Ron landed behind the gates of a large mansion. He shivered at the cold and regretted being too hasty and forgetting his cloak. A figure made its way toward him behind the gates, and Ron recognized the stout form of Wormtail. He still couldn't believe that this person was the rat that had been his pet, and lived in his house for twelve years. He shivered again, though not from the cold.
"Weasley," Wormtail said upon reaching Ron. He lifted up his left sleeve and revealed his Dark Mark. He waited expectantly and Ron realized before it was too late what he was waiting for. He hastily lifted his own left sleeve and showed his Dark Mark.
"He is expecting you," Wormtail said at the sight of Ron's arm. He opened the gate and allowed Ron to walk through. He led Ron into the house and up a series of stairs before stopping at a door at the end of the hallway.
"In here," Wormtail said quickly, then scurried away as if afraid of Ron or what he expected would happen to him. Ron took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
No one came to open the door. No one voiced the word enter in an ominous tone as Ron half expected. The door simply creaked open of its own accord, let him in, and closed behind him.
The room was dark. Ran's hand instinctively went to his pocket for the Deluminator. He held it in his pocket, but didn't light it. He could just make out a figure a few feet in front of him.
"Ron," a smooth voice said. Ron's breath caught. He never thought Voldemort would ever use his first name. He hadn't even been sure Voldemort had known his name. Ron soon got over his astonishment and bent down, kissing the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"Master," he said remaining on his knees preparing himself for the mind invasion. But it didn't come.
"Useless," Voldemort scorned. "Get up, fool!"
Ron stood slowly, contemplating Voldemort's body, but failing to meet his eyes. Nagini slithered around Voldemort's feet, hissing. Voldemort responded every so often with a hiss in return, but Nagini never seemed to lose her agitation.
"What use are you to me when you're trapped with Snape?" Voldemort growled angrily. Ron said nothing. He had no words to defend himself, but he also didn't want to interrupt.
"I could have succeeded! I could have known what they were planning had you been there!"
Ron suddenly began to realize what was going on, but he dared not speak. Had Harry and Hermione crossed paths with Voldemort? From the sound of it, they'd gotten away.
"Tell me, Weasley, what does the Chosen One wish he had the most?" Voldemort asked softly. He gazed at Ron, his red eyes narrowed.
"His parents," Ron answered truthfully.
"Exactly," Voldemort whispered. "I should have known." He turned away from Ron, his cloak whooshing loudly in the silence. Nagini slithered over to Ron and furiously circled around his feet.
"You are to return to Potter so I will always know what his plans will be, so I won't be surprised again."
Suddenly, an insane force ripped through Ron's head and memories flashed uncontrollably throughout it. Ron realized what was happening as Voldemort was settling on a memory of Ron's a few months back. He allowed Voldemort's intrusion, but distracted Voldemort with old memories as he locked the new Snape memories. Voldemort could search for whatever he wanted but he would never find the real memories of the past few weeks.
Voldemort had chosen a memory of the three of them at Grimmauld Place. They were discussing where the Horcruxes might be and planning the Ministry break in.
Ron felt Voldemort angrily fast forward, obviously unsatisfied with what he'd seen. He reached Ron's arrival at Spinner's End, and Ron panicked, quickly trying to dream up some false memory of Snape teaching Ron the Dark Arts. He tried to take elements from his sixth year at Hogwarts and change them to match the environment of Spinner's End. It took all his focus and concentration, but he managed to stay calm and controlled while Voldemort watched.
Memory Ron stood in Snape's office, his wand out. An angry Snape stood next to him. There was a dummy in front of them. Ron imagined circular glasses over the dummy's face as an afterthought.
"Crucio"Ron whispered under his breath, but the Ron in his memory yelled the curse defiantly and stuck his wand toward the dummy. The dummy conjured a shield charm, but memory Ron stayed firm and his curse was able to cut through the charm. The dummy collapsed onto the ground, and emitted a screeching metallic noise that reminded Ron of the noise his mother's steel pan would make upon making contact with the ground.
When memory Ron released the curse Ron finally felt Voldemort leave his head and his thoughts were his own again. He forced himself to stay standing, but staggered slightly, having to catch himself on the door.
"Snape has prepared you well," Voldemort commented. "You are ready to return to Harry Potter."
"Master?" Ron dared speak. Voldemort turned in surprise. He made a face as if about to scoff, but said nothing.
"You can't expect the Chosen One to invite me in," Ron said without thinking.
"You dare doubt me?" Voldemort sneered, his voice rising in volume.
That was it, Ron thought, the plan was ruined by his sheer stupidity. He should have known never to question Voldemort. Ron braced himself for the green light, but it never came. An enormous grin spread along Voldemort's face, exposing his sharp white teeth.
"A noble one, Harry Potter is?" Voldemort said gleefully.
"My Lord?" Ron questioned, rejoicing at the fact that he was still alive.
"Potter's thoughts are swayed by the pain in his friends."
Voldemort took out his wand, and held it gracefully between two fingers. Ron's eyes widened. Of course Harry would take him back if he knew Voldemort was torturing him. It was Harry's one flaw: He wouldn't watch pain or death on his own account.
"CRUCIO!" Voldmort exclaimed with no warming. Ron collapsed as the pain tore through him like a knife slowly slicing his body, and cried out as earsplitting noises filled his brain and pain wracked his skull.
"Are you watching, Potter?" Voldemort exclaimed almost gleefully.
Ron could hear Voldemort laughing above him as he writhed on the ground. The pain suddenly intensified, and he squeezed his eyes shut hard, willing himself to ignore it.
Finally it was over, and Ron lay panting on the ground, Nagini grazing against his head. Small fires still burned throughout his body.
"I'll let you go now, Weasley," Voldemort said. "I have the information I need. Come, Nagini."
Voldemort stepped past Ron and out the door, Nagini slithering close behind. It was a few minutes before Ron shakily got to his feet and staggered out of the room. He stumbled down the stairs and out the front door, not before glancing in the sitting room though, where all three Malfoys sat staring at him.
Draco caught his eye, and first anger then confusion crossed his face. Ron looked away before his wearied face gave anything away. But he worried that Draco suspected. After all, he had witnessed Ron and Harry's friendship first hand. Surely he must have known that Ron would never leave Harry. Ron would have to deal with Draco later though as he felt about ready to pass out.
He Apparated to Spinner's End, got past Snape's security question, and collapsed onto his bed, not caring to offer any explanation to an extremely curious and demanding Snape.