As time passed and Lucio achieved more and more and went on to Ilvermony where he’d been accepted, and then subsequently graduated years later at top of his class, Hermione shared that with Draco through their mental connection. It was more than he deserved, and she almost didn’t do it, but relented bitterly and went ahead. That time, she closed the channel a little more slowly—and felt such a wave of longing and emptiness from his wordless response that it almost choked her. And, most distressingly—love?