said Harry with a grin,
When Harry and Lily entered the game room, Lily saw that four brown shells had been set out on a table and that four red chips were set off to the side on the table. Another table with four small items accompanied by touchscreens that said Shell Game was also present.
"So, " said Harry matter of factly, "Lily, you are going to play a game called Shell Game. The object of the game is to pick which shell has a ball under it. You can win up to four chips and each time you win a chip, you place that chip by shell. At the end of the game, if you've put a chip by the shell with the ball under it you win. If not, you lose. I'd like to offer you a ten galleon bet on the outcome. If you win, I'll give you ten galleons, but if you lose, you own me ten galleons."
"I accept, " said Lily calmly. Lily offered Harry her right hand and Harry shook it with her left hand.
"So, " the way you win chips is this: I'm going to show you four small items one at a time each with a fake price on them. Your job is to guess whether the actual retail price is higher or lower. But here's your challenge: The prices are in muggle dollars and not wizarding galleons."
"I'll give it my best shot, " said Lily doggedly.
"So, " explained Harry, "The first you will be pricing is a coffee brewer. The coffee maker can make to five cups of coffee with four different brew settings.
Harry walked up to the touchscreen just below the coffee brewer, which was positioned in the upper left quadrant on the small prize table and pressed a finger to it. A false price of $100 appeared.
"So?" Harry asked Lily, "Is the actual retail price of the coffee brewer more or less than $100?"
"Less," guessed Lily.
Harry pressed his finger to the touchscreen now showing the fake price of $100 to reveal a screen that said higher $119.
"I blew that one, " said Lily ruefully, "Can still earn three chips though."
"So, " continued Harry, pointing to the lower left quadrant of the small prize table, "We have a multipocketed gardening tote with three stainless steel tools included. "
Harry touched the touchscreen below the gardening tote and a false price of $35 was revealed.
"HIGHER!" yelled Lily confidently, "With those tools included, it's gotta be higher!"
Harry touched the screen displaying the false price to reveal a display that read higher $55.
"YES!" said Lily, "I've earned a chip!"
"Indeed, you have, " said Harry in a businesslike voice, "From the left, do you want the first, second, third, or fourth shell."
"Third, " said Lily instantly.
Harry walked over to the table with the chips and shells and placed a red chip by the third brown shell.
"You now have a one out of four chance to win, " Harry told Lily, "Let's see if you can win another chip!"
Ponting at the upper right quadrant of the prize table. Harry stated, "Our next item is a portable speaker that is both Bluetooth and FM compatible.
Harry nudged the touchscreen below the portable speaker and a wrong price of $55 was shown.
"Lower, " said Lily crisply, "Sometimes you gotta with your gut."
Harry gave the touchscreen with the wrong price a nudge and the answer of lower $36 was shown.
"First, second, or fourth?" Harry inquired of Lily.
"First, " chose Lily and Harry placed a red chip by first brown shell from the left.
"I've got a fifty fifty proportion now, " said Lily thoughtfully, ". This last small item is huge."
"It's a hair dryer, I think you'll get this one, " said Harry confidently, "The last small prize in the lower right quadrant is a one-step hair dryer with an oval brush design to smooth your hair and round edges to create volume."
Harry put a finger to the final touchscreen and a made up price of $49 was displayed.
"Higher, " said Lily surely, "It's too nice not to be!"
And indeed, when Harry touched the final touchscreen again, Lily was proven correct as higher $60 was shown.
"Second or fourth?" Harry asked Lily.
"Second, " decided Lily, "As long as the ball isn't under the fourth shell I win!"
"I neglected to tell you, "Harry informed Lily, "That you win any small prizes you price correctly."
"So," smiled Lily, "That means the gardening tote, and the hair dryer are mine?"
"Yes, " confirmed Harry, "But would it be okay if I also sent James and Albus their own portable speakers?"
"Of course, dad, " said Lily glowingly, "I didn't win the coffee brewer, but that's okay. Beer is better than coffee anyway. "
"So, " Harry told Lily clearly, "Time to find whether you win or lose our ten galleon bet.
Harry lifted the second shell up first and it was empty. When the third shell was empty as well, Lily felt her insides squeam with nervousness.
"And so, it has come down to this, " smiled Harry, "Lily, drumroll please?"
Lily obliged and Harry took his time lifting up the first shell.
As the first shell came up, Lily saw that there was a small white ball under it.
"YES!" yelled Lily, "I won our bet!"
Harry graciously pulled ten galleons from his left hand pocket and handed them to Lily.
"Congratulations, Lily, " said Harry kindly.
"Thanks, dad, " said Lily warmly.
Harry and Lily smiled at each other.
Shell Game had been a nice way to cap their dad and daughter day.