Chapter 2 Dark Mark

Lord Voldemort sat on his couch looking over the scrolls that laid before him in much the same fashion he had years ago as a young man. Several books lay open, hovering in various positions. These books were dangerous even by his standards and were not allowed to touch anything. The curses embedded within them may not kill the lord, but they would provide a great inconvenience to him. The Lord had combed through these books for several clues and had found only one lead. It was why several of his circle had left ten hours ago. They were all over due and Voldemort expected they had indeed found what he sent them out to find. The doors opened with a whispered creek. Voldemorts' crooked smile fell when he saw only two of the five person group enter through the door. The man knelt. "Here my lord. We were able to retrieve the scroll you desired." The Death Eater was sweating and his arm was bloodied. Behind him stood another of his men in tears. He bowed low.

Tom looked at the men in the eye one after another and knew there was more to the story. "Show me what you saw." The men bowed and each felt his mind being looked through. Both Death Eaters thought of the nights events. Voldemort saw for himself the two monsters that had chased his Death Eaters. One of his marks was struck down and the apprentice boy died as well. His Death Eaters confusion was evident through out the attack. When they could not leave right away, to what the monster said in garbled English, was looked at through the eyes of both Death Eaters. Voldemort's interest was raised when he heard one of the monsters speak. Voldemort thought on the now two dead Dark Marks. It was not difficult to replace Karkarov. But to loose others so soon was a surprise.

Tom finally gazed at his followers. "Thank you my loyal Death Eaters. Falden, you and your men have done more than what I expected of you. Anthony, I do not begrudge your lack of composure. Your group was ill prepared for such a confrontation. You may both go and mourn your loss. We will hold a memorial in their honor tonight at a banquet. I will send word." The two men nodded and held back a few tears. Falden's son and friend had been among the Death Eaters and a single apprentice that had been killed on the mission. Voldemort looked to his left while thinking about what he saw. He recognized the two beasts that attacked his men, they were two avatars for the Egyptian gods. The jackal god Anubis and his son the bird god Horus. "Bring me Rudolphus. I have a few questions to ask him."

The servant bowed low and walked in a trance to find the wizard. Voldemort sneered at the imperio'ed muggle but then turned his thoughts to the deceased Death Eaters. Regardless of Falden's loss, those two marks would need to be replaced. Voldemort thought of the past year and silently agreed with himself. It would require adding two new marks, but the four children he had been working with would yield ideal replacements.

The doors opened silently and Rudolphus Lestrange bowed low and then raised his head slightly to kiss his lord's hand. "What do you need of me, my lord?"

Voldemort thought on what could possibly cause those two monsters to target his Death Eaters. He had, of course, heard of guardian golems. But to actively hunt those who trespassed and left, was an extreme he never heard of before. Voldemort held the scroll in his hand and saw that Rudolphus' wife walk in. Their Lord and Master waved her to come closer. "Since you are both here I only need to speak of this once. This is of grave importance. Rudolphus you were the expert on Egyptology on our last outing to the south. The scroll we found in Egypt is said to have a curse on it correct?" The man wordlessly nodded his head. "You and I had both removed all of the curses we had found on the chamber and then on the scroll itself." The man nodded again suspecting there was something they had missed. "From your recollection, had there been any kind of information about guardians of the scroll or of the book itself?"

Rudolphus looked his master strait in the eye. "My lord, I did not see a single symbol indicating such a protection. Had there been an incident?"

Voldemort turned the scroll slightly and showed the blood that came from Falden's arm. "We lost three followers to two monsters who looked like Egyptian gods. They mentioned the book. Is it possible that the clerks created a kind of golem that could hunt those who triggered its trap and is it also possible that the trap was not to protect the scroll, but the location the scroll revealed?"

Rudolphus let his eyes glaze at the problem. "If they had... Master, I can say it would have been a work of art. Such a complicated..." He shivered. "My apologies my lord, but such a spell is beyond anything..."

Voldemort nodded to the both of them in satisfaction. He had thought it unlikely, but if the book had its own wards triggered by first removing the scroll that would lead to the book... "Had we known of these guardians before now, I would have accompanied the group personally." Voldemort was hesitant to open the scroll immediately and set it to the side. After deciding it would be prudent to return to the chambers where they first found the map to the scroll, Tom looked at woman in front of him. "Bellatrix. Tell Falden and Anthony that they are welcome to rest for the remainder of the year. They have done their job well. We three will, from now on, deal with all matters dealing with this book and the guardian curse." The two Lestranges bowed before Bellatrix laughed in excitement.

-o-

Harry watched Professor Dumbledore when the group of three entered the living room. The three guests took seats on the various furniture while Tonks leaned against the TV. The old man moved his hand into his robes and pulled out a letter. "We have created a special room at Hogwarts. As of now, there is no other place to protect you and still function as a place to protect others. In Hogwarts, we could at least allow you the ability to move around with no one to disturb you and I will be able to tell if you had a trance in case you need aid." Albus turned to Remus Lupin who did not seem to like this turn of events. "It is the best option the Order has found... Considering."

Harry nodded. When he looked at Remus he was not sure how to address him. "Was there something you wanted to add sir?"

Remus gave a surprised look before saying. "I had offered to let you live at my home. There are several rooms that are completely shielded and would likely be a safe alternative. But Albus thought it would be wiser for you to stay at Hogwarts."

Harry looked at both men before sighing. "Mr. Lupin, my last trance, were you able to react fast enough to it?" Remus stopped what ever comment he was about it give and lowered his head. Harry smiled at him. "I am truly thankful for the offer. But I know somehow that these trances are going to get stronger. I need to ride them out so I can understand them." He nodded carefully to the Professor. "Let me get my things." He waved for Tonks to come help and she followed him up the stairs. Tonks looked around the room and whistled. The room was lined with stone and much of the wood was burned from that morning.

"You weren't kidding about them getting stronger were you?"

Harry looked at Hedwig's cage. It was behind a stone wall to protect his bird if she wanted to sleep in his room. "Bill tried to repair some of the damage, but the stone is resistant to spells now. Bill spent hours trying to transfigure the cooled rock back into normal walls, he reckoned we will have to remove it and rebuild this part of the house the muggle way." Harry looked at his room. Tonks went around him and waved her wand at his trunk to float. Harry looked at her and the room. It looked nothing like the room he had at the beginning of the summer. "I am scared Tonks. The Dursley's are terrified of me. I saw them leave for their vacation and they sped away at my glance from the window."

"I don't want to hurt them, even if they had hurt me. And I don't want to hurt my friends either." Hedwig flew through the open window after hunting and he stroked her. She felt his anxiety and immediately hooted encouragement. "Go to Hogwarts. I'll meet you there in a while." Hedwig hooted again before she took off. When the owl was gone he turned to Tonks. "Any way, can I still owl Susan?"

"You will have to talk to Albus, but me and Bill could probably help send a few if Dumbledore refuses." She smiled brilliantly.

Harry let a grin escape his frown. "Ok. Let's get going then." It was not long before all of Harry's things were sorted. At the base of the stairs Harry looked around the house before nodding to the headmaster. Professor Dumbledore pulled out a small card. Harry gave a slight smile at the chocolate frog card of himself. Harry touched it waiting expectantly. When the group were all touching it they each felt the pull of the portkey activating.

Harry arrived and grimaced at the court yard. It was under kept and it was on the north side of the castle where students rarely went. Albus Dumbledore led the group to the castle wall where the vines and hedges outlined the stone wall in the shape of a tall door. Albus stared at the wall for a few moments before it turned into a door. "Come, the room I have in mind is fine, and I have procured some things in compensation for your... stay." Harry wondered at that before following the older man. The four followed a flight of narrow stairs before the hall opened into a large foyer. The walls had tall stain glass windows and two flights of stairs. Albus turned on his heel to Harry. "This will be your home for the duration of your summer, You are free to wander the grounds as long as you don't leave. I will not be able to sense if you have a trance outside the walls of Hogwarts' fields." Harry nodded. Albus gave a smile before saying. "I would also like to inform you since you are at the school, you are allowed to use magic freely."

"Really?" Harry felt a tinge of excitement.

"Yes, the Ministry does not monitor the castle as it is pointless to do so when children will be regularly using magic here." Albus walked past Remus. The man had taken the moment to stop and look around. "Everything here has been treated to not catch fire. If you should have a trance, you will not need worry about damage. I left three cabinets in your room to protect all of your belongings. You may send my an owl if you have problems as I won't always be on the castle grounds."

Harry nodded. When Albus sighed Harry looked up again. Harry recognized he was about to be told something he wasn't going to like. Albus let out laugh at the situation. "As you could tell, there is a catch to this. Several wizards have asked that you perform tests with your magic to determine what is going on. Unfortunately, I refused to let them see you in person as they don't know your identity. If we can not have you control or at least understand what is happening I can't allow you to join your class mates this coming school year."

Harry looked up at the man with wide eyes. It never occurred how this would affect him after vacation. He looked at the professor and nodded, not trusting himself to say a word.

Harry set his chest down and looked around while Albus and Remus left. He sat on his possessions while thinking what he should do now. He turned when he heard a cough. "Yeah Tonks?"

She rummaged through her robe pockets before pulling out a leather bound book. "Here." She tossed it to him and he noticed it was kept shut by a leather string. He opened it and was surprised it was empty. "I thought it would help you organize your thoughts better than just doing it in your mind. Albus told the old crone Trelawny that the dream journal assignment you were supposed to have done in your divination class was supposed to help organize that for you, but you never did like that class." She waved before leaving down the hall steps.

Harry stared at the journal now just realizing what the auror just told him. "Still trying to help me while he wanted me to have my life..." Harry stood up and pulled out his wand absently. He summoned a ink well and quill to the table from the chest and walked over to the table while still looking at the blank journal. When he got to the table he noticed that the ink and quill were not there. He glanced at the chest and saw that the bottled ink and quill just barely made it out of the chest. After a moment of confusion he tried to summon the two items again. "Accio quill and ink." The ink bottle flew right at the boys head. Harry's quiditch reflexes save him. The slap the bottle made against his hand shook his arm all the way to the shoulder. Harry looked at the piece of quill to find it didn't even move.

Harry slowly opened his hand and groaned when he felt his good hand was bruised. The sharp outline of the ink bottle was embedded in his hand. "I really am going to have to pay attention to those tests. This could get dangerous."

After he picked up the quill and returned to the table, Harry stared at the finished leather and flipped through the empty pages. He had never written a journal before. Ginny came to mind when he thought of a diary. He shuddered before looking at the journal. After a few moments he started.

Uncle Vernon told me once that we freaks don't know the value of hard work. It wasn't funny then, but I know it's funny now when I remember him saying that. Like the ink bottle and quill I just summoned. After I saw that the spell didn't work once, I tried again and now have a bruised hand for my efforts. I always thought that there were times when the simplest things can be the most complicated tasks with magic, and at the same time the funniest. Just like if I didn't get a bruise on my hand I would think this whole thing was funny. If I was not so self conscious, I admit I would laugh at the many times Ron messed up with his old wand, or the idea that the worlds' most famous wizard is obsessed with lemon drops. I would constantly laugh when Tonks, who can change her body at will, can't even walk down a flight of stairs without tripping once. I know, I've seen her try since the beginning of summer. But that just makes me wonder more, in both worlds, does the oddities balance both sides? Or do we find our own balance in the world we live in?

Harry Potter

-o-

Susan saw Julie return with a letter in her claws and opened the window eagerly. Her smile faded when she found that her letter was returned. "Julie? Did Harry not want the letter?"

Julie Hoot a negative and took off the window sill and flew outside in a circle before flying back. "You couldn't find him?" Susan asked surprised. Julie gave a happy hoot before waiting for Susan to give her more instructions. Susan wondered what happened. "Give me the letter please." Julie produced her foot to untie the letter and Susan thanked her owl before heading down stairs.

"Ami are you still here?" There was no answer and Susan sighed. "She went to work already. Great."

Susan thought of what to do and went to the living room hearth and grabbed some floo powder. She sifted some of it in her hands second guessing herself. It could have been that he was not there, but Julie would have understood that he was just away. Owls rarely return a letter unless the recipient was no longer living there. Susan scowled at the thought of trained Ministry Owls. Sigh, "Julie can only owl to addresses, not to actual people." She threw the powder into the fire place. "Ministry of Magic!"

Susan gracefully walked out of the fireplace and took out her wand to present it to the clerk. "Susan Bones, to see Amelia Bones on personal business." The clerk weighed the wand and wrote a note down.

"You know where to go?" Susan nodded. The clerk waved a dainty hand. "Go ahead then." The older woman went back to her reading.

Susan upturned her nose to the cover of the teen witch weekly. The clerk looked way too old to read something geared towards girls Susan's age. Susan entered the nearest elevator and pressed the floor for her aunt's office. The youngest Bones exited the elevator and looked around to get her bearings. She had only been here twice and both were with her Aunt Ami leading. She finally found the hall she was looking for after a few minutes of back tracking. After a moment of hesitating she knocked on the door that read Director Bones. "This is so stupid, she will probably ground me and send me home." she murmured to herself.

A terse voice answered the knock. "Come in." Susan poked her head into the office. Amelia looked at her niece with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Susan flushed as she walked into the room and closed the door behind her. "Julie can't find Harry." Amelia Bones perked at the information. She knew of the boys magic problems as she had to speak with Dumbledore about safety regulations for children who have problems with magical outbursts. And what kind of movement would not be said, but she had not expected Albus to move the boy so fast. But just in case...

Amelia stood and walked to her fireplace. She was not informed of anything the Headmaster of Hogwarts would do with his students, and in fairness, any student of Hogwarts was more likely under Albus' protection rather than the Ministry's. "Albus Dumbledore's Office." The fire exploded and faded to a small burn. Amelia moved her head into the fire. After looking around she pulled her head out. "Stay here Susan." Amelia took out a quill and parchment and wrote a quick message before tossing it into the fire to send it into the Headmaster's office. "I'll be right back. I am going to look for Nymphadora."

Susan was too surprised by the quick action to reply.

-o-

Harry woke up and rubbed his head. When he saw his room, he fell back into his bed. His head was killing him. The room whirled and Harry resisted the urge to hurl. He recognized the telltale signs of a particularly powerful trance. For one, he was laying naked in his bed. That only happened only one time before. Right before Dumbledore decided he needed to be moved. The trance burned his clothes off. Another sign was that he had a blanket over him. Harry reddened and prayed it wasn't Tonks who covered him. Those two signs told him it had been at least three days since he passed out. He had just said good by to Bill and went to his room to read. Well, that is the last thing I remember...

Harry sighed. He wished he could go to the Owlery. But he didn't feel keen thinking about what would happen if he had a trance while there. He had promised himself he would write to Susan, but he had been too busy, reluctant to call Hedwig, and then this trance... Harry scratched his head, he missed owling Susan terribly . He sat up and pulled the lamp drawer open and pulled out his journal.

Harry no longer thought of the dream that seemed to have started all of the trances, but he still wrote down anything he remembered while he slept in his journal. When that task was done he groaned at the assignment he had in the room. He pulled the curtains from the balcony and sighed when he saw the door was left open. Three cauldrons stood on the balcony and all three were scorched from fire and eventual inattention. He pulled them to the bathroom and dumped the contents down the drain after sprinkling inert powder into each concoction. A knock came from his door. "Just a moment, I am up."

Harry yawned and quickly put away the cauldrons and went to the bathroom to wash up. Now fully clothed and cleaned, Harry went down to the common room. Tonks stood there and grinned at him. She waved two envelopes. Harry smiled widely and ran to the auror. Harry reached to snatch them but Tonks playfully pulled them away before giving them to him. "Sorry it took so long. Apparently owls can't find you when you are in this particular room. I don't know when I can return letters tho." Harry nodded before going to the dinning room. He wanted to read the letters now, but thought they would be better if he read them in private.

"Did you speak with Susan?"

Tonks chuckled. "Nope, Director Bones came into the barracks and searched for me for twenty minutes before she found me and gave them to me. But Susan was a little worried from what Amelia said." Harry nodded while beginning to start on his eggs.

"Was there anything exciting supposed to happen today?"

Tonks grinned. "Nothing, Bill is supposed to come by to get me to help him with something. But that won't be until later. Did you want me to help you with that potion you are working on?" Harry choked on his eggs before pounding his chest. He grabbed his glass of water and downed it quickly. His eyes began to tear slightly before shaking his head.

He coughed one more time. "Sorry Tonks, but I threw that out. I woke up from a particularly nasty trance and saw it was worthless from the fire."

Tonks chuckled she sat on the couch and grinned at the teen. "How's the rest of the studies? Still can't cast reliably?"

Harry gave her a weak glare. "It is still not funny, and I know I am behind on those tests those medical witches sent me."

Tonks hmm'ed a moment before she grinned. "How about some flying?" Harry smiled at the thought. Tonks was about to say something else before she felt a small pulse through her middle ring. The gold band glowed two blinks before going out. Tonks looked at the ring grimly. "Sorry Harry, but something just came up. I got to go." Harry looked at the ring but nodded.

"Get going. I am sure it's important." Tonks smiled at him as she ran out the door. Harry exhaled before grabbing his broom. He had not wanted to go back to his cauldron. Anything was better than remedial potions.

-o-

Severus laid on the ground breathing in sharp breaths. His chest was stripped bare of clothes and his legs were covered by barely recognizable black pants he had worn under his robes. During his waking moments Severus had repeatedly tried to apparate out of the cave to no avail. Severus knew what he had to do to escape but he had to first calm the panic his body kept inducing when ever he heard a slight echo from the other side of the door. Severus hated to admit it, but his body felt itself trained to shake at any noise from the opposite side of the hated wooden door.

His torturer had left earlier that day. Severus let his mind wander enough to allow the faintest traces of his subconscious reassert themselves. He slowly and methodically went from muscle to muscle. One finger, then another moved slightly before they stiffened and failed to move further. His left wrist moved gently then the muscles of his forearm contracted before his biceps and shoulder muscles moved in turn. Severus inhaled, ignoring the lasting pain over his body and was glad that he could walk. The question now was if he was able to stand. Slowly he rolled onto his stomach. The Potions Master was thankful his legs were not too damaged but his abdominal muscles screamed at him. His right shoulder slumped forward and his right hand lay at an awkward angle uselessly.

With a slight smirk of victory Severus pulled himself onto his legs and slowly stood up. His legs shook unsure if they would hold his weight. He took several clumsy steps backwards. Severus was thankful that there was a wall to hold him while he let his legs rest. The hooked nose man knew that it was likely he did not have his hidden vial pouch, but there was still hope if his hands could move to the small of his back.

Severus' broken hand gently felt his back and he gave a small sigh of relief when he felt a small bump at the base of his spine. He nudged it gently and the bag expanded and almost fell to the floor before Severus pressed his back to the wall squeezing the bag into place. Severus stretched his unbroken pinky and ring finger into the bag and felt a vial that was cold to the touch. He moved his quivering hand to his mouth and bit into the stopper and drank the icy liquid eagerly. He let the vial drop and let his breathing stay slow. When he opened his eyes, they were instantly more focused. He looked around and noticed the man who had been beating him left at dawn. Severus thought about how much time has passed since he was brought there. He counted twelve days. Severus' eyes widened wondering why he was still alive. His lord knew he was loyal. That left no doubt that someone had tortured him for something else. Severus gritted his teeth and forcefully ignored the pain and pulled out another vial from his pouch. He looked at his broken hand and the vial. Severus knew he would never be an expert dueler like Rudolphus was, but Snape more than made up for it with his survival skills. Severus tossed the vial at the door where the vial shattered easily. The liquid began to melt the enchanted wooden entrance and Severus walked out and noticed that he was in a cavern. He moved his legs and almost sprinted when he saw daylight. At the entrance he spotted several men sitting and talking. Severus pulled another vial from the back pouch and drank it. His fingers were slowly getting used to the odd position they were being forced into and his hand moved to pull another after he drank the first. Severus felt his body become light. He was satisfied when his body was transparent. With a Herculean effort Severus pulled back his left arm and threw the warm vial that was still in his hand. At the base of the hill a large explosion shook the ground. The men immediately ran to it. Severus allowed another smirk before he darted in the opposite direction. When he tried to apparate again, he felt satisfied that his feet felt soft carpet. He looked up and scowled at the men that he laid his eyes on.

"Dolohov, I need to speak with our lord." The man nodded before turning away. Severus trailed behind and felt his body fail him. He swore to himself as the effects of his potions wore off. He took several more steps before a hand caught him. Dolohov nodded at the potions master before helping him to continue to walk.

At the entrance to the doors Severus saw two old acquaintances. "Alden, McNair, Please move. I must see our Lord." McNair gave one look at Dolohov and the man immediately jumped back from Severus. Snape fell to the ground in a damaged heap. His half usable left hand found itself pinned to his back. The potions master gave the three an incredulous look.

McNair and Alden pulled out their wands. "We were ordered by our Lord to kill you on sight." Two wands stared at him. Severus knew Dolohov had a wand on him too. Snape had executed friends in much the same manner. They serve their Lord first. Their lives were secondary. Severus lowered his head in acceptance of that fact. But while he would gladly die for his master, he did not want to die like this.

"I'll see you three in hell." Severus gave one desperate squeeze to his pouch and was rewarded with an explosion of gray mist encircling the hall in less than a second. He rolled on the ground and felt three green beams hit the ground he laid on. With another burst of concentration Severus apparated out of the house and in front of Hogwarts. He gave a choked grunt at realizing he would have to rely on the man he hated the most. He stood up shakily and started for the castle.

Two loud cracks sounded behind him. Severus did not hesitate. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he started running. His eyes tunneled from the side effects of his potions and the strain on his weakened body. Just pass the gates…

-o-

Harry's broom zoomed across the highest spire and skimmed the length of the tallest tower. He laughed loudly and his heart pounded in his ears. He pulled up before the broom got past the highest point of the rear court yard where he lived. Wind beat his face when he made a sharp turn. It had been a long while since he had flown, and he wanted to make up for it. With a sharp turn he noticed spell light. He slowed and flew around in a wide circle towards the main gates. Harry spotted two men chasing a third towards the entrance. Harry felt his heart in his throat when he recognized the green spell light as the killing curse. Instantly his broom took off in speeds he did not realize it could handle. The broom shook slightly and it came to a abrupt halt when he turned it to slow.

Harry recognized a very beaten Snape and pulled his wand when red spell light grazed the professor's shoulder, showering the ground with blood. Severus kept running towards the gates and Harry understood what was happening. Harry pulled his wand and looked at the men. He did not recognize either of them but something was telling him they were the enemy. In the back of his mind he wondered if the spells would work at all. He had performed several tests and each one showed that he was at the level of a first year. Harry pointed his wand at the two men giving chase. Just before Harry let go of the spell he felt it was different. He tried to slow it to see why there was such a change, but he couldn't hold the spell.

"Stupefy." The spell cut the air and reached the two men faster than anything Harry ever seen before. The spell hit the fastest of the two men and the man rolled on the ground like a rag doll. The second looked at Harry and raised his wand. Harry simply thought of it and his broom flew strait up. The boy-who-lived did not want to think of it before, but it was glaring obvious now. The trances were definitely weakening his magic. But all of his magic returned in full force during a fight. Harry raised his wand again. "Stupefy."

An exact copy of the previous spell sliced the air making a slight hum before it impacted the second man. The man's body fell into the ground leaving a small cloud of dust. Harry flew down towards the running potions professor. Snape continued to run blindly towards the gates.

Harry sped his broom faster when the older man stumbled and fell to the ground just shy a few feet of passing the gate. Harry landed on the inside of the gate and reached over to pick up Severus. Harry gasped at the man's bruised body and levitated him. He looked back at the men. He was wondering what to do with them knowing he didn't want to actually cross the threshold of the castle. He received his answer a second later when three more men apparated over the downed two. Harry glared at the leader. "Bellatrix."

Bellatrix Lestrange gave a rapturous laugh. "Little Potter! Care for another go?" She raised her wand and cast a powerful hex Harry did not recognize. Harry stumbled back dragging his potions professor with him. The spell stopped in mid air at the gates of the castle with a loud ping. Bellatrix gave a disappointed noise but pointed at the two knocked out men. "Get them out of here." Bellatrix turned to Harry and the unconscious professor. She stopped at the gate entrance and smirked at the boy. "So close and yet, so far away…" She extended her left hand to the open air where the gate was. Her hand made contact with an invisible force. She pressed against it while the leather glove that covered her hand began to smoke. After a moment the barrier burned through her glove and burned her hand. She looked longingly at Harry as her fingertips burned. She reluctantly pulled it away. "Maybe next time we meet, you will be more delicious. Farewell my little toy." Bellatrix smiled at him with something Harry didn't know how to describe. After the crack of her apparition passed Harry sighed in relief. He didn't know what kind of protections were on the castle now, but he wondered why people like Malfoy's father and the old headmaster of Krum's school could pass through safely.

Severus groaned and Harry felt panic grip him. He had forgotten about the hateful man. Harry levitated him and got on his broom. When Harry was positive that the man would not be tossed too much when he followed, the Firebolt flew at a medium speed towards the entrance to Hogwarts. When he reached the infirmary, Harry was disappointed that Madam Pomfrey was not there to help him. Harry ran through the cupboards and realized that most of the things he would need to help the older man were locked up. Harry swore and slowly mended the bruises that he saw with an old quidditch spell he learned in his first year. Oliver Wood had shown it to him after a nasty hit by a bludger hit him in the eye. Harry's eye had swollen quickly but Oliver refused Harry to go to the hospital wing saying he needed more practice for his debut game. Oliver showed Harry the bruise reducing spell and Harry had used it ever since.

Harry grinned when the bruises had faded to a dull pink. With the swelling purple masses gone Harry knew he had to get the Potions Master something else to help him sleep while he looked for help. Harry then remembered the potion he was working on for remedial potions. He pulled it out of his pocket and stared at it. It was far from perfect by Snape standards, and with all honesty Harry was hesitant to use it on himself. Severus groaned again. Harry removed the stopper and slowly fed the man the potion, now satisfied that the man unconsciously swallowed the liquid. Snape's spasms stilled and he looked as if he were resting. Harry sighed before looking around and finding some quill and paper. He scratched out a quick note to Dumbledore that he needed help and ran outside the school. "HEDWIG!" Harry crumbled the letter into a small dense ball and threw it into the air. Hedwig caught it in mid air. "Dumbledore! Find him, girl!"

Seconds later Harry could no longer see his owl in the sky. Harry allowed his mind to think on what happened in the past hour - from his time getting on the broom to sending the letter. It felt good to be doing something. But his body shook at the memory of the two spells he cast. He turned back to the entrance where he left his broom. He flew around to the back and ran inside intent on making a few more potions to help the downed teacher. Harry knew he had to be in the room with the professor so he could check on the man and give the potions as they were prepared. But he hated the idea of trying to get everything together by magic. After ten minutes of gathering supplies into two cauldrons, he concentrated as hard as he could and was glad both cauldrons lifted off the air slowly. He got on his broom and had the two floating pots follow him around the castle low to the ground incase they both fell. At the entrance, Harry let go of his broom and picked up one cauldron with one hand and hip while levitating the second pot with his wand. When, he entered the infirmary, Snape was still unconscious but at least resting.

After some loud metal scraping on stone, Harry was able to position two tables adjacent to the professor so he could watch the man while making the potions. When both cauldrons were heated and the potions were started, Harry sighed realizing he would need a third. After rummaging he found a third and thicker cauldron in the back. He set up the potion for blood loss in the new one and watched over them. Two hours later Snape was still not awake and no one had come around to look for him yet. Harry thought if his firebolt was left outside the entrance someone would know he was at least inside the castle and not on the grounds or in his room. Harry looked through the fifth year potions book and stirred one pot with a silver ladle twice counter clock wise before pulling it out to hit the rim with the ladle. A loud chime resounded in the room and the potion turned a light green. Harry smiled that the potion was exactly as he wanted it to turn out. He turned off the heat and poured a vial. He forced the new potion down the mans throat. He coughed slightly before resuming his sleep. Harry looked at him before returning to his potions. Twenty minutes later, Harry was still hovering over three cauldrons and allowed his mind to wonder how Snape had gotten into that condition and how the smarmy teacher escaped.

Harry sighed at one potion and discarded the contents and cleaned the cauldron. The potion was a failure and he had to remake it from scratch again. The day passed quickly with over six potions made. Harry gave a victorious smile when he saw what looked like a proper body restoration draught. He was partial to healing spells himself, but Harry knew no healing spell to heal internal organs. At least with this potion, if someone not injured drinks it, they would not get worse. After the third stir, Harry tapped the lid of the cauldron twice with his bronze stirrer. This potion changed to a pale red. Harry nodded in satisfaction that it looked like the one Snape made last year. He grabbed a ladle and started to pour out three vials.

Something on his left stirred and Harry braced himself for some vicious comment from his thankless Professor. When nothing came he looked up from his potions and saw the man was just staring at the ceiling. Harry looked at the clock and realized he needed to give the professor another dose of blood replenishing potion. He pulled a vial from the bracket that held the completed potions and walked over to the man.

The popping sound from the stopper snapped Severus out of his trance. He focused on Harry and was about to sneer out something but Harry slammed his hand over the man's mouth. Severus' eyes turned wild a moment feeling as if he was captured again. After a second of calm he saw the determined student force open his mouth and place the vial upside down. Severus almost gagged at the liquid that was forced into his mouth. The Potions Master tried to sit up and spit it out but was met with a quidditch player's strength that forced him back on the bed with the hand covering his mouth. Severus glared at the boy.

Harry looked back determined that the man was going to swallow his potion. "Drink it. I have been giving it to you all day. This one isn't going to kill you." Severus gave one final glare before he reluctantly swallowed the potion. Harry removed his hand and went to the sink to wash his hands. When he came back he turned off all of the cauldrons and started pouring potions into vials and labeling them. When he was done he placed the cauldrons in the deep sinks at the end of the infirmary and turned to the professor who was off staring at the ceiling again. Harry was not sure what to say, whatever happened to the man devastated him.

"I called for help nearly eight hours ago. I am going to try and see where everyone was." Harry walked out of the infirmary but not before he placed the vials next to the man's bed. Severus stared at the vials unsure what to say. When the boy was gone, Severus pulled up his sleeve and simply stared at the tattoo on his forearm.

-o-

Harry walked outside and sighed. It was getting stuffy in the infirmary and the cool night air was what he needed. He sat on the steps of Hogwarts doors and wondered what happened to his note. The moon was rising and Harry was glad it was not going to be full for another week. Just as Harry was about to walk in to check on Snape he heard steps clacking against the walk way at the gates. He looked up and waved at two people he recognized. "Tonks! Bill!"

They slowed when they reached the teen. "What's wrong Harry? Sorry we are late, Albus was in France when he received the wad of paper from Hedwig, he fire-called us through the floo. And that was six minutes ago."

Harry waved the two to follow him. The couple exchanged glances before they entered the infirmary. They both gasped at the site of Snape. He was in tears and was clutching his arm.

-o-

Twenty minutes before Tonks and Bill arrived at Hogwarts Tom Riddle had gathered his Death Eaters for a banquet for the fallen. The memorial was the placing of the honored deads' names on a stone tablet. The twenty Death Eaters and their families at in solemn observance. Tom had spoken to each family commenting how each person who had fallen, Death Eater and apprentice alike, had performed their duties. It was because of this that they will be honored and their names will never be tarnished. Towards the end of the banquet Voldemort leaned over to Peter Pettigrew who stood aside at attention. The man was doing his job by observing the crowd. When Voldemort gave him a look, Peter leaned forward so his ear was to his master's mouth. "I want you to look over Anthony and Falden. Report to me if anything happens to them."

Peter nodded but asked. "Do you think whatever attacked them would return to kill them?"

"Egyptian curses are thorough. I need to see if these guardians will hunt down all who attempt to find the book, or merely deter them." Peter bowed before resuming his observation of the tables. Voldemort finished his meal and nodded to Rudolphus. The Lestrange stood from his place at the table and walked over to his Lord.

"Yes my Lord?"

"I have not seen Severus. Who was the last to speak with him?" Rudolphus looked around and used the ring on his finger. It heated and chilled when his gaze met with three others. "Speak to Lucius, McNair..." He paused and raised an eyebrow at his wife. "And my wife. I ask of my Lord, that if she needs to be disciplined, I do it." Voldemort nodded. Several minutes passed where dinner was over and men and women were having pleasant conversation. Tom finally stood up and allowed the tables and their contents to disappear. "My loyal followers, today marks a tragic time. But I must ask for forgiveness for bringing more dire news out into the open before the night is done. Lucius Malfoy, Devon McNair, Bellatrix Lestrange. Please come forward."

Malfoy confidently walked forward along with McNair who did not understand why he was called. Bellatrix smiled slightly at a private joke to herself.

The fake smile Voldemort had fell. His crimson eyes looked at the three Death Eaters. "Where is Severus Snape?"

Malfoy smirked while he looked at his master. "My Lord, I wanted to speak to you in private about your 'most loyal Death Eater', but I guess it is out in the open now. I have proof that he was a traitor and.." Voldemort pulled his wand from his sleeve. Malfoy felt his voice fail him.

"You are a fool Lucius Malfoy. I would know if someone is a traitor to my cause. I would know when a man decides to be a spy among my followers. This is the last time your selfishness will disgrace this hall. Now tell me, what did you do to Severus Snape?" Malfoy struggled against the feeling of fear that gripped him. The man had done his own machinations for so long without his lord that he had forgotten the man's power. Even after Voldemort was resurrected and he returned to the man all the Death Eaters knew and loved as a leader, Lucius had forgotten that the man was also a monster... a monster and a genius at magic.

Lucius felt the pain stab through his mind. He had never felt his mental barriers shredded like this before. Lucius knew he overestimated how his own powers held against his master.

Voldemort stared into the eyes of the man and felt he would have to do something he thought he did not need to do since his rebirth over his fathers grave. Without even saying the incantation, Lucius fell to the torture curse. Voldemort looked at the writhing Death Eater expressionlessly. After a moment, Tom blinked and sighed exasperatingly at his Death Eater. "Look what you have made me do, Lucius. We are both of proper and noble birth. And here I am cursing you like some kind of mudblood."

Lucius looked at his master through a thick haze. He gasped for air. The other Death Eaters stood in a circle. The families had fled the room at the first sign that this was Death Eater business. The group looked at Lestrange and McNair wondering what their role was. All knew of Rudolphus' ring and its power to find links between objects and people.

Voldemort looked at both Bellatrix and McNair. Bella was smiling at the show, not the least bit worried about herself. McNair was confused and afraid but he did not waiver his gaze from his master. Even had Voldemort not stripped through Malfoy's mind, he would still know that Bella and Devon were loyal and following their orders regardless of who said it was in Lord Voldemort's name. Tom looked back towards Lucius and let the magic and anger of this traitorous action coursed through him. Lucius opened his mouth and foam sputtered out. "Powerful, isn't it Lucius?" His voice was a whisper but could clearly be heard by his circle. "You know this spell is run on hate, not magic. This is how much hate I have for you now. You have dishonored your name and your class." Voldemort held the spell for several more seconds before he let it go.

Voldemort walked up to the man and kicked Malfoy's arm so his mark was facing the sky. "My followers, I ask you to turn your backs. None of you should witness the fall from grace I am forcing on this man." The circle turned their backs. Bellatrix and McNair promptly followed. When all were turned away, Voldemort lowered his wand until it was touching the dark mark on Lucius' arm. In silent agony, Malfoy watched the ink from the mark slowly collapsed on itself and sink into Voldemort's wand. When Tom stepped back, he turned towards Devon and Bellatrix. "You two have followed orders, even if you questioned their validity. Either way you have failed me and dishonored your name. You will both be forever second class. Your children will not see your fate, just you." Bellatrix turned her head slightly confused at the sentence but shrugged and walked to her husband who looked at his master gratefully. Devon paled and returned to his spot in the circle.

"Lucius Malfoy. You have failed me and allowed your personal greed to cloud your judgment. Your family name will forever be seen filthy as the mudblood class. You will never have the grace of serving me again. Now leave." Lucius looked at his master. Malfoy was shaken. He tried to speak up, but three Death Eaters gripped him and one slammed his hand over the traitors mouth.

He was thrown out the door where his wife and son stood. They picked up the half sobbing man. Voldemort dismissed his followers and went to his chamber. He sat on his sofa and closed his eyes. He moved his hand to his wand and started drawing a continuous pattern in the air. There are now only seventeen dark marks... I just need to find the one that was not touched by tonight's events. Voldemort finally found it. He opened his eyes and saw a blurred vision of a ceiling. He felt as if his body was tucked by blankets and despair, shame and doubt filled his mind. He looked down and saw that he was cradling his arm of a dark mark. Voldemort sighed knowing this mark had already broken. The stage Lucius set for several 'loyal death eaters' who were nothing more than apprentices, try to apprehend Severus, had done the job. There was no chance now to try and regain Severus' trust that Tom had created over the past twenty years. Twenty years was long ago. Severus was still just a child when Tom found him and created one of his most loyal Death Eaters. To be a spy you must be the most loyal servant, and never let your faith waiver. Severus had that. Tom knew he deserved better than this...

Tom let himself withdraw from his former follower's mind and looked at his own blank forearm. There was a knock at the door. "Come in."

"My Lord." Tom looked up and back to his forearm. Rudolphus walked in and closed the door behind him. He went to a seat across from his lord and waited until his leader was ready to speak.

"Did you know, there was a time before I found you, where I considered making the mark so that we all could wear it proudly? To carry a mark in the open to show we are proud... I thought of giving myself that mark... It is such a shame that I have to kill my beloved spell twice in a single day." Voldemort raised his wand to his wrist and concentrated ink formed at the tip of his wand. It was done in moments. Voldemort's mind let go the sounds of Severus' anguished and abandoned cries.

"Severus was damaged too much to be of help. His faith in me was broken, and despair clouds his thoughts as his true enemy heals him. The Death Eater, Severus, is truly dead."

Rudolphus nodded while folding his hands in front of him. "I have word from Peter. When Falden entered his home he fell dead. His wife contacted the aurors and then collapsed. Peter heard a doctor at St. Mungos say she is barren. Then, he apparated to Anthony's home only to find that he too was dead."

Voldemort nodded before closing his eyes. Now there are only fourteen Dark Marks. He reached out and let the marks disappear from the bodies of his fallen. When the job was done he stood and beckoned for Rudolphus to follow.

Down several flights of stairs Voldemort stood staring at the tablet of the fallen. Seventeen names of The Honored Dead laid there. There were all men and women who had died serving their Lord. He pointed his wand at the tablet and then there were twenty names of the honored. The newest three were:

Falden Danesworth

Anthony Browsen

Severus Snape

-o-

Severus gripped his forearm and gritted his teeth. I am truly alone now... He jerked his head at the opening doors and felt his humiliation was complete. He loathed the boy who had undoubtedly saved him. Severus knew he was a loyal Death Eater. His Lord did as well. It was only in a few moments of despair did he doubt that. In doing so, he lost his mark and his place at his lord and master's side. That abandonment was worse than any cruciatus curse he could have felt. Worse than the humiliation he could think of.

He looked at the boy and the Weasley and useless auror who followed him. He raised his arm and said in a guttural voice. "I am free of Voldemort's influence." He lowered his arms and laid back in his bed wishing that the earth would swallow him. Or at least let them know that he was a loyal Death Eater. Maybe if he told them, they would execute him and put him out of his misery. He looked up with haunted eyes at the Weasley and Auror.

Tonks and Bill stared at the man. Both of them knew that he wasn't acting. He was devastated by losing his mark. They pulled their wands but stopped when Harry walked forward.

"Professor, you need to take this potion now." Harry unstoppered another vial from the stand and handed it to the professor. The man stared at the vial when it was placed in his hand. "I know that I am not a good potions maker, but it won't kill you." Severus looked at the boy and drank the vial. Harry grinned at the man. "Think I can take Pomfery's place when she retires?" Severus snorted through the potion, all suicidal thoughts from drinking the imbecile's potion forgotten.

"You are a moron Potter. You can't cast a healing spell, much less make a potion. It is only my own stubborn constitution that saved me from your potion skills."

Harry grinned wider glad to see the solemn professor more like the man he knew and hated. "Well, now that you are better, I need to go sleep before I get another trance for staying up so late. Good night professor. Tonks, Bill, I will need to talk to you both about some things when I see you in the morning." Harry paused for a second before he added. "Provided that I don't have a trance tonight that knocks me out for a few days." He waved the three of them a good night before walking off to the entrance to grab his broom and heading to his room at the back of the castle.

After several minutes of silence Severus looked up from the empty vial. He knew that even while entertaining the idea of turning himself in, these two already knew. They had drawn their wands the moment they saw him. There was no misunderstanding of what they thought. "What will be done with me?"

"We do not know yet. Albus does not know, as we just arrived. Harry was oblivious." Severus snorted again at the idea of Potter having a clue. "Don't short change him just because he is a Potter, Snape. I seem to recall your own family having one or two sheep that strayed from the family's flock. His father was just like yours. An exile, even among his own family." Bill stared at the man waiting for a reaction. When he received none he continued. "Like I was saying we don't know what will happen to you. But we can give you an option."

Tonks turned towards her friend and hissed. "Bill."

"You just said we need someone else, Harry has the drive, but with this illness of his, it's no use." Bill turned towards his former professor. "You know what will happen when Albus hears of these events, regardless of your true loyalties."

Snape growled out. "I will be treated just like that dog, Sirius." Tonks couldn't contain it anymore and punched the bed ridden man.

"Talk like that again, and you will see what an insult to a Black entails." Severus gauged the words carefully never seeing the woman so coordinated and serious in his life.

"What is my second option Billius Weasley?"

Bill looked over to Tonks before she nodded. "It is ironic that you should end up in this group Severus. But you may have a conflict of interests."

Severus understood that whatever happens to him now, he might go against his formal Lord in a very real confrontation. Looking back to the vial, he knew that his world was changing when James Potter's son brewed a decent restoring draught. "I am in. What do you want?"

-o-

Harry walked into the room and sighed. He was ready for bed but his head shot up from the bed and he turned his neck despite the crack and pop it made. He jumped out of bed and ran to his desk where his two letters from Susan sat for the whole day. He opened the one that had several creases in it.

Harry! It's almost your birthday! I wanted to tease you one more time before I send you your birthday gift. I know you are dieing to get it, so I am giving you a hint. It is something that connects us. I know you are getting frustrated but that's half the fun! Well, enough of that. I was talking to my friend, Angela. She was saying that there is a new fan club for this one writer for The Prophet. It's the one that has been printing stories about you and some other people. But I guess she is really good, because she has gotten a lot of people motivated to vote over some bill about education. Since last years mess, she argued people need to vote to keep the government and the school board separate.

I'll send you the Prophet letter if you want to see it. But I am still kind of nervous about this lady. Her name is Ninny. Yeah, that sounds trustworthy. I just hope it isn't another Rita who wants to dabble in politics rather than gossip. That's all this world needs, a convincing back seat driver. Uh oh, Ami wants something. Write back! Hugs!

Love

Susan

Harry folded the letter and suddenly remembered that his birthday had come and gone. He groaned when he realized he was unconscious for the whole thing. He opened the second letter wondering what she would say after he disappeared.

Harry! You are ok! First I want to hug you. Hug! Now I want to yell at you for not saying you were getting ready to move! Ami says you can't tell me where, and I can't use Julie anymore. So I don't know when I can send you another mail. And I sorta got my self barred from the Auror floor at the Ministry for looking for Tonks. Ami wasn't happy with me either. I had to pass this to her, then wait for her to find Tonks to pass it to wherever you are at. Did I mention that I am mad that you didn't say you were moving to somewhere else? You could have at least told me! Well now that I spent all my fury... Happy Birthday! I hope you had a good one. Remember that writer I was talking about in the last letter?( hopefully you read that one first.) She got the votes the bill needed to succeed! Can you believe it? She got people backing her to keep the school board and government separate. The law is signed in a month and the Ministry will have no say in what goes on at Hogwarts. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. I know Dumbledore is a great man, but what happens when someone takes over who isn't as great? Or what happens if the school board gets corrupt or paid off or something? Yeah, I know the school board is a bunch of parent volunteers, but still. No muggle adult has a say in that, and many of the pure blooded families are poor. That is just asking for the system to be abused.

Harry paused reading the letter and squinted. The scrawling was getting tighter and scratchier as the letter had progressed and he let himself laugh when he had to stare at some scrawling at the side of the letter between two paragraphs that was hastily added.

Yeah, I know you are going to say it, so I will say it first. This is mostly how Ami said it. But she says it better than I could.

If you get a chance have Hedwig fly by with a letter, maybe she could stay. I could at least reply. One letter a day is better than nothing. I have missed you terribly these past few days.

Love

Susan.

Harry wanted to kick himself for not thinking about Susan's reaction to his abrupt 'disappearance'. He placed the letters in his trunk and started thinking about his reply. Hedwig had just flown to where ever in the nine hells Albus was in France. So she would likely not be up to sending a letter tomorrow if she even returned tomorrow. But, maybe the day after she could send the letter. He was just not sure if he should throw the letter in a ball like he did Albus's letter since he was unwilling to tie a letter to her leg. Hedwig's claws are too big to grip an envelope in its talons. Harry thought a moment before he went back to his trunk and pulled out one of his blank essay scrolls. It may be a waste of paper, but Hedwig could pick it up.

Late that night Harry finally rolled the scroll up and tied it before crawling to bed. He laid on the bed and thought of Susan's letters, and was glad a small constant was back in his life.

He couldn't find the words to say what he felt while he was writing. But as he slid into deep sleep, the back of Harry's mind found the right words he didn't write in his letter. I miss you too Susan.

- - - End Chapter 2 Dark Mark - - -

A/N: This chapter made me nervous about everyones reaction to Voldemort, and as we are goign to be working with this version of the guyfor the next two stories, this is either a make it or break it chapter. I wanted to do something different than the same old crazy Voldemort. I never once thought of Voldemort or his death eaters as anything less than a serious threat. They are a group of people who had been able to terrify a nation to such an extent that after a decade of their disappearance they still could not be mentioned with out fear. The ability to instill this kind of reaction can't just be done through simple harrassment, but true psychological damage. If any kind of organization could do this, they would need to be compentent and well, very Slytherin. Voldemort is the embodiment of the ideals Slytherin represented both good and bad.

And if he was such a conniving man, then he could surely recruit his death eaters in a much better way than through fear as well as only selecting the truest and brightest of the Slytherin. When I read the Cannon, I see Lucius Malfoy as a very ambitious man. His ability to stay a loft so many allegations is a testament to his ability to work with people, and not just throwing money around which he is likely doing as well. I see the other Death Eaters, or in this story, Voldemort's 'Death Marks' just as cunning as Lucius, just not as rich or as self absorbed as the Malfoy.

This chapter was important since we are introduced to not just Voldemort, but to also Tom. Voldemort is the radical who will do anything to succeed. His Dark Marks, are nothing to him but objects and an means to an end. Tom is the leader, and the man his followers truley want to be accepted by. His Death Eaters are the people he can trust to help him build a new world under a new rulership.

And I think this is the longest A/NI have ever written. Woot! See you all next chapter.