Fall into Madness

Ron was on edge as he photographed the girls. He had managed to get them all to the clearing the next day, at different times. Four six hours, he was accompanied by one of the girls and in some cases by two of them. He had even managed to get Pansy Parkinson there before dawn to take advantage of darkness, and with a strategically placed orb, managed to recreate moonlight. Maybe he would shoot her again during the full moon, if she agreed.



By the time he was finished with Fleur, Ron had used over 20 rolls of film, and had taken thousands of shots. The ladies he had chosen were perfect and he would have a lot to choose from. The image charms he knew would give him the chance to change the pictures lighting if he wanted, giving him even more options. He knew it would be hard to select for each month, but he was looking forward to the challenge.



Fleur apparated away, as he packed the rest of his supplies. When he shouldered his bag and stood, his heart leapt into his throat. Dorian stood just a few feet from him, looking the worst Ron had ever seen him. His hair was brushed but it looked like he had done a rush job. He was wearing at least two days growth of beard, and his clothes were plain and simple, lacking the care and coordination he had usually taken. He was thrown together, rather then polished the way he always was. The most dramatic of all was the look in his face. Ron had seen anger before but he was wearing all out rage and it was directed at Ron.



He pulled out his wand, not aiming it but making sure it was at the ready. “What do you want Dorian?”



“You sent the aurors after me.” His voice was gravely, as if he had stayed up all night ranting and yelling.



“You sent the aurors after yourself.” He threw back.



“I did?’ He took a step forward, not caring about Ron’s wand.



“Yes, you disrupted Hermione’s shop.” He stayed where he was, although the wanted to back away, but he knew holding his ground was needed right now.



“That nosy bird should mind her own business.” His teeth clenched, and the look in his eyes was beginning to look scary.



“You tried to break into my studio.”



“You shouldn’t keep me out of places you let THEM enter.” His nostrils were flaring. Ron knew he meant Hermione and Harry, but he had the distinct feeling he meant Severus too. Dorian was never allowed in the studio and when he was it was quick, and often when he was leaving. He didn’t know if he was aware that Severus had been invited to lunch there and been given a tour, but he could imagine it would piss him off.



“You attacked Severus.”



“HE WAS TOUCHING WHATS MINE!” Dorian screamed, the veins in his neck stretched out and his face turned bright red.



“Why do you keep saying that?” Ron spoke with a curiosity. He couldn’t understand Dorian anymore. This wasn’t just denial, it was insanity. “We split up.”



“No, we didn’t. You may think we did, but we didn’t.” He came closer, but stopped when Ron raised his wand, aiming right at his chest. “You said you would never hurt me.”



“And I won’t, if you keep your distance. Although you promised me the same thing, and you failed. You failed all the time.” Ron looked him in the eye.



“I love you.” He said, but the gleam in his eye made it believable in only half a measure. It was plain Dorian believed it, but he was the only one who believed it.



“Then why did you hold me back? You tried to make me feel guilty for wanting to create my art. You didn’t respect me at all. You wanted me where you wanted me, and it was my fault if I wanted something else. You tried to make me some creature that you could own, and I don’t want that. I don’t want a man who sees me as something. I want a man who sees me as Ron,” he smiled, “and Severus does.”



“No, he doesn’t,” Dorian’s eyes blazed, “he sees you the same way others do, as a hot ginger he wants to fuck.”



“I’m glad. I like being attractive to him.” His smile only made that look in Dorian’s eyes smolder more. “I have something special with him. I think I may be in love.”



“NO!!” Dorian started forward but Ron sent out a blast. He quickly back away and stared at him. “You are mine Ron. You will always be mine. Do not forget that.” He apparated away.



Ron wasted no time in apparating to his own home. He strengthened the wards and sent out two memos through the floo. He wasn’t going to take chances sending an owl. Who knows where Dorian was keeping himself. He may even be watching the house.



He sent one to Harry, and another to Severus. Harry arrived first, with Gaspard following. They spoke and not more than ten minutes later Severus arrived. Ron ran into his arms and didn’t let go until he heard Harry speaking.



“Ron, what else did he say?” Ron returned to the couch with Severus beside him.



“He told me I was his and I always would be, and not to forget it. Then he left. He apparated.” He squeezed Severus’s hand glad for his presence.



“We need a memory.” Gaspard held out a vial while Ron pulled the thin wispy white memory from his temple. They reset the wards on the house to Ministry approved sets and then vanished through the floo again. Severus would stay with Ron until they returned. They were getting an arrest order now. He would be taken into custody under restraints and held until his hearing with the Wizengamut.



Hermione showed up a short time later, and the three had dinner. It was strained, and Ron was silent through the meal. “Ron, don’t worry. Harry has a good team.”



“I know. I just feel like this is all my fault for some reason.” He said.



“Well, don’t. This is Dorian’s fault, he brought this on himself.” She said, glancing at Severus for help.



“She’s right. Like I have said before, don’t hold yourself accountable for his actions.” Severus reached out and squeezed his hand again.



After dinner they relaxed in the front room, waiting for word from Harry. Hermione tried to keep the conversation flowing but Ron wasn’t interested. Severus chatted about books with her, just to keep silence at bay. Ron was glad, too much quietness would have rattled his nerves.



Harry came through the floo with Gaspard and Moody. Ron took this as a bad sign. If Moody was involved then that meant a man hunt was on. Moody was the best for that particular chase. Severus must have felt his tension because an arm wrapped around his shoulders.



“Dorian hasn’t been home since the incident at Hermione’s. His parents haven’t herd from him and they are worried,” Gaspard told him, “he hasn’t been to the office either.”



Ron became even more worried then before. Dorian neglecting his work was something that had never come up, because he would have gladly let his whole life run to shambles before he let the restaurant suffer. His appearance that day and his rage all pointed to a man on the verge of snapping. He was going to continue on until he hit a breaking point. “What can we do?”



“We would like you moved somewhere safe. Removing you from where he knows you will be is the key, then he will know we are taking what he is doing seriously.” Gaspard informed him.



“You could move in with me for awhile.” Severus offered, Ron was smiling and about to agree when Harry interrupted.



“We want you both moved somewhere safe,” Severus and Ron looked at Harry “he attacked you too Severus, so Spinner’s End is obviously less a threat to him then we imagine it to be.”



“What do you have in mind?” Ron listened to Severus speak with the same thoughts he had. “We both need to continue working, Ron has deadlines, I need my lab and have regular potions to brew. Where could we go?”



“Hogwarts.” Harry said. “I’ve already spoken to Dumbledore. Your old quarters are still vacant. The massive amount of lab space has made them unsuitable for other teachers, so they have been unused for some time. The house elves have cleaned them out this afternoon so they are ready for you and we want you both there now. The room of requirement will also bring about the glen you are using and be able to manipulate the seasons too, so it benefits you in a way Ron. You could paint at the site itself, undisturbed.”



Ron looked at Severus. It seemed ideal, and he would be able to spend the time with Severus without worrying about him. The aurors would be able to focus on the hunt with them save and sound.



The room of requirement was tempting. He could see the glen in actuality rather than images. Maybe the girls for the winter months would come and pose again. “What do you think?” He looked up when Severus spoke.



“You would have the labs, I would have the glen, and we wouldn’t have to worry about him. Would we be able to leave the castle?”



“If you must, plan it so we can make sure you are followed,” Moody answered “but as much as possible, have things ordered through Dumbledore.”



“How long would this be for?” Severus asked him.



“Until we catch Dorian. Then once in custody, you can return.” He watched the men think carefully. “We would update you daily on what’s going on. Harry can be your contact, and of course, Hermione can use the floo to reach you at Hogwarts if need be.”



“I suppose it’s a good idea,” he looked to Severus, “I don’t think we have too many options right now.”



“No, I don’t think we do.” He kissed Ron’s temple then stood. “I’ll go home and pack, then seal my home.”



“I spoke to your neighbor, she will keep an eye on the place, and let us know if anyone shows up. She’s concerned, so you might want to stop by before you leave for good.” He nodded to Harry then left.



With Hermione’s help, Ron had his bags packed and sent to Hogwarts. He packed up what he needed from his studio and sent them as well. He would let Hermione know if he needed anything else. He knew he would because he wasn’t thinking clearly at the moment.



It was upsetting to him that both he and Severus had to disrupt their lives this way but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. The only aspect that was keeping him from refusing was that his work wouldn’t be disturbed. He would send an owl to his publisher, letting her know what was happening, and that he could be reached at Hogwarts.



He joined Severus in his old quarters and together they were unpacked and settled, eating a leisurely meal together. They had chosen to start heading to the great hall with the staff in the morning. Severus for the moment, was concerned about Ron. “You’ve been quiet.”



“I’m just thinking.” He said still shifting his food around his plate.



“About…..” He had a feeling Ron would be reluctant to share, so he probed him.



“Oh…getting a couple of the girls to repose in the room of requirement, how many more supplies I will have Hermione send…what I may need to order that I don’t have….getting a meeting with my publisher….trying to figure out what I did wrong…..”



“Stop right there,” he looked at his young man, “how many times do I have to tell you that nothing that has happened has been because of you.”



“I have heard you every time you have said it. I just keep thinking if I had been more firm in my refusal or in my declarations maybe he would have gotten the idea.” He rubbed his face with his hands, and Severus felt the anxiety he oozed.



“Do you honestly think you weren’t clear with ending it?” He reached out and ruffled his ginger locks.



“No. I know I was. I suppose I just want to assume responsibility.” He admitted. It was progress, and that was something.



“For his actions? Why would you want to?”



“I suppose because it’s me he wants, me he’s trying to hang on to. It feels like I would have saved everyone some trouble if I had simply stayed and made the best of it.” The words came out with hurt and Severus felt it in his heart.



“If you had, you would have been unhappy. Still smothered, still unsatisfied, still lacking something.” He shifted his chair closer. “I for one am glad you didn’t stay. It gave the opportunity to me.”



They shared a kiss, and then relaxed into the night. Each had long days tomorrow, but for Ron it was a restless night. He tried to sleep and Severus being near helped but he still had way too much on his mind.



He realized that the one thing he had never told Dorian was that he didn’t love him anymore. He did love him, in his way, but whatever he felt form the beginning was now gone. He had always tried to tell Dorian that he had left because of how he was treated, which was true. He didn’t like the way Dorian was treating him, and it was too much to take. He never denied that he loved Dorian, that was something he never denied, but now he wondered if he should let him know that he wasn’t in love with him anymore. Would that be the end all comment? He didn’t want to say it, but maybe it was time for the truth. Severus was in danger now, so this wasn’t a time for refusing to say anything. Maybe he would have to.