Secret Love

Chapter 3: The Unraveling of Secrets

The days leading up to the first task of the Triwizard Tournament were some of the most stressful of Harry's life. The anxiety of the unknown task ahead gnawed at him, but there was a part of his mind that managed to find peace amidst the chaos—Ginny.
Over the past few weeks, sneaking away with Ginny had become Harry's favorite escape from the pressures of being a champion. They carved out small moments of peace, always careful not to draw attention to themselves. Their favorite spot had become the shores of the Black Lake, a secluded area where they could sit beneath the large oak tree, hidden by its branches. The cool autumn air had begun to give way to the first hints of winter, but Harry barely noticed the chill when he was with Ginny. Their relationship had grown stronger in those secret moments. It wasn't just about stolen kisses—though Harry would be lying if he said he didn't look forward to those. They talked about everything, from the pressures of their respective houses to their hopes and fears. The connection they shared made Harry feel grounded in a way he hadn't since he arrived at Hogwarts for the year. But secrets, especially at Hogwarts, rarely stayed hidden forever.---It had been an ordinary Thursday afternoon, three days before the first task. The sky above the Black Lake was gray, heavy with clouds threatening to snow, but there was a stillness in the air that made everything feel calm. Harry and Ginny sat side by side, their backs against the rough bark of the oak tree, staring out at the placid waters of the lake.Ginny leaned her head against Harry's shoulder, her red hair falling in soft waves over his arm. Harry glanced down at her, a soft smile tugging at his lips."I wish we didn't have to hide this," Ginny said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't sound angry, just resigned."I know," Harry said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. "I hate it too. But we both know what Ron would do if he found out."Ginny sighed. "He's going to find out eventually, Harry. Secrets like this... they never last at Hogwarts. And it's not just Ron. What do you think the Slytherins are going to say when they find out I'm dating the 'Chosen One'?" She said it with a bit of sarcasm, but there was real concern behind her words."They can say whatever they want," Harry said firmly. "I don't care what people think. I just—"Before Harry could finish his sentence, Ginny lifted her head and kissed him softly. The warmth of her lips chased away the cold air, and for a moment, all of Harry's worries seemed to melt away. It didn't matter what people would say, or what would happen with the tournament, or even the looming threat of Voldemort. For just a few blissful seconds, there was only Ginny.But when they pulled apart, the sound of footsteps crunching on leaves behind them made both of them freeze.Harry turned sharply, his heart pounding. A group of Gryffindors, led by Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, stood at the edge of the trees, their faces a mixture of surprise and shock."What the—?!" Seamus exclaimed, his eyes wide as saucers. Dean stood beside him, staring open-mouthed at Harry and Ginny, clearly not believing what he had just seen.Harry's stomach dropped like a stone. He and Ginny jumped to their feet, but it was too late. The damage was done. There was no going back now."Oh... bloody hell," Ginny muttered under her breath, running a hand through her hair.Seamus, still gawking, shook his head. "Harry... you and Ginny? I mean—*what?!*"Harry opened his mouth to say something, anything, but no words came out. His mind was racing, trying to come up with an explanation, but there wasn't one that would stop the inevitable storm that was about to hit. Dean, who had always been close with Ginny, looked between her and Harry, clearly trying to make sense of it. "You two... have been together this whole time?"Ginny folded her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing. "Yeah, we have. And it's none of your business."Dean blinked in surprise at her tone, but Seamus wasn't so easily deterred. His face split into a grin, and he let out a low whistle. "Blimey, this is going to be all over the school by dinner. You know that, right?"Ginny shot him a glare that could have curdled milk. "You don't have to tell anyone, you know."Seamus shrugged. "I don't know if we *have* to. Word's gonna spread on its own. You know how things are here."Harry felt a wave of panic rise in his chest. If Seamus and Dean had seen them, it was only a matter of time before the entire school knew. And if the entire school knew... Ron would know."You've got to keep this quiet, Seamus," Harry said, his voice urgent, but he could already see the glint of mischief in Seamus's eyes. The Irish boy wasn't cruel, but he loved a good story—and this was bound to be the story of the year."We'll try, mate, but good luck keeping this under wraps." Dean gave them both an apologetic smile before tugging Seamus's sleeve. "Come on. Let's give them some space."The two Gryffindors walked off, leaving Harry and Ginny standing in stunned silence."Well," Ginny said after a moment, her voice dry, "that went well."Harry groaned, running both hands through his hair. "This is bad. Really bad. Ron's going to find out. And if it's not from us, he'll hear it from someone else."Ginny sighed. "I guess we don't have a choice now, do we? We're going to have to tell him.""Yeah," Harry muttered, feeling a pit of dread settle in his stomach. "But I have no idea how he's going to react."---They didn't even make it to dinner before the whispers started.By the time Harry and Ginny entered the Great Hall, the air was buzzing with rumors. Everywhere Harry looked, people were sneaking glances at him, whispering behind their hands, and casting looks of confusion and amusement toward Ginny. The Slytherins were especially smug, their eyes gleaming with malice as they exchanged knowing looks.Harry could feel the weight of their stares pressing down on him, but what worried him more was the absence of Ron. He wasn't at the Gryffindor table, and the empty spot beside Hermione felt like a glaring warning sign.Hermione, who had clearly heard the rumors, caught Harry's eye the moment he sat down. Her expression was a mixture of sympathy and worry."You heard, didn't you?" Harry said quietly as he sat across from her.Hermione nodded. "It's all anyone's talking about. Harry, you need to be careful. People are going to—""Talk?" Ginny finished, sliding into the seat next to Harry with a defiant look. "They can say whatever they want."Hermione sighed, looking at both of them with concern. "That's not what I meant. Ron knows, Harry. I don't know how, but he does."Harry's heart skipped a beat. "He does? Where is he?""I'm not sure," Hermione admitted, biting her lip. "He left the common room earlier, and he looked... well, really upset. You should talk to him before—"Before she could finish, Neville Longbottom approached the table, looking awkward and hesitant. "Harry, mate... Ron's looking for you. He's in the dorm."Harry's stomach twisted with dread. This was it. There was no running from it now. He had to face Ron."Thanks, Neville," Harry said, his voice tight.Ginny reached out and squeezed Harry's hand under the table. "I'll come with you."Harry shook his head. "No, it's better if I talk to him alone. I'll meet you later."Ginny hesitated but eventually nodded. "Okay. Just... be careful. He's probably furious."Harry gave her a weak smile before standing up. Hermione gave him an encouraging nod, but the pit in his stomach grew heavier with every step as he made his way back to Gryffindor Tower.---When Harry pushed open the door to his dormitory, the room was eerily quiet, save for the faint crackling of the fire in the grate. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made Harry's skin prickle with unease.And there, standing in the doorway of their shared dorm, was Ron.He wasn't just upset. He was furious.Ron's face was flushed red, his fists clenched at his sides, and his eyes burned with betrayal and anger. Harry had never seen him this angry, not even when they had fought about the Goblet of Fire. This was different. This was personal."How long?" Ron's voice was low, barely controlled. "How long have you been sneaking around with my sister behind my back?"Harry swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "Ron, I—""How. Long?" Ron repeated, his voice rising."A few weeks," Harry admitted quietly. "Since before the tournament."Ron let out a short, bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. My best mate, sneaking around with my sister—*my sister*—without even telling me!""It's not like that," Harry said quickly, stepping closer, but Ron took a step back, his fists still clenched. "I wanted to tell you, but with everything going on—the tournament, and you being upset with me—I didn't think it was the right time.""Oh, the *right time?*" Ron's voice was dripping with sarcasm now. "So, what, you just thought you'd keep lying to me? Pretend nothing's going on while you sneak off with Ginny?""I wasn't lying to you!" Harry protested. "I was trying to figure out how to tell you without making things worse.""Well, congratulations, Harry," Ron spat. "You've made things a whole lot worse."The room seemed to vibrate with the force of Ron's anger, and for the first time, Harry didn't know what to say. He had never wanted this. He hadn't wanted to hurt Ron, but now that the truth was out, there was no way to take it back."I care about Ginny," Harry said quietly, trying to find the right words. "I didn't want to hurt you, but I couldn't just ignore how I felt. And neither could she."Ron's face twisted with frustration. "But why didn't you tell me, Harry? You're supposed to be my best friend!"Harry felt a pang of guilt. "I didn't know how to, Ron. I didn't want to make you more angry than you already were."For a long moment, Ron just stared at Harry, his chest heaving with frustration. Then, finally, he shook his head, his expression hardening. "You could've told me, mate. But instead, you chose to keep it a secret. From me. Your best friend."With that, Ron stormed out of the dormitory, leaving Harry standing there, his heart heavy with the weight of everything he had lost.The secret was out—and now, it seemed, so was his friendship with Ron.