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Detour
England, The Burrow near Barnsley in South Yorkshire
"I demand to see Ronald Weasley," I snarled, standing stubbornly planted in the entry hall. I had refused all offers of hospitality and was finding it difficult to keep my wand tucked in its sleeve sheath in the face of five shocked and disapproving faces topped with red hair.
Arthur had been called in from his workshop and blanched in the face of my temper. "Ronald isn't in at the moment…" he trailed off under my hard glare.
"I don't have time to waste, so you will have to convey my message," I scowled.
Arthur nodded as I drew the packet of letters from my pocket.
"I intercepted letters that he wrote to Mrs. Snape after we were wed. Shall I read some of his indecencies?"
Molly hurriedly shoed the twins and Ginevera from the hall with a pale face.
Just seeing the uneven scrawl sent my temper flaring again. "'Dearest Hermione – I called you my own once; allow me to make you mine.' Or this one: 'Send me word when I can come to you… my flesh longs for your touch.' Or perhaps… 'Tell me that you only married him for his income; give me some consolation, even just one hundred pounds would be enough.'" I stopped there, unable to continue as the words choked in my throat like bile.
"Master Snape," Arthur raised beseeching hands towards me.
I cut him off brusquely, "I will say this only once, so take note to be sure you clearly communicate my message." I paused to smile menacingly. "If I hear the slightest whisper that young Mr. Weasley has bothered my wife in the future, I will not hesitate to demand recompense." I turned to Molly, who was staring at me with her mouth slightly open. "Do you remember his dueling scores from primary school?" I mocked. "Because he might need to brush up. He has chosen a dangerous opponent: one who plays to win."
Subtlety was beyond my ability in the miasma of my rage and pain. I hoped the Weasleys recognized Ron's good fortune that he had missed me this afternoon; otherwise I am certain that I would have cut him down where he stood.
"Master Snape, please accept our humblest apologies. We had no idea that Ronald would attempt to pursue Miss Grang- ah, Mrs. Snape, after you were married. We have certainly never encouraged such behavior in him." Arthur was quick to placate.
"I do not overlook this offense lightly. He is still young, and I hope that he might improve his character in the future." For a moment, a young James Potter swam into view in my memories, his face twisted into something ugly as he taunted the students he did not care for. "Perhaps I presume too much, and yet… you both should ask yourselves if this unbecoming behavior could have been avoided by some action on your part."
I gained no pleasure from leaving Arthur and Molly white-faced and shamed without so much as a farewell.
"Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear." [Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre]
Edited for grammar, capitalization & spelling on April 3rd, 2013 [courtesy of renaid, who knows that regardless of whatever else Ronald is, he is certainly gross for using the word flesh].
And thanks to orlandoswitch who wished for a confrontation between Severus & Arthur. I hope it was everything you desired.
Edited for tiny words on April 5th, 2013 [via orlandoswitch, who called you their own].
Edited for formatting and author's notes March 3rd, 2015.