The next morning at breakfast, Hedwig dropped off a note for Harry when the owls delivered morning post. This must be from Professor Burbage, he thought to himself.

Sure enough, it was a reply from the Professor of Muggle Studies, herself:

"Hello Harry,

Thank you for reaching out to me. It sounds like you have a very special lady friend – or friends, perhaps. Do you have a free period Monday afternoon, or perhaps Tuesday? Feel free to drop by the Muggle Studies classroom then – it's on the first floor. I think I can help you out.

Sincerely,

Charity Burbage

Professor of Muggle Studies"

A big smile crept on Harry's face after reading the note. Hermione couldn't help but notice his big, goofy grin.

"I take it that there's good news in that note," she murmured. "Professor Burbage, right?"

"Yeah," replied Harry. "She said that she should be able to help me out with my request."

"I hope so, Harry," Hermione said. "You seem really intent on learning those songs. I'm flattered, personally, and I'd imagine Lilah would be too."

"I wonder if she was able to do some… Muggle smuggling," Harry said with a smirk. "If anyone around here knows where a record player is, she'd know."

Hermione giggled. "Muggle smuggling… that's actually rather clever, Harry. I would imagine that's she's managed to confiscate a few Muggle objects for purely academic purposes."

Harry's grin broadened. "You know what day it is, right?"

Although Hermione knew full-well what day it was, she played coy. "Saturday?" she answered with a shrug.

"Yes…" Harry said. "It's also a very pretty girl's birthday today. I may need help remembering exactly which pretty girl, though… a girl named Heidi perhaps?" Hermione could only roll her eyes.

"Actually, it's coming back to me…" Harry drew his wand, and waved it deftly while chanting "Orchideous!" A beautiful bouquet of purple posies appeared out of thin air.

"Happy birthday, Hermione," Harry said with a hundred-watt smile as he handed her the floral arrangement. "Happy birthday to my kind, talented, and beautiful friend."

"For me?" Hermione said.

Harry shrugged,. "Who else would they be for?"

Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry tightly. "Thank you," she said softly, with a tear rolling down her cheek. "You know how to treat a girl right, Harry."

A minute later, Lilah and Susan came to join Harry in celebrating Hermione's birthday. The three friends sang "Happy Birthday" to Hermione, and then Susan gave Hermione the homemade birthday card she made. Lilah then gave Hermione the makeshift amulet she created with the chain and cat's eye marble.

"Thank you guys," Hermione said. "I know it's early, but it's been a terrific birthday so far, you really didn't have to do this for me."

"It was no trouble at all," said Lilah. "You bent over backwards for my birthday, and I wanted to do the same for you." She then drew her wand, and cast a charm on Hermione's hair. Her frizzled chestnut hair magically turned silky smooth, then wrapped itself into a tidy French braid.

"I hope you like it," Lilah added with a sweet smile. "It really looks good on you." Harry and Susan nodded their approval.

"I'm sure I will," responded Hermione. "You looked very pretty with the halo braid, by the way."

Lilah blushed. "Well thank you. You did a good job. I liked it."

"I guess I'll have to go to the loo soon and see how it looks in the mirror," Hermione said. "I normally don't have my hair braided like this, but you seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to learn that charm, so I'll keep it this way for the day. By the way, where did you get that shirt, Lilah? I don't think I've ever seen that style before."

"Oh, this?" Lilah asked, tugging on the bottom of her three-quarter sleeved softball shirt. "My mum got that for me this summer before I left for Hogwarts. What's funny is that they're Gryffindor colours – red and gold. I can ask my mum to maybe send one for you whenever I hear back from her, would you be interested?"

Hermione giggled. "It's a cute shirt, Lilah. I'd love one, actually… but you don't have to go to the trouble for me. I can easily write my parents. You should really have your parents send you one in black and gold for Hufflepuff."

"I didn't know at the time," Lilah giggled. "But I don't care, it's comfortable and it fits me perfectly."

"So, what do you have planned for the day?" Susan asked Hermione.

Hermione shrugged. "Probably study, and if I have some time, maybe indulge in a good mystery novel." She giggled softly.

"Studying is good, and I totally get you wanting to get lost in a good novel, but you really do need to make some time for friends too. At least a little time. We want to celebrate you," Lilah replied. "I know a fun Muggle card game we can play today if you'd like. It's called Egyptian Rat Screw – I learnt it when I was still at Muggle school a couple of years ago. I have some charmed playing cards in my room that shuffle and deal on their own."

"That sounds rather fun," Hermione said softly. "How do you play?"

Lilah giggled. "It's much easier to show you than to tell you. How about I bring the card deck at lunch, and I'll teach you guys? It's a lot of fun, I promise."

Hermione smiled warmly. "That works for me. I'll be up in the Gryffindor common room going over Potions and Transfiguration for a while, but I'm pretty sure that I can squeeze in a bit of free time today."

"What are you planning to do today, Harry?" Lilah asked.

"I'm not really sure yet," Harry answered. "Probably get blasted in Wizard's Chess by Ron for the hundredth time. I have yet to beat him, but I have come close a couple of times."

"That doesn't sound very fun to me," Susan said. "What's the fun of playing a game if you can't ever win?"

"Ron's very good," Harry said simply. "He's not just my playing partner, he's my teacher. I didn't even play plain chess until I came to Hogwarts, and he taught me everything I know. He's been very kind and patient with me. He compliments me when I play well, and gives me tips and tricks to improve my play. He says that in time, I will be able to challenge him. It's not an art that can be mastered overnight. He's played this for several years already."

"I see," said Lilah. "I've played chess before, but not Wizard's Chess. I'm only okay at it, perhaps you and I can play sometime?"

"I'd like that," Harry answered. "I don't have my own Wizard's Chess set, but maybe Ron can bring his down for dinner tonight and we can play? I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"Are the rules the same?" Lilah asked.

Harry smiled. "They are the same, but you need to use coordinates to tell which piece where to go, they respond to your commands as opposed to you having to move them yourself. They're enchanted pieces, and can think for themselves a bit. They can give you advice, but you may want to be careful because not all of it is helpful."

Lilah nodded. "That's interesting, Harry. I guess I'll have to find out for myself sometime." She then turned to Susan. "I guess we can go to our common room and play Egyptian Rat Screw until lunch? I don't think we're going to be able to change Hermione's mind before then."

Susan grinned. "That sounds good to me."

Several hours later, the friends met back up in the Great Hall for lunch. Lilah and Susan met with Harry, Hermione and Ron at the Gryffindor table.

"Checkmate, Harry," Ron chuckled. "You played well… keep at it, you'll get the better of me one of these days. You're taking my advice well, I promise."

"Well done, Ron," Harry replied. "Like I keep saying, I learn from the best."

Ron's cheeks turned bright red. He then turned to Hermione. "I'm sorry I don't really have anything for your birthday, Hermione. I just wanted to let you know that I've been thinking about you, and I hope you have a terrific day. You've been a good friend to me… and your hair looks pretty, too. You did a good job." He got up to give Hermione a hug.

Hermione smiled. "That's all I really need, Ron. Sometimes the best gifts are having friends like you, and knowing that you really care. Thank you." She giggled. "Oh, and I'm glad you like my hair – didn't Lilah do a fantastic job? I don't normally style my hair like this, but I'm willing to make an exception today."

Lilah grinned. "I have my card deck with me, so I'm hoping we might have time for a round or two of Egyptian Rat Screw. It's an easy game to learn, and I'm going to warn you – it's addicting. Susan can tell you first hand, she didn't want to stop for lunch!"

"Well, a couple of games isn't going to hurt anything," Harry said. "Okay, Lilah, show me what you got."

Lilah produced a 52-card poker deck. "I got this in Diagon Alley when I went shopping for supplies a few months back. It both shuffles automatically, and deals automatically. The more players, the more fun it is. Would you care to join us, Ron? I promise you'll love it."

Ron nodded. "Count me in, Lilah."

Lilah giggled. "Very good. So, after this deck finishes shuffling, it will pass out the deck evenly to all players. So roughly ten apiece. Leave the cards face-down for the time being." A few moments later, all five children had a pile of approximately ten cards.

"I'll go last, since I'm teaching the game, so the person to the left of me will go first, and the play goes clockwise. So Ron, you play the top card on your pile face-up in the middle of the table."

Ron flipped the top card over and placed it in the middle of the table, roughly equidistant from all five players. "Six of diamonds," he said.

"Very good, Ron," Lilah said. "Remember, we are playing a French-suited standard poker deck with fifty-two cards, so the face cards are Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces. Those are valuable, because if you play a Jack, the player to your left has only one chance to play a face card. If they don't play a face card, then that pile is yours. You want to win all the cards, and if that happens, the game is over."

She turned to Susan. "Your turn," she said with a smile.

Susan laid down a nine of hearts.

"Good job, Susan," Lilah murmured. "Now, you want to be mindful of doubles. If Harry plays another nine, then that constitutes a double, and if that happens, anyone – whether or not they have any cards – can 'slap' them to take the pile. Now it's your go, Harry."

Harry laid down an Ace.

"The first face card – very good," Lilah explained. "So, Hermione, you have four chances to play a face card of your own, or Harry gets the pile.

"Okay," Hermione said. "Here goes nothing."

She first played a four of clubs, then an eight of diamonds, then a ten of clubs, then the Queen of spades.

"Very good, Hermione," Lilah smiled. "So now it's my turn, and I have two chances to play a face card."

Lilah played the Queen of diamonds, and a split second later, Hermione's hand immediately slapped the pile.

"You sure you haven't played this before?" Lilah giggled.

"I'm sure," Hermione said with a giggle of her own.

"You sure seem to know what you're doing," Lilah replied. "Okay, so now you put the cards you won under your current pile, and you play the top card."

Hermione played another card. Two of spades.

Then Lilah went again. King of hearts.

"Okay, Ron, I played a King, so you have three cracks at playing a face card, otherwise I win this pile."

Ron played a five of clubs, then a seven of spades, then a nine of diamonds.

"Okay, since you didn't play a face card, I win that pile," Lilah said. She looked at her friends. "Are you guys getting the hang of this so far?"

Hermione smiled broadly and nodded, as she clearly didn't need much time to understand the game. Susan already played with Lilah, so she gave her a confident grin. Harry and Ron shrugged and gave her rather nervous expressions, which she took as meaning they weren't quite comfortable with the game just yet.

"You'll get it soon, I promise," Lilah told the boys encouragingly.

A few minutes later, Neville came to the table to watch the group. "I've been hearing a bunch of hands slapping the table. What in the name of Merlin's beard are you all playing?" he asked.

"Egyptian Rat Screw," replied Hermione. "Want to play?"

"Sure," replied Neville.

"The game's already started, Neville," said Lilah. "I can't deal out any more cards, but the good news is that you can 'slap in' at any time. If you see two cards of the same type played in succession, you can slap the pile of cards, and that pile of cards is yours. You want to win all of the cards from everybody else. Here, I'll give you some room."

"I see," said Neville as he took the spot to Lilah's left. "Thanks for inviting me, Lilah." He gave her a coy smile.

"You're welcome, Neville," replied Lilah. "Again, pay attention to those doubles. Hermione's very quick, so you'll need to really be on your toes." Hermione giggled.

Neville watched intently, looking for any chance to slap in. It didn't take all that long for the next double to happen – Ron laid down a three of diamonds and then Harry played a three of spades. Neville slapped the sizable pile of about a dozen cards and grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Well done, Neville," Lilah said with a radiant smile. "You're in!"

"Congratulations, Neville," Hermione said. "That was a good play. You beat us all fair and square on that one."

"Thank you. So, now what do I do?" Neville asked.

Susan smiled. "Put that pile face-down, and then flip the top-card face up."

Neville did exactly that. Ten of spades.

"Since that wasn't a face card, the play keeps going clockwise until someone plays a face card, or someone spots a double," Lilah said.

"Gotcha," replied Neville. "This doesn't sound too complicated, I just need a few rounds to feel comfortable."

"You're right," Hermione said. "It's actually pretty easy, and Lilah wasn't kidding when she said that this game's addicting."

Several minutes later, the sounds of cards hitting the table and hands slapping drew Draco Malfoy to the Gryffindor table.

"What are you losers playing?" he said with a bit of a sneer.

"Egyptian Rat Screw," answered Neville. "Would you like to play?"

Draco's eyes shifted upward in thought.

"I have a better idea," he said with a smirk. "Bring those cards over here to dinner, Darling Clementine. I'll play your little game… but with a twist. Any of you melts up for a little… bet?"

Lilah didn't back down in the slightest. "What do you have in mind, Malfoy?"

Draco's eyebrows wiggled with anticipation. "I see the bravest one at the table's not even a Gryffindor. I have a good one. If *I* win tonight, Longbottom has to run to the girls' lavatory in nothing but his undershirt and whitey tighties."

Neville felt a lump in his throat. "I'm not sure about that, Draco…"

Draco laughed. "Oh, we all know you're a chicken, Long-in-the-bottom." He gave Neville a cockeyed grin. "If you do this, you might actually be a Gryffindor after all."

Ron's face turned red. "Leave Neville out of this, Malfoy. You know he'd never be up to it. If you want me or Harry to play along, we'll do it without a second thought."

Draco shook his head. "Forget it, Weasel-face. I know you and Pottah would jump off a cliff if you were asked. This time, it's Longbottom, or no dice."

"You don't have to agree to this, Neville," Hermione said. "There has to be another way."

"Forget it, Brain-ger," Draco retorted. "My way, or no way."

"It's okay," Neville said. "If it'll shut him up, I'll do it."

Draco's smirk grew into a wicked grin. "Fantastic, Long-in-the-bottom. Now, you name your terms in the unlikely event that you win."

"I have a good one for you, Malfoy. If I beat you, I want you to say something nice about Harry, and mean it." Hermione and Susan beamed at Lilah – they knew she wasn't messing around.

"Heh. You're on, Darling Clementine," Draco said with a satisfied smile. He held his hand out to seal the deal. Lilah shook it, while looking Draco in the eye.

"Have you actually played, Draco?" Lilah asked Draco with a skeptical expression on her face. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."

"I'm a quick study," Draco said with a hint of false bravado. "It shouldn't be that hard to beat you."

"Do you want to play a couple of rounds with us?" Lilah asked sincerely. "I mean, heaven forbid should you lose because you don't know what you're doing…"

"Erm… I guess some practice won't hurt," Draco said quietly.

"We're in the middle of a game right now. Why don't you watch, and when you feel comfortable, you can slap in when you see doubles? Then we can deal you in the next game," Lilah said.

"That works, I guess," replied Draco.

About forty five minutes later, they had gotten through a couple of rounds. Hermione won the first round, and Neville surprisingly won the second.

Lilah looked at Draco. "When we play tonight, it's just you and me, right?"

Draco nodded. "The peanut gallery can watch, but yes, just you and me, Darling."

Lilah nodded. "Very well, Malfoy. Six o'clock sharp tonight. We'll play at the Hufflepuff table."

Draco shook his head. "No way. You and your weenie friends would get too comfortable. We're playing on Slytherin turf tonight. I hope you're feeling… adventurous."

Lilah smirked. "That almost sounded like an invitation, Draco. Very kind of you to have us over, really. I'd be delighted to play you and meet your Slytherin friends."

Draco smirked in return. "I can't wait to see a half-naked Longbottom going to the girls' loo. That'll be priceless."

Lilah raised an eyebrow. "Not as priceless as the look on your face when you have to tell Harry something nice – to his face, Draco. That's not going to be easy, knowing you."

Draco gave Lilah a nasty grin. "I fully plan on beating you fair and square… Lilah. Good luck, you're going to need it."

Lilah shook her head, but smiled at Draco. "Not as much as you, Draco. I'll be looking for you at six this evening, at the Slytherin table."

Draco nodded. "Be there, or be square."