Title: I Think…

Sequel to What Do You Think?

A/N: Sorry for the wait, there was a death in the family. That's why I didn't update as much. I don't know when my updates will go back to normal, but it should be soon.

CHAPTER 9: THE DARK MARK

A crowd of wizards, tightly packed and moving together with wands pointing straight upward, was marching slowly across the field. Harry squinted at them… They didn't seem to have faces… Then he realized that their heads were hooded and their faces masked.

"Heads hooded…faces masked?" James repeated. "That sounds like the Death Eaters."

"But it can't be. They wouldn't dare exposure if Voldemort is so weak," Sirius said, sounding unsure.

"Where're your parents?" said Harry, his temper rising. "Out there wearing masks, are they?"

"They probably are," James said.

"The Malfoys are most likely in the very middle, keeping the Roberts in the air," Sirius agreed.

A huddle of teenagers in pajamas was arguing vociferously -

"Ooh, nice word," Sirius commented.

- a little way along the path. When they saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione, a girl with thick curly hair turned and said quickly, "Ou est Madame Maxime? Nous l'avons perdue -"

"Come again?" Remus said, confused.

"I believe she said 'Ou est Madame Maxime? Nous l'avons perdue'," Sirius informed.

"Oh, now I understand. Thanks."

"Any time."

"Ah, no, I don't believe it… I've lost my wand!"

"Oh, no. What's he going to do?" Lily asked.

"Buy a new one?" James weakly suggested.

"But he's used to this one. It chose him."

"Who cares? What's it going to do? Save his life in a battle against Voldemort?"

(To veela)

"I pull down about a hundred sacks of Galleons a year!" one of them shouted.

"No he doesn't," James said disbelievingly.

"I'm a dragon killer for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures."

"No he isn't."

"How do you know?" Lily asked.

James raised his eyebrows.

"No, you're not!" yelled his friend. "You're a dishwasher at the Leaky Cauldron…"

"See?"

"I'm about to become the youngest ever Minister of Magic, I am."

Harry snorted with laughter. He recognized the pimply wizard: His name was Stan Shunpike, and he was in fact a conductor on the triple-decker Knight Bus.

"Stan Shunpike? Become minister?" James laughed.

"That's funny," Sirius agreed.

"Did I tell you I've invented a broomstick that'll reach Jupiter?"

"That's not a bad idea," James said, pondering the idea.

"Yeah, except that it's impossible," Remus answered.

"Nothing is impossible."

"Alright, you invent the broomstick and then we'll talk."

"Mark the date."

Then he realized it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue.

"Is that the Dark Mark?" Lily asked, frightened.

"I guess that explains the chapter title," Remus said.

"Do not lie, sir!" shouted Mr. Crouch.

"Do not lie, sir?" Sirius repeated, amused. "Even when he's accusing them of something serious he addresses them as 'sir'."

"Well he has to be polite," James replied. "Wouldn't want them mad at him."

"Hey – that's mine!" he said.

"Oh no. Whoever it was used Harry's wand to conjure the Dark Mark," Lily said.

"So?" James asked.

"So, doesn't it look suspicious?"

"I guess," James responded, looking a little concerned.

"You dropped it?" repeated Mr. Diggory in disbelief. "Is this a confession? You threw it aside after you conjured the Mark?"

"Yeah, Harry Potter conjured the mark," Remus said sarcastically. "Right after he tortured a couple muggles and joined forces with Voldemort."

"Did I miss something?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, an entire chapter where Harry turns evil."

"Oh no. That can't have happened," he said, worried.

Harry lay looking up at the canvas, but no flying fantasies came to him now to ease him to sleep, and it was a long time after Charlie's snores filled the tent that Harry finally dozed off.

"Quite a bunch of events, eh?" James commented after Remus announced the end of the chapter.

"Yeah," Lily agreed. "I'm worried, though. Is Voldemort really back?"

"Can't be," Sirius said immediately. "Harry would know. The whole wizarding world would know."

"You'd think."