This story was written in collaboration with my best friend and more often my moral compass Platinum Rose Lady

We solemnly swear that we do not own Harry Potter and his world

Deprogram

Chapter 1

In early July of 1997, after the chaos at Bill and Fleur's wedding Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on the Horocrux hunt. In mid October Hermione had been taken from Hogsmeade during a raid. The war had gone on for almost six months and in February of 1998 after it ended it took them until late into November to account for all the people that were missing. The Death Eaters would have rather died then give up the location of their slave camps and torture chambers.

Most of the Death Eaters were impervious to magical torture so Harry implied a little muggle creativity. Resurrecting a few classic torture techniques from the Spanish Inquisition and ironically the Salem Witch Hunts. For example a device with toothed bars squeezed the victim's testicles until they were destroyed. Another one was having a victim placed straddling a sharp "horse" as extremely heavy weights were tied to his or her legs until the force was so great that it destroyed the area between the legs. Also the Pear; which was a metal pear-shaped object that was shoved inside the mouth, anal cavity or vagina. Once in place the screw at the end was turned and the Pear opened up inside the cavity. This caused much damage and lead to death. The Branks was a mask that had a metal piece that goes in your mouth. The mouth piece has spikes on it, which makes you unable to talk.

Harry's personal favorite was The Judas Cradle. The Judas cradle was a tall, three legged stool with a seat that bore semblance to the top of a pyramid. The naked victim was made to sit on top of this stool, wherein the pointed end of the cradle was inserted into the victim's anus or vagina and his legs were tied together in such a manner that any slight movement of one leg would send searing pain to the other leg as well. His hands would also be bound together and his body would be bound by chains to the corners of the wall. Torturers would rock the stool or cradle causing excruciating pain and bleeding in victim's body. The torturers would also place weights on the victim's legs to intensify the pain. The time taken for the victim to die would depend on the weights attached to the legs. If they want a confession, they would gradually increase the torture rate without allowing the victim to die. Sometimes to prolong torture the victim would be suspended above the device over night, and torture would continue the next morning.

There was also the chair of spikes. The victim would sit in the chair and weights would be applied onto the victim forcing his body into the metal spikes. Another popular form was tying someone to a large wooden wheel, and then pushing it down a rocky hillside. A more elaborate method involved a wheel mounted to an A-frame that allowed it to swing freely. The victim would be tied to the wheel, and then swung across some undesirable thing below - fire was always a good choice, but dragging the victim's flesh across metal spikes also worked well. The wheel itself could also have spikes mounted on it, so the pain came from all directions.

Harry, Ron and Ginny were desperate to find Hermione. All the recent information they came up with was that she was still alive but was last seen in the possession of Lucius Malfoy who had purchased her from a wizard running a muggle slave trade. Even Draco, who had come to the Order, couldn't find her. If she was anywhere only Lucius knew.

So now Lucius became untouchable. He could not be tortured incase he died in the process and he could not be given the Kiss because they still needed to know where Hermione was. Veritaserum didn't work because he was allergic to it. Legillimus was not effective against his Occlumency. The aurors and the Order searched and tried everything. Ginny tore Malfoy Manor to the ground brick by brick. At Bill's wedding Ginny gave Hermione a ring and proposed to her. Hermione accepted, promising Ginny that when the war was over they'd be married. Not knowing where Hermione was took a toll on Ginny, she became reckless and desperate.

Several people tried unsuccessfully to threaten or charm the information out of Lucius to no avail. Harry thought it best if Ginny never saw Lucius because desperate people do desperate things. Draco agreed with Harry and decided to speak to his father on her behalf. Monday morning Draco found himself in a cell face to face with the father he hasn't seen in a year. Even seeing him bound from head to toe, Lucius was still very imposing

"Father." Draco nodded as he sat down

"Draco, what a nice surprise, have you finished betraying your own kind" Lucius said with quiet venom

"I made my choice father and I'm happy with it"

"Well I suppose you are next in line to try and coerce the location of the Mudblood bitch out of me? Let me save you some trouble the answer is no, as soon as Potter finds out where she is I'm as good as dead. I must say it has been entertaining to watch the Weasleys' grovel and beg for the location; even Potter was literally on his knees, kissing my feet. It was delicious." Lucius smirked at the memory

"Father, eventually they will decide you are not worth it and your fate will be sealed. There are far worse things then death or the Kiss" Draco reasoned

"What's in it for me?" Lucius questioned

"What do you want father? Not that you're in a position to negotiate."

"I want to know how far the little blood traitor will go to save her fiancé…I want Ginny Weasley. At my disposal. For twenty-four hours and I want my wand." Lucius reclined back in the hard metal chair of the interrogation room.

"You're mad! Potter will never allow that! And you are aware of what she did to the Manor? She'll do the same to you"

"It's not Potter's decision son. Now run along and convey my demands" Lucius dismissed Draco.

Draco met in Harry's office with the Weasley family and he told them the conversation he had with his father. The reactions were pretty much what he expected. Harry was dead set against it as was Ron and the rest of the Weasley clan. Molly and Arthur were appalled but not surprised that Lucius would even ask such a thing. Ginny sat and thought before standing up quietly

"I'll do it" Ginny said to the shock and protest of the group

"No way am I allowing this" said Harry and Ron

"It's not for you to allow or disallow, she's my fiancée and I will do this" Ginny said with a determined tone

"At least allow me to negotiate some terms…he can do a lot of damage with a wand in 24 hours" Draco pleaded

"It doesn't matter what the terms are…I'll be perfectly fine with him." Ginny replied Confusion spread across the faces of the group as Ginny continued "when Mione accepted my proposal and I place the engagement ring on her finger it evoked a pureblood protection charm. Draco set the meeting up for next Friday…I'll meet him at Azkaban at nine am" with that she walked out of Harry's office leaving everyone else shocked.

Harry turned to the group "ok Ginny is clearly out of her mind I have an idea and it's a long shot but I sent Kreacher and Dobby to scout out possible sites where Lucius could be keeping her, they've been gone almost a week. I'll summon them back and tell them they have until Friday morning. If they don't come up with something by then we have no choice but to let Ginny do what she has to do.