Ron sat in the living room of the Burrow, an arm around Hermione as she sat next to him. Everything was starting to settle; the war was over, Voldemort was dead. It's been two months since he'd fallen, things were finally starting to get back to normal. Fred's funeral was the week after the war, everyone was crying, George almost didn't let the casket get lowered into the ground. He's been depressed since, taking Ron and Lee Jordan's help at the joke shop. Hermione came to stay at the Burrow with them, deciding to let her parents stay on vacation for a while longer. She only wanted to give their memories back after she was emotionally stable. Harry was with them, too, but kept mostly to himself and Ginny, just how Ron and Hermione were. It was late, and Ron nor Hermione could sleep. So they sat in silence, staring at the fire as they leaned into each other tiredly.

"Ron?" Hermione started. She tried to break the silence but both she and Ron knew that she had nothing to actually say.

"Mm?"

"When do you think it will get back to normal?" The sat in silence for ten minutes trying to figure out what 'normal' even meant. And then it hit them. Everything, for the first time in their lives had completely changed. Hermione tried to speak again. "We just...we need to be there for Harry."

"Yeah" They sat in silence again, each lost in thought. The war had changed them, but they had been fighting for so long, growing up simultaneously.

Ron hugged Hermione closer, sighing softly. He turned his head and kissed her temple, resting his mouth and nose into her hair as he closed his eyes. "Do you know what time it is?" he whispered, rubbing her shoulder.

"Half past midnight." She said, looking at her watch. "We should probably be getting to bed. But we need to talk to Harry about this tomorrow."

"Night 'Mione" Ron grinned as they reached the landing with the room she was sharing with Ginny, and he went up to his.

The next day, Hermione woke up with a purpose, feeling better. She knew that the only way to get rid of this mindset was to change her attitude. Breakfast at the Burrow was a much quieter event now days, but Hermione still tried to be as friendly as possible. Smiling and talking to everyone, trying to break the sounds of just forks hitting plates. After breakfast Hermione met Harry & Ron in the lawn.

"Harry.." She began.

"Hermione." He interrupted her. "I know what you're trying to do, but I need time."

"You've had time, mate." interjected Ron, jumping to Hermione's aid. "I've been out of it too, but Hermione and I were talking yesterday, and we're really going to try to get back to normal."

"I want us to try to forget for a while, just long enough to be happy and back to our normal selves, not worrying about anything." Ron said quietly.

"I...can't." replied Harry.

"We'll help you, Harry." replied Hermione kindly. Harry ignored this. "Ron I thought you would understand...your brother."

"I miss him everyday," nodded Ron seriously, "But we can't dwell on this forever. I just want us to be happy again, I hate not being able to sleep and I hate seeing you and Ginny and 'Mione and my whole family just depressed all the time. it's all about taking baby steps mate, you've got to. For us." Ron went on. Hermione nodded, and went to go hug Harry. Ron nodded as Hermione did, watching her as she hugged him.

At long last Harry agreed. "I want to get better," he admitted.

Ron smiled, nodding. "Good."

Hermione smiled, "and you will" she added gently. Harry's long expressionless face broke out into the first true grin they'd seen in weeks.