Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters.

A/N: Goodness me oh my...Maranda (me) is on a roll with butter! I can't believe how much I'm progressing.. Not to sound cocky, but, Pats self on shoulder good job, me.

Chapter 25: Singing Cakes and Kerfuffles

February came with snow storms galore, covering the ground with so much white, it was difficult to look at without being blinded. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Seamus, Neville, and new to our group-Gwenny, decided to spend my Sunday birthday outside in the powdery madness. Of course the weather included freezing our mittens off, but when we jumped into the snow to make snow-angels, we were all too numb to care.

"I'm so hyper!" Gwenny announced, "Thanks for lettin' me in your friends group. I think it's cool how you all spend time together.."

Ron landed on his stomach, which left his face shivering as he got up from the snow, "Bloody hell, this could freeze the Devil himself!"

"I don't think so Ron," Hermione kissed him on the cheek, "otherwise he would be warming up in the castle."

We all laughed at this comment and Seamus sat next to me, saying, "This is the best pile of snow ever...Let's have a snowball fight!"

"No!" Harry stared at Seamus though to rip him limb from limb, "I'd rather not get hit in the face by an ice cold lump."

"Kerfuffle.." Gwen truly was the craziest Gryffindor I had ever met.

Neville asked before anyone else, "What are you on, Gwen?"

"Nothing, I just think we should call our friend group the Kerfuffles." Gwen started to histerically laugh.

Starting to chuckle, Ron tried to say the word without laughing. Soon, we were all doubled over in laughter. Then it happened, the first snowball flew at Neville's head, and hit directly on his cheek. Everything went silent as Nev swiped the snow from his face. He made an annoyed sound, and continued wiping his freezing cheek. The serenity was broken as we all started to laugh again.

"We're the...Kerfuffles..." Seamus was glowing with laughter. He was pretty cute when he smiled.

Suddenly, Neville picked up a lump of snow, and rolled it in a ball. Jumping up, everyone ran to a hiding place near the snow bank. Neville stayed where he was, but searched with his eyes for a target. For some reason, I felt like staying near Seamus. He felt like a humorous security guard just for me.

"Here..." Seamus handed me some snow, which I turned into a snowball. He did the same, and we peeked over the snowbank only to see that Harry was pelted with Neville's weapon.

The snowball fight was initiated, bringing a rain of cold weapons everywhere. I must've gotten hit at least thirty times before I hit anyone. My aim was terrible, but Seamus soon showed me the correct way to throw a snowball. I didn't know there was a correct way. My aim improved, hitting Hermione in the leg. All seven of us were now visible to each other, but we didn't show a hint of concern for being a target. Yes, we were all losing terribly, but we were all having tremendous fun.

And as always, there was an unfortunate event just waiting to happen. None other than the Ferret Boy Wonder became a target for Ron on accident. Draco was now covered in snow, scowling at us, the Kerfuffles. Instead of killing us all instantly, Draco began to chuckle malevolently, and picked up some chilling snow. Our fight haulted, as our attention was caught by a flying snowball.

Plop

My arm was hit. Like a soldier, I fell to the ground in pain. Fake pain, of course. A small giggle was heard, preferably from Gwen. I picked up some snow, and threw it at Draco. The game was back on! This time Ferret Boy was playing as well. Our snowball fight was livining up, making minutes melt away, unlike the snow. I've never seen Draco have so much fun with my group of friends!

"It's against school rules to hit a teacher.." I stated to Seamus.

He glanced at me like I was crazy and noticed Gilderoy Lockhart walking down a path, towards the side entrance of the school.

"Don't" Hermione cautioned, clearly proving she heard my threat.

Unfortunately, I was not paying attention to her as I picked up some snow. The gang watched as I aimed at my target. Were frozen Poptarts any good?

Plop

"Ouch!" Lockhart exclaimed, taking the snowball off of his head. He spotted all seven of us in the snow and came over at once.

No one laughed, or at least they tried very hard not to. Suddenly, my thumbs started to twidle as I do when I'm nervous. Lockhart stared at each and every one of us, hoping the culprit would just jump out and yell, I did it! Thank Bean Cans I was smart enough to hold my tongue.

"I did it!" I touched my lips to make sure they weren't moving. Draco lied and said it was him. Why would he do that?

Now infuriated, Gilderoy blurted, "Why did you throw the snowball at me?"

"I didn't mean to," Draco went on with his lie, "I was aiming at Ron, who was hiding near the path over there before he moved. I thought he was still there so I threw it towards the path, but it hit you instead."

"Fine, I'll believe you this time, but next time please watch where you aim!" Lockhart scolded, and left the scene.

We all glared at Draco in awe. After he simply stated he was being generous by taking the blame, our game continued with no more random attacks from me.

0o0o0o0o

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Maranda, Happy birthday to-ooo you-ooo!"

The Kerfuffles, (God what an annoying name) sang their rendition of the Birthday Song to me as I entered the Great Hall for supper. My best friends were enough of a birthday present for me, so I hoped they didn't plan another pajama party for later tonight. I sat down, glimpsing at the food, when I noticed Seamus and Neville whispering to each other. Soon, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Seamus, and Neville were whispering to each other. It was getting really annoying.

I took some fried chicken, placed it in my plate, and said, "I'm bleeding out my eyes."

No one listened so I stated, "My lungs are internally combusting." Still, nothing. So, as best as I could, I pretended to choke.

"Bloody Hell!" Seamus yelled as he got up from his seat to run to my side. He hit my back, and I pretended to cough really loudly. Then, Seamus wrapped his arms around my stomach area, which made me flinch, and he tried to do the heimlic maneuver.

I stopped coughing and choking, "Gotcha!" Seamus cursed and went back to his seat.

"Sorry," I appologized, "I just wanted to know why everyone was whispering, and ignoring me."

Hermione sighed, "First off, don't ever do that again. Secondly, we were planning something for you, and if you have to be nosy, do so elsewhere. We can't have you knowing what your surprise is now, can we?"

"No.." I went back to eating my supper, and in a few minutes everyone was talking to me again. It kind of upset me that no one could chat about my birthday before they got to supper, but oh well.

After we all finished eating our yummylicious supper, most of the gang went up to the Gryffindor Common Room. I lagged behind a bit to give my friends time to plan whatever they were planning. Gwen couldn't go to the Common Room simply because she is a Slytherin. My trip to the Grand Staircase was haulted by a pesky ghost called Peeves. He tried to tease me, saying no matter how old I got I would still be immature.

"Know what?" I shot back, "You don't know me. So I would shut up before I flush you down a toilet!" The ghost disappeared soon after I said this, but not before sticking his tongue out at me.

Seconds later I made my way into the Common Room. Hermione, Ron, Seamus, Neville, and Harry were sitting on the couches, facing one another. I joined, sitting in between Hermione and Harry. Neville, Ron, and Seamus were across from us, comfortably talking with one another. I just realized how strange being one of two girls in a six person group was. Kind of humorous though.

Hermione left the room for a moment, and came back holding a small, pink cake, with sparklingly glamorous candles that automatically lit up when she rested the cake on my lap. The group sang Happy Birthday again, and I couldn't help the broad smile on my face. I blew the candles out, after making a wish, and then everything fell silent.

Someone shouted, Sing! and the cake began singing, "They said it's your birthday...Happy Birthday to you...They said it's your birthday...Well it's my birthday too..."

I cracked up laughing as Ron cut slices of the cake.

Harry imitated the cake's voice and pleaded, "Please don't eat me! Don't eat me!"

"Harry," Mione scolded, "Honestly.. Behave yourself."

Finishing our vanilla cake, Neville announced it was time for presents. I honestly did not want a present. My materialistic side was very, very small, and not greedy at all. Sure I loved new things, but I hated taking presents from people. I never felt like I deserved anything. Maybe that's because of the damned orphanage. They never aknowledged birthdays with cakes and such; Only a couple necessities like shirts or pants or something else.

Ron and Harry disappeared from my site for a few moments before bringing out a few wrapped presents; Some were pretty big, and a few were small.

"What the hell is all that?" I was shocked at how many gifts there were. Approximately seven or eight. I know to some that might've been nothing, but to me they were too much to accept. And I hadn't even opened them yet!

Seamus chuckled, "Those are your presents. It is your birthday."

While I opened the first gift, my heart jumped with joy. One of the bigger packages held over twenty differents slabs of fabric; All different designs and all different colors. My tears welled up, but dried up again as I calmed down. More gifts were opened, revealing a diary, a sketchbook, some pencils to sketch with, a Nimbus five-thousand, and a box of Hogsmeade's finest chocolates. My reaction to receiving all these gifts brought me to tears. Not uncontrollable tears, but happiness tears. I gave my friends a hug and said thank you about twenty times.

My thoughts swirled, noticing that this was the best birthday ever, even though it wasn't over yet. The gifts and cakes were done, for sure, but we all still wanted to hang out with each other. Hermione, Ron, Harry, Seamus, Neville, and I decided to play some games...

One being Truth or Dare...