Fall into Madness

Ron didn’t know what to do, what to say. He heard Harry and Hermione speaking, then Gaspard and Harry talking. The words reached his ears but he paid them no mind. He was scared and he could do nothing about it. He didn’t know where Severus was. He didn’t know where Dorian was.



The floo went off and a note came flying at Ron,, dropping into his lap. He unfolded it and in mere seconds was off the couch and through the floo, leaving the parchment falling on the floor. Harry followed as soon as he read it, with Gaspard right behind him.



Hermione picked it up and read, her heart speeding up.



‘Mr. Weasley. Severus T. Snape was admitted here to St. Mungo’s for treatment with a concussion. He has requested you be notified and granted permission to come as soon as you are able.’











Ron was able to get to Severus in no time, thanks to Harry and Gaspard. He was sitting in a cot, and while he had on his jeans, he was in a hospital smock. “What happened?” Ron asked, hurrying to his side and kissing him gently.



“I’d like to know as well.” Harry said, coming up behind him.



“I’m not sure how much information I can give you. I didn’t see him.” Severus let his hand relax in Ron’s grip. “I answered a knock at the door, opened it and found nobody. When I took a step out, a figure came out of nowhere and I was struck on the side of my head.” He gestured to the left side of his head. “I woke up face down on the pavement. A neighbor side apparated me here.”



“Did your attacker say anything, or do anything that seemed unusual?” Gaspard asked.



“No. He didn’t speak, and as far as his actions, he merely waited until I stepped out of the doorway.” Severus told him.



“Do you have any other injuries?” Harry asked.



“A few, some aches and pains.” He turned to the nurse that brought him a potion. “Can you give the aurors a copy of my medical chart?”



“Of course.” She turned to Harry. “It will have the Healer’s notes and treatments.” Gaspard followed, leaving Harry alone with Ron and Severus.



“How are you feeling?” Harry asked.



“I’m fine. A little shook up but fine. The potions took care of everything.” He said, easing Ron to sit beside him.



“Did the neighbor who brought you here see anything?” He asked.



“She spoke with the healer, so she may have.”



“I’ll be right back.” He said, then left.



“I can’t believe he did this?” Ron said, rubbing his shoulders.



“We don’t know it was Dorian.” Severus didn’t think he sounded too convincing.



“Who else could it have been?” Ron tried not to sound accusing but he knew who it was. Nobody else had reason to assault Severus this way.



Harry returned a moment later, holding a file and reading. “Your neighbor did see what happened and according to her, you were hit on the head with a rock, then kicked, which explains the bruises to your ribs. She then claims you were dragged out of your front step but she had screamed at that point and the assaulter apparated away.”



“He was being dragged away?” Ron asked shocked and his face showed it all. “He was going to be kidnapped?”



“We don’t know that.” Severus added firmly.



“He’s right.” Harry told him. “Don’t jump to conclusions. According to your neighbor, he was average height but she couldn’t see the build, because of the cloak.”



“She was willing to give a memory, and we will look carefully at it.” Gaspard told him. “You may want to reinforce your wards. You are being released, so take it easy tonight.”



‘I’ll make sure he rests.” Ron told them.



“You will?” Severus grinned up at him.



“I’m going home with you to make sure you are alright.” He said firmly, almost daring the older man to challenge him.



“This isn’t how I wanted to get you there again you know.” He said with a smile.



“I’ll get your discharge parchments.” Gaspard said, then hurried away.



“I think he is a bit nervous.” Harry said with a grin.



“I can’t imagine why.” Severus teased.











They were back in his home in no time, and Ron made him sit in bed while he took over the kitchen. He smiled to himself, thinking of Ron in his home again. The young man was something to be reckoned with. His concern was touching and meant a lot to him.



His aches and pains were gone as well as his headache. He could have easily taken care of himself tonight, but he didn’t say anything. Having Ron here was too much temptation, so he let him have his way. He knew that if Ron had been on the receiving end, he would be playing nurse as well.



He agreed with the idea that Dorian was behind this assault, but he understood Harry’s responsibilities. He couldn’t make assumptions. He was an auror and the law had to be followed. His worries however, were for Ron. What if Dorian decided to get violent with him. Severus knew from both the muggle and wizarding world that obsessive men could get abusive. The adage of ‘if I can’t have you then nobody will’ has never gone away and it scared him. If Dorian was capable of an attack on someone he considered a threat where did that leave Ron.



He let his head rest back on the pillow. Harry had told him before he left St. Mungo’s that Dorian couldn’t be found. His parents said he never came home. It worried him even more. He didn’t like the way things were turning out. He wondered how safe Ron was in his studio. He could mention staying with him, but that would take Ron from his work and he was reluctant to say anything. He knew how much this new project meant to him.



“Whatever is making you frown, stop thinking about it.” Ron came in levitating a tray.



“What do you mean?” He asked, feigning innocence.



“You know exactly what I mean, don’t play dumb.” He settled the tray on the bed and joined him.



“The concussion has healed and I’m only mildly sore. I could have taken care of myself tonight.” He said, tucking in.



“I know, but I don’t want you to overdo it. It’s my fault this happened.” Ron’s grip on his fork relaxed as Severus gripped his hand.



“This is not your fault. This is Dorian’s fault.” He said firmly. “Do not assume you have any hand in what he does.”



“That’s easier said than done you know.” He looked deeply into black eyes.



“I know it is, but it’s true. Dorian is the only one guilty of anything.” He said. They ate in tense silence, until Ron cleared their dishes.



“I’m going to help you relax now.” He said, rising and heading to the bathroom. He had seen something in there that he wanted to use tonight, and in a moment he returned with a bottle of oil. “What music do you want?”



“Just turn on the radio. It’s already set.” He said. The music that came out was orchestra. He had a liking for strings, from the sound of it.



“Take off your clothes and lay face down.” While Severus undressed, he turned down the lamps, leaving a dim soothing light.



Severus was treated to a massage of tender attentions. Ron eased away any soreness that remained and when he was told to turn over, he did so with ease. Ron’s hands on his body had a delightful effect. He was semi-erect and it wasn’t sexuality that did it. It was the care that Ron used when touching him.



His touch roamed over his chest, coating his skin and drawing the tension from his body. Ron had taken only a moment to remove his own clothes before straddling his lover. Severs was relaxed and let out a sigh as Ron’s cock aligned with his own. Neither was hard, but Ron was gyrating slowly, rubbing their soft flesh together. It was a most unusual feeling, erotic but not overtly sexual. He was turned on but hardly excited. He still hadn’t moved past semi erect.



“What are you doing?” He asked, lacing his fingers behind his head.



“Harry calls it grinding.” He said, leaning down and resting his chest to Severus’s. He reached out and continued his massage along his shoulders. With the kneading on his flesh and the slow undulations of a warm body of his, Severus couldn’t have been more relaxed.



“That’s nice.” He managed to get out. Ron smiled. He wasn’t trying to initiate sex, even if he was naked and moving around the way he was. He wanted Severus to feel pampered and comfortable. He did feel guilty about what happened, no matter how many people told him otherwise. He hated the thought of Severus suffering anything.



He also couldn’t get past the trouble of Dorian being missing. Not being able to find him was reeking havoc on his nerves. What on earth could he be trying to prove but carrying the way he was? He couldn’t think of anything that would benefit him, any reason why he should continue to delude himself. Ron had made it pointedly clear that he had moved on, and there was nothing else he could do to prove reiterate it more.



When Severus eventually fell asleep, he got up and cleaned a bit, putting away the oil he used, washing their dishes. He needed to keep moving. He wasn’t tired and even if he was he wouldn’t have been able to sleep. Normally he would have walked around outside or even flew on his broom for an hour, tiring himself out.



He let himself fall into an armchair with a heavy heart. He didn’t know what to do. Dorian was going way over the line, and now Severus had suffered. He was taking everything that happened with such strength. He imagined any other man would have left by now, unwilling to deal with Dorian this way.



“That’s enough.” He turned and saw Severus naked, standing in the door of his bedroom.



“You should put some clothes on.” Ron said lazily.



“Do you really want me to?” He took a step forward.



“Not really.” Ron managed a grin.



“What’s on your mind?” He asked, looking down at him.



“Do you really have to ask?” Ron looked away. “I feel guilty, and don’t tell me not to think that way.” Severus had been on the verge of saying something but halted when he saw Ron’s face. “I know I can’t control what he does and I know it’s not my fault, but I cant help feeling this way. I hate that I can’t do anything about it. I hate that he has all the power right now.”



“I can see that. But you have something he doesn’t have.” Severus stood and walked over, taking his hand and helping him to his feet. ‘You have someone that wants to be with you, and that makes you stronger than him.”



Severus leaned in and kissed him. It helped, but by no means diminished what he felt. He knew the words were right, and he took comfort in them, but he still slept with a heavy heart. Nestling next to Severus helped, but he would have been much more at ease if he knew what Dorian’s next move would be.











A lone figure sat in a rustic cottage. It had not been used for many years, barely maintained by the owners and practically forgotten as the days went by. It was not forgotten to the one man who sat in isolation on a beaten down chair, staring into a bottle of Ogden’s whiskey. His thoughts were of a lover, a lover now lost to him.



Dorian down another gulp of the harsh drink. This shouldn’t have happened. He had found Ron, the perfect man, and he had left. Ron was his, he was still his. All he had to do was make him see it. Now that old man was moving in and keeping Ron from him.



“Blasted elder.” He took another drink and began pacing. This was Snape’s fault. He had turned Ron from him. If Ron had merely had his space to think he would have seen that they had something special. Something worth keeping. He was turning Ron’s mind, filling it with Merlin only knew what.



He tossed the empty bottle against a wall. “Worthless inbred pile of rubbish!” That damned bird he always spoken to wouldn’t tell him where Ron was, but he knew. He had been with that old man. If he ventured there now, Harry Potter would be on his trail. He spit on the ground.



He knew Potter wanted Ron, they were to close to be just friends. How could anyone not want Ron? How could anyone not feel something for him? He remembered Ron’s body, still fresh in his mind, even months later. He rubbed his eyes and threw himself on the bed. He would get him back. He wouldn’t give up.