Calla pulled a jumper over her torso, resting her hands on her stomach. She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, smiling slightly at her small baby bump. Despite the love of her life not being with her physically, she felt as if he was with her every single step of the way. Additionally, with the news of the pregnancy, Calla has improved immensely. She tries her best to have a positive outlook on life — she wanted to get better for the baby. Of course, it'd be a lot easier with Fred around, but the support from his relatives and her friends would do.
"Calla," Hermione called. She knocked on the door before peeping her head in, smiling at the older girl. "You ready?" She whispered. Calla inhaled deeply and nodded, grabbing her bag, shoving her wand into it a few seconds after, and following Hermione.
George was waiting in the living area, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed as stared at his lap. Even though George was not the biological father, he felt like he was — it made him feel bad for feeling like the father of his deceased twin's child, but he couldn't help it. He didn't see Calla in a romantic way, at least, but he still felt connected to her child. It's like all the time he spent cuddled up to Calla while they cried — or the times they just laid together ( often times for George to talk to the baby) — created a sort of bond, maybe. Although George was not the father, he was extremely nervous. And all they were doing was discovering the gender of the kid!
Hermione held onto Calla's hand tightly, waiting for George to grab the things they'd need (medical files, a sweater because hospitals are always eerily cold, and muggle money just in case.) He ruffled his slowly-fading blue hair before grabbing Calla's hand and with a pop! they apparated and found themselves in the streets of London in front of King's College Hospital.
"Hm," George nodded in approval. "This is nice."
Calla mumbled in agreement and they let go of hands, however George used his free hand to push Calla forward a little and kept it on her back, as a sort of reassurance. Hermione smiled again. She could've been more excited than Calla, because honestly, Calla was more nervous than excited.
Hermione held the door open for them and took them to the elevators, guiding them to the correct floor.
"Hello, how may I help you?" a young woman asked, looking at the three odd wizards in front of her (of course, oblivious to the fact they were magical.)
"Hi, we have an ultrasound exam appointment with Dr. Yang around this time." Hermione said professionally. She held her hand out for George to place the documents in her hand for her to give to the receptionist.
The receptionist, whose name tag read "Nancy," raised an eyebrow at them before scanning the files and tapping away at the computer. "Calla Atkins?" She asked. Calla nodded in confirmation and Nancy pursed her lips. "Alright, take a seat over there in the waiting room. Dr. Yang will retrieve you shortly, Ms. Atkins. In the meantime, please fill this out." Hermione grabbed the documents and Calla took the clipboard with a form on it and a pen attached to the top.
The three took a seat and George organised Calla's medical documents and twiddled his thumbs as they waited, Hermione cracked open a book and began studying and preparing to return to Hogwarts for an eighth year since the war prohibited her from completing her education, and Calla shakily filled the form out.
Before she could finish the last three questions, the doctor called for Calla. George was on his feet before the other two, and took Calla's hand. The three walked to the back and again Calla had to answer questions.
"Are you the father of the baby?" Dr. Yang asked George, making both Calla and him turn red.
"No sir," George said awkwardly. "I'm the uncle."
"Oh, dad couldn't make it then, huh?" The doctor chuckled, making the three of them uncomfortable.
"Yeah," Calla mumbled. "Something like that."
The doctor smiled awkwardly, sensing the tension. He coughed and washed his hands, slipping blue gloves over his hands. "Lift your shirt," he instructed. Calla did as told and sat back, glancing at Hermione and George before looking at Dr. Yang to answer further questions. "You're 18 weeks, correct?" Calla nodded. He squirted a cold gel onto Calla's stomach and rubbed it around before squeezing some onto the remote-looking thing. Calla furrowed her eyebrows. That thing was going to determine the sex of her child?
"Excuse me, doctor," Hermione started. "Do you have any idea when Calla's due date will be?"
Dr. Yang paused. "We can calculate it for you after this, if you'd like." He turned to Calla and she nodded — she rather not be surprised of Baby Fred's arrival. "Alright, Ms. Atkins. Are you ready to find the sex?" Calla nodded again and reached her hand out for George or Hermione to grab (it was Hermione who held her hand.)
In a moment the screen beside Calla's bed showed her stomach — it showed her little baby. She could hear the heartbeat and she was in awe of the little human.
George was teary eyed, laughing a little beside Hermione, whom brought her free hand to her mouth as she looked at the screen with excitement.
"Oh my god," Calla laughed, a small tear slipping at the sight of her baby. It was cheesy and cliché, but she couldn't help it.
"Congratulations Ms. Atkins," Dr. Yang smiled, moving the ultrasound probe around her stomach. "You're having a baby boy."
All three of them made some sort of noise of excitement — George choked a little and laughed, grinning and teary eyed. Hermione squealed, excitement coursing through her body. Calla gasped, bringing her free hand to her mouth.
"Look," he gathered their attention. "His hand is in his mouth. There's his legs and — oh look he turned his head! There's his face! As far as I can tell, he's a very healthy baby. Any baby names in mind?" Dr. Yang asked.
"A few, we're not sure yet."
"Ah," Dr Yang nodded. He removed the gloves and wiped the ultrasound probe clean, handing Calla a tissue to wipe her stomach. He printed pictures of the ultrasound and folded them, handing them to Calla. George looked over Calla's shoulder and smiled, amazed at the sight of his nephew. Unfortunately the small pictures didn't move — muggles needed to hurry up and figure out how to do that.
"Well, if you wait just a few moments we'll calculate your due date and then you guys can be on your way." He smiled.
The three thanked him and after the door closed, Hermione threw her hands around Calla, squealing. "He's going to be so cute!"
They chatted gleefully about Baby Fred (whose name won't actually be Fred, as Calla decided his true other half — George — should be allowed to name his son after him.)
"Wait for mum's reaction!" George grinned.
When the doctor returned with the approximate due date, the three gathered their things and walked out, apparating back to Calla and George's apartment.
After bidding Hermione goodbye, making her promise to not tell anybody — not even Ron — the gender, as they were going to announce and surprise their family later on. Calla gave half of the ultrasound pictures to George, he was still in shock, and those pictures will later be found on the fridge.
Calla excitedly went to her room and began to write to Fred.
-
"dear fred,
i am 18 weeks now, and i've just returned home (which is still currently george's apartment) from the muggle hospital. hermione took us to get an ultrasound and we discovered the sex today.
fred, we're having a baby boy!
i'm so nervous, i'm only 20, i don't know how i'm going to do this, honestly. but the support from your family and our friends makes things easier. however, i feel as if things would be a lot easier with you here.
on another note, george cried at the reveal. later this summer we're having a "baby shower" and we will tell the rest of the family and friends the gender.
i'm happy, overall. i hope he looks like you, he'd be so handsome. i love and miss you, babe. i wish you could've been there when we found out the sex.
all the love,
calla and our baby boy "
