Disclaimer: Do not own, not making money

After Snape had told the Weasley family in private that one of their members was a death eater he left them alone to deal with the news by themselves. Now that he knew who the caster was he could break the ghost mark on Ron and return him to some semblance of normalcy. Of course considering that it was Ronald Weasley one could ask the question if that was such a good idea. He snorted in wry amusement. An explosive temper and the ability to go off on a tantrum at the drop of a hat, yes he could see why it was such a good idea to put him back to rights. Perhaps he'd just leave him until the beginning of the school year. No he shouldn't dawdle, the longer the boy was under the influence of the ghost mark the more of a danger he'd be to himself and others, not to mention Draco, and of course Harry. No he should do the counter spell right away and then put up with the Weasleys and their insufferable gratitude for the rest of the summer.

Harry and Draco were in the room that Snape had confined them in after they discovered the dark mark on Ron's arm. Snape had come in later to tell them that it was not an actual dark mark just a ghost mark that was on his best friends arm. Harry had gotten curious and had decided to research it. He was not allowed out of the room but there were enough books in there to make even Hermione happy. So he had gone about looking for it and had found that ghost marks are spells used to control someone regardless of how powerful their mental defences are. It would be perfect to use on someone who was immune to the imperious curse. However there was a nasty aspect to the curse that wasn't present with the imperious. The person who is afflicted not only has absolutely no control over anything they say or do, they also are completely aware of what it is that they are being made to do. So while Ron was not responsible for what he said and did he was also completely aware of everything that was done using his body.

"God, that is worse than the imperious curse," He had remarked to Draco after they had discovered what exactly the ghost mark was "This would be the worst kind of torture possible. That is probably the reason that whoever did this to Ron did it in the first place."

"At least with the imperious curse you have half a chance of fighting it off, and if you can't at least it's not like you're completely aware of what's going on."

They had waited for most of the day and night to find out if Snape had managed to remove the ghost mark from Ron. When he came back in that night he was exhausted and fell right on the bed. Harry approached him cautiously.

"Did everything go all right?"

Snapes muffled reply sounded halfway between a 'shut up' and a 'bugger off' so Harry walked back to his and Draco's bed. Draco took one look at the obviously exhausted potions master then picked up a slipper and chucked it at him. It landed on his back with a thump. Snape looked up at him and glared.

"If you value your ability to reproduce you will not do that again."

"Sorry, but we wanted to know if Ron was ok."

"Of course that numb skull is just fine, while I, on the other hand am beset by insufferably inconsiderate teenagers who find perverse pleasure in tormenting me with bunny slippers. Is that all you wanted to know Mr. Malfoy, or shall I also tell you exactly how many times your mother dressed you in a pink bonnet and dress when you were one?"

"Umm no, no that's all we needed to know. Please go back to sleep."

"No, I am now in a mood to talk all about your childhood embarrassments and now is as good a time as any so why not. After all I do have a captive audience. Where to begin. I know a recitation of all of your mothers' pet names for you when company came to call…"

"Oh god no!" both Harry and Draco said at the same time.

"Are you sure? Some of them are…Cute…?"

"Yes we are sure Professor. Please go to sleep."

"Fine but if you wake me up again I will >yawn recite them all." Snape muttered as he went too sleep.

Ron was sitting in his room that night shaking. He had done horrible things. Things he could never tell anyone about while he was under the ghost mark. Everyone thought that Percy had only made him act like an ass to his friends and family. If that were true then he would be able to face them. He'd be able to show up the next morning shame faced and repentant but still Ron. Ronald Weasley the youngest boy, the best friend of Harry Potter. What Percy had made him do was beyond the pale. Ron saw everything that had been forced on him. He closed his eyes but he still saw. He saw a young woman begging for mercy, a girl no older than Ginny with blood streaming out of her. A boy with black hair and green eyes humiliated in pain. He had caused the pain and suffering to them and so many more. He had done it. It didn't matter if it was because he wanted to or Percy wanted to. It was all his fault. He stood up and swayed on the spot. He had not touched the meal that the elves had brought him. He didn't deserve food. He stumbled to the dresser drawer and pulled out a quill and parchment. He started crying. He didn't deserve to live. He began to write.

Dear friends and family, Professor Snape and Draco…

It was just early light when Leda the house elf walked into the boys' room. She had come to collect the dishes, set out a new trayand clean the room before the other two came back inside. She stopped. The tray had not been touched since she had brought it up last night. The food was cold and ruined. Thinking the boy had simply not noticed the tray Leda walked around the room looking for him. She did not see him. The bathroom door was locked but there was no sound from inside. She knocked. No answer. So she knocked again. Still no answer. Leda knew that the young master would be upset to miss a meal so she went inside to give him his fresh tray and make sure he ate it. What she saw made her freeze.

Snape was in the middle of an especially good dream about grading first years when he was rudely interrupted by the high pitched scream of the house elf Leda.

"MASTER SNAPE COME QUICKLY! MASTER SNAPE!"

"ON MY BLOODY WAY SO SHUT THE HELL UP LEDA!"

Snape pulled on a house robe and grabbed his wand as he stumbled to Leda in the boys' bathroom. Snape was the first one there at the scene but he was not the only one to arrive.

The scene set molly crying and the rest of the Weasleys into a fit. Severus himself was startled by what he saw too but he could not freeze up. He had to act. He had to do something.

Harry stood still with shock as he saw his best friend in a tub of water with his wrists and throat slashed open.

What do you think, should Ron live or die? R&R