Disclaimer: JKR owns it all.

A/N: Sorry to everyone who got two notices about this chapter. I downloaded the wrong one and then had to delete it quickly. This one is the real deal. Enjoy!

Twisted Roots

Chapter 9

Hogsmeade was bustling with activity as Hermione, Ron, and Harry made their way through town to meet with Ginny and Luna at the Three Broomsticks. Hermione was extremely pleased to see the Hogwarts students out and about. For the first couple of months after the Battle she worried that Hogsmeade would not recover from the war but now it was as bright and festive as ever. The day was pleasantly warm and Hermione was looking forward to seeing her friends. If only she wasn't about to have an uncomfortable talk with Ginny about Ron, the day would be perfect.

True to her word, Hermione was taking Harry's request to give Ron one last chance seriously. Ron was being nice and trying to put a little more effort in taking interest in Hermione's life. His eyes would still glaze over when she started in on work but he at least stopped talking about what other things she could be doing with her life instead, and that was a bonus. Hermione was content to let Ron amble on about his job at leisure because there were things happening at her office that had nothing to do with work that she wasn't ready to talk to Ron about.

Hermione had been revisiting that lunch hour with Draco constantly since it had happened. Her over-analytical mind was reprocessing each detail. She was still in shock that he had broken down so completely after only being on speaking terms with her for a couple of weeks. She was one hundred percent sure of her trust in him and that was a little scary for her. She wasn't embarrassed at all about confessing her feelings about Ron and was glad that she had. That afternoon after their conversation she was worried he might get shy around her but that didn't happen. They didn't have any opportunities to talk but he would say hello, or nod in her direction when they saw each other, so she guessed he was comfortable with the exchange as well. The feeling was wonderful to Hermione. She even confessed to Harry a little bit about what had happened in the break room without divulging all the details. Harry was still apprehensive about their friendship and kept pointing out that they used to be enemies and how strange it was for them to become friends so quickly and naturally. Hermione only had to remind him that he and Ron were quite nasty to her before they became friends to shut him up. The one thing she didn't point out to Harry was that her friendship with Ron was always a little rocky and she had never felt as confident in their relationship as she already did with Draco.

Hermione was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize they had reached their destination until she felt Ron gently touch her lower back to push her through the door. She quickly scanned the room for her friends and almost instantly she saw the vibrant red hair of Ginny bobbing across the sea of people to leap into Harry's arms. Hermione laughed as they almost fell to the floor in their tangled embrace. Hermione couldn't recall ever feeling that happy to see someone.

"Alright, enough you two." Ron said pulling his sister away from Harry.

"Oh, I am so happy to see all of you!" Ginny exclaimed giving Hermione a big hug too.

"It's only been a couple of weeks, Gin." Hermione said laughing. "Where's Luna?" Hermione was sweeping her eyes over the tables trying to find Luna's tell-tale blonde hair.

"We have a table back in the corner, and guess what? Luna has a visitor too!" Ginny said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Before anyone could even ask her who though she yelped, "Luna and Neville are going out!"

"Really? That's great!" exclaimed Hermione. She really liked Neville and was happy for him and Luna.

Ron however, made a weird choking sound that was halfway between a scoff and a laugh.

"What?" Hermione and Ginny snapped at the same time.

"Neville? And Luna? I don't know it's just weird. I never pictured them with anyone let alone each other." He said.

"Well, I think it's sweet and they seem really well suited for each other. You are just immature." Ginny said pointedly leading them to the table where the happy couple sat holding hands and talking quietly with their heads bent close. Luna looked up just as they approached and stared at the three newcomers with that spacey, faraway look of hers but she broke into a broad grin at the disgruntled look on Ron's face.

"Hello Ronald. You look like you have a wrackspurt problem." She said nonchalantly. That comment just made Ron frown even further while everyone else laughed.

After spending a few minutes giving each other the proper greetings and getting drinks the conversation turned to work and school.

"So, in the end taking the Herbology apprenticeship was the best offer I got." Neville was saying about working at Hogwarts with Professor Sprout. "and to make it even better, I get to see some of my friends all the time." He said sweetly smiling at Luna who smiled serenely back, a look of utter adoration in her large blue eyes. Ron noticed Hermione looking at them with a peaceful expression on her face and put his arm around her and pulled her close. Normally, that gesture would have been nice for Hermione but this time it just made her uncomfortable and reminded her of the much needed talk she wanted to have with Ginny.

"Speaking of friends," Ron said sarcastically, "Malfoy's working on the same floor as Hermione at the ministry."

"Oh, really? I always thought that Draco Malfoy was a bit of a lost soul." Luna said wisely. The comment garnered her some strange looks from around the table but Hermione thought that maybe it would be a good idea to include Luna in the conversation she needed to have as well. Her perceptiveness would be useful.

"Lost soul, my foot. He's a prat and he probably hates being there." Ron snorted.

"Ron, when are you going to let things go?" Hermione snapped, "Actually I have talked to him a few times and he is very interested in his job. I think in the end he will be very glad that he was assigned to work there."

Ron glared at Hermione and Harry shifted a little in his seat, clearly uncomfortable.

"What do you mean you've talked to him? What do you have to say to each other?" Ron said angrily.

"Oh, don't get jealous Ron. We work together, we have been getting to know each other, and I think Luna is right. He just needs to find some positive direction for his life." Hermione retorted shifting away from him.

"So, now you're fraternizing with the enemy?" Ron said nastily. Hermione bristled in response. He said the same damn thing about Krum and it had made her angry then too.

"Ron, let it go." Harry said trying to diffuse the situation.

"Ginny, Luna, I want to go to Twilfit and Tattings to look at new robes. Will you please come with me, I could use some girl time." Hermione said quickly, desperate to get away from the conversation. Ginny looked at Hermione closely for a moment and then nodded.

The girls left the Three Broomsticks just as Ron rounded on Harry about defending Hermione's behavior with Malfoy. Hermione decided just then that she would never talk to Ron about Draco because she didn't want him to spoil what could be a good thing for everyone with his bad attitude. Once they were outside the pub and away from the largest groups of milling students, Ginny rounded on Hermione.

"Spill." She ordered. Hermione knew that Ginny would sense something was up and was very glad to talk to her; even it was about her brother.

"It's complicated." Hermione started.

"Does it have something to do with Ron and Draco?" Luna asked.

"Yes to Ron, not really to Draco." Hermione said leaning against the wall of the nearest shop. "Ginny, I need to talk about this with you really badly but I need you to promise me you won't get mad or hate me." Hermione pleaded.

"You want to break up with Ron don't you?" She said concerned.

"I have been thinking about it." Hermione admitted. "It's just that there really is no passion in our relationship and I know he doesn't realize he does it but his lack of interest in what I want out of my life is really frustrating. He is really imperceptive to who I am as a person. I know he doesn't mean to be that way but I just feel like he will never really know me. I would honestly rather be on my own than with someone who doesn't understand me, and he definitely doesn't." Hermione finished.

"I can see that. You know, I never really knew why you two got together in the first place. I was very surprised." Luna stated serenely.

"Yeah, but Hermione, I thought you loved him? I know he is a little pushy about you being just like mum but he loves you too and means well. Are you sure about this?" Ginny asked.

"I do love him Ginny. And up until Australia I believed that things could really work, but since we, uh… you know," Hermione blushed and Ginny nodded rolling her eyes, "I realize that what I feel for him is really sisterly. And it is kind of wrong for us to be together that way. I feel incestuous and dirty and it's terrible. If anybody could understand those feelings, you could Ginny." Hermione stated starting to cry. "He is just not right for me and I know it! But I don't want to have the whole Weasley family hate me."

Ginny put her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly. "Well, if you put it that way you need to break it off with him. It isn't fair to either of you. Mum'll be uptight about it for awhile but I will always be your friend. And Ron will eventually come around. It's okay, we will get through this." Ginny reassured.

Hermione dried her eyes. She was so relieved that Ginny understood. Harry said she woul d be but Hermione had her doubts. "Thanks Ginny."

"Do you know when you are going to do this?" She asked.

"Well, I promised Harry I would give him one more chance to make things work. He promised that he would be completely supportive if I dumped him when Ron makes his next big mistake. Which he almost made today starting in about Malfoy again. I should probably do it sometime this week though. I don't want to celebrate my birthday with Ron knowing that I am going to break up with him." Hermione said.

"That's probably a good idea. Mum will be in a right state for awhile." Ginny admitted. "And now what is this business with Malfoy? Does he have something to do with all of this?" She demanded.

"Yes, I was wondering that too." Said Luna. "Although, I do think that breaking up with Ron is a good idea. He is rather insensitive"

"Draco and I have just been talking at work. We have been getting to know each other and I'm glad we are." She said simply. Ginny was frowning a little but she didn't look angry. Hermione was not really willing to say anything more about it.

"Well Hermione, I am very glad that you are making friends with Draco Malfoy. He seems much better suited to you." Luna stated matter-of-factly. Ginny furrowed her brow thoughtfully but she didn't say anything.

"Oh Luna…" Hermione said with a mixture of exasperation and admiration.

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The prison was just as gloomy and uncomfortable in the visitor's room as it was in the cells. The walls looked the same complete with leaking water running through the ceiling. The window was high and barred just like in a cell, and the smell of the salty sea air made Draco's stomach turn uncomfortably. He used to love visiting the sea when he was younger, now he wasn't sure if he would ever derive pleasure from the smell of the ocean again in his life. Draco's father was sitting imperiously in front of him at the dirty table. The hard knocks that prison served had wreaked havoc on his physical appearance but his stately manner was as of yet untouched.

"It is about time you came to see me Draco." Lucius stated.

"Sorry about that Father. I have been busy with my probation." Draco said unwilling to look directly at his father. His hair was dirty and slightly matted. His eyes were sunken from months of being underfed. In fact, Lucius looked slightly worse now than he did after having spent a whole year in prison the first time.

"How is that job going? Your mother tells me that you aren't as unhappy as everyone had expected."

Draco looked at him then. "It's not as bad as I expected. It's made me think about a lot of things."

"Such as?" Lucius asked.

"The war, you, Mother, me. Why we were involved. I have been asking Mother how we came to be a part of the Dark Lord's circle and she said I had to ask you." Draco said hoping for an answer.

"Hm. I thought I made it perfectly clear to you growing up that muggle-borns and mudbloods are blight to our society. And it was about power." Lucius said impatiently.

"Don't say mudblood." Draco demanded.

"And don't tell me what to do. I am your father and you will show me respect." Lucius snarled. "What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing Father. I mean I don't know. I just don't understand anything anymore. I want to know why you believe what you believe. I know a lot of Purebloods that are complete magical catastrophes and a lot of muggle-borns that are quite brilliant. All my life I have been parroting your beliefs without questioning any of it, but I don't understand how being involved with all of this was right thing to do! Look at you Father! This is not a holiday resort!" Draco was up and pacing. "If you could look me right in the eye and tell me that it was not about the purity of blood, it was just about your desire for more power I might be able to understand! If you could swear to me under veritaserum that we have not one drop of muggle blood in our family I would understand. I would even understand if there was some major slight to the family name done by a muggle, but you have never given me any of those kinds of explanations."

Lucius watched his son pace in front of him with a calculating gaze. Draco was asking all the questions he never cared to ask when he was growing up. Draco was a smart young man and Lucius had seen his doubts early on. Lucius would have pulled Draco away from all of the nonsense if he could have but it would cost all of his family their lives if he didn't offer his son to the Dark Lord in exchange for failing to retrieve the prophecy. Lucius was angered by his son's disrespect but he was not surprised. Draco was right, and he knew it. But Lucius had twenty something more years of believing the wrong thing and it would be harder for him to turn his back on those attitudes.

"Sit down." Lucius ordered.

Draco glared at him for a moment and then sat.

"I have no answers for you Draco. I won't say I was right but I can't tell you what you want to hear either." He said.

"If you can sit there and tell me that following a belief system that landed you in Azkaban and disgraced your name, was worth it then we have nothing to talk about in the first place, Father." Draco said coldly. He stared straight into his father's eyes for a full minute. When Lucius was still either unable or unwilling to respond Draco got up and walked out without a backward glance.

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Draco was fuming. He didn't expect his father to have a change of heart like he did but he was hoping that he would have something, anything to say about the whole thing. Draco loved his father but he was worried that their differences might lead to an irreparable separation. He didn't want that but he didn't want to be associated with the Death Eaters anymore either. Draco didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to go home and scrub the stink of Azkaban out of his skin and have some drinks with his Blaise.

Blaise was more than happy to oblige Draco's request. They had not spoken all week and he was sick of Pansy pestering him to get Draco to forgive her so he brought her over along with Daphne Greengrass and Theo Nott. Theo was another Death Eater's son and Draco was a little worried about how he was going to behave. Draco did not have false hope that everyone in his generation was going to learn from their mistakes. Before the group could even make it to the parlor Pansy cornered Draco and asked to speak to him privately.

"Draco, I am really sorry about what I said a couple of weeks ago." She said.

"Forget it Pansy, it's really no big deal." Draco replied moving to walk away but she stopped him by grabbing his hand. He quickly pulled it away but he did stop.

"I just don't understand what has gotten into you. I was always there for you. Why aren't you letting me near you now?"

"It's just not the same anymore20Pansy. I am not the same person I used to be and I don't want to keep doing the same old things. Look, I just want to have some fun with my friends. Can you do that, or am I going to have to ask you to leave?" He said.

"I heard that you got together with Daphne. Is that true?" She demanded.

Draco very nearly lied to her but he decided honesty was the order of the day lately. "Yes Pansy we went out a few times but I am not anymore interested in pursuing a relationship with her than I am with you. I need to be with someone who is my intellectual equal, and can understand the kinds of things I have been through and neither of you are it." He realized that was harsh but he didn't care.

She frowned at him as if she didn't believe him. Draco imagined that she didn't. Daphne was a very beautiful girl with flowing blonde hair and pouty lips. Draco was impressed by that a few weeks ago when he was just out of jail and needy but now those things had no appeal for him now. He kept thinking about warm brown eyes and soft curls framing a very kind face. He mentally shook himself. Whoa Draco, he told himself, Granger is your friend but nothing more. But she could be, maybe.

Pansy watched Draco's eyes slide out of focus. "What are you thinking about Draco?" She asked softly.

"Nothing, come on everyone is waiting." Draco walked away from her and entered the parlor. Daphne patted the seat next to her for him to sit down but Draco opted to stand by the mini bar and poured himself a drink.

"So Theo's cousin is that girl Gwenda you work with." Blaise was saying.

"Is that right?" Draco said to Theo.

"Yeah, only Hufflepuff the family has had in ages but she's a good kid. She seems to like you. Talks about you enough." Theo said.

"Yeah she's nice I guess. Chews too much gum though." Draco said nonchalantly.

"She also says that you're pretty friendly with that Granger girl. Is that true?" Theo asked a little dangerously. Pansy and Daphne both looked at Draco intently. Blaise pretended he was bored with the whole thing but Draco could tell he was interested in his answer.

"We have talked a few times, yeah." Draco said cautiously.

"You have talked?" Daphne scoffed. "I thought you hated her."

"Well, I don't. I don't know if I ever really did. She was just an easy target." Draco said honestly. Blaise looked at him and could see his eyes darkening and quickly changed the subject.

"Come on mates, let's talk about something else. This conversation is boring me." Blaise said.

Draco looked at him gratefully as he launched into a discussion about the latest Quidditch match he had seen. Draco was going to have to have a talk with Blaise about who he invited over to his house. He also suspected that Daphne was starting to like him a lot and he would have to nip that in the bud too. He was beginning to realize that he didn't enjoy the company of his old friends anymore. He was much happi er when he was alone, or with Hermione. Even though the few long conversations he had with her were pretty intense he still preferred that over pandering to people he didn't really like anymore. However, in order to keep up appearances, Draco laughed and talked at the right times, while letting his mind wander to the conversation he had with his father, and then to work, and eventually to Hermione.

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A/N: Thanks to those of you who have reviewed and added my story to your alerts. Your reviews are really helpful and if you would prefer to PM me from my profile page that is okay too. Thanks for reading!!!