This is a Hermione/Oliver (Wood) story, with some ideas from IcyAngel12 and G*Ness. However, the main idea is mine, and the story will loosely follow IcyAngel12s' plot for Wood & Granger, but loosely is the key word! So, without further ado, please enjoy… Under The Stars!

Under The Stars

Hermione Granger opened the door to the last compartment on the Hogwarts Express, hoping it was empty. Harry and Ron behind her were discussing something regarding Quidditch, but Hermione's eyes were immediately drawn to the young man sitting on one of the velvet seats.

"Excuse me?" she asked quietly from the door, "I know it's not common for anyone except students to ride the Hogwarts Express, so who are you? My name's Hermione Granger, by the way?"

The man turned to face her, and Hermione's eyes grew large. This was Oliver Wood, but not as she remembered him. He had grown handsome; his muscles had grown more defined, his face had become open and smiling. And his eyes were chocolate brown, almost the same color as hers, and they were making her heart beat at twice its normal speed.

"Oh! I'm Oliver Wood; going to be your new flight instructor, as well as Quidditch referee. I'll probably also be playing for Puddlemere United, but only when it doesn't interfere with teaching. And my, Hermione, you've gotten as pretty as you are smart!"

And it was true. The summer before this one, Mrs. Weasley had insisted on giving her a makeover at Gladrags, as well as helping Hermione select fashionable wizardring clothes. She had grown taller, the top of her head coming up to Ron's nose, and her hair, cut to a more suitable shoulder length, and had calmed down, framing her face without becoming obnoxiously bushy. Currently, she was wearing an off-the-shoulder aqua robe, tied tightly about her waist with a large black sash. Her hair was in a messy French twist, with a few loose tendrils framing her face. Though Hermione had gotten glasses, they seemed to add an air of wisdom to her, as well as emphasizing her long-lashed brown eyes.

"I suppose so… Harry, Ron and I were looking for a compartment. Would this one be all right?" she asked, noting that Harry and Ron were still debating animatedly, oblivious to her feelings.

"Of course! It'd be nice to find out how well Gryffindor's doing in Quidditch! But, if you'd like, I could explain the game to you. Yes, I saw you roll your eyes!" His eyes sparkled as he said this, and his smile made Hermione blush, a great contrast to her robes.

So she sat, letting the babble of Quidditch talk wash over her, and absorbing Oliver's explanation open doors into worlds of danger, excitement, broomsticks, and, most importantly, where he led her to marvels that deepened her sudden feelings for him, and made her wonder if she really was as mentally competent as she had led herself to believe.

°

The train stopped suddenly, and Hermione realized that she had fallen asleep. And when she realized that her head rested on Oliver Wood's lap, all thought came rushing back. Quickly she lifted her head, but not before she felt a note being thrust into her hand.

Stuffing it into her pocket, she was happy to note that Harry, Ron and Oliver were still waiting for her, and joining them, they made their way to the platform.

It was crowded, cold, and wet as always. Hermione ran to the coach, trying to forget that Hagrid was not there to greet her as usual. He had been killed at the end of last year, in an attempt of Voldemort's to overtake the Forbidden Forest. Harry, with some help from Ron and Hermione, had stopped him, but the cost was Hagrid's life.

Finding herself in a carriage with the same people that had shared the Hogwarts Express compartment, she deemed it all right to read the note.

Hermione-

I need to talk to you; it's important but I only need a minute. How about near the oak near the Lake, after the Feast?

Oliver

Deciding that what he was going to say would indeed be important, she nodded, blushing. Harry and Ron, still debating about Quidditch, didn't notice a thing, but Oliver simply smiled.

°

The food was good, Hermione thought. So good, in fact, that she had to restrain herself from eating too much. She had appreciated the Sorting Hat's song, as well as Professor Dumbledore's speech, and the food was wonderful, but she wanted to see Oliver. He sat at the staff table, not really part of the conversation, but added remarks to the conversation between Professor Sinistra and Professor McGonagall a few times. But somehow, he, too, seemed eager for the feast to be over, and looked several times in Hermione's direction. Finally, muttering some excuse to Harry and Ron, who were still arguing over something regarding Quidditch, a debate which now involved all of the Gryffindor 7th years, she left the Great Hall, hoping that Professor Dumbledore would not need the Head Girl for anything while she was gone.

She had only waited a minute when Oliver found her under the oak. "Hermione, I want to tell you some things, so listen a minute, all right? I came back to help protect Hogwarts, almost as a spy. I warn you of this, because… Because… Erm…"

"Because, you feel special when you see me? Like I have a spark, which you can't explain, but which you know is there? And you don't know if it's just some sort of little crush, but you want to find out if I feel the same? That's how I feel, Oliver!"

She couldn't see his eyes, but she desperately hoped that they were smiling.

Yes, I'm forcing you into a cliffhanger, ain't I? I hope you like this; it's fast for me to write, so you'll get more chapters faster, and such. And Hermione/Oliver romances are fun to write… J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter characters, by the way! Chapter Two is coming soon!

Rosie Sinistra

Please review!