A/N: OMG. This was going to be a DM/HG story. But I had the coolest dream where it WASN'T Draco, but it WAS a Slytherin! But you won't find out till later.

Harry and Ron charged into the compartment, laughing their heads off at something or other.

Harry looked up. "Hey Hermione! We were looking for you! Ron wanted to tell you we over heard some Slytherins talking…"

Slytherins? Could they have been talking about my secret admirer?

"And we found out…. That…. Haha…. Draco Malfoy…Heh…he was…. hahaha….HE SLEEPS WITH A CAREBEAR!"

Hermione's face fell. So what if Malfoy slept with Carebears? They weren't important.

Just then, Crookshanks ran in and Hermione gasped. He was wearing a Slytherin Scarf tied to his left paw. So it WAS a Slytherin. The ginger cat carried no letter, though.

The train came to a stop, but when Hermione looked outside there was no Hogwarts looming in the distance.

"What's going on?" Ron's voice cracked and he sounded nervous.

Harry and Hermione took out their wands. The lights flickered out, and Harry muttered "Lumos…" They looked out into the hall way.

Hermione gasped. The teachers of Hogwarts were running onboard, all soaking wet from the terrible storm that raged outside.

Harry looked back out the window. "I didn't even notice it was raining."

Ron coughed to cover up what sounded suspiciously like: Idiot.

Professor McGonagal saw them and ran to Hermione.

"Ms. Granger. As head girl, I must ask you to tell all students to stay in their compartments. The head boy and his… hem… understudy, so to say, will be joining you shortly."

"Yes, Professor." Hermione stood and left the compartment with the Assistant Headmistress.

"What's going on, Professor? Why have we stopped?"

"I'm afraid the Hogwarts Express has been wired, my dear."

"Wired?"

"We have received news that when it reaches a certain point, it will explode. But if we stop the train, as we have done, Death Eaters would be standing by to attack."

"So you stopped the train because…if it blew up we would all die, but with the Death Eaters we have a fighting chance…is that it?"

McGonagal looked at her sadly. "I'm afraid so. Now go tell the students."

So Hermione walked up and down the train, telling students not to worry and to stay in their seats.

She was held up by a group of first years who began to sob hysterically at the mention of bombs and Death Eaters. She calmed them down, and left their compartment only to come face to face with Head Boy, Draco Malfoy.

"Get back in your compartment, Granger, or I'll report you to Snape."

"Don't bother, ferret, I'm Head Girl and I have just as much right to be out here as you."

They glared at each other for a moment, then Draco turned on his heel and continued to walk down the train, in the opposite direction of Hermione.

She now found herself facing Blaise, who was quite obviously Draco's second in command.

She glared at him, as if daring him to say a condescending word.

His mellow eyes looked straight back. "Don't think I'm going to say anything. It's not my fight. You and Malfoy, I mean." He turned and followed slowly in Malfoy's footsteps.

It was nearly 11 PM when the teachers called the Heads to a compartment at the back of the train.

Severus Snape, an ugly, greasy man, told them they would be staying on the train overnight.

"And don't think for one minute that you can do whatever you like. Any magic that uses flashes or noise will instantly give our position away to the Death Eaters. So it is up to you three to keep the train together."

Hermione looked at McGonagal. "Where will you be, Professors?"

"We are going to go unwire the train. We will see you in the morning." Her voice wasn't sure.

So the teachers left. And the students all went to sleep, except for the three left in charge, who would stand watch at different ends of the train.

Hermione stood at the back, Draco in the front and Blaise in the middle.

The night wore on. It was nearly 12 now. Hermione was awakened by a flutter of wings.

Dear Hermione,

Hogsmeade sounds great,

Wonderful, grand,

If we live through the night,

I'll soon hold your hand.

Write me back,

Make it quick,

I want to meet you in secret tonight.

Secret Admirer

Hermione folded up the letter and wrote her reply on the back of a gum wrapper she had in her pocket.

Hey,

Hold my hand?

Before the first date?

It makes me smile,

I can't wait.

Come to the back of the train at 2 Am.

Hermione

She folded it and tied it to the barn owls leg. It hooted, and then flew off.

1 o'clock came and went. 1:30. 2:00.

"Hermione."

She looked around, but it was far to dark to see. Shocking gray-brown eyes watched Hermione, and she looked at them. Gray eyes? Malfoy?

"Who are you?" She said it in a soft voice so that she wouldn't wake anyone in the compartments.

"You'll find out soon."

Not Draco's voice.

"When?"

"On the Hogsmeade trip. Meet me by the Shrieking Shack."

The voice was getting farther away.

"Don't leave!" Hermione stood and reached out blindly, trying to grab a hand. In truth, she wanted someone to be near her. It was scary at the back of the train.

The eyes flickered back into view.

"Okay. I'll stay, but not for long."

They sat down in front of her. Staring back at her.

Whoever they are, they have beautiful eyes.

A hand reached up and flicked a strand of hair out of those gray-brown eyes.

Neither said a word, only sitting in the companionable silence.

There was a sudden jerk of the train, caused by wind, and Hermione fell back, and the gray-eyed stranger fell forward.

It was an awkward breathless moment. Hermione felt the wait of the boys head on her stomach, and his hands around her wait, trying to steady himself.

A minute passed as they struggled to move. Hermione felt the young man desperately trying to get up but every time he got to his knees, the train would rock again.

Finally, he got into a seated position, and pulled Hermione up.

So….Who do you think the mystery man is?