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Chapter 10—The Dark Mark

Draco,

Meet me at 2:00 sharp in the Hogs Head.

Draco stared at the letter in his hands from his father. He didn't want to go to the Hogs Head and meet him but if he didn't, who knows what would happen to him. He put the letter away just in time, because Hermione came over.

"Want to go to Hogmeade today?" She asked happily.

"I'm so sorry, 'Mione I can't. I have to uh... meet with Professor Snape and work on a potion with him." He thought of a lie quickly. Hermione understood and nodded.

"Okay. Well, I'm going to meet Ginny and Ali for lunch. You coming?" She responded. Draco shook his head.

"I'm not hungry, but if I am I'll go to the kitchens." He told her.

"Okay, see you later." He gave him a kiss on the cheek before she walked out.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Where's Draco?" Ali said happily as she bounced over to the Gryffindor table. Since she didn't see Draco she wanted to eat with her other friends.

"Oh, he said he wasn't hungry." Hermione answered.

"Actually, come to think of it, where is everyone?" Ali asked, noticing Hermione was the only one.

"I don't know." Hermione answered simply as she took a turkey sandwich from the plate in front of her. As if on cue though, Harry and Ginny came in the Great Hall, holding hands. Ali and Hermione's jaw dropped. As Harry and Ginny neared the table, both girls said at the same time, "When did this happen?"

"Last night." Ginny answered and grinned.

"Yep, Ginny's my girl now." Harry said and gave her a quick kiss. Ron came in the Great Hall, looking very grumpy. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned back to her food. Ali sensed the tension and turned to Hermione.

"Are you going to Hogmeade today?" She asked her. Hermione could feel Ron's eyes staring at her as she shook her head.

"Why?" Ali asked.

"I don't feel like it." Hermione said, but she really meant that since Draco couldn't go she didn't want to. Ali got the message but didn't say anything in front of Ron.

"Hermione, I--." Ron started but Hermione cut him off.

"You want to apologize, because I might forgive you." She told him. Ron frowned.

"No! You should apologize to me! I was going to say 'I think you owe me an apology!'" He told her.

"Me?" She yelped. "You were the one that punched my boyfriend!"

"Your boyfriend?" Ron yelled. They had the attention of most of the Great Hall.

"Yes Ronald Weasley, my boyfriend!" She shouted back.

"He is NOT your boyfriend!" He cried.

"Why do you care?" Hermione screamed.

"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MY BEST FRIEND DATING SOMEONE LIKE HIM!" He shouted. The whole hall was silent, even Hermione. She narrowed her eyes, shoved him away and stalked out of the Great Hall. Ron ran a hand through his hair and groaned. It took a while for the hall to get its usual noise back.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Draco walked slowly into Hogsmeade. He steadily made his way into the Hogs Head. His father was sitting at a table in the back, wearing black robes. Draco sighed quietly and walked to the back.

"You're late." Lucius snapped.

"Only a minute." Draco snapped back.

"Do not talk to me like that." Lucius said coolly. "Sit." He commanded. Draco sat unwillingly.

"What are you planning to do in the future, Draco?" His father responded. Draco knew what he wanted him to say.

"Not what you do, if that's what you mean." Draco didn't look at his father when he said this.

"Yes you will." Lucius said.

"You can't make me!" Draco yelled.

"Shut up." Lucius hissed.

"I'm not going to be one of his followers." Draco said again, coolly. Lucius smacked Draco on the hand with his snake-head walking stick.

"Fine, here's a galleon for that quill you needed." Lucius said. Draco stupidly took the galleon but instead of getting from his chair, he felt a jerking feeling behind his navel. A portkey! Draco realized. He saw spinning colors as he flew, not knowing where he was going. Without warning, he hit the ground. Once he got his eye sight back he saw he was in a huge field. He sat up just all this hooded figures. He knew what they were. Death Eaters. All of a sudden he saw red, glowing eyes.

"Young Mister Malfoy..." A raspy voice said. "You have decided to join me."

Draco's head snapped up. "What?" He cried. He heard hisses from some of the cloaked figures. Before he knew it, a scabby hand grabbed his wrist. Draco felt coldness spread through his body but then it was filled with hot, terrible pain. His skin felt like it was burning and he passed out from the horrible pain he'd never felt before.

Draco woke up half and hour later, his whole body aching, but especially his arm. He looked at it and what he saw made him yell. It was the Dark Mark. He knew he couldn't do anything about it. He fell back onto the grass. He reached in his pocket, pulling out a coin. He groaned as he felt the familiar jerk behind his naval. He forgot it was a portkey. He felt himself land on his bed at Hogwarts. He looked at his arm and the Dark Mark was still there. He groaned again and headed to Dumbledore. As much as he hated to, Dumbledore was the only one who would believe that he was not a Death Eater. He pulled his sleeve down as far as it would go and went down to the common room.

"Hey Draco!" Hermione called out to him. He let out a yell of surprise, he didn't know she was there.

"Uh, I got to go check on the potion." He said quickly.

"Oh okay." Hermione said, sounding slightly disappointed. As soon as he escaped the common room Draco ran all the way to Dumbledore's office. He knew the password was always candy so he shouted every one he knew. Finally he shouted the right password. ('Acid Pops') and ran all the way up the door. He knocked rapidly until he heard a reply.

"Come in." Dumbledore said calmly. Draco opened the door. "Ah, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said.

"I need your help, Professor!" He cried.

"Calm down, Mr. Malfoy. I know about the Dark Mark on your arm." Dumbledore told him. Draco opened his mouth to ask how but Dumbledore continued. "I know of a way to get it off, but it will take very long. I alerted all the professors so that if they see it they know it is not your wish. I came up with a special potion that myself, Professor Snape and Madame Pomfrey will be working on. It will take a month to brew but will take the Dark Mark off your arm. Do you understand?" He finished. Draco nodded, not knowing what to say.

"Please go to the hospital wing every week for a spell that will lighten it, make it not as noticeable if you wish. Come to my office in one month to take the potion. Good day, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore added. Draco nodded again and walked out of the office, tugging on his sleeve to make it go as far down as possible.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The next week, even though he had the spell that faded it, Draco was very careful not to show anyone the mark. Although, one day he let it slip. He got out of the shower and pulled on his jeans. He left his shirt in his room so went to get it. He ran a hand through his hair, but apparently the wrong hand. And Hermione saw. Only, he realized it too late. Once he did he quickly brought his hand back down but Hermione was too quick. She ran up to him.

"What is that?" She cried. Hermione grabbed his arm and became wide-eyed.

"It's not what you think!" Draco said, panicking.

"Not what I think! I know what that is Malfoy!" She yelled.

Authors note—what do ya think??? Don't worry I have a plan!!! Please, please review!!