Snape and Hermione were about equally shocked to see Malfoy entering the room on Ginny's arm. Snape mastered himself quicker, however. Snapping his jaw shut, he ushered the man into a chair and took a few vital signs. When asked what was wrong with him, he waved a hand at Ginny. With a grimace, she said, "Some rings were stolen from him. Some silly woman has put one on. Until he puts the other one on, he will continue to get weaker, and eventually die."
Hermione frowned, thinking; Snape met Ginny's eyes quickly, before turning back to Malfoy. Snape stood. "Hermione, go and find some mugwort, and some fennel. And some black beetle wings, if you can. I'll be in the kitchen." Hermione nodded and bustled out quickly. Snape took Malfoy's temperature. He frowned slightly, and Ginny was glad that Malfoy had his eyes closed: that frown didn't speak well. Snape looked over his shoulder at her and indicated that he wanted to speak to her outside the room.
"Wait here, Draco. The liquor should be ready in about half an hour, if Hermione is quick." Malfoy nodded, waved a shaking hand at him, and the two of them left the room. Snape cast a muffling spell on them.
"Your stupidity is killing him."
"I know that," Ginny replied, perhaps more viciously than she needed to.
"He doesn't have long. He has deteriorated quickly."
"That's probably to do with me as well: the ladies in the kitchen have been spiking his food with Inner Turmoil powder… left over from the Twin's shop. We have a huge stockpile of all sorts of…"
"You've been feeding him a highly experimental additive? One that weakens the mind?" Snape was furious.
"Every day for about a month. Gods, but we didn't know…"
"For a month?" Snape's cheeks had become flushed with his anger. It was a terrifying sight.
Ginny turned away, rubbing her hand over her face. "I'll be as quick as I can with retrieving the other ring."
"Will you tell him that you're the person wearing the female one?" Snape's voice had become quiet, but still dreadfully angry.
Ginny turned to look at him. She held his eyes for a long moment. Then she looked away. "Not if I don't have to."
"Just how deep is the enchantment on these rings?" Snape asked, almost whispering. Ginny wished he would yell again.
"Blood deep," she replied. "And incredibly strong. I can never marry anyone else. Nor even… be intimate. Nor can he. But… Merlin, I don't even know the man. I used to hate him. I am not sure I don't still." She set her jaw and met Snape's black eyes. He glared at her, then turned his head slightly, frowning and thinking.
"Fealty rings, they must be. But modified. There is no way to undo the charm." He met her eyes again. "You had better decide if you can stand the man, Weasley. Because, whatever he's told you, if you are not completely loyal to him – in mind, as well as in body – both of you will waste away."
Ginny lowered her head. "Great," she mumbled. "Just bloody great."
Snape raised an eyebrow at her. She huffed. "I know. My stupid mistake, now I have to live with it. Or die with it, however it works out. Can you keep him alive?"
Snape shrugged with one shoulder, looked away. "Perhaps. He's not well at all. I will speak with him about staying here. If he goes back to the Estate, I will not be able to enter: the pureblood protection," he clarified. "And you need to interact with him. If you are nearby, he will last longer, ring or no ring.
"Stupid girl," he added.
Ginny lowered her head. "Stupid girl," she agreed. Snape ended the muffling spell.
"Get going, girl," he said, not unkindly. With a half-hearted smile, she turned away.