A/N: Again I do not own the rights to Harry Potter - that's JKR and Universal's baby. Lilah is an original character - she may be used in other fanfics.

This chapter is where things finally start getting interesting... I know this piece has been very light-hearted for the most part, but by the end of this chapter, we start getting into something more serious.

I'm slowing my roll a bit on this one - one to two updates a week. I'm guessing we're roughly at the halfway point with this one. Thank you for reading and I do hope you find both the story and Lilah to be enjoyable.

That evening, Lilah and Susan met their Gryffindor friends just before six o'clock. Neville looked very pessimistic, feeling that Draco was going to find a way to cheat and beat Lilah because he was rather underhanded like that.

"Neville, I promise you won't be going through with that tonight," Lilah said reassuringly. "Draco is cocky, he's definitely beatable, even if he doesn't always play by the rules."

"I hope so, Lilah," Neville replied nervously.

"I liked the terms you presented to Malfoy," Hermione said. "He's going to have to swallow a lot of pride to compliment Harry."

"Even if he loses, he'll try to find a way out of it," Ron muttered. "Honor is not a word in his vocabulary."

"But cunning and ambition are," Harry said. "He's a Slytherin to the core. He'll do anything to win."

Lilah smiled at her Gryffindor friends. "I don't need to cheat to beat Malfoy."

"Good luck, Lilah," said Susan. She smiled warmly at her friend. "You got this."

"It's go-time," said Hermione. She gave Lilah a cockeyed grin. "Kick his Slytherin arse for me, Lilah."

The group made their way to the Slytherin table and found Draco, surrounded by own gang. Draco had a rather sneaky smirk on his face."

"Good evening, Miss Darling," Draco said in a somewhat mocking, condescending tone. "Would you care to play a little game with me this evening?"

"I said I'd be here, Draco," Lilah replied. "Let's get down to business."

Draco chuckled slightly. "Oh, so you're not in the mood for chit-chat first, I take it? Well, if how it's going to be…"

"I'm here to play, and I'm here to beat you, fair and square," Lilah replied simply. "I didn't sign up for anything else."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You're awfully confident. Well, I'm not taking any chances tonight. We're playing with our deck tonight." He snapped his fingers, and Crabbe produced a deck of cards from his robe pocket.

"I know you don't trust us, so I'll have all charms removed, then only shuffling and dealing charms added back. Pansy, do the honors, if you could."

Pansy Parkinson, a snub-nosed female Slytherin, waved her wand to remove all magical effects on the deck of cards, then added a self-shuffling and self-dealing charm to the deck.

"All done, Draco," she said with a rather sneaky expression on her face. She whispered in his ear. "Beat her arse so we can humiliate Longbottom."

Draco smirked at his companion, then nodded. "With pleasure," he replied softly.

Draco offered his hand for Lilah to shake. She took it, hesitantly.

"Best of luck, Darling," Draco said mockingly.

"Good luck, Malfoy," Lilah sighed.

"Let the games begin," he said simply.

The deck divvied itself out evenly between Draco and Lilah.

"Ladies first," Draco said, gesturing toward Lilah.

A five.

Then Draco played a seven.

Lilah then played a four, followed by Draco's nine.

The game had gone on for nearly twenty minutes, with neither player gaining much of an advantage.

Suddenly, SLAP! Draco had taken a pile of over twenty cards. Lilah's own pile was dwindling fast.

Lilah was down to her last three cards, until she played a jack.

Draco plopped a ten. Lilah gratefully took the pile. Her own stack was fewer than fifteen cards, but it at least gave her some breathing room.

Draco had pushed Lilah to the brink a couple more times, much to the delight of the Slytherins and to the groans of Susan and their Gryffindor friends, but she always had an ace – or more accurately jack – up her sleeve.

Ten minutes later, Lilah slapped double fours to take a stack of nearly thirty cards. Draco was becoming unnerved, beads of sweat starting to form on his brow.

Draco was soon down to his last four cards. Lilah played an Ace.

Draco laid down a two, then a ten, then a six, then an eight.

"That's game, Draco!" Lilah exclaimed.

Draco pouted and his Slytherin comrades groaned. Lilah's friends cheered.

Draco stood up, knowing he had been beaten fairly.

"Well played, Darling," he said quietly.

He then turned to Harry.

"Potter... Harry... you're," Draco knew he could say something positive about Harry, but it went against everything in his character.

"You're... a really nice kid." He extended his hand to Harry, who accepted it for the first time since the tripping incident.

"Thanks, Draco," Harry replied. "I know that wasn't easy for you."

Draco's nervous expression suddenly evaporated, and his face morphed into his familiar sneer. "Make no mistake, Potter, we aren't getting chummy anytime soon."

Lilah, Susan, and the Gryffindors returned victorious to the Gryffindor table.

"Thank you, Lilah," Neville said appreciatively. "I'm glad I don't have to go through with stripping down and running to the girls loo."

"That was a close one, Lilah. I thought he had you beat for sure," Susan added. She smiled and embraced Lilah. "I'm really proud of you for hanging in there. Well done!"

"I'm surprised Malfoy kept his end of the deal," Ron said. "It took him long enough to say something positive to Harry."

"If he didn't, I'd have cast a leg lock curse on him," giggled Lilah.

"You played wonderfully," said Hermione as she hugged Lilah. "The look on Malfoy's face near the end was rather satisfying... like he knew he was going to lose."

"You didn't have to agree to any of that, Lilah," said Harry. "He pulled all the stops to rattle you, but you stayed calm and cool and played a terrific game." He embraced Lilah warmly. "I'm very proud of you."

At that moment, Hagrid arrived in the Great Hall with a white box in his hand. "A little something fer the birthday girl," he bellowed joyfully.

He placed the box on the table, opened it to reveal a birthday cake with twelve candles. Much like Lilah's, it was purple, but a lighter shade. And in green lettering it spelled "Happy Birthday Hermione".

Hagrid snapped the tip of his umbrella, and all the candles suddenly lit.

Everyone around Hermione started singing "Happy Birthday", then Hagrid told her to make a wish. Hermione closed her eyes, inhaled, and blew out all twelve candles with one breath. Everyone applauded her.

"Thank you for a truly terrific birthday," she said with a bright smile. "It's truly special because for once, I'm surrounded by people that actually want to be with me instead of being forced to attend. It's a wonderful feeling."

One by one, all her friends gave her warm hugs and wished her a happy birthday.

The next day was Sunday. Harry got a note at breakfast from Hedwig. "It's from Professor McGonagall," he said to himself.

"Mister Potter,

I would like to see you Monday during your free period. There is something very important we need to discuss. I would be most appreciative if you can keep this matter between us. I'm afraid this is extremely personal in nature.

I promise you are not in any sort of trouble. All I ask is for you to hear me out. I truly want to help.

Sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall"

Harry was confused. She didn't specify the details, but whatever it was, it must have been sensitive as she didn't want curious eyes to find out.

He had his visit Professor Burbage to look forward to, but that would have to wait until Tuesday.

The next day, during his free period, Harry reported to Professor McGonagall's office as instructed.

"Hello, Mister Potter," Professor McGonagall said warmly.

"Hello, Professor," Harry replied.

He saw the expression on Professor McGonagall's face. There were more wrinkles than usual, and he took it to mean that she was concerned about something.

"Harry, please shut the door. I do not need any eavesdroppers to pick up even the slightest tidbit of what we are about to discuss."

Harry closed the office door as he was asked.

"Now Harry, I have it on good authority that you came from a troubled household. Would you say that is a fair assessment?"

Harry, dumbstruck, only could nod.

"I also have much reason to believe that you were mistreated - neglected, overworked, even whipped on occasion. Does that sound accurate?"

Again, Harry only nodded.

Professor McGonagall looked into Harry's eyes. "I know this is a difficult subject to discuss, but it must be done. I truly care about you, and I was horrified to know how bad the Dursleys are, and were."

She smiled gently. "I remember studying these Muggle relatives of yours for several hours shortly after you lost your parents. I had my reservations, but Professor Dumbledore insisted that you stay with them as they were your only living relations." She paused for the briefest of moments.

"I knew of a couple of other options, but due to certain misfortunes, they would not have been viable guardians.

She took off her spectacles to dab an eye with a handkerchief. "I am so sorry you were robbed of a real childhood. You deserved friends, proper clothes, proper meals... things that almost all other children take for granted."

She sniffled slightly. "May I ask you a question, Harry?"

Harry nodded again. "Sure, Professor."

"Would you feel comfortable enough going with me to Madam Pomfrey's with me this afternoon? I would like to for you to show us something, if you can," Professor McGonagall asked.

"What's that, Professor?" Harry asked.

Professor McGonagall sighed.

"I'd like for you to take off your robes and your shirt. I suspect there may be some evidence of whipping on you, and your back may be the easiest place to locate scars."

"Also, I'd like to know if you'd be interested in therapy sessions, every other week, with Madam Trudy Peel. She has experience with young witches and wizards like yourself, that have come from less-than-loving homes. That may help you heal internally as well."

Harry looked at the professor with wide eyes. "I need some time to think about this... it's a lot to take in," he said.

"I know it is, young man," Professor McGonagall replied. "You are under no obligation to agree to this, this is only a suggestion. However, as your head of house I do encourage you to think it over - if you would rather revisit later this week, that is perfectly acceptable. Maybe Wednesday or Thursday would be better."

"Yes, we can try later in the week. I just need some time is all," Harry replied.

"Very good, Mister Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "Thank you for hearing me out. I will see you later this week, then. Please owl me if you need anything."

A sudden rush of emotions and thoughts rushed in Harry's head as he left Professor McGonagall's office. How did she know? He didn't remember telling anyone about his past, except Lilah. And Lilah wouldn't talk to Harry's house head, would she?

He wasn't sure what to feel, but he definitely needed time to sort things out.