A/N: here you are people the third to the last chapter of this fic. I know I haven't been updating sooner. Actually it's because of my recent predicament. But anyways here is your chapter 10!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, although I wish I do. And I also do not own this plot.

I arrived at the stables the next day for my shift wearing my jeans and t-shirt and spent the morning helping Terry, Justin, and Mike muck out the stalls, groom the horses, and clean track.

Promptly at noon I raced home, where I grabbed a bit to eat, then showered and changed into my tan stretch riding pants, a pale blue polo shirt, and my best, glossiest boots. Checking my reflection in the mirror before I returned to the stables, I decided that I could easily pass for one of the rich girls Harry was used to hanging out with.

"Well, well, don't you look nice?!" Hagrid said as I passed him on my way to Crookshanks' stall, carrying her saddle and bridle. "What's the occasion?"

"Oh, nothing special," I replied casually. "Harry and I are going riding together, that's all. Is it ok if I take Crookshanks?"

"Sure—no problem. But try to be back no later than two-thirty, ok? I've got a lot of riders signed up for this afternoon. You might as well saddle Sirius too. Harry really likes that horse, and we want to keep the guests happy."

I nodded. "Will do."

"Enjoy your ride, Mione," Hagrid said. "I'm on my way to lunch. See you later."

Relieved that I wouldn't have to worry about his revealing my true identity, I quickly saddled and bridled Crookshanks, then hurried to the track room to get Sirius's equipment. I wanted to have both horses ready so I could meet Harry at the stable's front entrance, pretending I'd just arrived. Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was twenty to one. I've got plenty of time, I thought. And I would have had, if Harry hadn't showed up early. To my dismay, I ran into him as I came out of the track room.

"Harry! Hi!" I forced a bright smile. "I wasn't expecting you so soon!"

"Here, let me give you a hand with that," Harry said, taking Sirius's heavy saddle and pad from me. "How come you're doing this, Mione? Where are all the stable hands?"

Little did he know he was talking to one of them! "Oh, they're all on their lunch break," I told him. "Rather than waiting for them to come back, I thought I'd tack up Sirius myself."

"In that case, I'll help you," Harry said as we walked to the stallion's stall. After we saddled and bridled Sirius, Harry led the horse out. "This doesn't seem right," he said, shaking his head. "Briar Grangers' guests shouldn't have to saddle their own horses. I mean, we're paying for good service, right? Seems to me we should be getting it. Maybe you ought to talk to your father about this."

"Good idea," I mumbled, heading for Crookshanks' stall. "Why don't you and Sirius wait for me in the stable yard? I'll be there in a minute." I considered confessing to Harry while we rode that I wasn't who he thought I was. But how could I possibly tell him that I was one of the people he thought should be serving him? This whole thing was getting more complicated by the minute!

Swinging into the mare's saddle, I rode outside to join Harry. We took off at an easy canter through the open gate and soon reached one of the trails leading into the woods. After a peaceful walk through the forest we came out into the jumping pasture.

"This place looks kinda familiar," Harry said, grinning at me. "If I recall, that's the exact spot where Crookshanks dumped you."

"Thanks to you!" I tried to scowl, but found myself smiling instead.

Harry's grin faded. "You were right, you know," he said. "I was riding recklessly. I never should have raced Sirius the way I did, and I'll never do it again. You do forgive me, don't' you, Mione?"

"Yes, I do," I said softly. "I think I could forgive you almost anything."

We rode our horses over to a groove of trees and dismounted. After we had tethered Crookshanks and Sirius, we sat down on the soft green grass. Harry put his arm around my shoulders and I leaned against him.

"Whoever thought back then that we'd wind up this way?" Harry said, his lips caressing my cheek.

I smiled. "Not me, that's for sure. When we first met, I thought you were the most spoiled, obnoxious, irritating—"

"Ok, ok! I get the picture!" He shut me up with a kiss. When our lips parted, he said hesitantly, "Mione, I've been wondering—you don't already have a boyfriend, so you?"

"No." I reached up to stroke his hair. "If I did, do you think I'd be acting this way with you?"

Suddenly remembering Cho, I thought, but according to Luna, you have a girlfriend! Did Harry ever intend to tell me about the girl his parents had picked out for him? I had almost made up my mind to ask him about her, when I caught sight of my watch and gasped. It was a quarter after two!

"What's wrong?" Harry asked as I scrambled to my feet.

"I completely forgot—I have to get back by two-thirty," I said, untying the horses' reins. "I have a—" Racking my brain, I came up with "…a dentist appointment in town."

Harry immediately followed me and sprang into Sirius's saddle. "Why didn't you say something before?"

Mounting Crookshanks, I urged her into a trot. "Like I said, I forgot all about it."

"No wonder," Harry said with a grin as he trotted beside me. "If there's one thing that's easy to forget, it's a dentist appointment! Will you be driving alone or will your dad take you?"

"Uh—I'm not sure. I'll have to see if he's home."

I nudged Crookshanks' sides with my heels and the mare broke into a canter. Harry kept up with me, trying to make a conversation, but I was so worried that I hardly said a word. If Hagrid scolded me for coming back late, Harry was sure to realize that I wasn't the boss's daughter. As we approached the stable yard, we slowed our horses to a walk. Hagrid was nowhere in sight, but I saw Terry opening the gate for a couple of riders. My heart sank right down to my boots. There was no way I'd be able to avoid him, and unless I could brazen it out, he'd blow my cover for sure.

"Hey, Mione, where've you been?" Terry asked as Harry and I rode into the yard and dismounted. "You're late—Hagrid said you'd be back by two-thirty."

"I know. I hope the dentist won't be too mad at me," I said with an artificial laugh.

Terry stared at me. "Huh?"

"Mione has a dentist appointment," Harry said, handing him Sirius's reins.

"Yes, and I'm in a big hurry!" I thrust Crookshanks' reins at Terry. After all, my shift had ended at noon and he was on duty now. "Take care of the horses, will you? I really have to run."

Before he could recover from his astonishment, I spun around and jogged out of the stable yard with Harry at my heels. When I was sure we were out of Terry's sigh, I slowed my pace to a walk, and Harry caught up with me.

"Are you ok, Mione?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his handsome face.

"Sure. Why?"

"Well, you've been acting kind of weird all of the sudden."

I forced another fake laughed. "Just nervous, I guess. You know how it is when you're going to the dentist."

We had reached the path that led to my house by now, and I came to a halt. "I enjoyed our ride, Harry." I said.

He smiled and took me into his arms. "Me too, especially the part when we weren't riding."

I blushed. "I know what you mean." Raising my lips to his, I gave him a quick kiss. "Look, I really have to go. See you later, ok?"

Harry reluctantly released me. "I'll walk you to your door," he said. "I'd like to meet your father."

"Gee, Harry, this isn't a very good time," I said nervously, edging away from him down the path. "I mean, I don't even know if dad's home, and if he is, we'll have to leave right away…."

"It won't take very long." Harry followed me. "I just want to say hello to him and tell him what a terrific daughter he has."

"That's sweet of you, but—"

Suddenly I froze in my tracks. There, right ahead of me, was my father, busily pruning some hedges. He was wearing his usual grubby overalls, and a wheelbarrow filled with gardening tools stood nearby. I'd had one narrow escape just a few minutes earlier, but this time there was no way out.

Dad straightened up, and when he saw me, he grinned. "Hi there, honey!"

"Hi, Dad," I mumbled. Glancing apprehensively at Harry, I was surprised to see that instead of looking horrified, he was smiling.

"Who's your friend?" dad asked me.

Before I could speak, Harry stepped forward, extending his hand. "Harry Potter, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you at last!"

"Nice meeting you too," my father said as they shook hands. "I'm always pleasure to meet Mione friends. You staying here at Briar Grangers?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, with my mother. This is our first visit, but we'll definitely be coming back. You must be very proud of this place, Mr. Granger. It's beautiful."

I blinked in disbelief. Was it possible that Harry actually thought he was talking to Briar Grangers' owner?

"Thanks," dad said. "I do what I can to see that it stays that way."

Harry looked at the wheelbarrow and grinned. "I can tell. My dad's into gardening too. It's a great hobby."

Dad rubbed his chin. "Well, now, in my case it's not exactly a hobby…."

"Harry, if you don't mind, I have to get going you understand, don't you?"

"Oh, sure." He shook my father's hand again. "You have a wonderful daughter, Mr. Granger."

"You're right about that," dad agreed, and went back to his clipping.

Turning to me, Harry said, "There's another moonlight hike tonight, Mione. Want to go?"

"Love to. Call me later. Bye!" I practically pushed him back up to the path, afraid that my incredible luck might run out at any minute.

When Harry was gone, Dad said, "Nice kid. Nice manners too. I don't think I've ever met a boy his age that was so polite. And he seems to like you too, honey."

"I hope so," I replied.

But would Harry still care about me when he found out who I really was?

A/N: That was it! The tenth chapter of this fic. The next chapter would be the SECOND TO THE LAST CHAPTER! Sad isn't it? '(

And once again I'M SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY! Well, gotta go now! Bye!