Chapter 5
The waiting room at St. Mungo's was far quieter than Fleur Delacour had expected. She sat perched on the edge of her chair, her posture as graceful as ever despite the tension radiating from her every movement. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her perfectly tailored coat, and she glanced sideways at Hermione Granger, who was, maddeningly, the picture of calm.
"How can you be so relaxed?" Fleur whispered, her voice tinged with a mixture of exasperation and nervousness.
Hermione reached over to take her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Because I've done the research, Fleur. Everything will be fine."
Fleur's lips pressed into a thin line. "I still cannot believe we waited this long," she muttered, slipping into her habit of throwing in French words when her emotions got the better of her. "What if something is wrong? What if…" She trailed off, her fingers tightening slightly around Hermione's.
"Nothing is wrong," Hermione said firmly, her voice calm but warm. "You've been healthy, Fleur. And you've been taking care of yourself even before we knew."
Fleur let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back slightly. "It feels irresponsible. I am supposed to be poised and prepared. Instead, we…"
Before Fleur could continue, a healer appeared in the doorway, a clipboard in hand and a friendly smile on her face. "Ms. Delacour, Ms. Granger? Right this way."
Fleur rose with her usual grace, though Hermione noticed the slight hesitation in her movements. Resting a hand on Fleur's back, she guided her gently toward the examination room.
Inside, the healer introduced herself as Healer Arkwright, her demeanor warm and professional. "This is your first checkup, correct? How exciting! Let's start by going over a few basics."
The healer began asking the usual questions about symptoms, timing, and general health. Fleur answered with a mixture of elegance and veiled exasperation, occasionally glancing at Hermione when the questions became more detailed. Hermione chimed in when Fleur's descriptions became vague or overly dramatic.
"And how have you been feeling overall?" Healer Arkwright asked, glancing up from her notes.
"Tired," Fleur admitted, her tone clipped as if reluctant to acknowledge it. "And… a little hungry. Often."
"More than a little," Hermione added with a playful smile, earning a sharp but not entirely serious glare from Fleur.
"Entirely normal," the healer said with a chuckle. "Now, let's take a look and make sure everything is progressing as it should."
Healer Arkwright waved her wand over Fleur's abdomen, murmuring a soft incantation. A faint golden light appeared, swirling in midair before forming into glowing runes and symbols. The healer studied them closely, her brow furrowing for a moment before her expression brightened.
"Well, everything looks wonderful," Healer Arkwright said. "Healthy and strong."
Fleur's shoulders visibly relaxed, though her hands still gripped the sides of the chair. "That is good," she said softly, her fingers brushing over her stomach. "Merci."
Hermione reached for Fleur's hand, squeezing it gently. "See? Nothing to worry about."
The healer's wand hovered again, the golden light shifting and multiplying. Her expression grew curious, and she tilted her head slightly. "Ah, that explains a lot," she said with a hint of amusement.
Fleur straightened immediately. "Explains what? Is something wrong?"
"Not at all," Healer Arkwright reassured her. "But it does explain why you might have been feeling more tired than expected. Congratulations, you're having twins."
The room fell silent for a beat. Fleur's eyes widened, her mouth opening slightly in shock. "Twins?" she repeated, her voice rising in pitch. "Hermione!"
Hermione blinked, caught between awe and panic. "I didn't know! Don't look at me like that!"
"This is entirely your fault!" Fleur declared, though her tone had lost its edge, replaced by overdramatic disbelief and a hint of delight. "Twins! Of course it would be twins. You would somehow find a way to overachieve even in this."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh, her grin breaking through despite Fleur's mock indignation. "I suppose I'll take the blame if it makes you feel better."
Fleur let out a huff, though a smile began to tug at her lips. She turned back to the healer. "Are you certain?"
"Absolutely," Healer Arkwright said warmly. "And everything is progressing beautifully. Just make sure to come in for regular checkups from now on. No more delaying."
"Yes, yes," Fleur said breezily, waving a hand. "We will come earlier next time. Though I hope there will not be a next time for a very long time."
As they left the healer's office, Fleur's steps were lighter, her hand never straying far from her stomach. Hermione couldn't stop grinning, her heart brimming with joy at the thought of their growing family.
Outside, Fleur turned to Hermione, her eyes soft despite the teasing smirk on her lips. "Twins," she said again, as if tasting the word for the first time. "You are lucky I love you, Hermione Granger."
Hermione laughed, wrapping an arm around her. "I am," she agreed. "And I'll remind you of that every day when our twins call you maman." Fleur's laughter joined hers as they Disapparated home, their future already brimming with love and adventure.