Unshed Tears

Summary: Post DH (Ignores the dumb epilogue) Everyone is moving on, Harry and Ron are trying to bring George to his old self while Hermione wants to get her parents back, little does she know of the journey that waits ahead of her, a journey that is drowning her in depression. Will Harry and Ron realize it before its too late? Is Harry going to be there for her just like she was there for him?

Chapter 1

It was now two weeks after the final war; everything seemed peaceful and quiet for a change. The weeks passed were quite depressive owing to funerals, broken families, incurable injuries or deaths due to those injuries – things seemed to be shaping up. People were trying their best to adjust to the trauma and start their lives with a new light and hope. Amidst all these people were The Weasleys who were all trying to cope with the loss of their family member, Fred Weasley; they were not alone in their grief, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger shared it as if their own blood relative was gone. They were grieving hard for Fred, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks along with many other deaths.

George Weasley and Molly Weasley took the death of Fred really hard and were in permanent depression. Everyone tried to keep a brave front for their sake and keep the atmosphere in house as lively as they could manage. Mrs. Weasley calmed down a bit due to return of Percy but death of a child is something that a mother can not overcome easily. Harry and Hermione took turns in providing the desired comfort to each and every member of the family.

After exactly one month, things were shaping up; Harry and Ginny were spending a lot of time together, trying to make up for all the time they missed, Ron and Hermione were still a bit awkward around eachother, they shared occasional kisses but then they would act as if nothing happened. Ron was more focused on his brother George, not that he was trying to replace Fred in his life, but he was trying to be there for him and show him that all is not lost. Hermione meanwhile was getting used to spending these hours without Ginny, Ron and Harry alone and was trying to figure out how to bring up the subject of bringing her parents back. She didn't want to be alone when she went to get her parents but the idea of asking Harry or Ron at the moment seemed a bit selfish to her; Harry just found peace in his life and she knew in her heart that he was done with traveling for now, Ron on the other hand was busy with George and it would be really selfish of her if she went ahead and asked Ron to go with her. "The time is not right", she thought and would drop the idea. She was getting impatient as she really wanted to see her parents and wanted to spend next few months maybe years with them…"Perhaps I should take up sleeping between my parents … I know it will bother them but I don't think I would be able to control myself…I will go to their work as well…I want to spend every waking moment with them…" her thoughts were always along these lines. She never bothered to think about the consequences of her lifting the memory charm; she would conveniently ignore that part and focus on all the things she looked forward to doing with them.

One fine morning, she found Harry and Ron up early in the morning, having some kind of serious discussion…

"Hi…Good morning you two…", Hermione greeted them with a genuine smile on her face.

Harry and Ron both looked a bit sheepish and grinned…"Hey Hermione…We were just discussing George…" it was Harry who replied while Ron stretched his hand for her to take and pulled her to him. She was still standing and took a tumble due to his pull and blushed. Ron put and arm around his waist which was at his face level and continued what Harry started, "Yeah…he is still not out of his depression, so Harry and I were just trying to figure out how to get him out of this depression and get him back to his old self…So Ms. Granger..Any ideas?"

Hermione took a bold step and sat on Ron's lap which caused them both to blush and Harry gave them an uncomfortable smile with a teasing look in his eyes…

"I think you should try to get him to open his shop again…maybe getting back in to his shop will get his mind off stuff…I mean Fred and George always loved working on new jokes or tricks so maybe getting him to work on more jokes etc. would help him … or you know will give him the opportunity to concentrate on something other than fred…" replied Hermione.

Ron raised her hand to his lips and smiled "Brilliant as ever…Hermione…Brilliant as ever…"

It was a bit embarrassing for Hermione to be at the receiving end of such open affections from Ron, not that she was complaining but still it didn't help that she was as red as a red crayon.

Once again Hermione let go of her idea to ask Harry or Ron to accompany her to the trip, she didn't feel right asking Ginny, she was her best friend but she was just not Harry.

"Hmm…that was odd…why did I compare her to Harry only…probably coz' I am sure that it should be Harry to come with me as Weasleys need sometime alone without him and me…" Soon rests of the Weasleys were up and once again everyone got busy in one thing or the other. Harry was off with Ginny, Ron and George got busy with some repairs of the Burrow along with Mr. Weasley and Percy. Harry offered to help but Mr. Weasley just told him to go have fun. Hermione helped Mrs. Weasley with cleaning up the mess and repairing some indoor wreckage that was still left after all the work they've been up to for past few weeks. Mrs. Weasley told her not to bother but then she wouldn't dream of not helping. She considered burrow her second house and never bothered with any formalities. She was more of a family member than some guest.

Later that evening, Harry and Ron took a walk outside, telling everyone that they were going to finish off some work in the shed. Unknown to everyone, Harry and Ron have been planning a short vacation to cheer up George. They were trying to keep it a guy's thing only, that's why they didn't share it with either Ginny or Hermione. Unbeknownst to them Ginny was aware of their plans all along, thanks to the extendable ears. This short vacation was supposed to be for only George, Harry and Ron. Harry kept bringing up Ginny and Hermione that how made will they be once they found out.

"Yeah but Hermione is understanding, she knows how depressive George is and since he is not really that close with Hermione so taking her would probably create an uncomfortable environment while Ginny on the other hand will take it hard as she just got her hands on you after almost two whole years … can you imagine how much time passed during our mission … anyway Ginny should stay back for Hermione's sake or Hermione will feel awkward…we can come back and deal with their wrath…we face Voldermort man…time to face angry women now…" joked Ron. Harry agreed with Ron and did think over how much time has gone by, and how much of his time was spent around Ron and Hermione. The idea of him leaving with Ron and George for another trip without Hermione seemed a bit odd to him as if he was doing something bizarre, something so out of ordinary that he could not really place who really was ordinary. It just seemed odd to him that Hermione won't be with him on this trip, a trip which had nothing to do with a mission or war or anything dangerous…it was trip where they wanted to have fun, go fishing, enjoy the beach, party like normal guys and they planned on doing all this in muggle world where they will not be recognized and can relax without people bothering them for interviews or pictures etc. The idea seemed like a dream come true.

Ginny knew of their plans, every detail of their plan and did not share it with Hermione. She wanted to confront them on this thing but then decided to give Harry sometime to come forward anyway, if not then they were in for a surprise, she also had a plan – Ginny had full intention of joining the three and that's what her plan was all about, joining Harry, Ron and George on this small trip. She did not share it with Hermione because like Ron said it will be a bit awkward and hard for George to open up, while she was his and Ron's sister and Harry's girl friend therefore there was no room for awkwardness with her being with them besides she felt it was her chance to get a break from depressive atmosphere in the house as well.

Hermione was getting a bit impatient in Ginny's room, she had been dropping subtle hints about her parents every now and then for Harry or Ron to pick up on…ok Ron was not good at taking hints, atleast Harry should pick up on her hints to get back together with her parents. Her frustration with the situation made her scream and cry whenever she was alone, ofcourse she would cast silencing spell, every time she felt like screaming her heart out. She finally decided to be forward and go after her parents, with or without them, she ofcourse was going to ask them because deep down she – Hermione Granger was scared of taking this trip alone.

Harry and Ron discussed the idea of taking a short trip with George that night and he immediately went for it. He too needed a break from everything around him, he felt suffocated the way everything was around him, he felt like his family members were being extra careful around him, Bill and Charlie made and effort to make an appearance everyday for his sake as if he was something fragile, Hermione took up patting his back whenever she found herself alone with him and would say one or two encouraging words or a brief hug and would leave, those small moments seemed a bit too long to George, those particular moments were the one when he truly felt alone, he knew Hermione meant well but it was just awkward. Percy was all the time feeling guilty even though George had forgiven him a thousand times, Percy was still sheepish around him and extra loving, that again was awkward. Ron, Ginny and Harry were the only ones who were relaxed around him and things never seemed different with them around.

Thinking on those lines, George found this short trip to be a blessing and couldn't wait to get out of this depressive hole. Harry and Ron had arranged for a portkey through Ms. McGonagall which arrived early next day at around 6 in the morning. They were to leave at sharp 9 that very night which gave the guys plenty of time to pack. Harry still had not shared the idea with Ginny or Hermione for that matter, therefore Ginny was forced to take up her backup plan – she stole Harry's invisibility cloak, packed her stuff, wrote a letter to Hermione and was all set to leave with the guys. Harry meanwhile felt bad for not sharing this with Hermione therefore he wrote a letter to Hermione and left a small message for Ginny in that letter.

Ron and George left a letter for their family and everyone was all set to leave. At sharp 9 when it was time to grab the portkey which was a cowboy Hat, Ginny sneaked in and put her hand on the hat along with the boys…it was too late before Harry and George felt another set of hands on the hat.