Disclaimer: This story takes place in an alternate universe. I do not have nearly the HP knowledge as a lot of people and apologize if I mess things up canon wise. Please do not message me wanting to tell me how this is not how it happened in Harry Potter.

“That was the fourth attack this week. Harry they almost killed the Hogwarts students who visited last night when those Death Eaters attacked that Quidditch game.” Ginny screamed.

“Love, we cannot assume Draco is behind this. He saw the errors of his ways. He has spent the last few years trying to make amends for what his parents thrusted him into.” Harry retorted.

“As head Auror. You need to come down on him hard!” Ginny spat livid by her husband’s lack of anger towards the Slytherin Snob.

“I will not hear another word. We have it under control! “Harry retorted angrily.

“Fine, if you will not do anything then I will find someone who will! I will not put my kid’s life in danger!” Ginny fumed out. She was so irate that she picked up her wand and stormed out of the house making sure to cast the door with a slam curse. Crap, Harry thought now they would continuously slam the door she left from for the duration of the spell. Sometimes he wished he was a muggle. It only took five slams before Harry scrambled to get his wand and aim it at the door to stop the spell. These fights were becoming more common ever since this new iteration of the Death Eaters started attacking targets.

Harry lamented the fact that his wife was a professional Quidditch player for the Harpies. She had an aggressive streak in her and he knew it would not die down until it was dealt with.

The Ministry of Magic.

Ministry Auror’s Office of Hermione Wesley.

Hermione was nose deep in eight open books she was reading. Moving from one to another with grace.

She did not look up when the door opened but did acknowledge Ginny when she entered her office.

“Ginny what brings you to my office, at this time of night?” Hermione asked confusedly.

“You know damn well what! Why is Harry letting Draco off the hook? I know it is him; his family has always loved the Death Eaters.” Ginny spat.

“I know, I am trying to find a way to bring an investigation on him but, none of the Aurors want anything to do with that. If only I had a confession” Hermione remarked.

“Will Ron not help?”, Ginny asked about her brother.

“He told me they will not harass him without proof and that Draco has changed. He cut most ties with a lot of the families that were responsible for the return of Voldemort” Hermione explained.

“Hermione, I do not trust him!” Ginny spat still angry.

“I tend to agree. I have been researching Draco’s activities. About two months before the Death Eater attacks began. Draco began buying magical artifacts. Like he was amassing weapons for another wizarding war. Harry and Ron said that it was just another phase, and that Draco has even shown them some of the artifacts as vanity pieces. They said he is not hiding anything. “Hermione explained.

Ginny secretly hated the fact that her brother, Harry, and Draco were so close, even watching Quidditch games together at Malfoy Manor.

Ginny eyes lit up when Hermione explained that Draco was showing them artifacts he was purchasing.

“Hermione that’s it!” She declared with excitement.

“What’s it?” Hermione asked back giving Ginny her standard furrowing of her brow.

“Last week Draco showed Harry an artifact, a set of rings, that when work would cause all around the immediate vicinity to tell all their most secret thoughts.” Ginny explained.

“Do they work? Is it real?” Hermione asked.

“I do not know. Harry did not let Draco put them on and refused to put them on when Draco asked. “Ginny said sadly.

“Ron did not tell me that Draco was hoarding artifacts. Draco is supposed to report all acquired artifacts to the Ministry of Magic.” Hermione said, growing angrier.

Hermione waved her wand in the air and chants, Revocamen!

The second she cast the spell a large book appears on her desk out of mid-air.

“Here let’s see if Mr. Malfoy registered his toys. Ah-ha! He did! Here we go. Rings of The Tortured Soul?” Hermione reads aloud trying to ascertain the artifact.

“Says here that the rings will free people around the wearer to let go the secrets that torture their very soul. Hermione then adds that it goes on to say later that the rings will make those around them show their true colors. Very Interesting’ Hermione says as she reads this information and the gears in her head start churning.

“Well surely something that powerful should not rest in the hands of one person That needs to be at the Ministry.”, Ginny declared with a smirk on her face.

“Well, if our men will not deal with this perhaps it is time the women take matters into our own hands. I have an idea, but we will need the invisibility cloak from Harry. Meet me just outside the ministry in one hour I must get some things before we go.” Hermione exclaimed.

Malfoy Manor.

Hermione smirked as she used her Polyjuice potion to look just like Draco’s wife. This was too good. To top it off she had Ginny in tow who was under the invisibility cloak. They looked around only to see a rectangular velvet covered box on Draco’s desk. The pair grabbed it and opened it up.

“Hurry, hurry let’s put them on.” Hermione whispered behind her.

“Do I really have to take off my wedding ring to get them to work?” Ginny whispered in an annoyed voice.

“Yes, the Registry was clear they only work on your wedding finger and only if it is the only ring.”

A hand seemingly appeared out of mid-air and grabbed one of the rings. Hermione had replaced two rings that were charmed to look like replicas of the real thing. The spell would last 72 hours, by then Hermione told herself they would have Draco in custody and the rest of this would not matter.

Ginny took a second before removing her wedding ring and placing the ring of the tortured soul in her hand. She immediately felt a surge of energy coarse through her veins.

Hermione saw what Ginny did not, that when she placed the ring on her finger a bubble of green energy appeared around the size of the room before dissipating.

The pair left, proud of their “perfect caper”. Draco smirked from a dark room. He watched the entirety of their intrusion into his home as the pair had just fallen into his trap. He sipped his scotch and spoke to no one in particular in contemplation.

“Now it’s my turn, Potter” Draco spat out in his old evil tenor.

The Ministry of Magic

Draco entered the office of Hermione who asked him if he would prepare a statement of what he was doing during the attack on the Quidditch game. Draco of course agreed.

“Thank you for agreeing to do this. I know you had nothing to do with the attack, but this will make your life easier if we formally take your name out of the equation. “Hermione offered.

“Well, that is very considerate of you. You know there are people these days who just have no consideration of their fellow wizards, why just last night one of the artifacts I had was stolen from me.” Draco said softly.

Hermione’s eyes almost betrayed her as he mentioned this. She got so scared she instinctively lowered her hands under her desk.

“I hope you reported it to the proper authorities.” Hermione countered.

“I did, in addition to informing you. I was hoping you would discern who stole my rings. But that is not why I am here. You wanted to ask me some questions. Ask away.” Draco added by crossing his legs casually in the chair in front of Hermione’s desk.

Hermione felt very uneasy as she realized she might have gotten both her and Ginny into a pickle.

“Very Well, let us begin. Are you, Draco Malfoy, a member of the self-proclaimed Death Eaters that attacked at the Quidditch match two nights ago?” Hermione asked.

“No ... but I did look. I also got a long, good look at your gorgeous legs.” Draco answered and looked confused as he did not realize what had just happened. It was an act of course. A ruse to convince Hermione that the rings worked. He planted that description in the Ministry books specifically for this moment, his plans depended on it.

“Excu- Never mind.” Hermione was shocked and was about to tell Draco off but then remembered she was wearing the ring, and it was compelling him to tell his innermost secrets. At least it was working, Hermione thought to herself. He also said he was not a member of the Death Eaters that attacked the Quidditch games, Hermione pondered.

“Do you know who is?” Hermione asked.

“Yes, someone from Hogwarts. I saw one of the socks the Death Eaters were wearing, it was one of the green and white socks of a fellow Slytherin.

“How can you be sure Draco?” Hermione posited back.

“Seriously, the other three levels are not very adept at unethical deception. Our house has that in spades. I doubt a Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, nor Hufflepuff, would have the wherewithal to become Death Eaters then wear socks to blame House Slytherin. And if they did, I would imagine you would know suspects in those houses better than me. Draco exhaled a sigh as he looked forward to Hermione.

“Oh, well that is helpful. Do you plan to kill Harry Potter?” Hermione asked Draco.

“No. Absolutely not, believe me when I tell you the last thing, I ever want to do in this world is kill him” Draco said, while thinking death is too nice for him. What he planned was much more diabolical.

“Do you think his wife is attractive?” Hermione asked with a grin.

“Absolutely yes, I often had dreams of ravaging her body as well as yours. I dream of how her smooth legs would feel squeezing against my hips.” Draco said and again looked confused. Hermione realized she might tip his hand and realizes she has the ring. She cleared her throat and hurriedly ended the interview.

“Well. Thank you, Draco, you have been more than a good sport. You are free to leave. “Hermione said dismissing Draco.

Ten Minutes Later.

She got a call from Ginny who was hysterical. “Hermione, I think I am being followed and am too scared to come alone. Can you pick me up so we can talk about the meeting with Draco?”

“Sure, let me get my things. Stay right there! “Hermione said.

Hermione got to her car and stopped. She noticed that a homeless person had been eyeing her across the street. He kind of looked like that police sketch she saw on tv a couple of nights past. She started getting visions of being attacked and stabbed. Then she saw a hornet’s nest on the roof. She hated hornets. They always seemed to know when she was near. Hermione took a deep breath. She needed a plan so as not provoke the hornets. If they saw her, surely, they would start stinging her. She was paralyzed. In the end, Hermione got down on all fours and crawled behind a parked car on the way to hers. She justified her actions by telling herself that she had to get down low enough so the hornets would not be able to see her.

It took about forty minutes to drive and pick up Ginny. When she entered the house Ginny was curled up in the corner in her own kitchen. Hermione informed Ginny that they needed to return the rings. She also broke the news that Draco was clean.

“Are you sure?” Ginny asked.

“Yes, that poor man told me things no person in their right mind would. The Ring worked; he just did not do it Ginny. I am sorry.” Hermione explained.

“I was sure he was a part of it.” Ginny responded with a perplexed look on her face.

“Fair Enough. But we must get back to Malfoy Manor before he realizes it was us that stole them” Hermione said.

“Wait he knows they were stolen? Ginny asked in a worried voice.

“Yes, but he does not suspect us, and he never will if we sneak back inside the house and put them back before the fake rings’ spell wears off.”

“Ok let me get my purse, but can you drive. I do not like the way people are driving outside.” Ginny uttered with a tone of apprehension.

“You know you are right let’s take the bus.” Hermione countered, thinking that this was a perfectly normal thought.

“That is a wonderful idea Hermione.”

Wiltshire, England

Malfoy Manor

The pair held each other for support for the duration of the entire ride to Wiltshire. The two witches were on the cusp of leaving the bus when they started to itch.

“Remind me to wash this sweater when we get back home Hermione” Ginny said as she reached back and scratched the back of her own neck.

“Strange? My sweater itches too, must be something in the air.” Hermione reasoned.

The pair made the long walk to the outskirts to Malfoy Manor. The problem was that Ginny was scared, she kept pulling the cloak too tight causing her feet to show through the bottom of the invisibility cloak. Hermione was concentrating so hard that she did not realize she did not drink Polyjuice potion. She knew if they could just return the rings then they would be home free.

Hermione timed their arrival well as it was late into the night by the time they arrived at the manor. Hermione cast a spell used by burglars, “Clavis Apparent”. A key appeared out of nowhere in her hand. She deftly unlocked the door with the key and the door opened. Little did she know it was only because Draco disarmed all the normal curses and protections his manor possessed.

Draco sat in a very dark section of the manor where drank his port and looked on with amusement. Ginny under the cloak let out a loud breath of exhale as they entered the “Safety of the Manor”, which caused Draco to barely suppress a chuckle.

Finally, Draco ended it before it got any further. “We can stop the charade Hermione and If I had to guess Ginny?”

Ginny sighed and took off the invisibility cloak. Hermione turned around and tried to explain.

“Draco I can explain everything. We were looking for a lead on the Death Eaters and we were trying to eliminate suspects. When I saw the rings in the registry...” Hermione tried to explain to a red-faced Draco.

“Typical Mugblood. Steal from my family and then lie to my face. You think I am a fool.” Draco declared in disgust.

“No. No. I am not lying” Hermione tried to interject.

“You are ... Wait, you stole the rings to get to me. You thought you would get me to admit to being part of that attack. After all I have done. Your lot will never trust me!”, Draco barked angrily.

“Draco it was me! I was so angry.” Ginny tried to plea.

“That ring made me tell Hermione how much I want to fuck both of you. You know how embarrassing that is. To tell a married woman of your friend that you want to feel her legs around you. You denied me even the dignity of keeping it to myself!” Draco barked. But on the inside, he was laughing, as the rings they took had no truth-telling properties, but they did contain another type of strong magic. Magic that all items of the Manor possessed.