Chapter 9.
Hermione got up, rubbing her eyes. She was exhausted.
Now on top of everything else she was stressed about Fleur not sleeping, too. It couldn't be good for the baby.
As luck would have it, she had a check up with Fleur that day at the Healer's. She was going to pick Fleur up from her flat and take her.
Inwardly, Hermione was hoping she could spend some quality time with Fleur. She wanted to care more for Fleur than the blonde would let her. Damn stubborn Veela.
It wasn't just the pregnancy either. Thoughts of their one-night stand, massaging her injured thigh, and sleeping with her cuddled up next to her were swirling in her head almost constantly. She had to admit it. She liked Fleur on some level. It was just a shame that the blonde didn't like her back.
Hermione went downstairs, surprised to see Ginny standing in the living room tossing a Quaffle up and down.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked.
"Waiting for Harry and Ron so we can head down to the pitch and toss this bad boy around," Ginny commented, throwing the Quaffle up in the air again, "Jeez, you look tired, 'Mione. Thought the lack of sleep part came after the baby was born?"
"Yeah, I am feeling pretty rundown," Hermione admitted, "Probably the stress."
"You know what would take your mind off it?" Ginny grinned, still tossing the Quaffle.
"I'm not going to play Quidditch with you," Hermione replied flatly. They'd all known her for years and yet Harry, Ron and Ginny still seemed to believe that they could win her over with Quidditch. Hermione never ceased to be surprised by their persistence.
"Not that," Ginny said, grinning further, "A date! Maybe with a certain dark-haired girl that stayed over with you not too long ago? Ron said she owled you."
"Godammit, Ron!" Hermione cursed, "I swear he is such a gossip."
"Well lucky he is!" Ginny said, catching the Quaffle and stepping forward, "Otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell you right now that you totally need to go on a date with Amelie!"
"No," Hermione shook her head, "I just… It isn't the right time."
Ginny snorted.
"It's never the right time when it comes to your love life," Ginny noted.
She tossed the Quaffle up in the air again and Hermione pushed it off-course, mildly irritated with the redhead.
Undeterred, Ginny dove forward, catching the Quaffle athletically before tidily rolling into a kneeling position.
Hermione had to hand it to her, Ginny was very gifted when it came to sports. Hermione often thought that Ginny should try out for one of the professional Quidditch teams.
Ginny stood up again, brushing off her bare knees with one hand and resting the Quaffle under one arm.
She was dressed for playing sports, wearing some short athletic shorts and a tank top. Her pale limbs were bare and her hair was tied up in a ponytail.
"I don't know what's holding you back," Ginny commented, "She's good looking and likes you back. At least worth a single date to see if there's a connection there."
"Yeah, maybe," Hermione said non-committaly.
Truth was, she was far too focused on Fleur at the moment. She knew it was silly, but a part of her didn't want to go on a date with another woman if there was even the slightest of chances something could happen with Fleur.
Hermione shook her head. It was ridiculous.
Harry and Ron thumped down the stairs with all the grace of a horde of rhinos. They had their broomsticks over their shoulders and large grins on their faces. Both were dressed in some shorts and tees. Harry's hair was already in disarray even though they hadn't even got outside yet.
"Wanna come, 'Mione?" Ron asked, grinning boyishly.
Hermione scoffed.
"You know I don't," Hermione replied.
Ron shrugged.
"Suit yourself," he replied, "Okay guys, we should probably head out if we're going to meet the others on time."
Ginny picked up her broomstick from the floor, following the boys as they headed for the door. As she passed Hermione, she nudged her and leaned in.
"Consider it, Hermione," Ginny murmured, "Nothing bad can happen from just giving it a go."
Hermione was walking down Diagon Alley. It was still some time before she was due to meet Fleur but she felt like looking in some book shops. She had just left Obscurus Books when she stopped outside the window of Twilfitt and Tatting's.
Usually she swept past the high end shop without a second glance. But today her attention was grabbed by the display of baby clothes in the window. Little booties and onesies made her heart swell. Soon her and Fleur would be able to shop for baby clothes together.
Hermione smiled to herself, turning away from the shop. She was beyond excited to be a parent the more she got used to the idea.
Hermione continued walking down Diagon Alley on her way to check out the Second-Hand Bookstore. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw a shimmering mane of platinum blonde hair further down the street. Fleur Delacour was sitting at an outdoor café at an upmarket café, sipping on a water and talking animatedly with Bill Weasley.
It was strange seeing Fleur so open, even from a distance. The extremely reserved woman never spoke freely with anyone yet seemed so at ease with her best friend.
Hermione wondered if she could get close enough to hear what Fleur was like when she had her infamous guard down.
'No, that would be bad,' Hermione told herself, 'You're a Gryffindor, not a Slytherin.'
Bill was laughing raucously at something Fleur was saying. Hermione's curiosity skyrocketed.
'I'm sure even Godric Gryffindor had his moments of weakness,' Hermione reasoned, transforming into her animagus form.
She padded along the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley in cat form, cautious. She knew Fleur knew what her animagus looked like now, so she couldn't be spotted by the blonde.
Hermione weaved her way through the legs of pedestrians, slinking her way closer to the café and its outdoor area. There was a pretty garden bed right beside Fleur and Bill and Hermione leapt athletically into it, scooting underneath a bushy plant and out of sight. Perfect.
"So how was seeing your folks back in France, anyway?" Bill asked, "We never really talked about how they took the news."
"Oh God, my mother was just as I expected," Fleur groaned, "So judgmental and trying to push me into doing what she thinks is right. Gabrielle and Papa were fine though. I think the most interesting reaction will be my Grandmere though. I can never quite predict what she will think about anything."
Hermione began to feel incredibly guilty about eavesdropping. It was a poor and impulsive decision. She had just about decided to scurry out from her hiding place and head on her way when Bill asked a question that piqued her interest.
"What did they think about Hermione?" Bill asked.
Hermione, against her better judgment, remained hidden.
"Oh, absolutely typical!" Fleur commented, sounding like she was rolling her eyes, "They all loved her. Maman and Gabrielle can't stop talking about her."
Hermione was quietly pleased about that. She had known that Alexandre had liked her, but it was good to have confirmation that the others in Fleur's family liked her too.
"Well, well," Bill chortled, "A baby and taking her home to meet the parents. Things are moving along very quickly with you and Ms Granger!"
"Oh, stop it, Bill!" Fleur huffed, "You know I don't like when you joke about that."
Hermione's heart sank.
"You could do worse," Bill replied, "Or could you?"
Fleur snorted.
"Bill Weasley, you can be so bitchy, has anyone ever told you that?" Fleur responded with a laugh.
"You, plenty of times, love," Bill replied, "But I mean, I'm still in shock! Hermione Granger? She looks like she doesn't even brush her hair. You're gorgeous darling, what on Earth were you doing with a girl that's never even heard of a manicure?"
Hermione felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She knew that Bill could be a little bitchy from talking to Ginny and Ron, but she never knew the handsome redhead had harboured such judgmental views about her.
"I don't know, Bill," Fleur answered, "But your constant teasing doesn't make me feel any better about it."
Hermione felt numb. It was devastating to hear Fleur sound truly embarrassed about what had happened between them.
She clambered out of the garden bed, scurrying off through the crowded streets of Diagon Alley.
'I guess it's true… Curiosity really does kill the cat,' Hermione thought to herself humourlessly.
Hermione was sitting in the waiting room of the Healer's office when Fleur glided in, elegant as always.
Hermione felt her chest ache as Fleur's eyes sought her out in the waiting room impassively. Spotting her, Fleur frowned lightly and came to sit beside Hermione.
"You didn't wait for me outside," Fleur commented.
"Sorry," Hermione replied neutrally. She didn't know what to say to the blonde. She still felt like she had been punched in the stomach.
It was her own fault for eavesdropping.
"Sorry?!" Fleur repeated icily, "I stood outside for fifteen minutes waiting for you."
"I said I was sorry," Hermione replied, a bite to her voice.
Fleur narrowed her eyes, looking like she was going to argue, but Dr Fantail called them in.
Hermione leant against a wall during the check-up, her arms folded tightly across her chest. She could feel Fleur's curious eyes on her.
Dr Fantail was switching intermittently between casting small spells and physically checking Fleur. All the while he was scribbling frantically on his clipboard as usual.
"You seem awfully rundown," Fantail commented.
"I'm not sleeping well," Fleur replied.
Hermione couldn't help but feel a pang of concern, her eyes betraying her and returning to watch the blonde.
"There's nothing I can think of to prescribe you that wouldn't hurt the baby," Fantail replied, frowning and chewing on the end of his quill.
"Merde," Fleur cursed, "So what do I do?"
"Practice good sleep hygiene, exercise, try to do some meditation before bed," Fantail said with an apologetic smile, "Hopefully you will get past it soon."
Hermione bit her lip. There had to be something they could do.
"Book your next appointment at reception," Dr Fantail advised, "And make your primary focus figuring out how to get some rest."
On their way out, Hermione avoided looking at Fleur. She was feeling too conflicted. She was torn by hurt over what she had overheard and concern over Fleur's state of exhaustion.
Fleur made the arrangements for the next appointment and walked outside with Hermione before turning to her.
"Is there something going on?" Fleur asked carefully.
Hermione shook her head, her chest still feeling heavy.
"No, nothing," Hermione replied, swallowing heavily, "But if you need anything, anything at all—please come to me immediately. I'm always interruptible. I'm worried about you and the baby."
Fleur looked a little stunned by Hermione.
"Okay, Hermione," Fleur said, nodding.
Hermione couldn't bring herself to say anything else. She averted her eyes from Fleur, looking at the ground. She was still so hurt by what she had overheard.
"I'll see you around," Hermione mumbled, heading off without waiting for a response.
Hermione was tapping her fingers on a table nervously. It was the very next day and she was meeting Amelie at a small cafe. She had so far dodged two phone-calls from Fleur and endured a restless night feeling dreadful about what she had overheard.
She wished she had a time turner and could go back and prevent herself from eavesdropping on Bill and Fleur. But it was too late and now she was burdened with the knowledge that Fleur would be too embarrassed to ever consider her romantically.
Her phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen.
Fleur: Will you get me some pumpkin cakes? I'm craving them so badly.
Hermione: Can't.
Hermione knew she was being cold but she couldn't help how hurt her feelings were.
Her phone buzzed again. Hermione tried to ignore it but she gave into her curiosity and tapped on the notification.
Fleur: Why not? 😡
Hermione felt her temper flare at the blonde's sass.
Hermione: Because I'm on a date.
Fleur had been quick to respond to Hermione's first reply, but didn't respond to that message. Hermione sighed, pocketing her phone.
The bell above the café door jingled and Hermione plastered a smile on as Amelie approached the table, sitting down eagerly.
"Hey, Golden Girl," Amelie grinned flirtatiously.
"Hey," Hermione said, still smiling.
Amelie's smile faltered.
"Okay, what's up?" Amelie asked, cocking her head to one side. Her grey eyes observed Hermione with concern.
"Nothing," Hermione shrugged, maintaining her grin.
Amelie snorted.
"Come on, that is the fakest smile I've ever seen," Amelie commented, "Something is bothering you."
"I don't know about that," Hermione said, looking down.
Amelie watched her for a moment, looking like she was weighing something up. Her eyes registered realisation and she sighed heavily. Hermione wished Fleur was as easy to read.
"Ah, it's a girl, isn't it?" Amelie surmised, "I'm disappointed, for sure. But that's okay. I kind of expected that someone else would have snagged the Golden Girl's heart by now."
"There's nothing going on," Hermione replied, looking uncomfortable.
"But you want there to be something going on," Amelie added.
Hermione looked increasingly uncomfortable.
"It doesn't matter, she doesn't like me at all," Hermione said glumly.
Amelie sighed again.
"Hermione… I get the feeling that maybe you don't have too much experience dating women," Amelie said, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione blushed a little, shaking her head.
"Not… Not really…" Hermione mumbled, embarrassed.
Amelie smiled broadly.
"Merlin you are adorable," Amelie commented, "Hermione, girls don't always say what they mean, you know."
"Even to their best friends?" Hermione asked, looking up hopefully.
Amelie sighed, grinning at how cute the tough war hero was.
"Sometimes, Hermione," Amelie replied, "Girls can be complex! You've gotta work out how they feel because they won't always just come out and say what they really think."
Hermione frowned at that.
"How is anyone supposed to work that out?" Hermione said, furrowing her brow, "There's hardly reliable literature on the subject or a simple formula to work it out."
Amelie giggled at that.
"You really are a total bookworm," Amelie giggled, "It's cute."
Hermione blushed, looking down.
"Erm…"
"Okay, you've also got to work on your self-confidence too!" Amelie exclaimed, "You're practically England's most eligible bachelorette and you get all flustered any time I mention how cute you are!"
"Well, how am I supposed to fix that?" Hermione mumbled defensively.
"Hermione Granger," Amelie said, her grey eyes gleaming with excitement, "We may not be destined to be girlfriends, but I seriously think fate brought us together to be friends."
She leaned forward on the table, propping her face up with her hands.
"I'd like that," Hermione said, smiling. She did really like Amelie, even if she didn't make her heart skip a beat.
"Great," Amelie said with a teasing smile, "Because now I have a bunch more unsolicited advice for you…"
Hermione lay on her back in bed that night.
She couldn't sleep again, but had plenty of advice from Amelie to mull over.
It had at least taken the sting out of what she had overheard between Fleur and Bill.
It would be so easy for Fleur to cut her out of her life. Fleur can't be that repulsed by her if she still willingly invited her to run errands for her and bring her snacks.
As if on cue, Hermione's phone buzzed on her bedside table.
Fleur: Do you think we're having a boy or a girl?
Hermione: Fleur, it's 2am. Plus, we're both women. We don't have the chromosome to have a boy, it's biologically impossible.
Fleur: It is like you've never heard of magic…
Hermione snorted, smiling like a fool in the darkness of her room. She could practically hear Fleur's haughty, teasing tone in the text.
She bit her lip, trying to think of a reply. Before she could send one, Fleur sent a second message in a row.
Fleur: How was your date?
Hermione: It was good.
Fleur: Only good? Well, I guess not many women can compare to me… 😜
Hermione giggled at that. Her stomach flipped at Fleur being playful with her, even if it was in her usual egotistical way.
Hermione: You talk a big game, Delacour.
Hermione felt a little braver via message. She allowed herself to play back, wondering how the blonde would respond. She hoped she wouldn't close off again.
Fleur: You can talk a big game when you've got the ability to back it up like I do.
Hermione found herself getting a little hot under the collar. Fleur was an attractive woman, and in the right circumstances, her ego made her even hotter.
She bit her lip. Tempted to push her luck. She thought about her conversation with Amelie earlier in the day around showing a bit more confidence and more actively investigating others' feelings.
Squirming a little, Hermione decided to play with fire.
Hermione: Prove it.
Hermione pulled her sheet over her head and scrunched her eyes shut, momentarily cringing at her own boldness.
She didn't get a response for a moment or two and briefly began to panic. She wondered wildly if she had freaked Fleur out or upset her.
Her phone buzzed again and Hermione resurfaced from under the covers, almost dropping the phone in her eagerness to open the message. She clumsily unlocked her phone and tapped on the notification.
An image.
Her breath caught in her throat and she felt a rough swoop of warmth through her as she took in the image.
Fleur had taken a selfie, held up above her as she knelt on her bed provocatively. She was nude, but artfully positioned so that Hermione couldn't see anything. An arm was placed to teasingly just hide her nipples and her hair fell in a way that obscured anything South of the border from being seen.
Hermione had seen far more in person. But the unexpectedness and the look in Fleur's eyes in the photo drove Hermione wild. She felt aroused and teased in a way that she hadn't felt before. Fleur's bright blue eyes shone with a playful teasing in the photo that made Hermione want nothing more than to rush over to her apartment and pin her down on the bed.
Hermione thanked whatever deity had led to Fleur discovering how to take a selfie on a Muggle phone.
Fleur: I take it from the stunned silence that I proved my point?
Hermione grinned at the message. She could imagine Fleur lying back in bed smirking. Hermione shook her head. She had to give credit where credit was due.
Hermione: Point proven. You certainly can back up that ego.
Fleur didn't reply again, presumably otherwise distracted or having dozed off. Hermione lay awake, pondering what the flirtation meant with Fleur. Was she just teasing her sexually because she was bored? Flirting because her hormones were haywire again? Or…?
Hermione bit her lip. She was too aroused to even over-analyse like she usually did.
Hermione scrolled back to the nude Fleur had sent her, allowing her hand to run down her stomach and slip underneath the waistband of her boxers. She was uncomfortably wet and aching for relief. She might not be able to have Fleur, but her imagination and her hand were the next best thing.
A week passed in relative monotony. Hermione was back in her classes, taking diligent notes and studying every spare moment she had.
She found she had little time to catch up with friends outside of that, but she still made sure to make time for Ginny, Harry, Ron, Luna and Amelie.
She still wasn't sleeping well. Often at night Fleur would message her and they would talk for a while. They hadn't flirted aggressively again since that first time, but some of their interactions did border on playful flirtation.
Fleur hadn't requested any snacks or meet ups with Hermione since the night of the nude photo either.
Hermione wondered what it would mean for their latest check-up.
She was walking down to the Healer's office now, stopping to check her hair nervously in the windows of Flourish and Blotts.
She felt her heart skip a beat as she saw Fleur leaning against the outside of the Healers' office, her face impassive as always. She was wearing a cable knit sweater and some faded jeans, some plain white sneakers on her feet. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun on the top of her head.
She looked so casual for her that it gave her a softness Hermione wasn't used to. The cable knit sweater was loose but Hermione could still see the slight bump of Fleur's belly.
"Hey," Hermione greeted, approaching Fleur. Fleur looked up and her eyes seemed to light up. Or maybe Hermione imagined it.
"Salut," Fleur greeted, her face betraying nothing, "Shall we head in?"
Her tone was at least warmer than Hermione usually encountered with Fleur.
Fleur took Hermione's elbow as they headed in. Hermione suppressed a smile. Fleur could just be trying to keep her balance, after all.
They didn't have to wait long before Dr Fantail brought them in. Fleur patiently sat as Fantail began his diligent checks.
"You're still not getting sleep, are you?" Fantail asked, "Your face doesn't show it, but your body seemed to be displaying signs of exhaustion."
"Veela blood stops me from looking tired and haggard," Fleur sniffed proudly, looking to one side. She seemed defensive and cagey. Hermione wondered if the blonde was beating herself up for not being able to sleep.
"I'm seriously worried about your lack of rest," Fantail said gravely.
Fleur continued to look away.
"Erm, any other tests to run?" Hermione interrupted, hoping to spare Fleur further guilt.
Fantail looked up at Hermione, a little surprised.
"Oh-Erm, yes! We could find out the sex of the baby if you like?" Fantail offered.
This seemed to cheer Fleur up and she shot Hermione a coy smile.
"Yes please," Hermione replied eagerly. It would cheer Fleur up and be an exciting milestone for them.
Fantail clapped his hands together before lifting his wand.
"It is a simple enough spell," Fantail said, pushing Fleur's shirt up enough to show her belly, "And now you are two months along, we are able to use it!"
He did a complex twist and wave of his wand, barely touching the skin of Fleur's stomach. There was a slight crackling noise, which startled Hermione, before a silver line snaked its way over Fleur's stomach. It did a curious loop before disappearing.
"Erm… What does that mean?" Hermione asked, stepping close to them. Fleur reached out and took Hermione's hand, holding it tightly.
Hermione looked at Fleur, startled by the intensity in her azure eyes.
"You're having a little boy," Dr Fantail said, heading over to his desk to scribble on his clipboard, "Congratulations!"
Fleur looped her arms around Hermione's neck and pulled her in for a tight hug.
"A little baby boy!" Fleur murmured happily near Hermione's ear. Hermione grinned so wide she felt like her face might split.
"We're having a son, Fleur!" Hermione chimed in, ecstatic.
Suddenly the whole situation was even more real.
"I hate to spoil such a heart-warming moment," Fantail cut in, "But we really do need to talk about this exhaustion. I'm seriously concerned. If you can't turn it around within the next week, we're going to need to take you in to St Mungo's for more stringent testing and observation. Your body is getting so rundown I have concerns for the baby."
"No, we can't do that! We can turn it around!" Hermione gasped. She was horrified at the thought of Fleur sitting in a bleak hospital bed hooked up to a number of machines and pumped full of potions. She was even more horrified at the thought of the baby being harmed.
"Let us see my Grandmere first," Fleur requested firmly, "It could very well be a Veela thing. I doubt St Mungo's would have an answer for that."
"Very well, but don't delay," Fantail said, setting his mouth into a firm line, "I'm serious about this."
"I'll book us tickets as soon as we leave here," Hermione promised, "We'll head off as soon as we can."
Fleur smiled at her, grateful. Fantail seemed appeased, scribbling some more on his clipboard and nodding.
"Don't stay away long," Fantail advised, "I want you back here within a week so I can check your progress on tackling this exhaustion."
"We will be back," Fleur promised, "And well-rested."