Oh wow guys, I hope this isn't as long as I think it's going to be (the A/N, not the story lol). First off, to my readers who have been w/ me since the beginning of this story, thank you so much for your continued support! To my newer reviewers...thank YOU for choosing my story and for reviewing, it means a lot! Some individuals:

Falron: I actually probably wasn't going to continue this story til I got your review lol...your review got me thinking and inspired me.

Derek: Thanks for your continued support of EVERY story I write lol. Words cannot express what that means to me (though you keep making me blush...not sure if that's good or bad) :-)

Slytherin-girl: Thank you, thank you for being such a cool person lol. Reviews almost every chapter...woo! Hope to talk to you soon!

Rae: You are the coolest psycho shipper I've met :-) Thanks for reading! Hope to talk to YOU soon, as well! (hint, hint lol)

insanity and rockstar: Thanks for reviewing multiple times (and so nicely, too).

Reviewers like you guys make my day! Enjoy Chapter 10!

Sigh...I do not own Harry Potter...blah, blah, blah...you all know this.

Secrets and School Supplies

After a few fairly uneventful days (Harry and Hermione had managed to keep their relationship a secret from everyone but Ron), the time came to go to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies. It was a special trip this year, as it was the first time the young witches and wizards would be going by themselves and were also allowed to go to Hogsmeade.

"GINNY!" Ron bellowed up the stairs, "the only reason you're even coming is because Hermione wants you to, so if you don't get a move on, we're leaving without you!" He turned around to face Hermione and spat, "See? This is only one reason she shouldn't have come in the first place!"

Hermione regarded him coolly. "Grow up, Ronald. We still have plenty of time."

With that, Ginny came bounding down the stairs looking fresh and ready for the new day. Ron glowered at her. "About time you showed up. We've all been ready for hours."

"What?! I'm ready!" Ginny got an indignant look on her pretty face and balled up her fists at her sides.

Hermione, attempting to stop an impending argument from the red-headed siblings put her hand on Ron's arm and said, "Honestly, Ron. It has not been hours. Ginny, we're glad you could make it today. Now let's just go, okay?"

"Alright," Ron replied reluctantly. "Hey! Mum left us some floo power over on the table by the fireplace there. Harry, mate, make sure you speak clearly this time. We wouldn't want you to get lost in Knockturn alley again."

Harry grinned and punched Ron in the arm playfully. "Now who's taking up time? Let's GO!"

One by one they took a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. They shouted, "Diagon Alley!" and arrived safely. Once they got there, they saw many of their classmates from Hogwart's getting their school supplies as well. Harry had to make a concentrated effort not to take Hermione's hand. They had discussed it earlier and decided it would be easier to let everyone know about their developing relationship slowly, rather than just hit them over the head with it.

"Hey! There's Luna," Ginny exclaimed. "Better go over and say hi, Ron…I bet she's just dying to run into you," she said with a sly look on her face.

"What?!" Ron almost yelled, "Why would she want to see me? Completely mental, that one is."

Ginny laughed when she saw the color her brother's ears had turned and figured she had gotten back at him for yelling at her before. She also figured she better get out of his sight before something really bad happened to her. "Right…well, I guess I'll just go and say hello to her myself then," she said as she started to make her way over to Flourish & Blotts, which is where she saw Luna in the window.

"Girls," Harry and Hermione could hear Ron mutter under his breath as they wandered along the now familiar street. They shared a grin and chose to ignore it for their own safety.

"So!" Hermione said brightly, "Robes or books first?"

"Books!" both boys replied quickly. Neither of them was looking forward to reminders that a dance was coming up this year. Ron, having gotten new robes from the twins the year before, didn't need to get fitted for any but he had told Harry he'd go with him to get his.

"Well then, you two can go get your books, and I'll go grab Ginny and Luna and get my dress robes. We could meet outside the Leaky Cauldron and use their fireplace to get to Hogsmeade in, oh say, about an hour and a half?" she suggested.

"What? I thought we were all doing this together," Harry whined.He knew hecouldn't hold Hermione's hand or kiss her, but he thought he'd at least be able to look at her.

"Well, you are my date, Mr. Potter. And you can't see my robes until the dance!" She gave him a coy smile and said, "So it's a plan then? Good…see you later!"

She ran off in the direction Ginny went, leaving both boys gaping after her retreating back. Ron grinned. "Good luck with that one, mate."

"Thanks, Ron…that's really helpful," Harry replied.

The two of them went into Flourish & Blotts to get the two books they were assigned for the year. While they were there, they ran into some of their fellow Gryffindors; Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas. For some reason, Neville blushed and ran off to a different section of the store when he saw Ron. What is with everyone today? Ron thought to himself. He shook the thought off (as he tends to do) and continued to look for his books.

While the boys were getting their books, the girls were getting fitted for their dress robes andsharing the girl talk they missed out on whenthey weren't intheir dorms. "Oh my god!" Ginny squealed. "He finally kissed you?! What was it like?" She noticed the look in Hermione's eyes and explained, "Don't worry…I got over my crush on him last year, remember? I have plans of my own for now." She got a mysterious glint in her eyes but continued to prod Hermione for details.

"It wouldn't be ladylike to say," Hermione answered. Ginny pouted for a minute while Hermione pretended to ponder telling her what happened. "What I mean is, it wouldn't be ladylike to tell you that he is the most amazing kisser! Ginny, he is so loving, and sensitive-"

"And HOT!" Ginny screeched. She then grinned sheepishly and said, "Sorry…I may have gotten over him, but he is still the best looking guy in your year by far!"

Hermione just smiled and thought, and he's mine! Ginny saw the dreamy look on her face and just laughed. "You are really gone on him! I just hope he knows how lucky he is."

Luna piped up, "Don't count on that. Guys usually can't tell what's right in front of them…it's not in their nature. Daddy told me that when we were in Nova Scotia looking for a Poisonous Plinkerblot. He was going to let me write a large piece about it…but we never found one…" she trailed off.

Hermione jumped at the sound of her voice. She had forgotten Luna was even there and rolled her eyes. Luna was nice, but sometimes Hermione was still of the opinion that she wasn't all there. She regarded her reflection in the mirror. Instead of the powder blue dress she had chosen their fourth year, she was fitted for some form-fitting maroon dress robes with golden piping. She wanted to both show her house spirit and knock Harry's socks off.

Hermione grinned evilly. "Anyway, Ginny, what exactly are your plans?"

"Don't you worry about that, Hermione Granger. Everyone will find out just soon enough," she retorted. "And don't try your sad face on me…it may work with Harry and my brother, but it won't do you any good now."

"Plans don't always work out as you want them to," Luna half whispered, as though to herself, "but there are ways to help them along."

Hermione and Ginny looked at her questioningly, but she seemed to be (characteristically) in her own little world again. The girls shrugged, put their regular clothes back on, and went to get their robes wrapped to take home.

"Where are they? I'm starved - it's been forever since we had breakfast," Ron complained to Harry. They left the other boys at Flourish & Blotts when the time came to meet the girls at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Relax, Ron. Here they come right now," Harry pointed down the street as he saw the blond, brunette, and redhead come into view.

"Oh, brilliant," Ron remarked sarcastically, "they brought Looney Lovegood with them."

"Get over it, Ron. Think about how she came to the Ministry with us last year. She might be a little…off, but that's no reason to be rude."

Ron stared at Harry incredulously. "What has Hermione done to you?"

"Just shut up…here they come."

Hermione fought the urge to run into Harry's arms when she saw him standing there, though it was hard when he was standing there looking so adorable. Even though everyone standing there knew about the two of them now, she knew there had to be other people from school around. Yeah, probably should warn him that Ginny and Luna know, she thought fleetingly. "Hey!" she said brightly, "ready to go to Hogsmeade?"

"Well, you guys took so long that Harry wasn't able to get his dress robes, but he can get them in Hogsmeade some other time, right Harry?" Ron looked at him pleadingly.

"Uh…right, that's fine." Harry said. "I think Ron's about to die if he doesn't get something to eat, so we better get going."

The five of them walked into the Leaky Cauldron and Harry asked Tom if they could use the fireplace. He didn't have a problem with it, so they each took a turn with the floo powder once more and traveled to Hogsmeade.