The next several days went by quickly. Lilah had owled her parents the letter she wrote, and anxiously awaited a reply.

In the meantime, she learned a French braid charm from Professor Flitwick and tested it both on herself and Susan, to make sure that it was perfect for Hermione's birthday. The nineteenth was fast approaching, and like before, Susan created another homemade birthday card which Harry, Lilah, Hagrid and herself all signed.

Harry said that he would cast the Orchideous transfiguration spell again, and agreed to help Hagrid make a birthday cake.

With Hagrid's help, Lilah was able to create a makeshift amulet. It was a simple metal chain with a clasp, and a cat's eye marble with a small hole drilled in it.

Lilah had been slowly learning more about Harry's past, getting new tidbits every time they sat under the oak tree together during their free period. She learned that he was overworked by his aunt, taunted by his cousin, and whipped by his uncle.

She shed tears upon hearing these revelations, and kept telling him about what it's like celebrate Christmas with a warm and loving family. The Darlings would be overjoyed to have Harry over for the holidays... he would be treated with the same love that Lilah would receive. He couldn't possibly turn such an offer down.

The Wednesday before Hermione's birthday, Lilah visited Professor McGonagall for tea to discuss Harry's upbringing in person.

"Hello, my dear," Professor McGonagall greeted Lilah.

"Hello, Professor," said Lilah. "Thank you for having me here today."

"It's my pleasure, young lady," replied the Professor. "How would you like your tea today? I remembered you liked the chai."

"Same as last time," Lilah replied with a smile. "A splash of milk and only a little sugar."

"Miss Darling," Professor McGonagall chuckled. "You're so much like Miss Granger. If I didn't already know your mother was a social worker, I could have easily mistaken you for being the daughter of dentists."

Lilah giggled. "I know I'm not like most other children. I've never had a big sweet tooth."

Professor McGonagall laughed harder. "Professor Dumbledore is notorious for his sweet tooth."

"I don't doubt that, Professor," replied Lilah.

The professor's expression then hardened somewhat. Lilah knew that the time for pleasantries were over, and it was time to get down to business.

"Lilah, what did you find out about Mister Potter since I owled you?"

Lilah answered the professor without skipping a beat.

"He told me that his aunt overworked him, his cousin tormented him, and that his uncle whipped him." Tears welled in her eyes, as she felt horrible for Harry. Horrible telling another soul these dark secrets, even though she knew she could trust Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall embraced Lilah tenderly. Lilah started sobbing. "Harry deserves so much better," she said softly. "It hurt me to hear that from him, and it hurt me just as much to share that."

"I know, my dear," replied Professor McGonagall. "I think we're at the point where therapy is the next step in the healing process. I will owl some specialists and see if we can work something out. You have been an invaluable resource, and I encourage you to continue talking to Harry as a friend. You've not a professional, but he needs friends like you to help heal."

"Oh, Professor?" Lilah asked. "I have something else I'd like to ask you."

Professor McGonagall smiled. "Anything, young lady."

"My very first friend... her name was Dawn, Dawn Finn... she moved to Australia a few years ago. I have this hunch that she might be a witch. There is a wizarding school down there, is there not? Would it be possible to reach out to that school to see if she was accepted?" Lilah asked.

"You must be referring to the Snakebinder Academy. I can owl my Australian counterpart, the Deputy Headmaster Kerwin Hudgens. I will let you know what I find out about Miss Finn. Thank you for bringing this to my attention," the Professor elaborated.

"Thank you, Professor. She was my very first friend, ever. She was to me, like what I am to Harry," replied Lilah.

"It would be my pleasure, my dear," trilled the Professor. "You're a special witch, Lilah. This is the least that I can do for you, as you have looked after Harry with a kindness and compassion that few possess."

Meanwhile, Harry had recently found out that the Professor of Muggle Studies was Charity Burbage, and that she would be a good starting point as to where to find a copy of the Don Henley record Lilah described.

During his free period, he wrote Professor Burbage a note in the Gryffindor common room:

"Dear Professor Burbage,

I have a very close friend, a Muggle-born witch named Lilah. She told me that there was a song her father used to sing to her, also titled 'Lilah'. It's by a Muggle musician named Don Henley, and the record is called 'I Can't Stand Still.'

Would you be able to help me find this record and perhaps play it for me? I really want to be able to sing this song for her because she's my very best friend... in fact, she was the very first friend I ever made. I promised her I would learn this song. Please help me if you can.

Thank you,

Harry Potter"

Harry had no idea that Hermione was looking over his shoulder the whole time. She gently tapped on his shoulder, and he saw a huge, silly grin on her face.

"Did you... watch me write this letter, the whole time?" Harry asked, with a slight note of annoyance.

"I did," replied Hermione. "By the way, you misspelt 'musician'. Did you know?" Her face scrunched up in the usual way, when she was going to be a bossy know-it-all. Harry could only chuckle.

Her face then softened into a sweet smile, and she gave Harry a teeny peck on the forehead.

"In all seriousness, that is a very nice thing you're doing, Harry," Hermione added. Harry smiled at his friend.

"Do you have a special song?" Harry asked.

"Weelllll..." Hermione replied. "If you must know, my father used to sing Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl' to me when I was little. He isn't exactly a gifted singer," she added with a giggle.

"I'll learn it for you too," Harry promised. "You have my word."

"You don't have to," Hermione said.

Harry gently took Hermione's hand. "You're just as special to me as Lilah is. I promise," he said.

Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry. "You're a great wizard, Harry Potter. But you're an even better friend."

Harry's cheeks turned bright red. "You're an incredible witch, Hermione. You have a gift with magic that I can't even come close to matching. And I am beyond lucky to have you as one of my two best friends. Oh, and before I forget..."

Harry grabbed his quill and parchment and scribbled a quick note below the body of his letter.

"P.S. - I would also like to learn Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl, if at all possible. Thank you."

A huge, radiant smile crept on Hermione's face as she saw Harry add this to the note.

"Wanna go with me to the owlery to drop this off?" Harry asked.

"Sure, Harry," replied Hermione.

The two friends went to the owlery together. "Hello, Hedwig," Harry greeted his snow owl. "I have a little something here for you. I need this to be delivered to Professor Burbage. That's a good girl," he said softly, while rubbing Hedwig's chin feathers.

Harry looked at Hermione. "I s'pose it's just about time for lunch," Harry murmured. "I wonder how Lilah's meeting with Professor McGonagall went."

The pair made their way back to the Great Hall for a bite for lunch. After they got a bite to eat, they made their way over to the Hufflepuff table to meet with Lilah and Susan.

"Hey there you two," Harry said while embracing his Hufflepuff friends. "What's new?"

Lilah giggled. "Remember when I told you about my friend Dawn that moved to Australia, Harry? I asked Professor McGonagall to see if it's possible that she enrolled at the Australian school for witchcraft and wizardry - I think it was called the Snakebinder Academy - and she said that she would contact her Australian counterpart and find out for me. Wouldn't it be something if she's a witch too?"

"Did you always suspect that she was a witch, Lilah?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Harry. My intuition says that she's got the same gift that I have. I think that's the reason why we were so close," Lilah murmured.

"Did Professor McGonagall say how long it would take to find out?" Hermione asked.

"She didn't... but news can spread fairly quickly in the wizarding world so it might not take all that long," replied Lilah.

"Do you think it's possible for her to transfer here if she ever found out that you're both witches?" Harry asked.

"I don't rightly know, Harry. I'd love for her to come to Hogwarts if they'll allow it, but she could also be perfectly happy down under. I'm certain she has her own social circle and may not want to return to Britain just because of me," replied Lilah. "Merlin knows, I'm not leaving Great Britain. I mean, it would be nice to reconnect with Dawn, but I have some great friends here that I simply refuse to leave behind."

"Wait... you spoke with Professor McGonagall, and not your own house head?" Hermione asked.

"That's right," said Lilah. "Professor Sprout referred me to your head-of-house as Professor McGonagall is also Deputy Headmistress," she explained. It was a bit of a white lie, but no harm done, thought Lilah.

"That makes sense," replied Hermione. "I wouldn't think that Professor Sprout's duties included communicating with other wizarding schools, unless it was perhaps an emergency of sorts."

"And this isn't exactly an emergency," Lilah said. "But I am excited just the same."

"I know you are, Lilah," Susan said. She giggled. "You get more post than anyone I know, what's one more letter?"

Lilah shrugged. "I love to read and write letters, what can I say?"

On Friday, after class, Harry visited his friend Hagrid at his hut.

"Hello there, Hagrid," Harry said.

"Hullo Harry," Hagrid beamed. "How are yeh?"

"Great. I'm here to help make Hermione's birthday cake," replied Harry.

"All right, then. Are we going ter make it the same way as Lilah's?" Hagrid asked.

"That's fine, Hagrid. Maybe a somewhat brighter shade of purple icing? Lilah likes a deeper purple, like plum. Hermione likes a lighter shade, like violet."

"Can do, Harry," chuckled Hagrid. "I'm glad that Lilah's cake turned out as well as it did - I know Hermione's cake will be just as tasty. Did yer have any baking experience before coming ter Hogwarts?"

"A bit," Harry admitted. He was reluctant to reveal many details even to someone as trustworthy as Hagrid, as it took a bit for him to open up to Lilah, and even then it was somewhat unwillingly. "I guess it's been something of a hobby of mine."

"I see," replied Hagrid. "Same thing as last time? Meet yer at the Gryffindor table at dinner tomorrow night?"

"That works," agreed Harry. "Thank you again for making my friends' birthdays special. They aren't the same without you."

Hagrid chuckled. "It's my pleasure, Harry," he replied. "Anything ter help yer, and yer pretty lady friends."

The two mixed the batter and ensured it was as smooth and lump-free as possible, and poured the batter into a round pan, just like last time. After letting the cake bake, they pulled it out of the oven to cool for a bit.

Then, they covered it with violet icing, and Harry helped Hagrid spell out "Happy Birthday Hermione" with the same green icing that they used on Lilah's cake a couple of weeks earlier.

"All right Harry, looks as good as it'll ever be," Hagrid said with a bit of pride. "I'll cover it up and take it to yer table tomorrow at dinner."

"Thank you Hagrid," replied Harry. "We'll see you then."