�Should we tell the students about the twins?� Dumbledore asked the staff during an emergency meeting held in the hospital wing, Karina and the twins sleeping soundly nearby.
�I think that�s up to Severus and Karina,� Minerva stated.
�I agree,� Professor Sprout interjected.
Snape rose and walked to the side of the girl�s bed. He knelt down and kissed her gently on the forehead. Her eyelids fluttered open to reveal her silver-grey eyes. Sitting up, she rubbed the last remnants of sleep from them.
�Hi everyone. What�s going on?� she queried as she stretched cat-like towards the ceiling.
�Well, do you want to inform the student body of Elizabeth and Kassandra?� Albus said, posing the question directly to her.
�It will look odd if people see me carrying around two babies that weren�t here before. I suppose it would be for the best,� Karina replied.
�I�m alright with that,� Severus added as he received expectant looks from his colleagues.
Suddenly wails emanated from the cradles alongside Karina�s bed. Both she and Snape jumped slightly but rushed over, scooping up their 8 hour old infants. As if by instinct, Karina positioned Kassandra in one arm and took Elizabeth in the other.
�They�re hungry,� she said matter-of-factly.
Ensuring her some privacy, Snape pulled the cream colored curtains closed around the bed. Quiet suckling sounds were heard from behind the veil.
The following morning the trio entered the Common Room to find McGonagall and Karina sitting by a roaring blaze each cradling a bundle of blankets. Hermione was the first the venture over, a curious expression on her face.
�Professor?� she asked.
�Shhh, you�ll wake them up,� Karina hissed angrily.
�Sorry. What are you holding?� she continued, in a whisper this time.
�Infants,� the transfiguration teacher stated bluntly as if the bundles of blankets in their laps should be obvious enough a clue.
�Whose?� came Harry�s voice, as quiet as Hermione�s had been the second time.
�Let�s get to breakfast,� McGonagall said, addressing Karina.
The two women rose and exited the room. The trio pursued in a fog of confusion. Once everyone was seated in Great Hall, Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat. The room grew silent as all eyes turned to the headmaster.
�Since our time back from winter holiday, there have been some changes at Hogwarts,� he began.
�Our own Professor Snape got married and his wife, Karina had twins yesterday morning,� he finished.
Every student�s jaw dropped. The room was silent as midnight. Finally, the cries of the two infants broke the monotonous hush. Professor McGonagall laughed slightly as did the rest of the staff.
As the day progressed Karina received a mixture of sidelong glances, glares and sympathetic looks. As she headed for Care of Magical Creatures, a baby in each arm Draco intercepted her.
�Well if it isn�t the slut,� he taunted coolly.
�Back off Malfoy,� Karina growled.
She attempted to pass him but to no avail. As she tried to bypass him he reached a hand out and attempted to swipe Elizabeth from her left arm. Luckily, Snape rounded the corner and was witness to the attack. In a flash he grabbed the child out of harms way and glared angrily at the blond haired youth.
�60 points from Slytherin,� he snarled menacingly.
�What for?� Draco protested.
�For endangering the lives of my wife and children you delusional idiot!� Snape bellowed.
�I�ll take them while you go to class,� he said, turning to take his younger daughter from the apprehensive arms of her mother.
Karina heaved a huge sigh of relief as she entered into the Transfiguration classroom. She�d relieved Severus of babysitting duty so he could teach and she knew Minerva wouldn�t mind the babies being there. Karina took a seat close to the door and as far from Malfoy as she could get.
�It seems we have some visitors,� McGonagall said, smiling at her two sleeping goddaughters.
�Starting their education obsessively early was his idea,� Karina responded with a laugh.
Once the bell rang, and everyone was seated, McGonagall began reviewing everything they would need to know for the exams that loomed two weeks away. Determined to do well, Karina diligently took notes while every few minutes glancing towards the floor to check on the twins.
�Professor? Do we have to know how to transfigure spells?� Ron asked.
�Yes Mr. Weasley you do,� the teacher answered.
�I could have told you that,� Harry mumbled.
The weeks leading up to NEW exams were more than stressful. Between studying and carrying for not one but two newborn infants was trying on Karina�s nerves. Two days before the exams began; she sat in the Common Room studying when a hand tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped in surprise and saw that it was Hermione.
�What?� Karina asked, a bit more harshly than she�d intended.
�If you want, I can watch the twins for you while you study so that you can concentrate,� the bushy haired girl said.
�You�d do that?� Karina asked, completely shocked.
�Well, if you want me to,� Hermione said.
�That would be so helpful!� the young mother exclaimed.
She put down her quill and book and the two girls walked over to the corner where the twins lay. Bending down, Karina picked up Elizabeth who had begun to fuss. Cradling her gently she turned to face her fellow Gryffindor.
�If they get fussy just rock them a little bit. They aren�t due for another meal for about an hour and a half so don�t worry about that,� Karina instructed.
�Ok,� Hermione said, smiling at the child in Karina�s arms.
�If you need any help, you can go to Professor McGonagall,� Karina said.
�Alright. Good luck with studying,� Hermione said as the other girl returned to studying.
Hermione sat down in one of the over stuffed chairs and cradled Elizabeth in her lap. The child had silver-grey eyes like her mother. All of a sudden Kassandra began to whimper. Leaning over, Hermione picked her up and cradled both of them in her lap. She was surprised that they both fit. Suddenly it dawned on her just how fragile they were. After she rocked them for a while, they fell asleep and she put them back in their cradles. Around 10:15 Karina came over and sat down across from Hermione.
�How are they doing?� she asked, surveying her offspring.
�Fine, they slept most of the time,� Hermione answered quietly.
�Thanks so much Hermione,� the young mother stated gratefully.
�It was fun,� the Gryffindor said.
�Well I�d better get these two to bed properly. See you tomorrow,� Karina said, school bag slung over her left shoulder and one cradle in each arm.
�G�night,� Hermione called as the girl walked out through the portrait hole.
The first day of NEWT exams arrived too quickly in the students� minds. Karina kissed her daughters as she headed into the Great Hall for the first round of tests.
�They�ll be fine. Just concentrate,� Snape told her.
�I know,� she said and walked through the doorway.
By the end of the week, all of the 6th and 7th year students resembled the walking dead. No doubt, the mass majority had stayed up late into the night cramming for the next morning�s exams.
�Thank god those are over!� Karina said, balancing Kassandra on one hip and Elizabeth on the other.
�Yes. Now you can sleep at night,� Snape said, a relieved expression on his face.
�Well that�s a relative term,� she said with a laugh.
�How are my precious little goddaughters?� McGonagall asked as she walked up to the family of four standing in the Entrance Hall.
�Wonderful,� Severus smiled.
He took Elizabeth from his wife and kissed her cheek. He looked into her eyes, the same eyes that had captivated him for years and his smile broadened.
�You and your sister are going to be gorgeous,� he murmured softly.
The following week was the end of school term and graduation for the 7th years. Everyone was exciting at the prospect of summer. Everyone congregated in the Great Hall. The room was decorated in all of the school colors to wish the graduates good luck.
�Everyone may I have your attention,� Dumbledore called.
�We would like to congratulate the 7th years on seven wonderful years and the staff wishes them good luck in the future,� he finished.
With that, each 7th year was given a graduation parchment. When Karina�s name was called she slowly rose and took her parchment from Professor McGonagall. Before she could head back to her seat, McGonagall embraced her.
�Congratulation,� the Transfiguration teacher whispered in her ear.
Once the last student had taken their place back at their table, the end of year feast began. The room was filled with laughter and the clink of silverware on dishes. They had made it. The following morning, everyone headed for Hogsmeade Station. Students said their last goodbyes to friends. The year was over and the summer was just beginning and so was Severus and Karina�s lives as fulltime parents.