“Jack and Jacob have kindly accompanied me to come calm you two down,” Dumbledore said, his bright blue eyes twinkling. However, the twinkling dulled itself when Hermione’s shrieks of pain drifted out of the closed door.

“Albus, I want to see my wife, now,” Severus said coldly.

Eliza looked from Dumbledore to her father and sunk into one of the chairs and summoned Sox to her. Despite the fact that Sox was six floors down, the quickly growing pup was soon spotted (by the wondering ghost, poltergeist, and random out-of-bed student) flying rapidly through Hogwarts’ corridors. When Sox flew through the door, Eliza caught the puppy mid-air and hugged her close. Of course, Sox was roughly the size of a cocker spaniel on steroids, but Eliza would cuddle anything. Jack and Jacob rolled their eyes and sat on either side of their friend.

“So, you’re going to have three brothers,” Jack said, tickling Sox’s chin.

“Yeah. But I thought of something. Well, I kind of thought of this a while back,” Eliza replied as soon as Severus and Dumbledore went into the Hospital Wing to see Hermione.

“What? Ingenious plan to dupe your parents into thinking you never had any brothers?” Jacob asked sarcastically. Eliza nudged him in the ribs.

“Actually, Daddy said that since the triplets are early, Mum’s going back to Snape Manor and is going to take care of the babies there with a nanny and her parents to help. I’m getting excused from my classes for a week or so and Daddy’s gonna be there the first few days, too. And Harry’s gonna be there, also.”

“So?”

“Well, since they’re going to have to take care of three newborn babies at once, they won’t wonder where their second child got to. They’ll barely notice I’m gone. And, when that happens, I’ll slip upstairs to the third floor and see what’s up there.”

“Something’s going to go wrong, I just know it,” Jack muttered. When Eliza glared at him, he shrugged. “Something always goes wrong, Eliza. It’s a fact of life.”

“Yeah. I’ve got three more brothers now. I definitely think something went wrong there.”

“Eliza, come see the triplets,” Severus said from the doorway. “You two may come, also,” he said, motioning to Jack and Jacob.

Jack laughed as soon as he saw the three boys. Hermione was holding two, and Dumbledore was holding one. Each boy had a knitted cap on (obviously from Mrs.Weasley), with their first initial on it. “Looks like your brothers are candidates for the initial jumpers at Christmas,” he said through snickers, referring to the jumper every set of Weasley twins got with their first initial on it. “So, Grandmum, which one’s which?” he asked Hermione.

“Jack, I hardly think that’s a question to be asked,” she replied, shifting Preston and Quentin around. “And how many times have I told you that calling me Grandmum makes me feel really old?”

“Can I hold one?” Eliza asked from her spot on the foot of her mother’s bed.

“Of course you can, only-girl. They are your brothers, you know.” With that, Hermione handed Eliza Preston. Preston snuggled into Eliza’s arms and yawned cutely, almost as if on purpose. Like he was trying to be adorable, or something.

“Can I hold one?” Jacob asked from beside Eliza. “I mean, they are honorary Weasleys, too.” He was promptly handed Stuart. Jack protested to being left out and was given Quentin. “Hey, Eliza, have you noticed that their names are alphabetical?”

“Yes. That’s part of the appeal, dummy.”

“I see. Are they identical?”

“No, they aren’t,” Severus answered. He pointed to Preston’s nose. “He’s got his mother’s nose and raven black, bushy hair. It’s already coming in.” Then he pointed to Stuart. “His hair is dark brown and thin.”

“And Quentin seems to have all the recessive genes in the family,” Hermione commented. When she spoke, Preston started crying, setting off his brothers.

Madam Pomfrey bustled in at the sound of the baby’s wailing and shooed everyone off, including Severus. “Hermione needs her rest, for goodness sake! Out! The lot of you, out!” Of course, no one dared to cross the mediwitch for fear of what she would make him or her drink when they were next sick as a twisted revenge.

“Eliza, a word,” Severus said, as the small group left the room. Jack and Jacob hung back. “You two may go back to your common room…take Sox with you. She looks like she needs the walk. Eliza’ll be there shortly.” Jack and Jacob nodded before leaving. Severus turned to look at his only daughter. “I’m going back to the manor tonight to get it prepared for your mother. The headmaster has agreed to excuse you from your classes for the next week and a half. However, Weasley or Jack will send home your homework via Floo every night.” Eliza groaned. “You seem to forget that both of your parents are professors,” Severus commented. “And I want to take this time to remind you that your summer rules will be in effect during this week and a half.”

“You’re joking, right?” Eliza asked, leaning against the wall. “You’re not going to make me have a bed time, are you?”

“It’s a summer rule. Come to the dungeons after you go retrieve Sox and whatever else you want to bring back to the Manor. I do not wish to wait long.”

“Alright,” Eliza replied, heading off in the direction of her dorm. She was wishing that she could just summon everything to her at that moment, but she didn’t want some of the things she wanted to bring flying through the castle corridors. “At least they don’t share my birthday.”

“Yes they do,” Severus called after her. “It’s 3am!”