Chapter Four: Fear and Anguish
"Lucius, stop!" Severus could bear the boy's screams no longer. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know, just leave the boy alone."
Lucius tilted his head to smirk at Severus. "Oh, I don't think so, Severus. " His eyes were shining with excitement. This boy screamed loud and long with hardly any provocation. "This boy just has fun written all over his face!" With a gleeful flick of his wand, the word 'fun' was carved into the flesh of the young Gryffindor's cheek. With each subsequent flick, another word sliced into Ron's tender skin.
Tears streamed down Ron's cheeks, irritating the open wounds and causing him to scream louder. He felt Malfoy stroking his hair and he pulled his head away as much as he could. "Don't touch me!"
Malfoy called for a house-elf and asked him to bring the box from his study. "The one with the holes in it." The house-elf Disapparated and then Apparated back a few seconds later, box in hand.
Lucius approached Ron, holding the box. Something could be heard thumping around inside. "Ronald, my dear boy, my son has told me a lot about you. He told me, for instance, how much you—loathe—spiders." Lucius sat the box on a nearby table and lifted the lid. He then reached inside and pulled out a large reddish-brown spider. It's body, not including its legs, was about the size of a small cat. He held the spider up for Ron to see, the eight legs flicking through the air as if looking for something to stand on. "This is Vlad. He's what I like to call a vampire spider. Spiders like this are drawn to blood, like a shark is drawn to blood in the water. Malfoy pointed to the large serrated-looking pinchers at the mouth of the beast. "He will go to an injured area and use these pinchers to dig inside the wound. His straw-like mouth will then suck the blood."
Ron felt very dizzy and was afraid he would vomit right then and there. He swallowed deeply and turned his head away.
Malfoy sat the spider on the floor and it made a beeline for Severus. "No, Vlad, this way." Malfoy repositioned the spider, which then started to crawl toward Ron.
"Get that thing away from me!" Ron pressed his body against the stone wall, a look of abject terror on his face. He closed his eyes and tipped back his head against the cool stone, grimacing as he felt the spider crawl onto his shoes and then began to climb his trousers. He suddenly let out a shriek of pain as he felt the spider bite through his pants and into his calf. "Get it off me!" The bite felt like a thick, hot needle was plunged into his flesh. Tears were streaming down his face as he felt the spider begin its trek again.
"I think he likes you. He gave you a little love bite, how sweet. Just tell me what I want to know and Vlad will go back to his box."
"Go to Hell!" Ron gritted his teeth as he felt the spider's weight pull on the material of his shirt as it made its way over his waist. He began to whimper softly.
Malfoy drew closer. "Come on son, his eight legs are crawling up your body and those eight eyes are spying out the perfect spot to suck your blood."
The spider was now on Ron's chest and he could feel the first hairy, spindly leg touch his neck. "Get it off me!"
"Tell me where the Order meets!"
"He cannot. There is a Fidelius Charm!" Severus said, watching the spectacle with trepidation.
Lucius face was a mask of fury. "Then he'll be lunch for Vlad!"
Ron opened his eyes to see the head of the spider right in front of his face. It's pinchers were clacking open and shut. Ron's mouth gaped as he tried hard to speak. He gave up, sobbing."I can't tell you. Please get it off me!"
Severus grimaced inwardly. How could a child be expected to withstand torture? Merlin help us all. "If you get the spider off him I'll tell you what I told the Order about the Dark Lord's plan for Stonenhenge."
Lucius plucked the spider from Ron and smirked at the young Gryffindor, absently stroking Vlad's hairy body.
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Harry and Hermione sat in Dumbledore's office. Worry weighed heavily in Harry's voice. "He's not here anywhere." He held out the Marauder's Map to the headmaster. "He's not on here, either."
Hermione began to cry softly and Harry put an arm around her. Stoically he reined in his own emotions, staring at the fires in the hearth. Whoever did this will pay!
Albus rummaged around in his desk drawer, pulling out a hand mirror. Peering into the glass he said very clearly, "Molly Weasley."
Molly was tidying up her bedroom when she heard a voice downstairs. She rushed down the stairs and took out the mirror from the drawer, seeing Albus' concerned face. "What is it, Albus?"
"Molly, call Arthur and come to Hogwarts at once, Ron has gone missing."
Molly looked at her clock. The hand marked "Ron" was pointed to "mortal peril". She clapped her hand over her mouth and sunk into a chair. Tears sprung to her eyes but she held them back. I've got to stay strong for Ron.
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Malfoy left the dungeon room shortly after getting a detailed account from Severus. He needed to contact Draco to tell him that he must leave for the Order meeting with Dumbledore. Ron, now unchained, limped over to where his professor sat, with his back to the stone wall, his eyes closed.
Ron was surprised at how swollen the man's cheeks were, his skin was pinkish and his breathing was rather shallow. "Professor?"
Severus opened his eyes and saw Ron peering down at him, tiny rivulets of blood still trickling from the cuts on his young face. He tried to manage a reassuring smile but it came out more like a grimace when the taut skin of his cheeks stretched. "It's okay, Ronald."
Ron began to tremble and ran a hand through his red hair, obviously struggling not to cry. "I would have given it all up, if I could have. I would've betrayed everyone!" He sunk to the ground beside his teacher and bowed his head, covering his face with his hands. His shoulders started to shake with silent tears.
Severus put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "Don't be too worried. That is why the Fidelius Charm is used. When the headmaster realizes that you're missing, which I'm sure he already has, the Order will be on guard about anything unusual. It'll be okay."
Ron looked at his professor and blurted out, "You look like Hell."
Severus ran a hand through his greasy hair. "You look like fun."
Ron chuckled. "I didn't know you had a sense of humor."
"I don't."
A few minutes passed in silence before Ron spoke again. "I'm sorry about everything, I mean Diagon Alley and all."
"What do you mean?"
"You know…the fight…you remember, don't you?" He saw the confused expression on his teacher's face. "You know…You said I shouldn't pick on Malfoy and then you sort of threatened me…" a sudden realization occurred to Ron. "Oh…Oh no! That wasn't you, was it?"
Severus looked down and the floor. "It's not important, Ron."
Ron stood and looked down at his battered teacher. "It's all my fault, all of it!"
Severus tried to reach for Ron but the pain in his ribs caused him to cringe.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so stupid!" He smacked himself hard on the forehead and then went off to the corner and sat, head in hands.
A house-elf popped in with a water jug. "I have some water for you…two." She saw Ron in the corner. "It's compliments of Mistress Malfoy." She bent toward Severus and gave him a drink of the tepid water.
Severus would have smiled if his face would have allowed it. He could taste the pain-relieving potion in the water and drank greedily, causing the elf to smile. He sat back against the cool stone, allowing the potion a chance to work. "Ron?" His voice sounded stronger, even to his own ears. "Come here and get some water." The young redhead shook his head. "Don't be foolish, boy, come here." Ron still made no move. "FOR THE LOVE OF MERLIN! GET OVER HERE!"
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Severus left with Dumbledore for the meeting of the Order. He smiled to himself, sticking close to the headmaster had paid off handsomely. McGonagall had stayed behind to watch over the children and staff. It had, of course, made the rounds that a student had disappeared and the staff and other students were understandably concerned. The young Slytherin was grateful that during the busy time following the disappearance he had not been noticed at all. Dumbledore and McGonagall were so worried about Weasley that they did not notice that he may not be acting 100 Snape-ish.
He longed for the day when he could shed the skin of this middle-aged teacher and become his once gorgeous self again. His father told him that when he learned who all the members of the Order were, he could become Draco again.
The other members were there as he and Dumbledore arrived. The cunning Slytherin's eyes trailed over every face. He recognized most; except for a bald guy who looked vaguely familiar and a scruffy looking guy. He was surprised to see his cousin, Nymphadora. The Order must really be desperate. From what he remembered of his cousin she was a total klutz. He found himself smiling as he made mental notes for his father.
Tonks was worried. She watched Molly and Arthur speak with Albus about their son's disappearance. She found that her eyes kept straying to Severus Snape. Odd, he was smiling. She couldn't remember if she had ever seen that before. The meeting was about to begin as Albus took his seat. Her eyes again strayed to the Potions Master. He looks so…relaxed. He sat forward in his chair and put his chin on his hands. What an odd thing for him to do. He seemed off somehow but she couldn't quite place it. His movements were different but she couldn't put it into words. It was like when she had taken the form of someone new for the first time and she didn't quite have all the mannerisms…Sweet Merlin! She looked away quickly. I've got to do something, something to see if it's really him.
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Ron and Severus heard Malfoy whistling as he neared the cell. Severus could tell that Ron was terrified. He kept rubbing his sore calf and a large bump could now be seen where the spider had bitten him. Severus was not about to tell the boy just what the spider had done. "It's going to be okay, Ron. Trust me." Severus didn't believe his own words for a minute but the boy shouldn't spend his last moments worrying.
The cell door opened and Malfoy entered, grinning from ear to ear. "Come here now, boy, I want to show you the room down the hall."
"Take me instead." Severus put a protective arm across Ron's chest. "Leave the boy alone, Lucius."
"You'd rather go instead? But he's so much fun!" Lucius strode forward and drew his wand, taunting the young Gryffindor. "Who do you think I should take, boy?"
"I'm not afraid of you!"
"Liar! You're about to wet yourself. Should I take you or your dear teacher?"
"T-t-take me." Ron sputtered.
"Aww. How sweet. Gryffindor bravery—or is it stupidity? Although I do believe your request lacked a certain conviction. Come Severus, we'll let your playmate have a rest. I've found a few very old curses I'd like to try out on you. Of course, I suppose I could just do it here?"
"No!" Severus looked Lucius in the eye. "Not in front of the boy."
"I think you must be a Gryffindor at heart." He chuckled. "I guess that would explain a lot, anyway."
Severus struggled to his feet and the two departed.
Ron hugged his knees to his chest. He could hear Malfoy calling out curses but did not hear screams. I hope he's not dead. After a few more minutes he heard loud screaming. Putting his hands over his ears he began to rock back and forth. My fault, it's all my fault.
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Tonks passed Alastor a note under the table. He was obviously unused to getting notes and spied it with his magical eye, turning it over and over in his hand before opening it. His remaining eye opened wider as he read and then he looked to Tonks and gave her a curt nod. Tonks smoothed her sweaty palms on her jeans. If she was wrong the Order would never take her seriously again, and Severus…she didn't even want to consider that. Taking a deep breath and summoning her courage, she spoke. "Excuse me, Dumbledore." Mad Eye took his cue to quickly stand and put up anti-Apparation wards around the room. She looked directly at Severus. "I believe this man is an imposter!"
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