Disclaimer: All characters that are from the Harry Potter series, along with locations & other things recognizable to Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.

Chapter 21

Before the couple knew it, it was the end of October. They were chaperoning the Halloween dance, and Hermione just did not have the patience to be around the students for an entire night, as they got high off of sugar. Not to mention the older students spiking the punch and finding dark empty hallways and classrooms to use for some hot and heavy snogging. Severus had already taken away a hundred points from a Ravenclaw couple that had spiked the punch and then gave a cup to Hermione.

They were either especially dense or didn't care that the woman was pregnant with triplets. They would be serving a month of detentions with Severus, then another month with their head of house, but that wasn't all. As Hermione took her seat at the head table, lifting her feet onto the chair next to her, Dumbledore walked back into the Great Hall with two furious looking couples. Looks like the old coot took my suggestion to heart, Hermione thought as she felt Severus' knowing hands on her shoulders. He dug his thumbs into her shoulders, trying to release the tension that was causing her muscles to knot up.

"Love, you need to relax and not let these dunderheads get to you." Severus moved from behind her back to the chair her feet were resting on, picking them up as he sat down and then moved her feet to his lap. "Would you like to return to our rooms now?"

"Yes, but I want to watch the shock and horror cross the face of those two idiots as Albus informs them and their parents of their punishment," she said with a hint of a chuckle in her voice.

"I think you've been around me too much. You're starting to enjoy the pain of the students as much as I do," he said with a shake of his head. They watched as Albus informed the couple that they were suspended for a month and would not be allowed to stay at the castle until after their suspension was over. They were warned that if they were seen in Hogsmeade or on the grounds of the castle they would be expelled. Severus stood from his seat, placing her feet on the floor gently, and then held his hand out for her to take it. As they walked out they spied Remus slipping into a darken classroom with Professor Vector.

"Interesting." Hermione said as she led the way down the hallway that lead to their rooms.

"Not really. We were all in school together and Septima had always had a thing for Remus and he did for her. However, Remus never acted on it because of his condition. But now that he knows he can have someone in his life he's allowing old feelings to reignite. That or he got a few cups of that spiked punch."

Once they got to their rooms, Hermione kicked her black flats off, pealed off her jeans and Hogwarts hoodie and walked into their bedroom and crawled under the sheets in nothing but her forest green panties. Severus followed suit, shedding his black robes and leaving them on the floor with her clothes in front of the fireplace. He got into bed and curled his naked body against Hermione's. Her back was to his chest, causing his left hand to rest against her slowly rounding tummy.

November 1st

"So, how was your night?" Hermione walked out into the common area with a cup a coffee. She saw Remus sitting beside the fire reading the Daily Prophet. He was still in his shirt and pants from the night before so she assumed he hadn't yet made it to his room.

"It was nice," he replied with a small smile. "How was your night? I heard some students tried to give you a glass of spiked punch."

"Ah, yes. Mister Morrow and Miss Teller from Ravenclaw," Hermione just shook her head. She was over it. It wasn't her job to worry about the stupidity of the students. As long as she kept her eyes open she would be able to keep herself and her babies safe and healthy. "Do you know how Teddy was last night?"

"I checked on him a few minutes before I ran into Septima and he was sleeping soundly while Ginny sat in their front room reading. They are going to make great parents."

Soon they lapsed into a pleasant silence; Hermione sipping at her coffee and Remus turning pages of the paper and sipping at his tea. I wonder if it's too early to find out the sex of our babies? Hermione was wondering as Severus walked out. He leaned against the entrance of the hallway. He liked the way Hermione had started to dress. It was still casual but not so centered on the house she was placed into. Her shirts and hoodies were much more like what she had on this morning. She had on black calf high boots, dark blue skinny jeans tucked into the boots, and a teal three-quarter sleeve t-shirt. Her hair pulled up into her signature messy bun.

"Well, I'm going to head up to the Great Hall. I'll see you and Severus when you come up." With that Remus folded up his paper, placed a kiss atop her head, and walked out of the common room. She just nodded her head, lost in thought of what she would name her babies, if she wanted all girls or all boys. Maybe she wanted two girls and a boy, but maybe two boys and a girl.

When Severus saw that she still hadn't sensed that he was in the room and had a frown, he walked into the room and headed for her chair. "What are you worrying about now, know-it-all?" He asked before tipping her chin up with his index finger and placed a kiss to her lips.

"Mmm, good morning to you too," She shut her eyes for a moment as she let the feeling of love and safety fill her. She loved the feelings that Severus made her feel. She once thought that Ron would one day make her feel this way, but she wouldn't change a thing. She loved the man standing before her. "I was just thinking about the babies. Names, if we would have all girls or all boys. What do you hope for?"

"I hope for three healthy babies that have all ten toes and fingers. Who are as smart as their mother, and just as beautiful." Hermione looked up at him with a smirk on her face and took his hand in hers. As she stood up he wrapped her in his arms and just held her for a minute. He couldn't put into words how much he loved her, but he hoped that she would never question his feelings.

"I love you too," she whispered, as if she was able to read his mind. With that they walked out of the common area and headed towards the Great Hall, Severus with his arm around her shoulders and Hermione's arm holding him close around the waist.

November 20th

Hermione was getting close to the three-month mark of her pregnancy and she was hoping to find out exactly what she and Severus were going to have. They had started on the nursery last week but she refused to do anymore work until they knew for sure. Also, with Hermione having decided to host Thanksgiving at Grimmauld Place for the American exchange students, she didn't want to be stressing over too much. She was looking forward to experiencing her first Thanksgiving with her husband-to-be, parents, colleagues, and friends.

Severus didn't mind. At this point he was just trying to keep her happy. Her mood swings weren't any worse, but they weren't any better. He was warned by Albus and Remus that it could very well get worse before it got better. He just hoped that she remember that he was her partner and not her enemy. Thankfully she had Ginny to go through everything with. Though the younger couple was about two months farther into the pregnancy than Hermione, it was still nice to know that all he had to do was head up the hall to get to them when Hermione was near a break down. He wasn't one to usually admit defeat, but he couldn't stand seeing her crying because of a student or an innocent question from him. Yesterday was the worse when an insensitive moron mentioned that her butt was getting bigger. He searched for the Gryffindor student, took a hundred and fifty points from his house and gave him the same amount of detentions. That ought to teach the dunderhead to think before he speaks, Severus thought.

"Damn it, Snape, pay attention." Hermione snapped as she tossed a shirt at him and smacked him in the face.

"Sorry, love." He replied with a sheepish grin. They were packing for what felt like the hundredth time that day. They were only going to be gone, at most four days, but Hermione insisted that they needed to get ready four days early. "When will Potter and Weasley be there?"

"They'll actually be settled in before us, but they will be there about an hour after us. Harry's last class isn't out until two in the afternoon. My last class will be taken over by Bathsheda. You asked Slughorn to cover you, correct?" She was ready to get away from the students. She enjoyed teaching but some were just so insensitive to the fact that her body would be getting bigger and felt a need to comment on things that seem to have dramatically changed over night.

"Yes, Horace should be in the castle no later then eleven. So if you want to head out earlier all you need do is let me know," Severus said as he folded the shirt and laid it in the suitcase Hermione was packing. "Love, why don't you take a break? Dinner is about to be served in the Great Hall, we could head over to Remus's room and walk up with him and Teddy."

Hermione let out a sigh but nodded her head in the affirmative. She slipped her feet into her black Uggs, fixing her grey yoga pants to fall perfectly over the top of them. She had on a purple t-shirt and her hair in a low pony. Severus held out her grey long cardigan sweater; he had his green Slytherin hoodie on with black jeans, and green converse, ready to go. After helping her into her sweater, he held her hand and walked out with her; happy and content with the road his life was taking.