(This is first 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 first attempt I suppose.

I don't own the characters; they belong to JK Rowling and her fabulous imagination. The plotline is mine though, unfortunately.)

Chapter 17

"Lucius Malfoy"

Lucius stopped, stunned. Had he really heard those words come out of Hermione's mouth? From the shocked expression on Miss Weasley's face, he had. Luckily, neither of the two girls had noticed Lucius walking towards them. He had hoped to pass them with a simple hello to Hermione before heading up to the Heads table, but as he walked towards them to go past, he heard Hermione tell Ginny that she was in love with him.

Lucius's heart leaped, jumped, skipped and soared. He wanted to run up to Hermione and tell her he felt the same way, but he knew that wouldn't be right. Instead he turned around purposefully and strode towards the doors, passing Ron and Harry on his way. He decided to enter the Hall again through the staff entrance on the other side.

Sitting down, Harry looked at Ginny and Hermione. He smiled shyly at Ginny, who returned it confidently.

"Hey Hermione." He greeted her as Ron started helping himself to food.

"Hi." She said, not looking up. Her eyes were on Ginny, begging her with her eyes not to say anything. She hadn't had time to remind her before the boys had graced them with their presence.

"We passed Malfoy on our way in here." Ron commented randomly, as he shoved a sausage into his mouth. Hermione's jaw dropped.

"He was here. In the great hall." She asked, eyes wide.

"Yeah." Harry said, slightly nervously, his eyebrows furrowed at Hermione's reaction.

"When. Where?" She asked.

"Over there. He was just leaving. Must have been about a minute ago, seems that's how long we've been here." Ron answered.

Hermione's jaw dropped lower, if that was possible. She turned her head to look at the Staff table, and just as she did so, she saw him. Lucius Malfoy entering through the staff entrance, looking ecstatic. Her heart did a double flip. No, a triple flip.

He was smiling. He must have heard her. Yet, he was smiling. Well. That's brilliant. Hermione thought he'd be angry for sure, instead. He looked. Completely and utterly over the moon. She could only think of one reason why he'd look like that after hearing someone loved him. He must feel the same way. Oh my god. Did Lucius Malfoy love her too? Oh, she hoped so. How could it be possible though? He has had a change of heart, but to fall in love with a mud-blood. Hermione shivered with disgust at her own mental use of the word. Hermione looked at him and the expression on her face and smiled. Yes. She was right. He had fallen in love with her too. Purity of blood aside, heritage aside, age difference aside, teacher/student relationship aside….Lucius Malfoy had fallen in love with her, Hermione Granger, and she loved him back.

Hermione looked around frantically. She had to say something. She contemplated running to her dormitory to enter it into her diary but went against it. Instead, her eyes fell on Ginny. That's it! She'd tell Ginny what she thought.

Hermione turned away from looking at Lucius and whispered in Ginny's ears, telling her what she thought. Ginny's eyes widened and they kept looking between Lucius and Hermione. Ginny pulled Hermione away from her ear as Hermione finished speak. She looked at her for a moment before hugging her tightly.

"Way to go girl." Ginny said kindly, sharing in her friend's joy. Hermione smiled and hugged her back.

Ron and Harry exchanged confused looks.