Yay! Here it is, in honour of the release of Chamber of Secrets to video, here's chapter seven. This turned out a bit shorter than I expected and it kinda took a different route than I had anticipated, but that's ok. I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, especially to RocketSolarCat, white dove, Fatima, army, Jo, Aimee, CarlyHP and nurdypurdy, my wonderful chapter six reviewers. You guys are awesome! Much love goes out to you. And the rest who reviewed, of course!!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter. I don't.

*

Several weeks had gone by since that night in the common room. Things between Harry and Hermione had changed for the better. Ever since they'd said those three words, a new bond had been created between them. It was unlike anything they'd felt.

To Hermione, the only bad thing about it was now, more than ever, she wanted to tell someone about what was going on between her and Harry. After all, he was the first person she loved. She hadn't been in love with Ron, not really. And though she had liked Viktor Krum a lot, it still wasn't the same thing.

This was true love.

*

"Okay! Okay, that's enough for today!" Harry shouted to the team.

One by one, the members of the Gryffindor team landed on the pitch, co-captain Ron included. It had been their first team practice since Christmas break had ended, and for a team that had taken a few weeks off, they were still doing very well.

"We're still in first place," he reminded them all. "We don't have another match coming up for quite some time, but we still have to practice. It's my last year to win this Quidditch cup. We have to do it."

Ron nodded. "Right. It's my last year, too. But if we win against Ravenclaw, and then against Slytherin, it'll be ours."

"That's exactly why we have to practice! Malfoy'll be after it too. Slytherin won't win it." Harry looked around at his teammates, surprised to see how seriously they were taking him. "Right then, practice is over. Hit the showers, or whatever."

The team carefully filtered off the pitch, which was no easy task as it was covered in snow. Harry's thoughts were inside the warm castle, were Hermione was. He'd have a quick shower, because he had been sweating, then spend the evening doing homework. No, it wasn't the most romantic thing in the world, but at least he'd be with her.

He was still lost in thought when he crashed into Ron. "Oh! Sorry," he said, jolted back into the present.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you."

"About?"

Ron hesitated long enough to make Harry panic. He knows! Thousands of excuses flooded his mind as Ron chose his words carefully.

"Well, see…I'm not good at saying stuff like this, but…thanks."

"Huh?"

"For making me co-captain. I really appreciate it."

"Oh!" Harry nearly sighed with relief. "No problem. You deserve it."

"Not as much as you do," Ron said modestly.

Recently, in a move made out of guilt, Harry announced to the team that Ron was to be is co-captain. He'd told them it was because it was a little stressful to be the sole person responsible for the team, and that since Ron was his best friend as well as also in his last year, he should get to be co-captain.

Harry tried to suppress his overwhelming guilt and anxiety as they made their way upstairs. Yes, he loved Hermione very much, and he loved being with her, but it was putting a lot of pressure on him.

Ron was still his best friend. Nothing had changed that. They were practically brothers. Ron's family was the family Harry never had. Lying to Ron also felt like he was lying to all of the Weasleys. The Weasleys, who had always helped Harry in any way they could. Mrs. Weasley loved him almost as much as her own children. ("More than her own children!" Ron often said, though jokingly) His insides squirmed at the though of ever hurting the Weaselys in any way, especially after all they had done for him.

Harry shook his head quickly, trying to erase some of his thoughts. He didn't want to dwell too much on all of this.

I'm going to see Hermione soon, he thought instead. My girl friend. The girl I love. Normally these thought cheered him up, but tonight was an exception.

By the time he reached the showers, Harry came to one conclusion:

They had to tell Ron about them. And soon.

*

Hermione and Harry were alone in the common room, as usual. Yet Hermione could sense this was not going to be a typical rendezvous of theirs.

"What's the matter?" she asked patiently. He was pacing the common room uneasily, obviously wanting to get something off his chest.

"We have to tell Ron about us," he said unexpectedly.

"I know."

"I mean soon. Hermione, I can't do this anymore." He sank into a nearby chair, looking defeated. "He's my best friend. I can't keep lying to him like this."

She nodded. "I know," she said again softly. She got up from her arm rest of the couch and perched next to Harry. "I understand. And you're right. We have to tell him."

"But you realize once we tell him, everyone else will find out."

Hermione paused. "So, this won't be a secret anymore."

"No, guess not."

They lapsed into silence. Hermione was torn. As frustrating as it had been sometimes, she loved having a secret like this. It was just between them. No one except Lavender knew what was really going on.

On the other hand, they could be together openly. She wouldn't have to hide her feelings for him anymore. It would be a weight lifted off her.

"It was fun while it lasted," she said finally. "But I think it's about time we told everyone."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. That's what I was thinking."

They smiled at each other. She leaned in to kiss him and fell onto his lap. They kissed for a few minutes, until he let go.

"This time tomorrow everyone will know about us," he said softly. "This is the last night we have to sneak around like this."

Hermione grinned. That would be a relief. She kissed him again, and suddenly couldn't wait for the next day.

Everything would be different, but everything would be better.

Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.

*

She and Harry had been pretty quiet during dinner. As soon as the Great Hall emptied, they were going to tell Ron the truth.

"I'm stuffed," Harry said. It was Hermione's cue.

"Yeah, me too. Aren't you full, Ron?"

Ron shook his head. "No, not yet. Dessert's still to come, you know."

Hermione groaned inwardly and looked at Harry. He looked just as frustrated as she felt.

"Why don't you guys go on upstairs without me? I'll probably be here for a while," Ron said with a grin.

"All right," she said with a sigh. "See you in a bit?"

Ron nodded, because his mouth was stuffed with cake.

Together, Harry and Hermione left the Great Hall. "Well. That didn't go as planned," Hermione said.

"We just gave up too easily. We should've waited for him," Harry said.

"We'll wait for him here, then," Hermione said, waving her hand around the empty hallway.

"And whatever will we do to pass the time?" Harry asked teasingly.

She hit him playfully. "We can't. Not in the halls."

"We'll hear someone coming before they see us," he pointed out sensibly.

It was true. They would hear the rumble of several hundred students coming down the corridor before anyone would see him. So, she kissed him.

*

Ron suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. He'd tried to eat too much at one time, and now he felt ill.

He pushed his plate away and decided to leave the Great Hall in search of Harry and Hermione. They'd have the run of the common room for a little while, if they went there now.

Ron set off eagerly to find them, going as fast as he dared on a full stomach.

He turned the corner of an empty corridor.

*

Hermione let go of Harry and smiled. She was going to say how much she loved him, but then something over Harry's shoulder caught her eye.

Ron.

*~*

Oh no! Ron found out! Dumdumdum! (Sorry. That was me, trying to insert dramatic and suspenseful music) So that's it, that's chapter 7. Chapter 8 will be coming soon! R&R would be very much appreciated!