The Triple Reflection

"Twins are banal, so Boileau and Narcejacques resorted to triplets"

Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejacques

* * *

The three boys were settled in the old parlor with tapestries and panels on the walls, a large fireplace, a Persian carpet on the floor and squashy plush sofa and armchairs. The first boy was quietly sitting quietly in an armchair and pasting herbs into a herbarium, the second was playing noisily with a leopard-colored rabbit, and the third was intently reading a book on history, sitting on the sofa, but all three were dusky, with straight black hair, brown almond-shaped eyes and heart-shaped faces, and all three wore crimson robes and mischievous smiles. Their father, short, slender, with olive skin, black curly hair and black eyes, in crimson robes, was sitting in an armchair near the fireplace and reading the Daily Prophet. All of a sudden, an owl flew into the sitting-room window and dropped a pack of three letters on the sofa.

'Oh, I wonder...' the first boy said.

'...if the letters...' the second boy interrupted.

'...are for us!' the third boy finished.

'I'll get them!' the second boy said. He dropped the rabbit to the floor, went to the sofa, took the letters and looked at the addresses.

'To Mr. Balthazar Zabini, the Blue Bedroom, Ballafletcher, the parish of Braddan, the Isle of Man,' he read.

'Oh!' the first boy exclaimed.

The second boy took another letter, it said much the same, except it was 'Mr. Caspar Zabini' and 'the Red Bedroom.'

'It's for me!' he said.

The third letter said 'Mr. Melchior Zabini,' and 'the Green Bedroom.'

'Mine,' the third boy said.

Each read his own letter.

'Hogwarts letters, Papa!' the first boy said. 'It means...'

'...we are going....' the second boy continued.

'...to Hogwarts!' the third said.

'It's great!' their father said. 'I remember how I got my letter. It was a wonderful day. I lived at Rotham, in Kent, then. Well, Balthazar, Caspar, Melchior, let's go to Diagon Alley then!'

'YES!' all three cried.

'See you, Sunshine,' Caspar said, stroking the rabbit's ears. Balthazar carefully closed the herbarium, and Melchior put the history book back on its shelf. Their father took some money from the mantelpiece and put it in his pocket, then, from a box on the mantelpiece, a pinch of sparkling powder and said:

'Boys, repeat after me.'

He said, 'Diagon Alley,' threw the powder into the fireplace and stepped inside. The boys repeated after him and disappeared too.

All four found themselves in a narrow, busy street with old houses and quaint old shops.

'First, Ollivander's,' the man said. 'To buy your wands.'

Balthazar, Caspar, Melchior and their father went into a little shop bearing a sign of 'Ollivander's: The best wand makers since 352'. The shop was full of shelves with long slim boxes on them. An old man with alert eyes stood behind the counter.

'Good afternoon, Blaise,' the old gentleman at the counter said.

'Good afternoon, Mr. Ollivander,' the younger man said. 'My sons, Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior. They've got their Hogwarts letters, and came here for their wands.'

'Glad to meet you, Messrs. Zabini,' Mr. Ollivander said.

'Same here, Mr. Ollivander,' the triplets said in chorus.

'Now, first you, Mr. Balthazar,' Mr. Ollivander said, took one of the boxes, opened it and took out of it a long gold-colored wand.

'Try this one, Mr. Zabini.'

Balthazar took the wand in his hand and waved it. One window cracked, and boxes flew off the shelves.

'Wrong one,' Mr. Ollivander said. 'Then try this one, Mr. Zabini.'

Balthazar tried another wand, with the same result, and several others. At last, Mr. Ollivander brought to him yet another wand. Balthazar waved it, and shower of gold sparkles came out of it.

'Splendid,' Mr. Ollivander said. 'Holly and unicorn hair, ten inches and a half.'

Balthazar glowed with delight and pressed his wand to his chest. His father paid for the wand.

The proceedings repeated with Caspar. His wand was holly and dragon heartstring, nine inches, and his sparkles red. Melchior's was holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, and his sparkles blue.

'Books, now,' their father said. They went to Flourish and Blotts, the booksellers. They chose their books, and drifted each to a different place - Balthazar to the Potions and Herbology section, Caspar to the Zoology section, and Melchior to the History section.

'Boys, boys, come here!' their father called. 'We have to go on.'

The triplets returned to Blaise. They paid for their books and left the bookstore. Then they went to the Magical Menagerie. Caspar looked to all the creatures with fondness and interest, but not choosing one over another - he had his Sunshine. Balthazar chose himself a Fowler's toad, and Melchior a lovely gray owl. Then all four went to the apothecary, for potion supplies, and they nearly had to drag Balthazar out of the shop. Then they unanimously headed to Weasley Wizard Wheezes and spent a lot of time there, stuffing their pockets with purchases. They then went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to buy the black school robes. Finally, they went to Florean Fortescue's Ice-cream Parlor, and each of the triplets bought himself an ice cream - Balthazar a vanilla, Caspar a choc-ice, and Melchior a cherry sundae. After that, they went back home, chatting excitedly. Home, they settled in their places again and began to look their purchases over - schoolbooks, supplies, joke goods and books.

'What a cute toad you got, Balthazar!' Caspar said.

'She's grand, isn't she?' Balthazar said. 'I'll call her Clematis.'

'And what a lovely owl!' Caspar said.

'Yes,' Melchior smiled. 'I'll name him Merlin.'

'How do you think, what houses we will be in?' Caspar asked. 'I want to be in Gryffindor.'

'Well, the Sorting Hat decides, of course, but I think I'll be in Ravenclaw,' Melchior said.

'And I just don't know,' Balthazar said. 'But it will put us into different Houses, right? We're quite unlike each other.'

'Look in the mirror, Balthazar,' Melchior teased. 'But I know what you mean. Yes, some twins are in different Houses, I think it is the same with triplets - after all, only the number is different. If so, we'll go to three different Houses, if the Sorting Hat understands anything - we're three different persons.'

'I'm unsure,' Balthazar said. 'I think I'll be packed into the same House as one of you.'

'You're your own person, Balthazar,' Melchior said. 'You'll go where you belong.'

'Thank you, Melchior,' Balthazar smiled.

'As to me, it's only Gryffindor for me,' Caspar said. 'That's the best House. Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter were there.'

'You'll go there,' Melchior said. 'With such a confidence, how can you not to?'

'And you can only be a Ravenclaw, with such a wit!' Caspar returned.

'And what will happen if you both go to Hufflepuff?' Balthazar said.

'Curse that tongue of yours!' both his brothers said.

'Wherever we'll be, we'll show them what the Zabini triplets are like!' Melchior said. 'We'll let them know!'

'That's for sure,' Caspar said. 'We didn't buy all these wonderful things from Weasley Wizard Wheezes all for nothing!'

'Surely not,' Balthazar said quietly.

On September the first, Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior got up early and packed eagerly. Then they had breakfast, and with Blaise they set off for King's Cross station in London, Clematis, Sunshine and Merlin in tow. They came by the Floo powder to the Leaky Cauldron, a cozy, old pub in Charing Street, and along Charing Street to the Charing Cross station. They came to the barrier between the platforms nine and ten, all four holding their trunks, Clematis in Balthazar's pocket, Sunshine's crate in Caspar's hand and Merlin's cage in Melchior's hand. Blaise stepped confidently into the barrier, and the triplets followed him fearlessly. They then found themselves on a platform with a sign saying 'Platform Nine and Three Quarters', a lot of people with children and a scarlet engine standing beside the platform.

'Now, go inside,' Blaise said. 'See you, boys.'

'See you, Papa,' the triplets said. They climbed the high ladder tread of the nearest carriage and waved to Blaise. Blaise waved to them too and smiled then went to the head of the train, where the teachers' compartment was. The triplets went along the carriage, found an empty compartment, put their trunks under the seats, the crate and the cage on the floor, and settled down, each with a book. Some time later the compartment door half-opened, and an older boy, short and skinny, with black unruly hair and green eyes, looked into their compartment.

'Is this place taken?' he asked.

'No,' the triplets said.

The boy came in and settled on the free place. He looked at the three younger boys and smiled:

'Am I seeing triple, or what?'

'No, we are triplets,' Caspar said. 'The name's Zabini. I'm Caspar.'

'And I'm Balthazar,' his brother said quietly.

'And I'm Melchior,' the third brother smiled.

'Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior?' the older boy said. 'After the Magi?'

Balthazar and Caspar nodded.

'Yes, we come from them,' Melchior said. 'Our Mum is a descendant of theirs. She's from Central Asia, her name is Balkis. She's royalty.'

'Really?' the older boy said.

'Yes, it was a very romantic story,' Melchior said.

'Wait a minute,' the older boy said. 'Zabini, you said your last name was?'

'Yes,' the triplets said.

'Your father is Professor Zabini, the Care of the Magical Creatures teacher?'

'Correct,' Melchior said.

'And you are first years?' the older boy said.

'Yes, we were eleven the first of May,' Caspar said.

'Welcome to Hogwarts, then,' the older boy said. 'I'm in my third year, my name is Jim Potter.'

'What, the son of the Man Who Lived?' Caspar stared.

'That's right,' the third-year said shyly.

'He's my absolute hero!' Caspar said. 'I want to be a Gryffindor like him. You're in Gryffindor, I think?'

'Yes,' Jim smiled. 'And what of you, guys? Gryffindor too?'

'No, I think it is Ravenclaw for me,' Melchior said.

'And I don't know,' Balthazar said.

Jim raised one eyebrow.

'We're not one person, you know,' Melchior said. ' We are just brothers. Sure, we are alike, but we're not one. We'll go to different Houses for sure.'

'But we all love pranks!' Caspar said. 'We brought some great things from the Weasley Wizard Wheezes that we'll try on the school.'

'That's grand,' Jim said. 'But how will your father look on this?'

'He won't know,' Melchior winked.

'And if he knows, too bad,' Caspar said. 'He will take points off us, and he can tell one of us from another two. But the other teachers won't be able to.'

'I, for one, can't,' Jim said.

The Zabini triplets exchanged sly glances.

'I can say, though, you're like your father, all three,' Jim said.

'With a touch of our Mum,' Melchior said. 'She's one for it, too.'

'And where is she now?' Jim asked.

'She's visiting her relatives,' Caspar said.

'She's an Animagus,' Melchior said. 'An Abyssinian cat.'

'And where do you live?' Jim asked.

'The Isle of Man,' Caspar said. 'Papa has a manor there. He's inherited it from a distant cousin of his. It's called Ballafletcher, and it's very lovely.'

'And did you go to school there?' Jim asked.

'No,' the triplets said. 'We're home-schooled. Papa taught us. He's very clever.'

'I know that,' Jim said. 'He's one of my favorite teachers. Another is Professor Lupin, the Defense Against The Dark Arts.'

'That's a subject I am very interested in,' Caspar said.

'Well, naturally,' Balthazar and Melchior said in chorus.

'You'll like Professor Lupin,' Jim said. 'He's nice.'

'Papa told us of him,' Melchior said.

'Then you know about Professor Snape too,' Jim said.

'Sure,' the triplets made a face as one.

'He centers out on me for my father,' Jim said. 'So look out, he'll be pestering you too.'

'Thank you,' the triplets smiled.

'All the other teachers are fairly good,' Jim said. 'Hagrid, the gamekeeper, he's a sport, but the keeper, Filch, is horrible.'

'Yes, we know that too,' Caspar said. 'I think I'll be friends with Hagrid. I like how he is fond of all the animals.'

'That's true,' Jim grinned. 'Even too much.'

'Just like Caspar,' Balthazar and Melchior said.

'There isn't such a thing as to like the animals too much!' Caspar said.

'You see,' Caspar's brothers sniggered.

'What lovely pets you have!' Jim said. 'A Fowler's toad, an American gray owl and a leopard-colored rabbit! How are they called?'

'He's Sunshine,' Caspar said.

'A pretty name,' Jim said.

'His name's Merlin,' Melchior said.

'A good name for an owl,' Jim said.

'And mine's called Clematis,' Balthazar said.

'Clematis?' Jim smiled.

'It's a kind of flower, very pretty,' Balthazar said. 'Herbology's my favorite.'

'I do know what a clematis is,' Jim smiled. 'It's a lovely name. So you like herbology most of all?'

'That and potions,' Balthazar nodded.

'I can see where it comes from,' Jim said. 'And you, Melchior?'

'It's history for me,' Melchior said.

'For Caspar, it's your father's subject, surely,' Jim said. 'Too bad it doesn't start till one's third year.'

'I can wait,' Caspar said. 'And till then, I'll be visiting Hagrid.'

'You may as well,' Jim said.

'Papa told us the school's wonderful,' Caspar said. 'A great old castle with an awesome huge hall, ghosts, and four-posters for one to sleep in!'

'I've also read about it in Hogwarts, A History,' Melchior said. 'It's very interesting.'

'And I'm a bit afraid,' Balthazar said quietly.

'Don't be,' Jim said. 'Hogwarts is a great place. Wait, you've read Hogwarts, A History, Melchior?'

'Yes. Why?' Melchior said in surprise.

'I've read it about hundred times,' Jim said. 'My mum, Hermione, likes it too.'

Caspar and Balthazar made faces.

'But you may be a Gryffindor yet, Melchior,' Jim said. 'My mum was one.'

'No, I'm not so brave as her,' Melchior smiled and shook his head.

'You never know,' Jim said.

'But - the ghosts?' Balthazar said. 'I've never seen one. Our house has a Lhiannan Shee, but she's another matter, she's fairy and beautiful. She's the guardian of the house. Papa drinks to her from a lovely old crystal cup every Christmas, it's an old custom, and sometimes she comes and kisses him on the forehead. '

'Of course, the Lhiannan Shee of Ballafletcher!' Jim said. 'I've read of her.'

'And why are you afraid of ghosts, Balthazar?' Melchior said. 'They're interesting.'

Jim smiled and said:

'Balthazar, they're quite nice. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, the Gryffindor resident ghost, we call him just Nick, is a real gentleman. Gray Lady, the Ravenclaw ghost, is a gentle, learned lady. Fat Friar, the Hufflepuff ghost, is a merry old soul. Peeves is naughty, but it is even funny, and besides, he's not a real ghost, he's a poltergeist. Moaning Myrtle, she's sad, but means no harm. Only Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost, is scary, but one doesn't see him often, so don't worry.'

'Thank you, Jim,' Balthazar said.

'Not at all,' Jim said. 'You'll like the place, everybody does. Our common room, for example, has a large fireplace, cozy sofas and armchairs, and a big cut-glass luster, and the room is round! So are our dormitories. I think it is like this in another Houses too - well, except Slytherin.'

'We know about Slytherin,' Caspar said. 'Papa told us.'

'He didn't like it there,' Balthazar said.

'With Malfoy and his pals around, how could he?' Melchior said.

'Malfoy,' Jim made a face. 'I know the name. There's a guy in Slytherin, called Regulus Malfoy. He's nasty.'

'Yes, we know,' Balthazar said. 'He goes about to land you in trouble and tries to lord it over everybody.'

'That's about right,' Jim said.

'He's the son of Draco Malfoy, who Papa and your father went to school with,' Melchior said.

'Right,' Jim said.

'We'll help you against him,' Melchior said.

'Sure,' Caspar said.

'As best I can,' Balthazar said quietly.

The witch with a barrow of sweets came by. Jim, Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior bought themselves some sweets. Again, Jim saw the triplets had different tastes. Balthazar liked Liquorice Wands, Caspar Ice Mice, and Melchior Cockroach Clusters. The four boys sat tasting their purchases and looking how green hills and groves of trees flashing by.

'Lovely,' Jim said. 'Merry England.'

'Yes,' the triplets said dreamily.

'What's the Isle of Man like?' Jim asked with interest.

'Very beautiful,' Melchior said. 'Meadows, hills and groves, green and lush. Plenty of old monuments, too - crosses, castles, and keeills - that's little chapels.'

'You are part Manx, aren't you?' Jim asked.

'One-eighth,' Melchior said. 'Our maternal grandmother was nee Lucy Fletcher, of the Manx Fletchers. She married Gautier de Vigenere, and their daughter Madeleine married Bruno Zabini, and our Papa is their son. We know Manx customs, legends and history, and we can speak Manx.'

'Say something in Manx,' Jim said.

'Sure,' Melchior said. 'Yn taitnys smoo ayns bea te ayns jannoo shen ta'n sleih gra nagh rod mayd jannoo.'

'Sounds lovely,' Jim said. 'And what does it mean?'

'The greatest pleasure in life lies in doing that which people say we cannot do,' Melchior said.

'Are you sure you aren't a future Gryffindor?' Jim smiled.

'I'm a Zabini,' Melchior smiled and shook his head. 'Our family motto is In spite of all - Malgre de tout.'

Balthazar nodded silently.

'It seems you are guys after my heart,' Jim smiled.

'We hope,' the triplets said.

'I'm sure of it,' Jim said.

'I like also another one, though,' Melchior said. 'Ny jean shiu loaghyrt gys nee shin smooinaghtyn cre fa shin kiart dy ghra - Think before you speak.'

Balthazar said:

'And I like the one that says, Hig en hooin my nee mayd furraightyn toddey dy-liooar - It will come to us if we wait long enough.'

'And I like this one,' Caspar said. 'Tra ta'n gharian soilshean, yn traa dy yannoo seose traagh - When the sun shines, it is time to make hay.'

'The Manx language is beautiful,' Jim said.

'The names of plants are very lovely in Manx,' Balthazar said. 'Campion, for example, is called blaa-ferishyn - the flower of fairies, goldenrod - slat-airh, the golden branch, meadow-sweet - lus milish ny leannagh, the sweet herb of my lady-love, mugwort - bollan-bane, the white plant, sundew - lus-y-graih, the herb of love, bitter vetch - crameltyn, daisy - neaynin, darnel - jerlyn, dulse - duilish, ling - conney-freoagh, teasel - leaddan. There are many herbs in Man.'

'Tell me about them,' Jim said, and Balthazar told him about Manx plants.

'Very interesting,' Jim said.

'And the ancient buildings of Man!' Melchior said. 'They are fascinating, Jim.'

'Really?' Jim said. 'I'm all ears!'

Melchior told him about the antiquities of Man. Towards the end of his narrative, Jim looked through the window, to a deep, long Scottish glen covered with old forests, with mountains all around.

'We're almost there,' Jim said. 'It's time to change into the school robes. I think we needn't to be shy of each other, as we're all guys here?'

'Sure,' the triplets nodded.

Jim took his wand out of his pocket, pointed it to the door and said, 'Colloportus!' He then made sure the door was closed and said:

'All clear, guys. Go ahead!'

Jim, Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior began to change into their black Hogwarts robes from the Muggle jackets and trousers they were wearing before. The triplets then looked themselves over fastidiously

'You look proper Hogwarts students now, guys,' Jim said.

'Thank you,' the triplets said. The black robes fitted them.

The train slowed down and came to a halt at a quaint old platform. Jim took his trunk from under the seat. The triplets did the same. Caspar took in his left hand the crate with Sunshine, and Melchior the cage with Merlin. Jim pointed his wand to the door and said, 'Finite Incantatem!' All four boys went out of their compartment and along the passage to the platform. Around them were lots of boys and girls of different ages, all in black robes, all with trunks and cages or crates.

'Hogsmeade,' Jim said. 'The village is not far from the station, but you aren't allowed there yet. One is allowed there only from one's third year, and only with the leave of one's parents.'

'We can wait,' Melchior smiled.

'How Hagrid will call the first-years,' Jim said. 'The students above first year and the teachers go in carriages around the lake. First-years go across the lake in boats - quite an impression, I can tell you, When you see the castle from the water for the first time!'

Sure enough, they saw Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, exceptionally tall, with wild long hair and beard, in green jacket and high boots. He cried sonorously:

'Firs' years over here!'

'Well, see you, Jim,' Melchior said.

'See you in the Great Hall, guys,' Jim said. 'And hopefully, see you in Gryffindor, Caspar.'

'Thank you,' Caspar said.

'Here's your father over there, entering the carriage,' Jim said. 'I have to go too. Tails up, guys!'

'Sure,' the triplets said.

They resolutely went ahead, to where another first-years were gathered around Hagrid.

'Firs' years!' Hagrid cried then saw the three identical dusky boys coming to him.

'An' what have we here?' he said. 'Triplets, Gulpin' Gargoyles!'

'Yes, Mr. Hagrid,' the triplets said. 'The name's Zabini - Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior.'

'Merlin's beard!' Hagrid said. 'Perfesser Zabini's boys, are yeh?'

'Yes, Mr. Hagrid,' the triplets said.

'Jus' Hagrid ter yeh,' Hagrid said. 'Glad ter see yeh, lads. Yeh are like yer father.'

'Thank you, Hagrid,' the triplets said.

'Come over here,' Hagrid said.

Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior went along with other first years where Hagrid led them - to the shore of a great lake, where there were many boats waiting for them. Hagrid announced:

'Four people to a boat!'

'Well, we sure will go to different Houses, but we will be in one boat,' Melchior said. His brothers nodded, and they quickly took most seats in one of the boats. They then saw a tall, lanky boy with fiery-red hair and freckles, with a brown trunk in one hand and a cage with a tawny owl in another.

'Hello, may I sit here?' he asked.

'Sure,' the triplets said.

The red-haired boy took the free place in the boat. He looked at the three brothers.

'Triplets?' he asked.

'Yes,' they said. 'Name's Zabini, Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior.

'Professor Zabini's sons?' the red-haired boy asked.

'Sure,' the triplets said.

'Great! I'm Dick Weasley,' the redhead said.

'Weasley?' Caspar said. 'Any relation to Ronald Weasley?'

'My Dad,' Dick said.

'Grand!' Caspar said. 'He's my favorite Quidditch player. I think you will be in Gryffindor? I want to be.'

'I hope,' Dick said. 'My brother Bob is in Gryffindor. And you too want to be there?'

'Nah, it's Ravenclaw for me,' Melchior said confidently.

'And I don't know,' Balthazar said.

'Really?' Dick smiled.

'Yes,' said Balthazar quietly. 'Melchior says I ought to belong somewhere, but I just don't know.'

'Balthazar, if you are a wizard, in Hogwarts there will be a place for you,' Melchior said. 'Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, you will be where you belong. As for Houses, no one can be sure, but one can hope and guess. It's the Sorting Hat who knows. And he never have been wrong, so it says in Hogwarts, A History.'

'Thank you, Melchior,' Balthazar said.

'Look!' Dick said.

They saw on the other shore of the lake an enormous castle with many wings and towers, like a mountain, all in lights.

'Hogwarts,' Caspar said quietly.

'I hope it will take kindly to us,' Melchior said.

'Yes,' Balthazar said.

'Dad and Uncle Harry told me a lot about Hogwarts,' Dick said. 'It's a great place.'

'Uncle Harry? You mean Harry Potter?' Caspar said.

'Yes,' Dick said proudly.

'We met his son, Jim,' Caspar said. 'He's a nice guy.'

'We know each other,' Dick said. 'He's older than me, of course, but we are pals.'

By that time the boats reached the opposite shore. The triplets helped each other and Dick to come ashore. Then they with all the other first-years followed Hagrid. Hagrid led them by a steep path in the rocks to a great oak door with a smooth lawn in front of it. Hagrid pushed the door and led the first-years into a large hall with portraits, suits of armor and several great doors. Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior stared around. Dick clung to them. Hagrid led them through one of the doors to a little room. He went out, then, after some time, a tall, stern-looking witch in glasses and green robes came in and said to them:

'Now, each of you will be Sorted into one of the four Houses. Your House will be your family while you are here.'

She led them across the hall to another, enormous room with hammer-beam ceiling, rows of portraits on the walls, great windows, several large fireplaces, a ceiling that looked just like the black starry sky outside, and five tables - one smaller, on a dais, and four very long ones. At the longer tables sat myriad of girls and boys in black robes, and at the smaller one - a dozen of men and women, among them a tall, thin man with long silver hair and beard and alert blue eyes under a pair of half-moon glasses, in purple robes. The triplets guessed he was Professor Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster. By his side was a tall, lean, hook-nosed pale man in black - Professor Severus Snape, the Potions master. Near Professor Snape was a likeable man with brown hair streaked with gray - Professor Remus Lupin, DADA, near him - a tiny man, Professor Filius Flitwick, Charms, and other teachers the triplets didn't know. Their father was also sitting with another teachers. He looked at them and sent them a reassuring glance.

'There he is,' Melchior whispered.

Professor McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress, the triplets guessed it was she, led them to a chair on which sat an ancient pointed hat.

'Now, when I call your name, step up,' Professor McGonagall said. She unrolled a long scroll and called out:

'Ackersley, Cecil!'

A scrawny, sand-haired boy stepped out of the ranks nervously. Professor McGonagall said to him to sit down on the chair and don the hat. He obeyed, and after some time, the hat shouted, 'RAVENCLAW!' The boy took the hat off and went to one of the long tables.

'One of my House fellows, I hope,' Melchior whispered.

The Sorting Ceremony went on. 'Armstrong, Dougal' was Sorted into Gryffindor, 'Avery, Ranulph,' was made a Slytherin, then 'Boot, Sophia' became a Hufflepuff. Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior felt curious looks directed to them. Not often were triplets entering Hogwarts, and besides, their resemblance to one of the teachers was obvious.

'They noticed,' Dick whispered.

'How could they not to?' Melchior said.

The triplets looked around the hall. At one of the tables they saw Jim and by his side a stringy tall red-haired boy, resembling Dick. The stringy redhead smiled to Dick and looked inquisitively at the triplets. Jim looked in the same direction, smiled both to Dick and the triplets and said something to the redhead. The redhead stared at the triplets and nodded, then smiled to them too. Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior smiled back. They were fairly sure as to who the stringy redhead was. They looked to the other tables, and at the far one they saw a ferrety fair-haired boy with cold gray eyes, about as old as Jim.

'Malfoy,' Melchior said. 'I don't want to be in the same House as him.'

'Neither do I,' both his brothers said.

The list seemed to went on forever, but then Professor McGonagall called out:

'Weasley, Richard!'

Dick stepped up with great tremor, sat down on the chair and put the Sorting Hat on. The Hat was on his head for about a second before shouting, 'GRYFFINDOR!'

'There was little doubt about that,' Melchior said.

'Good luck, guys!' Dick said and went to the table which Jim and the stringy redhead were sitting at. The triplets saw the stringy redhead and Jim making room for Dick on the long bench where they were sitting, Dick taking his seat between them, and then Jim and the stringy redhead clapping Dick on the back and all three speaking and then looking at the triplets.

'It's just our luck that Z is the last letter of the alphabet!' Caspar grumbled.

'Caspar, you sure will be a Gryffindor!' Melchior said. 'Look at it like this: there aren't many Zabinis in Britain.'

'At least, you now know Dick's in Gryffindor,' Balthazar said quietly.

'True,' Caspar said, cheered up.

There followed Wendell, Oliver, Williams, Bill, Wood, Roland, who went to Gryffindor, and, just to annoy Caspar, Xiao, Liu, a Gryffindor too. At last, Professor McGonagall looked to the scroll, frowned and called:

'Zabini, Balthazar!'

Balthazar stepped up, went to the chair, sat down and donned the Sorting Hat.

'Hmm...' he heard in his head. 'A Zabini, eh? I've met a boy with that name twenty-three years ago. You are his son, no doubt about that. You are clever and a bit cunning, like him, and brave enough, but you are far more patient than him, so your right place is in HUFFLEPUFF!'

Balthazar took the hat from his head and made his course to the Hufflepuff table. The Hufflepuffs met him with rather surprised glances, but Balthazar said shyly:

'Can I have a place, please?'

'Sure,' Sophia Boot and Bill Williams said and made room for him. Balthazar smiled to them.

'So you are Professor Zabini's son?' Bill asked.

'Yes, one of the three,' Balthazar said. 'But my brothers will go to different Houses for sure. They're unlike me - both are confident, and Caspar is a daredevil. I was unsure that I am fit for any House at all!'

'Hufflepuff is a cozy place,' someone said. 'You'll be at home here.'

'I hope,' Balthazar smiled.

Meanwhile, as the Houses clapped to Balthazar, Professor McGonagall read the next name and called out:

'Zabini, Caspar!'

Caspar went to the chair and tried the hat on.

'Oh, what do I see!?' the Hat spoke in Caspar's mind. 'A Zabini too, a brother to young Balthazar? You are like him and your father, Blaise, but, with all your cleverness, cunning and loyalty, you are first of all absolutely fearless, so you belong in GRYFFINDOR!'

Caspar took the hat off, smiled triumphantly and made a beeline for the Gryffindor table. Dick and Jim made room for him. Caspar sat down on the free place. Jim smiled:

'So, you were right, Caspar. Welcome to Gryffindor! Bob, this is Caspar Zabini. Caspar, this is Bob Weasley, Dick's elder brother.'

'I thought so.' Caspar said. 'Hello, Bob.'

'Hello, Caspar,' Bob smiled. 'Welcome home!'

'I'm so glad I'm in Gryffindor!' Caspar said. 'I've always wanted to be a Gryffindor.'

'You'll like it here,' Jim said. 'It's a very nice place. Our common room and dormitories are top, and we are all friends here.'

'I'm glad to see you in Gryffindor, Caspar,' Dick said.

'Thank you, Dick,' Caspar smiled.

'Caspar, Jim said you like practical jokes?' Bob asked

'Yes.' Caspar smiled. 'Need help?'

'And how!' Bob grinned.

'Malfoy could use a lesson,' Jim said. 'And Snape goes too far, I think.'

'Yes, from what I've heard,' Caspar answered. 'And my brothers will help. They're Zabinis like me.'

'Wonder though, that you belong to different Houses,' Bob said.

'Such things happen, Bob,' Jim said.

'Besides, Melchior can go to Hufflepuff or Gryffindor yet, though!' Caspar said. 'He won't be glad of that, I can tell you.'

'Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior...' Bob said. 'For the first time in my life I meet triplets so called.'

'You can't have met many triplets, I bet,' Caspar said.

'Of course not, and then they're called after the Magi, at that!' Bob said.

'Well, with our Mum being their descendant, Papa decided, when we were born, that we were asking for it.' Caspar smiled.

'I think you have her face shape, her eyes and her hair shape?' Jim said.

'Yes, she has heart-shaped face, brown eyes and straight mahogany hair.' Caspar smiled. 'She's dusky, short and slight, like Papa.'

'Your Mum is a descendant of the Magi?' Dick said.

'Yes, she's royalty,' Caspar said. 'Her name's Balkis. She's from the Middle East.'

'Then you HAVE to be powerful wizards, all three,' Dick said.

'I'm not sure,' Caspar smiled. 'Papa is talented, and Mum too, she's an Animagus, an Abyssinian cat, but they're not exceptional. So many generations passed, after all.'

'But your Dad is a descendant of Blaise de Vigenere, the famous alchemist,' Jim said.

'The talent for potions went to Balthazar,' Caspar said. 'I'm good with animals, and Melchior is nuts about history.'

'How can anyone be nuts about history?' Bob said. 'It's the most boring thing in the world.'

'You just don't put enough attention to it, Bob,' Jim said.

'Yeah, right,' Bob said.

Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall called out:

'Zabini, Melchior!'

Melchior smoothly came to the chair and donned the hat.

'Melchior Zabini?' the Hat said. 'I see. You are triplets, and called after the Magi? Their descendants, at that? Well, well, well! Now, what about you, young Melchior? I see... You are loyal, hard-working, brave, and, yes, cunning, but the scholar in you is the foremost. You are a true RAVENCLAW!'

Melchior uncovered himself gracefully, bowed to Professor McGonagall and strode to the Ravenclaw table.

'Will you please give a place to me?' he said. 'Melchior Zabini.'

The Ravenclaws made room for him, and he sat down elegantly.

'A beautiful ancient hall, isn't it?' Melchior said. 'I've read all about it in Hogwarts, A History. It was built in the time of the Founders, and then decorated in the Gothic style. I'm so glad to see it myself! And I'm glad I'm in Ravenclaw, I wanted to be. It's the best place.'

'Welcome,' Oliver Wendell smiled. ' Glad to meet you. Looks you're really smart.'

'Thank you,' Melchior smiled.

Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior thought to each other across the hall:

'We are well settled, aren't we?'

As the Sorting Ceremony was now concluded, Professor Dumbledore rose and said some words about the Forbidden Forest being out of bounds and the students below their third year not being allowed to Hogsmeade, and then commanded for the feast to begin. On the tables appeared silver plates with sumptuous food, and candles floating in the air to give light. Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior gladly tucked in like all other students. They, though of foreign descent, lived in Britain all their lives and liked British food like plum pudding, goose, angels-on-horseback, finnan haddies, steak-and-kidney pie, Yorkshire buck, muffins, sally lunn, mock-turtle soup, and others.

'Good beginning, isn't it?' said Caspar to Dick, eating a muffin with blueberry jam.

'Sure,' Dick said. 'Hogwarts welcomes us well. Let's hope that it's as good in other things too.'

'It is,' Jim said. 'Sure, it has Snape and Filch and Malfoy and Binns, but that's true about any other place, and Hogwarts is far better than any other place.'

After the feast, when the mostly empty plates magically disappeared from the tables, at the Gryffindor table a tall, thin red-haired boy announced:

'I'm Edward Weasley, the Gryffindor prefect. Follow me.'

'Another Weasley?' Caspar asked.

'Cousin Ed is the son of Uncle Fred,' Dick explained.

'Of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes?' Caspar said. 'We've visited the shop when in Diagon Alley.'

'Yes,' Dick said. 'Cousin Ed is a lot like him.'

They rose and followed Ed across the hall into the entrance hall, and then by a massive staircase with finely carved oak banisters, suits of armor on the landings and portraits on the walls. Several flights of stairs, a vaulted passage with oak doors on one side and arched windows on the other and suits of armor between them, a turn, another passage, and they were before a portrait of a fat lady in pink dress. Ed stopped before the portrait, and another Gryffindors did so too.

'Password?' the fat lady asked.

'Meadow-sweet,' Ed said. The portrait swung aside and revealed a narrow archway. Ed climbed through it, and other Gryffindors followed him. The portrait swung to its place. Caspar looked around the room they now were in. It was round, with large fireplace, comfortable red plush sofa and armchairs, red Persian carpet on the floor, red curtains on the arched windows, red upholstery on the walls and a fine large crystal luster suspended from the ceiling. Caspar let out a deep sigh.

'You were right, Jim,' he said. 'It's a good place.'

'Yes,' Jim grinned. 'It's Gryffindor.'

'Now, the boys' staircase is to the right, the girls' staircase - to the left,' Ed said, pointing at two doors in the wall.

Caspar, Dick, Roland Wood, Dougal Armstrong and Liu Xiao headed to the right door with all other Gryffindor boys, including Ed. Behind the door was a winding staircase, and the boys mounted it.

'How romantic!' Caspar said. 'Ballafletcher is a manor, not a castle, and it haven't got winding staircases.'

'Ballafletcher?' Roland Wood asked.

'It's our house, in the Isle of Man,' Caspar said. 'Papa inherited it from his Cousin Spiltin, Papa's part Manx.'

'Do you mean Professor Zabini?' Roland Wood asked.

'Yes,' Caspar said. 'We are his sons - Balthazar, Melchior and me. Triplets. Named after the Magi, our Mum's their descendant, she's from the East. And are you related to Oliver Wood, the Puddlemere United keeper?

'He's my Dad,' Roland said.

'Really!?' Caspar said. 'He's a great player, one of my favorites. Up there with Ronald Weasley.'

Dick blushed.

'He's Ronald Weasley's son,' Caspar explained.

'Glad to meet you!' Roland said.

'Glad to meet you too,' Dick said. 'You're Roland Wood aren't you?'

'Yes,' Roland said.

'Dick Weasley,' Dick said.

'You aren't afraid the teachers will confuse you with your brothers?' Roland asked.

'I KNOW they will,' Caspar grinned. 'And we can use that.'

'I get it,' Roland said. He was a handsome, athletic boy, a lot like his father as far as Caspar could see.

They came to a landing with a small arched door. Ed pushed it, and they saw a round room with five red-curtained four-posters, a chest of drawers and a dressing table near each four-poster, red upholstery on the walls, red fluffy carpet on the floor and red curtains on the arched windows.

'Your dormitory,' Ed said. 'Make yourself at home.'

'Good night', both Jim and Bob smiled.

'Good night,' Caspar and Dick said.

The senior students climbed further up the winding stairs, and the first-years entered their dorm.

'Comfy,' Dick said. 'Just as Dad, Uncle Harry and Bob were saying.'

'And just as Papa was saying,' Caspar said.

Their things were already in the dormitory. Caspar opened the crate and let Sunshine out.

'This is our new home, Sunshine,' he said.

The rabbit began to sniff the room, and Caspar unpacked. He put a saucer with lettuce for Sunshine on the carpet, his clothes into the chest of drawers, the necessaries and the books onto the dressing table, put on his crimson silk pajamas and went to bed, taking a book called British Dragons with him.

The next morning Caspar, Dick, Roland, Dougal and Liu dressed hastily and went downstairs to the Great Hall. They sat down at the Gryffindor table, and immediately Caspar found with his eyes his two brothers, one at the Ravenclaw table, and another at the Hufflepuff table.

'How did you sleep?' he thought.

'Very well,' answered both Balthazar and Melchior. 'And you?'

'Splendid,' Caspar assured them.

'How's Gryffindor?' Balthazar and Melchior asked.

'Capital,' Caspar answered. 'And your Houses?'

'Ravenclaw's excellent,' Melchior informed. 'Fine old furniture, blue-gray upholstery, and the people are so scholarly!'

'Hufflepuff is so cute!' Balthazar exclaimed. 'Nice yellow colors, and the folks are friendly and helpful.'

'I'm so glad for you,' Caspar answered.

'Same here,' Balthazar and Melchior responded.

'So Hogwarts did take us friendly,' the triplets thought in chorus.

'Wait till you meet Professor Snape!' Melchior remarked.

'So?' Caspar returned.

'I shudder,' Balthazar answered.

'Balthazar, you are good with potions, and besides, we shall help you,' Melchior reassured him.

'Thank you,' Balthazar answered.

Meanwhile, food appeared on the tables - eggs and bacon, porridge, toasts, rolls, jam, coffee and milk. The triplets wolfed the meal. Then they with all the other students came to the timetable on one of the walls of the entrance hall.

'Potions,' Caspar said. 'Gryffindor with Ravenclaw.'

'Don't worry, Caspar, I'll help you,' Melchior said.

'And we have Charms with Slytherin,' Balthazar said.

'Professor Flitwick's nice, Balthazar,' Melchior said.

Caspar, Dick, Roland, Melchior and other Gryffindors and Ravenclaws went to seek the Classroom 204, where the first lesson was to be. After some search they found it, and the first thing that Professor Snape did was to take ten points from each student for being late.

'But, Professor Snape, this isn't fair!' Caspar said.

'Twenty points from Gryffindor,' Professor Snape said.

'He isn't Caspar, I am,' Melchior said.

'Well, twenty points from Ravenclaw, then,' Professor Snape said.

The brothers sat down at one desk. Caspar was listening to Professor Snape's words about the fine art of potion making with half an ear, while Melchior was all eyes. Professor Snape then told them a recipe of a potion. Caspar was about to mess up his potion by adding two teaspoonfuls of dried vervain into it instead of one and a half, but to his luck Melchior noticed this in time and corrected Caspar, thus preventing Professor Snape from taking points off Gryffindor.

The next class was Defense against the Dark Arts, Gryffindor-Hufflepuff, so Caspar and Melchior parted their ways, Melchior went to Transfigurations with Slytherins, and Balthazar joined Caspar.

'How it went?' Caspar asked.

'Passable,' Balthazar answered.

'Don't worry, I'd mess my potion if not for Melchior,' Caspar said.

They found the classroom, went in and sat down, Caspar and Balthazar at one desk. In came Professor Remus Lupin, smiled to the class and began to tell them about kappas. Caspar hung to Professor Lupin's each word.

'Now, how to defy a kappa?' Professor Lupin asked the class.

Caspar raised his hand.

'Yes, Mr. Zabini?' Professor Lupin asked benevolently.

'You bow to it,' Caspar said instantly. 'They're very polite, and it will bow in return, and then the water in the recess on its head will pour out, and, as they can't live without any water on them, it will abandon you and race to the nearest water.'

'Correct, Mr. Zabini,' Professor Lupin smiled. 'Ten points to - now what is it?'

'Gryffindor,' Caspar said, shining.

'Ten points to Gryffindor,' Professor Lupin said.

When the class was over and the students went out, Professor Lupin said:

'Messrs. Zabini, wait a moment.'

Caspar and Balthazar stopped and looked at him expectantly.

'Tell me, Messrs. Zabini, can anyone tell you apart?' Professor Lupin asked.

'Only our father and our mother,' Caspar smiled. 'But we'd never cheat you, Professor Lupin.'

'Good,' Professor Lupin smiled. 'Good morning, now.'

'Good morning, Professor Lupin' Caspar and Balthazar said and left. Caspar was to have Herbology with Slytherins, and Balthazar was joined by Melchior - they had History together.

'How was it, Melchior?' his brothers asked.

'Very good,' Melchior said proudly.

Professor Binns, who was so immersed in history that one morning he forgot his body in his bed and went to teach his classes as a ghost and continued to teach since that day, droned so monotonously that most students, and even Balthazar, fell asleep. Melchior, however, was listening with interest and taking notes eagerly. He nudged Balthazar:

'Balthazar, take notes! How can you sleep in class?'

'And how can you not to sleep in this class?' Balthazar retorted.

After that, they went to the Great Hall for lunch. They thought to Caspar:

'Well, how you made it, Caspar?'

'So-so,' Caspar shared.

'But you were really good at DADA,' Balthazar and Melchior answered.

'True,' Caspar brightened up.

In the afternoon, Balthazar and Melchior first went to Herbology, and Caspar to History. Herbology was in one of hothouses near the castle itself. Professor Sprout, a squat, ruddy middle-aged lady in soiled robes, greeted them cheerfully and said they were going to study asphodels. Melchior listened attentively, but it was Balthazar who knew answers to all Professor Sprout's questions and aptly watered the asphodels. Then they returned to the timetable and met with Caspar.

'I'm at loss how you can be so fond of this bore, Melchior,' Caspar said. 'I began to nod almost right away.'

'For shame, Caspar!' Melchior said.

'You're nuts, Melchior,' Caspar said.

Then Caspar and Balthazar had double Transfigurations together, with no brilliant results, and Melchior - DADA, with usual success. After that, Balthazar went to Potions, and Melchior with Caspar in tow to double Charms. When they met again, Balthazar asked:

'Well?'

'Abysmal,' Caspar sighed. 'It's so hard!'

'Caspar, it's not hard at all!' Melchior exclaimed. 'You just have to concentrate enough.'

'Says he,' Caspar said.

'Yes, I do,' Melchior said. 'But how are you, Balthazar?'

'Fine,' Balthazar shone. 'Even Professor Snape couldn't find fault with my potion!'

'Now we're free,' Melchior said. 'Let's go to the lake!'

'A GREAT idea!' his brothers said, and all three went out of the great front door, across the lawn and down the long slope to the lakeshore and there sat down on the soft green grass in the shadow of willows. There they sat, discussing teachers and subjects and classmates, joking and laughing, when a group of students came by. The ferrety blonde boy they saw at the breakfast was at the head of the group. As the blonde was passing by, he noticed the triplets and stopped in his tracks.

'Ah, what have we here?' the blonde drawled. 'Zabini's sons? As if one Zabini is not enough, three more came here! No wonder you're a Hufflepuff, a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor, with such a father! He's a disgrace to Slytherin, and...'

'That's enough,' Melchior interrupted him. 'Where and when shall we meet?'

'What, you don't even know my name!' the blonde said.

'I think I do,' Melchior said. 'It's Regulus Malfoy, isn't it?'

'Well, yes,' the blonde said.

'And mine is Melchior Zabini,' the first-year said. 'So?'

'Well, half past eleven, the Armory?' Malfoy said.

'It will do,' Melchior said. 'Who will be with you?'

'Gregory Goyle, Jr.,' Malfoy answered.

'Balthazar and Caspar Zabini,' Melchior said.

'Till tonight, then,' Malfoy said and went off.

'Melchior!' both Caspar and Balthazar exclaimed. 'He's a third-year! Are you sure you can do it?'

'I'll do my best,' Melchior said. 'Just stand by me.'

'Of course we will, Melchior!' they exclaimed.

Some time later Bob, Jim and Dick came along.

'What do you look so agitated about?' Jim asked.

'Melchior has a wizards' duel,' Caspar said.

'With Regulus Malfoy,' Melchior added.

'Tonight at eleven-thirty in the Armory,' Balthazar continued.

'And we are Melchior's seconds,' Caspar finished.

'What!' Dick said.

'And what did he do this time?' Jim said

'He insulted our father,' the triplets said.

'I see,' Jim said. 'Very like him.'

'Can you lend us your Invisibility Cloak, Jim?' Melchior said.

'Yes, but will all three of you fit into it?' Jim asked.

'We once fitted in together quite nicely,' Caspar said.

'Very well, then,' Jim said. 'Let's go to the Gryffindor Tower, the cloak is in my trunk.'

'Okay,' the triplets said.

So Jim, Bob, Dick and the triplets went to the Gryffindor Tower. When they came to the entrance into the Gryffindor Common Room, the Fat Lady looked at Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior and said:

'Am I seeing things?'

'No,' Melchior smiled. 'We are Caspar's brothers, Balthazar and Melchior.'

'Triplets?' the Fat Lady said. 'Well, well!'

'Meadow-sweet,' Jim said, and they came in.

'Nice place,' both Balthazar and Melchior said. 'Papa was absolutely right.'

'Yes,' Caspar smiled.

They went upstairs to Jim's dormitory, which was a lot like Caspar's. Jim opened his trunk that stood near his bed, rummaged in it and took from under his things a parcel of fine silvery cloth.

'Here you are,' Jim said and handed the cloth to Melchior. The cloth was almost weightless.

'Oh,' Melchior said. 'What a beautiful thing!'

'Yes,' Jim smiled. 'Take care of it.'

'We will, I promise,' Melchior said.

'Let's go downstairs to our common room,' Dick said. 'Why not wait in there?'

'True,' Melchior said.

They went downstairs and settled on the sofa and in the armchairs of the Gryffindor Common Room. Melchior, Jim and Balthazar immediately began to do their homework, while Caspar, Bob and Dick played Exploding Snap. Then Caspar, Bob and Dick turned to their homework, while Melchior and Jim played wizard chess, and Balthazar looked at them. Then all six of them played scrabble.

Melchior looked at the clock on the mantelpiece and said:

'Caspar, Balthazar, it's time.'

'Right,' they answered. Melchior took the Invisibility Cloak that he was hiding in his pocket, and spread it. The cloak looked large enough. Melchior donned it and said to his brothers:

'Come here. I think we must fit in.'

Caspar and Balthazar hid under the cloak. It was voluminous enough to room three short and slight eleven-year-old boys.

'Splendid!' Melchior said. 'Good night, now. Caspar will tell you everything.'

'Good luck,' Jim, Bob and Dick said, and the triplets under the Invisibility Cloak slid out of the room.

Carefully, they slid along several passages, down the main staircase, and along more passages into the large room full of suits of armor along the walls, swords, spears, daggers, bows, crossbows and shields on the walls. Malfoy and an ugly, stout boy waited for them. Melchior took the cloak off and said:

'We are here, Malfoy.'

'Let's begin, then, Malfoy said.

Caspar and Balthazar stepped back, so did the ugly boy. Melchior and Malfoy take places across from each other, took out their wands and held them at the ready.

'Begin!' Caspar said.

Melchior's turn was first, and he calmly pointed his wand at Malfoy and said:

'Stupefy!'

Malfoy fell to the floor, and Melchior said:

'ACCIO MALFOY'S WAND!'

The wand flew into Melchior's hand. Melchior dropped it to the floor, stepped on it and said:

'The deal is over, gentlemen. We'll go to sleep now. Return to Mr. Malfoy his wand when he comes to his senses.'

Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar donned the Invisibility Cloak and returned to the Gryffindor Tower.

'Good night, brother,' Balthazar and Melchior said.

'Good night,' Caspar smiled. Melchior and Balthazar slid out of the room under the cloak and went to the Hufflepuff Tower. There they bade each other good night, and Melchior under the cloak went to the Ravenclaw rooms in the ground floor. Caspar meanwhile went upstairs and to bed.

The next morning at breakfast Malfoy looked so ashamed and angry that the outcome of the duel was perfectly clear.

'Melchior won,' Jim said.

'Yes,' Caspar smiled. 'And believe me, he would say that Melchior did not appear at the due place, but Balthazar and me know otherwise. It was like this...'

He told them the story of the night duel, and they laughed themselves silly.

'Do you know that your Dad had a duel with Draco Malfoy in his sixth year, and since then Malfoy never tried to cross him,' Jim said

'Yes, I know,' Caspar said. 'We're proud of our Papa.'

'And you're like him,' Jim said. 'I am glad to be your friend.'

'Same here,' Caspar said. 'Hey, what's about a practical joke on Filch? I can do something with animals, Balthazar with herbs, and Melchior can give ideas.'

'That's great,' Jim said. Caspar thought:

'Balthazar, Melchior, Jim here agrees to play a joke on Filch, and I said you can help with that. You're agree, aren't you?'

'Sure,' his brothers answered.

'Well, what are your ideas?' Caspar asked.

'I know,' Melchior suggested. 'We give a big amount of catnip to his cat. It will do no harm to her, just will give her a great time...and him too, in another sense of the phrase! Caspar will know how to treat her, and Balthazar - what amount of the herb to use!'

'Corking!' Caspar and Balthazar exclaimed.

'Well, tell the plan to Jim, then, Caspar,' Melchior resumed.

Caspar bent to Jim's ear and whispered to him what Melchior invented.

'Oh, splendid!' Jim exclaimed.

After the classes, Jim, Bob and Dick looked expectantly at the triplets.

'I'll go and pick some catnip,' Caspar said. He went off, and some time later he returned with a bunch of a mint-like herb.

'Found it near the forest,' he said.

Then they slid along the passages of the castle, stepping carefully, and in one of them they met Filch's cat - gray, yellow-eyed Mrs. Norris. She looked at them with suspicion, but Caspar spoke blandly to her, and she came near. Then Caspar held the catnip out to her. She sniffed it and chewed it all.

'Done,' Melchior said. 'Let's vamoose.'

His friends nodded, and they left carefully.

Later in the day, Argus Filch, the keeper, saw his cat rolling all about the floor and meowing loudly, in the sight of two dozens of staring students. Filch shouted at the students, seized the cat and went quickly to the quarters of Blaise Zabini. He tapped on the door. The door opened, and Blaise in his crimson robes appeared in the doorway.

'How can I help you, Argus?' Blaise asked.

'Look at my cat, Blaise,' Filch asked. 'What's got into her?'

Blaise looked at Mrs. Norris and smiled:

'She's all right, Argus. She just ate too much catnip. She's relaxing. Soon she will fall asleep, and wake her usual self.'

'Too much catnip, eh?' Filch grumbled. 'I swear those bloody students are behind this.'

'You tax students too much, Argus,' Blaise said. 'After all, catnip is harmless, even if they really did it, but it isn't necessarily so.'

Filch grumbled something under his breath and went out, taking Mrs. Norris with him. Blaise closed the door.

Meanwhile Bob, Dick, Jim and the Zabini triplets were sitting by the lake and recalling the Mrs. Norris incident.

'A sight it was!' Caspar said. 'And how Filch shooed us off!'

'Yes,' Melchior said. 'But by this time he must have seen our Papa, and Papa has already told him the cat is all right and having a high time.'

'Of course,' Balthazar said. 'He will suspect a trick, but he does not know for sure, so we are safe.'

'She came to no harm, after all,' Caspar said. 'We'd never do harm to a dumb chum, even if this dumb chum is Mrs. Norris.'

Balthazar and Melchior nodded.