It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want
Hermione awoke in the hospital wing and subconciously rubbed her arm. She wasn't stupid. There was a faint red outline growing there, and she knew what it could be but wouldn't believe it. She was also scared. Very scared. She needed to talk to Professor Snape as much as she didn't want to. When Hermione got Madam Pomfrey's OK to leave, she began to walk to the dungeons. She was almost there when her arm began throbbing. She almost collapsed with the pain, and heard the same raspy voice calling her name. She began running, clutching her arm, and knocked loudly on Professor Snape's office door.
"Professor?" she yelled. "Are you there?"
The door flew open.
"Miss Granger? What's the matter?"
"My arm... it hurts really badly!"
Severus lifted her left sleeve and watched the poor girl wince in pain. His greatest fear, most impossible fear had been realized. It was faint yet obvious.
The Dark Mark