Sorry for the delayed update! AP English is murder, for one, and for another, I just got my wisdom teeth out. So, it basically means that I'm on very strong pain meds. Yes, this was written when my brain was so messed up I could barely think. I had to take a Hamlet test like this! With a timed essay!

Ehem. Anyway. Sorry about that.

Also, I want reviews! I got like sixteen for chapter six and barely any for seven and either. I like reviews. They make me happy. And I know for a fact that I have exactly (as of an hour ago) 208 watchers. You guys make me sad. :(

Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious that my brain's still fucked up.

Disclaimer: Just borrowin'.

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Chapter Nine

After getting Hogwarts' grading system fully explained to him, Kakashi was dragged off to the kitchens with his (god, that felt weird to say) friends, Ron having apparently deciding that he didn't want to eat English food today. Not that Kakashi was complaining; eating some of his food for lunch felt a lot better than eating it as an extremely late-night dinner.

"I wish we had some of your food here," said the redhead, eating shumai as they walked to Divination, taking secret passage ways to avoid any strange looks from other students. At the tapestry of Bernard the Bearded, they split away from Hermione who needed to go to Arithmancy. "Or at least that Hogwarts served it at dinner every once in a while."

"Have you tried the desserts yet?" Kakashi asked as he quickly ate the last of his tamago; they were nearing the end of their shortcut. Harry and Ron shook their heads. "Next time we go down there, ask for dango or strawberry daifuku."

"And when we go to Hogsmeade," said Harry, "we'll bring you to the sweets' shop and you can try some more Wizarding candy."

"Deal," he said, and the left the secret passage way, entering the corridor a little beyond Sir Cadogan's portrait. "When's the first trip again?"

Ron shrugged and they reached the trapped door. "We don't know yet. It'll be posted on the bulletin board about a week beforehand, though I'm guessing sometime around Halloween. You'll love it."

They took a seat at their usual table, waiting for Trelawney to do something. "It'll be nice to get off the castle grounds for a day," said Kakashi, running his fingers through his hair.

"What's today?" asked Harry suddenly.

"The ninth," answered Ron. "Why?"

"Your birthday's on Saturday," he said, looking to Kakashi, who held back a groan. He hated his birthday! In a low enough voice that no one else could hear over all the chattering, he added, "You'll be fourteen, right?"

"Blimey, I keep forgetting you're so young," said Ron, causing him to scowl. "Sorry, mate, but you are about a year younger than us. Two years younger than Hermione. Her birthday's the eighteenth."

He had a feeling asking why birthdays were such a big deal here wasn't such a good idea; it'd be more questions to answer when they asked why he didn't like celebrating his own. "Oh," he said, unable to think of anything else. "I—oh, goddamnit."

"What?" said Ron, but Kakashi didn't need to answer.

Unfortunately, it turned out Umbridge was inspecting class today; Kakashi felt the chakra signature before she even showed up. The moment she entered the trapped door, the chattering classroom fell silent, every eye turned to her. To Trelawney, who was passing out copies of Dream Oracle, she said, "Good afternoon, Professor Trelawney. You received my note, I trust? Giving the time and date of your inspection."

Their professor gave a very McGonagall-like nod and Umbridge took a seat in the back, extracting a clipboard. Then Trelawney said, "We'll be continuing our study of prophetic dreams today. Divide into groups, please, and interpret each other's latest nighttime visions with aids of the Oracle."

First she went to head back to her desk, but took a quick turn to the left towards her two fan girls. Kakashi flipped open his book, glancing at Umbridge every few minutes. For a while all she did was sit and take notes, but eventually she stood up and started walking around, following Trelawney. Harry, who'd been watching her, too, suddenly looked back down at his book and said to Ron, "Think of a dream, quick, in case the old toad comes our way."

"I did it last time," said Ron. "Kakashi, you do it."

Oddly enough, he actually had one—or one that wasn't a nightmare away. Talk about convenience. "I had a dream this guy I know kept trying to convince me to wear green spandex and orange leg warmers," he said, twirling his feathered quill in one hand, "but we were in the dormitory here, not back in Konoha Academy, and Lavender was trying to explain why he was the worst dressed person in the world while drinking butterbeer and eating a butterfly shaped biscuit." Both boys stared at him. "What? I get weird dreams when I haven't slept in days."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, so when did you have this?"

"History of Magic, of course." And he woke up extremely confused, wondering what the hell just went through his head. But at least that wasn't as weird as his last haven't-slept-in-days dream, which involved Tsunade doing an interpretive dance while being yelled at by a giant tree about something-or-another and the Sandaime telling her she needed to eat more lemons if she ever wanted to be a good swimmer. This was the thing about dreams: they made no damn sense. Nightmares did, but dreams…not so much. Then he added, "This morning."

Umbridge continued stalking around the room. Ron said, "Okay, now what planets were aligned?"

"Like I know," he answered. "Make something up."

"Venus and Mars," said Ron, scribbling it down. "We need to add your age to the date of you had the dream, the number of letters in the subject…Would that be this guy's name, 'spandex,' or 'Lavender?'" Kakashi shrugged. "Okay, then let's make it the name. What is it?"

"Gai."

"No, I mean the bloke's name."

"That is his name. Gai. Maito Gai."

"What the—" Again, Kakashi shrugged. In Konoha, 'guy' wasn't a word, so naming a boy 'Gai' wasn't strange—in fact, it was probably one of the most common names of the generation before him. The Maitos were just a little behind the times, apparently, since the boy wasn't too much older than he was, and as a recent (extremely recent) chuunin, had no right to deem the two rivals. On the other side of room, before he could say anything, he picked up Umbridge's voice, finally directed to Trelawney.

"Now," she said, "you've been in this post how long, exactly?"

"Nearly sixteen years."

"Quite a period." Some clipboard scribbling. "So it was Professor Dumbledore who appointed you?"

"That's right."

"And you are the great-granddaughter of the celebrated seer Cassandra Trelawney?" she asked.

Trelawney answered, "Yes."

"But I think—correct me if I am mistaken—that you are the first in your family since Cassandra to be possessed by the Second Sight?"

"These things tend to—er—skip three generations."

Umbridge smiled and Kakashi dearly wished he'd made that long distance kill two weeks ago at the feast. "Of course," she said, scribbling. "Well, if you could just predict something for me, then?"

Trelawney's posture suddenly straightened. "I don't understand you," she said.

"I'd like you to make a prediction for me."

Well, this was going to be messy. By now, the entire class was watching; Lavender and Pavarti looked flat-out terrified. "The Inner Eye does not See upon command!"

"I see."

More damn scribbling.

"I—but—but…wait!" Her usually whimsical voice had turned shaky. "I…I think I do see something…something that concerns you…Why, I sense something…something dark…some grave peril…" And with a really annoyed Kakashi in the room, that wasn't so far-fetched. "I am afraid…I am afraid that you are in grave danger!"

After a moment where she did absolutely nothing but stare at Trelawney, Umbridge finally said, "Right. Well, if that's really the best you can do." Then she swept out of the room, leaving a silent classroom behind her.

A half hour later, when the three boys entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and explained what happened to Hermione, they discovered Umbridge humming and smiling to herself. Yeah, Trelawney had no hope whatsoever. Even if she was a fraud, she didn't need to be fired, considering that Dumbledore probably would've done that years ago. Though he was kind nearly to a fault, Kakashi couldn't see him keeping around a bad teacher without reason; Umbridge was forced on him, so she didn't count.

"Wands away," she said before Hermione had a chance to ask them any more questions. "As we finished chapter one last lesson, I would like you all to turn to page nineteen today and commence chapter two, 'Common Defensive Theories and Their Derivation.' There will be no need to talk."

Again, Kakashi had absolutely nothing to do. After reading the book two times, he refused to do it again, instead doodling, trying to figure out what else he could draw besides trees. As it turned out, he was basically talentless in every area of artistic technique.

Hermione's being stupid, said Rin and he looked over to see the girl raising her hand two seats down. Damn, right beyond poking distance. Next time he was putting himself between her and Harry to make his life easier. Rather than call on Hermione from her desk, Umbridge stood up and walked over before quietly asking, "What is it this time, Miss Granger?"

"I've already read chapter two," she answered.

"Well, then proceed to chapter three."

"I've read that too. I've read the whole book."

Umbridge blinked, as if two students having already read the boring thing was completely incomprehensible. "Well, then, you should be able to tell me what Slinkhard says about counterjinxes in chapter fifteen."

"He says that counterjinxes are improperly named," answered Hermione. "He says 'counterjinx' is just a name people give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable." Yes, because the man was ridiculous and didn't seem to know what the word defense actually meant. "But I disagree."

Umbridge repeated, "You disagree?"

"Yes, I do." Despite Umbridge's best efforts, the entire class was attracted to the conversation, as Hermione wasn't whispering. "Mr. Slinkhard doesn't like jinxes, does he? But I think they can be very useful when they're used defensively."

And they could be very useful in offense, too, but it wasn't like anyone was going to point that out in a classroom.

"Oh, you do, do you? Well, I'm afraid it is Mr. Slinkhard's opinion, and not yours, that matters within this classroom, Miss Granger."

"But—"

"That is enough," said Umbridge, walking back over to the front of the class. "Miss Granger, I am going to take five points from Gryffindor House."

Angry mumbling broke out and before Harry could say anything, Kakashi jabbed him lightly in the side with his elbow and said under his breath, "Do anything and I'm going straight to Dumbledore, remember? So keep your mouth shut." Harry abruptly closed his mouth and slumped back into his seat.

At least that was one problem temporarily solved.

.

Later that week the Gryffindor fifth years were gifted with the treat of Umbridge and McGonagall in the same room, which basically meant it was finally time to watch the woman get her dignity sapped very quickly away from her.

Seeing this, Ron broke into a smile as they took their usual seats and said, "Excellent. Let's see Umbridge get what she deserves."

Before anyone else could say anything, Minerva entered the room without so much as looking at the woman in the back of the room. "That will do," she said, causing the students to fall silent. "Mr. Finnigan, kindly come here and hand back the homework—Miss Brown, please take this box of mice—don't be silly girl, they won't hurt you—and hand one to each student—"

Then Umbridge cleared her throat in that same 'hem, hem' way she did back when she interrupted Dumbledore the first day of school. Again, Minerva completely ignored her.

As the homework was being handed back, she continued, "Right then, everyone, listen closely—Dean Thomas, if you do that to the mouse again I shall put you in detention—most of you have now successfully vanished your snails and even those who were left with a certain amount of shell have the gist of the spell. Today we shall be—"

She was cut off by Umbridge, again, clearing her throat.

"Yes?" she said, rounding on the High Inquisitor.

Umbridge said, "I was just wondering, Professor, whether you received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspec—"

"Obviously I received it, or I would have asked you what you are doing in my classroom," she said before turning back around. "As I was saying, today we shall be practicing the altogether more difficult vanishment of mice. Now, the Vanishing Spell—"

For the third time, Umbridge did her girlish throat-clearing thing. Hadn't she heard of a simple 'excuse me?'

As she turned back around again, Minerva said, "I wonder how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I'm talking." Then Umbridge had a look on her face reminiscent a person who just had a kunai stuck his or her throat. For a moment, he and Minerva made eye contact, so he sent her a short, congratulatory smile because hell, that deserved it. "As I was saying, the Vanishing Spell does become more difficult with the complexity of the animal to be vanished. The snail, as an invertebrate, does not present much of a challenge; the mouse, as a mammal, offers a much greater one. This is not, therefore, magic you can accomplish with your mind on dinner. So—you know the incantation, let me see what you can do…"

For Kakashi, this wasn't much of a challenge at all; he mastered this on his first try back during the summer when Tonks taught it to him, just like he mastered every other spell of the fifth year on his first or second try. Currently, when he wasn't training, in class, or around students other than Harry, Hermione, or the Weasleys, he was now practicing above seventh-year spells. The only one he found that he hadn't tried yet (mostly because he was a little apprehensive of the result) was the Patronus. Hm, maybe he should try that after dinner…

At the end of class, Kakashi nudged Harry, who nudged Ron, who nudged Hermione, so they could all eavesdrop while the two teachers talked.

Umbridge asked, "How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?"

"Thirty-nine years this December," said Minerva, collected her things and shutting her bag. Umbridge scribbled on her clipboard.

"Very well," she said, "you will receive the results of your inspection in ten days' time."

"I can hardly wait," said Minerva dryly before turning and heading out the door. "Hurry up, you four," she added, spotting them. Again, Kakashi gave her a very small smile which this time she returned.

Unfortunately, their next class was another one inspected, and turned out to be not nearly as entertaining. It was Care of Magical Creatures with the substitute, though from what his friends told him about Hagrid, he supposed she was a better person to inspect and still keep her job.

"You do not usually take this class, is that correct?" Umbridge asked as the class drew up to the bowtruckle table.

"Quite correct," said Professor Grubbly-Plank. "I am a substitute teacher standing in for Professor Hagrid."

"Hmm. I wonder," she said, "the headmaster seems strangely reluctant to give me any information on the matter—can you tell me what is causing Professor Hagrid's extended absence?"

"'Fraid I can't. Don't know anything more about it than you do. Got an owl from Dumbledore, would I like a couple of weeks teaching work, accepted—that's as much as I know. Well...shall I get started then?"

As she began to wander among the students, Kakashi said the Harry, "Just because we aren't in her class doesn't mean you can say anything."

"I know," answered Harry, mouth turning down into a scowl, "just like I know she's going to say something."

After a very long interrogation of the students, all of whom were able to properly answer her questions, Umbridge returned to Professor Grubbly-Plank. "Overall," she said, "how do you, as a temporary member of staff—an objective outside, I suppose you might say—how do you find Hogwarts? Do you feel you receive enough support from school management?"

God, it's like she's taunting everyone with exactly how fake she is, said Rin.

I'm pretty sure we've had this discussion before.

It doesn't matter, it's true! She's about as real as an action figure of a bad guy.

…What?

Oh, nevermind. Of course you never played with action figures, but the rest of us did!

Uchihas aren't allowed to play with anything other than weaponry and scrolls.

Aw, poor Obito.

Okay, now that the two of you are caught in a childhood nostalgia loop, can I go?

No, no, no! Stay!

Way to sound needy, Obito. Kakashi-kun, do whatever you want.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. You always pick his side.

Okay, I'm heading out now.

The two continued bickering in his head, which he supposed wasn't a good sign, but it was a hell of a lot more entertaining than watching Harry steadily get angrier as Umbridge started questioning the Slytherins about Hagrid. Every few seconds she'd glance back at him, just waiting for the opportunity to give him a detention, but apparently repeated pokes to the side were enough to shut him up.

After she was done with questioning the Slytherins, she said, "Well, thank you very much, Professor Grubbly-Plank, I think that's all I need here. You will be receiving the results of your inspection within ten days."

"Jolly good," said the substitute, and that was the end of it.

.

"Is everything all right?" asked Kakashi on Friday as he showed up at eleven thirty to the common room, finding it empty of everyone but Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Despite the earliness of the hour, he was exhausted, and again over did it during training, hence coming back so early. Hermione jumped at the sound of his voice and spun around, letting out a sign of relief when she saw it was just him. He tried to ignore the twinge of pain coming from his shoulder. "What's going on?"

"They want me to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts!" Harry yelled, pointing at his friends. When Kakashi didn't answer right away, he added, "Behind the teachers' backs."

Unsurprised, he answered, "So?

Harry's hand lowered. "Y-you aren't going to say no?"

"Why should I?" He flopped down in an arm chair. "Seriously, think about it. I'm supposed to be protecting the students, right? The easiest way to protect people is to teach them at least some semblance of how to protect themselves."

"That doesn't mean I should teach it!"

"From the sound of it, you're the only one who can." He shrugged. "You're the one who went up against this Voldemort guy, and while I might have more experience out in the battlefield, you're the one who has the experience against the man the overall fight's going to be against."

"But—"

"Dumbledore gave me permission to make my own judgment calls," he said. "Mind, I don't really know if he'd be expecting this, but still. My judgment is that this isn't such a bad idea."

"Everything I did was just lucky," said Harry, crossing his arms. "Or I had help."

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Luck or no luck, you survived, and that's what matters."

"Exactly!" said Hermione, abruptly joining in. "Harry, you're the best in our year when it comes to Defense Against the Dark Arts! And you know what it's like out there. That counts for something."

Ron added, "You were saying before how we don't know what it's like fighting him, mate, and you're right, which is why the person who does know what it's like should be the teacher."

"No one's going to want to go anyway," said Harry, steadily getting angrier. "You hear the way they talk about me."

"Give it a chance, Harry," said Hermione. "Professor Umbridge is horrible, and this is the only way to put an end to it. It's important. Possibly the most important thing about this year. We need to learn. Even Kakashi agrees."

When looked to for verification, he nodded. Damnit, his shoulder hurt. "Yeah, you can do this—on one condition."

"What is it?" asked Ron as Harry said, "I haven't even agreed yet!"

"You listen to me," Kakashi answered. "If I tell you something's a bad idea, it's a bad idea. Teaching's left up to Harry—"

"But—"

"Shut up. Anyway, teaching's left up to Harry, but you have to keep in mind this'll be a secret."

"We can keep secrets," said Ron indignantly. He shook his head.

"Not these kinds of secrets," he said. "I'm one of the top ranking members in Konoha's black-ops—basically your Aurors times a hundred—so trust me when I say, I know what I'm doing. Now, Harry, are you going to do it, or let Umbridge take over the school?"

Harry threw his hands up in the air, which meant Kakashi held enough sway to get his consent, that final opinion on top of his friends arguments. "Fine, I'll do it. No one'll show up, but I'll do it on the slim chance someone does. Any ideas on how to get started?"

After a moment of silence where the four just sort of looked at each other blankly, Hermione offered an idea. "We could do it at Hogsmeade. Not in the Three Broomsticks of course, since the teachers as well as the students go there, but I'm sure we'll find a place."

"As long as it's still in town," Kakashi said. "And as much as it's beneficial for me to be in the Three Broomsticks, if we're planning what's basically an underground training society, then it probably wouldn't be such a good idea for me to be in view of teachers. Dumbledore might've given me permission to make my own judgment calls, but I'm not sure if anyone else'll agree with those terms."

Before Harry's mounting anger could finally come to an explosion, Ron suddenly said, "Hey, it's midnight!"

Midnight? Kakashi thought. What's so special about—

"Happy birthday, Kakashi!" said Hermione, thankfully not hugging him.

Oh dear god, no.

Then his head was filled with cackles of laughter from his two best friends, and he promptly decided that he hated his life. More than before.

"Thanks," he answered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, and hoping he didn't look all that horrified.

All frustration and anger seemed to be forgotten; at least his birthday was good for something. "Feels weird that you're just fourteen," said Harry. "I keep forgetting because you're in our year."

Kakashi shrugged. "If you hadn't said anything, I probably would've forgotten about it until I checked the calendar again."

"We've got presents for you," said Hermione, looking absolutely delighted with the whole thing. Oh, how he hated today. He didn't want gifts or to be congratulated just because he was born. So what? He was one in how many to be born? Even off the top of his head, he could think of two other people born September fifteenth, too, and there were probably more—shinobi didn't traditionally advertise their birthday, and he only knew about the other two because they were civilians. And even they didn't really care all that much. Birthdays just weren't a big deal in Konoha, simple as that. Sure, the Hokages' birthdays were turned into festival days, but they were the Hokages, which meant they were a pretty big deal.

So what was the point?

"Thanks," he repeated, trying to think of the last time he received a present for his birthday from someone other than Minato, who usually gave him either a weapon or food.

I made eggplant soup the day you turned ten, said Rin. I would've given it to you, but—

I told you I was sorry! interrupted Obito.

Oh yeah, Minato was telling me about that. Didn't you—

Yeah, yeah, I fell on because I was running. And it hurt!

Rin giggled. We told you the wrong time by like three hours so he was there…but he thought he was late.

Which is why I was running! You could've just said it was for Kakashi's birthday!

I—

"How do you celebrate birthdays back in Konoha?" asked Hermione.

"I—"

He paused, abruptly realizing that there was no point in lying. They knew he wasn't from some school, they knew his culture was drastically different, and they legitimately liked him. Really, there was no reason to lie at all. So why even bother? Was he really that used to dishonesty that he felt the need to use it even in illogical situations?

But more to the point, why did he care?

Regardless of whether or not there was a point in caring (which there wasn't), he figured he might as well tell the truth because there was no reason not to, and said, "We don't. Or I don't anyway. But in general we don't make a big deal out of it."

Their smiles weakened. "Why not?" asked Ron, and Kakashi had a feeling this was the worst culture shock he'd experienced so far. Well, except for the fact that a ghost could teach and somehow grade papers.

He shrugged, deciding that he didn't need to be totally honest and could easily omit some of the truth, because he was just more comfortable that way. "No point," he said, which was true, before adding the half lie of: "I've been on missions pretty much ever birthday since I was seven, and even back then, gifts were mostly weapons or some new technique—and once a stuffed animal, but I was too young to remember that."

The three got over their shock quickly. Ron said, "Well, then this year we're going to make you celebrate it. The proper way."

Yeah, whatever the hell that meant; it sounded strangely ominous. "Okay," he said, knowing it would be better to just grin and bear it rather than argue. But that didn't mean he was going to back down completely. He added, "But you aren't going to mention this to anyone. I'm assuming your siblings know, but I don't want the other Gryffindors to remember, since I was stupid enough to let it slip the first day."

Hermione smiled and sat down on the arm of his chair. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with us. Besides the Weasleys, Harry, and I, I think Lee Jordan knows and that's all." Lee Jordan, the twins' best friend. That wouldn't be too much of a problem, since he'd be bound to find out anything simply through friendship relations anyway. "In the morning, we'll tell them to keep it quiet."

"And they will?" he said doubtfully, arching one eyebrow. Ron nodded. "Okay. And, uh, with the present thing, please leave it out of the dorm—"

"We can go get them now," said Harry. Before Kakashi could throw in his opinion, the boy looked to Ron and said, "C'mon. Kakashi, stay here, we'll be right back."

"Just hold on," said Hermione, already disappearing around the corner, the boys leaving as well a moment after, going up the opposite staircase.

Now that he was alone, he let out a sigh of relief, slumping back further against the fluffy back of the chair. The pain in his shoulder was finally dulling, making him feel a little less tense. Since they agreed not to make a big deal out of it, doing something for his birthday wasn't going to be terrible like he feared. Annoying as fuck, and completely unnecessary, sure, but he knew when he went into this mission that he had to act normal. And even if he did explain that he never really celebrated it back home, he knew he just had to deal with it.

That wasn't so bad, said Obito, and he sounded mildly surprised.

No, it wasn't, he acknowledged. They're more…something.

Accepting?

I guess. Nonjudgmental, I think is more than I was looking for.

As in, they don't think you're a freak?

Yeah. I don't know. More nonjudgmental than I expected.

Which is a good thing.

Obviously. I don't think a lot of other people in this school are like that, though.

Seems like just the way they grew up.

That's what I was thinking.

You know, they kind of remind me of me, you and Rin.

Really?

Yeah. Band of misfits and all that. Hermione's the genius, so she's you—

Harry's stuck with expectations he has to live up to—

So he's me. And Ron's a Weasley who lives outside the norm for his family's status. Rin.

Though the thought crossed his mind that the three were sort of like a team, he never really drew that particular connection. But Obito had a point. Sure, Hermione was more social and not quite his level, but the truth remained the same: she was the smart one. Unfortunately, she was made fun of for it rather than looked up because of it, but that was probably what made her more tolerant about differences in people, specifically loners. Harry came into Hogwarts with the expectations of greatness from the very beginning, but stayed a distinctly average student. Even if those expectations didn't come in the same way that Obito's did, he still had to deal with what everyone wanted him to be versus what he actually was, just like how Obito was an average-skill shinobi when everyone thought all Uchihas were supposed to be prodigies (Kakashi included). And Ron was the type of pureblood called a blood-traitor by most other families of the same blood status, though it wasn't just him and rather than family on a whole (minus Percy); Rin's family was entirely civilians while she decided to train.

Yes, the similarities were most certainly there.

"I'm back," said Hermione breathlessly, suddenly in front of him. He'd been caught up in his own thoughts to the point he hadn't noticed her before. A lumpy-looking something was wrapped in paper in her hands. "Where are Ron and—Oh, here they are."

Like Hermione, they also held wrapped gifts in their hands. Considering how often he'd been with them, when did they have time to get these and wrap them? During all those meetings with Dumbledore or at night when he was training? It was possible.

"Here you go," said Harry first, holding it out to him. He accepted it, feeling a box and instantly smelling food. When he tore it open, he discovered strawberry daifuku, one of the few dessert-types he actually liked. "I remembered you saying strawberry something that day we went before Divination. I asked Dobby and he knew what I was talking about, so the house-elves made it. Did I get it right?"

"Yeah," he said, blinking in surprise. "Yeah, you did. When did you get this?"

"Um, about two hours ago," he answered. "I went down while you were training."

"Thanks," he said, reclosing the as Hermione shoved her own gift out to him. He opened it up and discovered a long red scarf. Again, he said, "Thanks. Did you make this?"

Nodding, she answered, "I know it isn't the best, but you're always so cold and we're going off to Hogsmeade soon, so I thought you could use it."

"It's great," he answered, not caring that the end was a little lopsided. It was soft in his hands and definitely warm. God, did accepting gifts feel weird. He hadn't had anything given to him since he became a jounin; on his thirteenth birthday, Konoha was already under the threat of the Kyuubi and as Hokage and a man with a baby on the way, Minato hadn't exactly had time to get or make him anything. Then he smiled a little, because she still looked anxious. "Hermione, I think you should make scarves rather than hats; this is considerably better." Her face flushed and Ron held out his.

"I sent some money to Mum," he said as Kakashi opened it, "because I can't make anything and Harry was already getting you food."

Inside the box revealed small, red leather bound notebook and a quill from the feather of a bird he didn't recognize. Underneath them was a note, unlike Harry and Hermione's. Curious, he pulled out, and was annoyed to see that again, it was in unreadable handwriting. After a moment of staring at it, wondering what to do, Ron took it out of his hands without a word and read:

"Dear, Kakashi,

Ron said to get you something to draw with in class, and I found this in Flourish and Blots the other day when I went to Diagon Alley. It's a silent-writing quill (I disapprove of doodling in class, so I hope he appreciates that I got this anyway) from him and a book so you don't need to scribble all over the paper you're supposed to be taking down class notes with from Arthur and I. I hope you also find this useful when you go back home, though perhaps for means other than distracting yourself from learning.

Happy birthday, dear,

Molly and Arthur

"I thought you'd could use it in Defense Against the Dark Arts," he said, face as red as Hermione's was before. "This way Umbridge definitely won't hear you. Guess I should've told Mum you have trouble reading cursive, though."

"Thanks," he said, then held up the quill. "What type of bird is this?"

"A golden pheasant," Hermione answered as Ron shrugged. "You know, I think I could teach you to read cursive."

That would be useful, considering that he hadn't had an opportunity to use the Sharigan to figure it out on his own. And he wasn't planning on using it any time soon, because he did earlier in training, and the cursed mark seemed to like it a bit too much. Tsunade was right when she said to only use it as a last option, but that hadn't stopped him from trying, since he didn't want to get out of practice. Though, if Jiraiya never figured out how to fully seal it, then he could never use it again anyway. Ever. The whole seduction-for-power-causing-a-betrayal-of-Konoha thing was enough of a threat to scare him too much into even trying.

"When we find the free time," he said, putting the quill and book back in the box. "We should head up to bed. Want to try the daifuku in the morning?"

Ron nodded fervently, but Harry shook his head and said, "It's for you."

"There's no way I can eat six pieces on my own," he said, gathering the gifts in his arm and hoping the other boys were asleep. "Two, sure, three at the most, but definitely not six, which means all of you are definitely eating at least one."

"Are you sure?" asked Hermione. He nodded. "Okay, then. In the morning."

"Before we go into the Great Hall," he added as an afterthought. They headed to the staircases. "Good night, Hermione."

"Good night," she answered cheerfully. "I'll see you in the morning—I'm so glad you like the scarf, Kakashi."

"It's great," he said, and the smile came to him easily now. After five months of his cover, he rarely needed to pay attention to his facial expressions anymore. Hermione smiled back and disappeared upstairs as the boys went up their own staircase. "Well, night," he said, relieved to find the other boys asleep. "Thanks for the presents."

"You're welcome, mate," said Ron, yawning. "See you in morning."

"Night," said Harry. "Merlin, I'm tired."

"We all are," said Kakashi, heading off to bed, suddenly realizing how absolutely exhausted he was. He slipped all the presents into his empty top drawer, hiding them, but also not crushing the strawberry daifuku.

Maybe this birthday business wasn't going to be so bad after all.

.

And I got a cat. : D Her name's Lanie. And I love her.