“Is Ms. Granger sure? Dobby doesn’t want such a kind and generous witch risking herself for little old Dobby…”

The house elf was wringing his hands as they sat in Hermione’s room.

“I’m sure, Dobby. You remember what you have to do? Remember you have to make eye contact, or the intention part might not work. Did you get the potion I asked for? And left that last note for Ron’s Dad about the time and place? You said he was after Lucius Malfoy for all the dark artifacts he has, right?”

“Yes, Dobby understands. Dobby got the forgetfulness potion, it was hard for Dobby to get without the Malfoys noticing. Dobby delivered the note a few minutes ago. Master Lucius has just arrived at Diagon Alley. Is Ms. Granger sure that the plan will work?”

Hermione nodded. “It won’t be perfect, but it should be enough. There’s even a potion to make someone look like someone else, Harry told me someone used it to impersonate an Auror one time. I’m sure there’s other ways to do it too. I won’t use any magic, and if they use that truth telling potion then I can tell them honestly that I don’t remember going to Diagon alley! It makes more sense that it would be some political person than me, a random first year Hogwarts student.”

Dobby tugged at his rags nervously but seemed slightly pacified, “And what if the plan fails, and Dobby is not freed?”

Well, “I’ll run off after drinking the potion and hope they think I’m cursed. It’ll be harder next time, but I’m sure we could come up with something else.”

Dobby’s eyes welled up and it looked like he was about to cry again. Hermione quickly held her finger to her lips. “Shhhhh. My parents!”

Dobby sniffled and calmed down, “Right, right. Ms. Granger truly is dedicated. I’ll protect you as much as my orders allow. I can’t believe Ms. Granger is going to such trouble for me, all I wanted was to warn you of the dangers to come…”

“Well, you can tell me everything once you’re free, okay?” Hermione said. She changed into more form fitting modern clothes. She wouldn’t blend in with all the wizards, but at least she wouldn’t be marked as a Hogwarts student. She didn’t have any other robes without the school crest on them, so this was the best she could do.

Hermione took out the two items she had prepared. The pepper spray can she had stolen from her mom’s purse. Her mom had gotten mugged one time, and so had paid extra for it so she could defend herself in the future…

The second item was the filthiest, dirtiest sock she had been able to cultivate over these last two weeks. She shuddered as she considered all the horrible things she had done to the poor thing, and just opening the lid to its box and unwrapping it from the plastic bag it was in sent a massive blast of odor wafting through the room. Hermione winced and coughed as she touched it, but palmed it in her left hand anyways. She would be washing her hands for hours after she was done to feel clean again.

Lucius Malfoy always was holding that cane of his right hand, so she would have to lead with her left hand as the filthy sock was bunched in it. She held to pepper spray at the ready in her right hand slightly behind her back. She would be leaving her wand at home. The Ministry had the Trace to detect when underage people used magic. Hermione wasn't sure how it worked, so she couldn't cast any spells for this or she might get caught.

Dobby shifted and she glanced at him. “Ms. Granger, it’s time. Master Lucius is about to enter Knockturn Alley with the dark artifacts he wants to sell.”

Hermione nodded and took a deep breath. “Alright Dobby, I’m ready.”

Dobby grabbed her knee and suddenly the world twisted. Hermione nearly vomited but held it in as the two reappeared in the dingy corner of an alleyway. A rough looking man eyed them from a few meters away, clutching a bottle of wine. But after a few tense seconds he snorted and stumbled onwards further into the darkness, muttering to himself.

Hermione looked down at Dobby who had let go of her leg. “Alright, Dobby. You sure you can apparate precisely enough for this to work?”

Dobby nodded. “Dobby is sure of it Ms… miss. Dobby has been practicing for this.”

They both tensed as they saw the blonde head of hair come around the corner of the main road. Or what seemed to pass for a main road in this place, the people kept their heads down and everything was dark and dirty here. Dobby and Hermione tensed as Lucius drew closer. She tightened her grip on the disgusting sock in her left hand and the can of pepper spray held behind her back in her right.

The man’s silver headed cane clicked on the stone street as he walked dressed in a pitch black tailored suit. He drew closer, and Hermione realized it was time. She took a shaky breath and prepared herself mentally. She had to pretend the man was the man’s greatest fan. Like Lockhart! Yes, he had blonde hair like Lockhart, she would just pretend that Lucius was like him, the adventurous hero from her novels.

Hermione stepped out of the alley and rushed towards Lucius Malfoy, forcing herself to smile widely.

“Oh my gosh, Mr. Malfoy! It’s such an honor to meet you, I’m your biggest fan!”

The man startled and stopped moving and glanced around in confusion as Hermione rushed at him. She stopped two meters or so away.

“You’ve done so much good work in the ministry, it’s an honor to meet one of your status…”

Hermione stepped closer and stuck out her left hand to Lucius Malfoy. The man blinked and reflexively extended his left hand to meet hers. He still appeared confused and off balance as Hermione had expected. No one in the wizarding world was Lucius Malfoy’s fan, even his allies. She wasn't even sure if the man even had any friends.

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The man smiled slightly, seeming convinced about her act albeit still a little confused, “Do I know you? To think I…”

Their hands touched and Hermione shoved the dirty sock roughly into his palm before withdrawing her hand. The man’s face twisted into disgust and he started to open his hand to shake off the oozing sock from it.

“Ugh! What the…”

Hermione brought her right hand out from behind her back and put her finger on the button of the pepper spray can.

“Now!” She shouted.

There was a crack of air and Dobby appeared mid-air, his arm outstretched below where the sock would fall.

Time seemed to slow. Hermione slowly brought her can around to her front to point it at Lucius. Dobby slowly fell downwards, keeping his hand below where the sock would drop at all times, his large eyes solely fixed on its slowly descending form.

Lucius Malfoy’s face was shocked at the sudden turn of events. But in a flash, realization seemed to wash over him as he saw Dobby diving below him. His face twisted into a snarl and he started to tighten his fist to stop the sock from falling any farther. His eyes glittered with malice as he opened his mouth. Probably to order Dobby to stop doing what he was attempting. Dobby continued to slowly fall to the ground to Hermione’s slowed perception.

Lucius began to form his first word, but was silenced by Hermione's pepper spray blasting into his eyes.

“Gah!”

Lucius’ grip loosened and the sock fell from his hands and landed in Dobby’s waiting hands. Dobby landed roughly in the street, clutching the sock like it was the most precious object in the world. Lucius clutched his face and swore as he stumbled to the side, tears running out from behind his hands. The inhabitants of Knockturn Alley looked on, but did nothing to intervene. A few even pointed and laughed at the scene.

Dobby made his way to his feet, staring at the sock in rapture as Hermione leapt forward which seemed to shock the elf back into motion. Dobby grabbed her hand and the world twisted and Hermione was back at home again.

Dobby stood there in silence staring at his sock in rapture with his big eyes as Hermione leaned over and took deep breaths. She felt like she had run for miles after that.

“Dobby… Dobby is a free elf. Dobby never believed it was possible.”

Hermione looked down at the crying elf.

“It worked?! Alright, it worked!” She shouted.

Hermione pumped her fist in the air and Dobby looked up.

“Alright Dobby, let’s go! We did it!”

— — —

Lucius rubbed his eyes furiously as he drew his wand from his holster and pointed it around blindly.

“Where are you?! Thief! Low life scum, I’ll have your little head for this!” He roared.

Lucius could hear the laughter from the crowd and his pride burned. Not only was his house elf stolen from him, but that bitch had publicly embarrassed him, made him look like a fool. Him!

“Sir, are you alright?”

Still blinking hard, Lucius turned to see two Aurors in blue standing behind him through his blurry vision. He calmed down as he saw them. He would repay this insult in blood, the ministry would help him find that thief!

No longer completely consumed in his rage, he cast a quick and dirty healing spell on himself and his vision cleared as he turned to inspect the spot where the girl had apparated away. She had looked young, like a student. But students that young couldn’t apparate, and house elves were always loyal. Whatever had just happened was an opportunity of the moment, there was no chance the elf had known anything in advance.

“No, I am not alright.” Lucius thundered, “I am a ministry official and I was just attacked and robbed in broad daylight! See what you can find here, I will be speaking to the minister at once.”

The Auror on the left cleared his throat and Malfoy turned back around and focused on them for the first time. The one on the left appeared fresh faced and nervous, but the one on the right… Mad eye Moody? What was he doing here?

The man’s enchanted eye skittered around Lucius’ body and focused on his breast pocket. He rested on his peg leg and his heavily scarred face twisted into an ugly smile as his enchanted eye fixated on something. “Fancy seeing you here in Knockturn alley, Malfoy. Say, you wouldn’t mind showing us what’s in your left breast pocket would you?”

Lucius reflexively put his hand there, confused by the line of questioning before he remembered why he had been here originally. He had been about to offload some of his dark artifacts at Borgins and Burkes before that damn Arthur Weasely managed to get another search of the Malfoy Manor approved.

Lucius slowly drew his hand out of the pocket. “I don’t think I will. I was just attacked and you ask me to empty my pockets like some sort of criminal? Preposterous.”

Mad eye Moody’s twisted smile grew wider. “That’s because you are a criminal, Malfoy. Now, those words were just what I hoped you would say. You’re being detained on suspicion of being in possession of dark artifacts. There was an anonymous tip accusing you of moving to sell them at this very moment.”

Lucius scoffed externally, but internally sweated. Was this all a trap from the beginning? How had his attackers managed to line things up so perfectly?

“That’s… how dare you accuse me of such things! I am an upstanding citizen and a pillar of the community. Do you have any proof of these accusations?”

Mad eye Moody’s enchanted eye spun wildly. “Do I need any proof now? I can see into your pockets with my special little eye Malfoy, don’t think I need much else beyond that. Now are you coming quietly?”

The man tapped his gnarled wooden staff on the stone. “Or will we have to drag you there?”

The man’s tone of voice clearly showed which option he would prefer.

Lucius tried to think of a way out of this, but he was trapped for the moment. He would just have to use his influence after the fact to smooth things over. All his ‘donations’ to the minister should keep him from any serious punishment for something like this. Being found in possession of dark artifacts would be damaging to his reputation but not irrecoverable. Lucius just smelled this as Arthur Weasley’s work.

He didn’t think the weak willed man would be this devious about his plans in setting up the attack to delay and confuse Lucius in preparation for the Aurors arrival. But the man had been relentless in his campaign against Lucius all summer, who else would be motivated enough to do something this blatant?

Lucius sighed and leaned over to pick up his cane and slid his wand back into his holster.

“Very well, I will come quietly. But this is still a travesty of justice. A man is attacked in the street and arrested without the Aurors even attempting to find the perpetrators!”

“Quit yer yapping before I do something I might regret, Malfoy.” Mad eye Moody said, now sounding slightly irritated, “Let’s just get on with it.”

“Fine,” Lucius spat out, “Lead the way then. Enjoy your last days as Aurors. Unbelievable.”

“It’ll take a lot more than the likes of you to stop me from being an Auror, Malfoy,” Mad eye Moody replied

The man grabbed Lucius roughly on the shoulder and seconds later all three of them apparated away to the ministry.

The start of a very long and exhausting day for everyone involved.