            He was quiet as he contemplated her. Then his head tilted, and he said in a low voice, "I was still intent on betraying you during those times, but the...feelings I had for you then were true. I did not lie, when I took the Veritaserum, Hermione. Kissing you..." Lucius lifted his hand. Hermione’s breathing hitched as he ran his knuckles down her cheekbone, under the line of her jaw. "Touching you..." Finally his hand stilled, thumb brushing up to press into her bottom lip. "Caring for you...it was always real."