(This is my third fanfic and I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The chapters are short, and the storyline isn't brilliant but it is okay for a third attempt, I suppose. It's a sequel to my first fanfic 'The Stress of N.E.W.T.S so I advise you read that first.
I don't own the characters; they belong to JK Rowling and her fabulous imagination. The plotline is mine though, unfortunately.)
Chapter One
It had been a whole week since Lucius had proposed to Hermione and still the couple hadn't told anyone. Hermione wore the ring always but she had placed a disillusion charm on it, so no-one could see it. After a week Lucius was growing impatient.
"Hermione, my love, we should tell everyone. My colleagues. Your friends. Your family. They deserve to know we've found love in this cold, dark world we live in." Lucius explained to Hermione whilst pacing back and forth in his study as she sat watching from the armchair.
"Lucius I agree. We should tell them. We have to take this slow though. Ron and Harry tolerate you but to find out their best friend is marrying you. They may be devastated. I don't want them to feel any negative feelings about this." Hermione said worriedly. Lucius stopped pacing and came over to the armchair, dropping on his knees before Hermione.
"Darling, I love you and want to marry you. I want to marry you as soon as possible. As soon as your N.E.W.T.S are over I want to marry you. We can't marry though until your friends and family know; until everyone knows. That is why I want everyone to be informed, so we can marry. Please Hermione. When you go back to your common room, tell your friends. I will tell the staff. They need to know too." Lucius said, gripping her hand.
"Alright." Hermione sighed. "You're right. We should tell them. I'll tell Harry and Ron. I pray they take the news well. I'll owl my parents as well. I wish they could have met you before you became the man you are now though. If they had seen how much you changed, they would have been so much happier for me. I hope they are pleased that I'm marrying though. They've been saving up for years, hoping their little girl would one day tie the knot. I hope they'll be alright that I'm tying the knot with you, Lucius Malfoy. Even though they're muggles, they'll have heard of you. They even heard about you from me after my 5th year. They'll see your change though and know we're in love. I know they'll approve. I just think they'll be surprised."
Lucius smiled at Hermione and kissed her hand.
"If someone had told me last year that I'd fall in love with a muggle-born witch years younger than me, who was part of the Golden Trio, I would have laughed at their stupidity. Now that it's happened though, I'm laughing at my luck. I'm such a lucky man. I can't wait to have you as my wife, and for me to serve you faithfully as a husband. This new found love is a surprise, not just for your parents and friends, but for you and me as well. We never could have predicted this." Lucius told Hermione. He pulled her out of the armchair and enveloped her in a tight loving embrace. "I love you." He sighed, smelling the sweet scent of her hair.
"I love you too. I also think you're right. This is so surprising. If someone had told me I'd fall in love with the father of my ex-enemy, I'd have laughed too. Or told them they were sick." Lucius laughed into her hair at her comment. "Now it's happened though, I'm happier than I've ever been. Even failing my N.E.W.T.S wouldn't bring me down."
"You won't fail though." Lucius said, pulling away from her "You're much too smart."
"I know, I know." Hermione murmured, smiling at his simple compliment. "I can't believe they start next week. I'm worried."
"Don't be. You'll pass with flying colours. Once your N.E.W.T.S are over, we can marry. We'll have one of the quickest engagements ever." Lucius kissed Hermione's forehead.
"I can't wait. I must go though. It's late and even being a prefect won't stop me getting into trouble for being out of bed so late. I'll tell Harry and Ron, don't worry. Just….be extra nice to them for the next few days." Hermione warned. She kissed Lucius before turning and leaving his room, nervously anticipating her talk with her two best friends.