linux hardlinks

Okay so I understand that this is a relatively Novice question about linux however in any case concerning hardlinks, If I create a hardlink to an existing file, then delete the original then the data is still saved under the new file correct? So then in that case when i created the second file did it actually increase the space used up on the hard drive? say we have file1 = original file2 = hardlink to file 1. when you instantiate file2 creating it does that increase the space used on the disk (meaning do you double the space used because you now have 2 nearly identical files, obviously i understand that they share the same inode and file2 requires a little space for it's metadata)? then when you are deleting the file the disk space is not truly recovered until the inode is freed correct? sorry about asking beginner questions I just need to get some things cleared up.