Disclaimer: Please see Chapters 1 and 2 for all disclaimers

Shout outs…

Mark Darcy… Welcome. I'm so glad you're enjoying the stories. I hope you like the rest of Panther!

Evenstar Elanor… A good hook at the end of each chapter is a good thing… hopefully it makes readers want more!

Angoliel… "Huggles, snuggles and lots of roses?" Yippee! I surely like that better than gnawing, my friend.

Lady of the Dog Star… Proximity to the holiday in that chapter was more to make sure she was past the bad memories associated with it, and also Samhain is the start of the new year. New year, new life… that's what I was thinking.

Chapter 26: The Dark Mark

Severus stood outside of the courtroom in a small anteroom. He was alone for the first time that day and he knew his solitude would only last for a moment. He could still feel the warm silky fur of the phantom panther that had visited him most nights lately. Somehow the mysterious silver creature's presence had brought him reassurance and kept his darkest thoughts at bay.

"Well," said Meredith coming in brusquely. "This should all be over with soon enough."

"The less I see of you the better," growled Severus.

"Humph. Well I shan't miss your sour company as well. I'm moving in much better circles now."

Severus looked her up and down. Meredith had worn a very form-fitting dress under her cloak with a neckline that dipped down revealing quite a bit of cleavage. It was enough to be mildly scandalous but not enough to be tacky. She had makeup on and her nails were recently manicured and polished.

"Silly bint. If you think you're going to get a romp in the sack with Lucius, you're going to be very disappointed." He was only guessing that it was Lucius, but he had seen Meredith flirting with him more than once. Her sharp, shocked reaction told him he was right.

"You obviously don't know what you're talking about." She stared at him frostily.

Severus smiled, enjoying the small victory. "Well, I must be mistaken, but that's probably good. Lucius Malfoy isn't one to get involved in anything that will leave loose ends to trip him up. And with a wife like Narcissa, you would surely be a loose end."

"Well there's the pot calling the kettle black," she sneered. "You should be one to talk about being a loose end. Come on, off you go." She pointed imperiously towards the door and with a deep breath, Severus walked forward.

Outside in the courtroom, every seat was taken. There was a large, elevated bench where seven judges sat, each with a serious scowl on their faces. At the front of the room was a circular dais where Severus would stand for the trial. Jeremy sat at a desk, with all his papers in front of him and at a table nearby sat two other barristers with Malificus in between them. As the accuser, he had to sit with the prosecutors in this particular case. Behind Malificus sat Lucius and Narcissa.

Serena sat behind Jeremy and she was surrounded by friends. Dumbledore was there along with McGonagall and Madam Hooch. The Weasleys were there and so was Tonks, who smiled encouragingly at Serena. Several rows back, Serena's Aunt Kerry was there along with her daughter Fiona who had insisted on coming with her. Serena was glad they were there. She didn't know if she could get through this day alone.

The doors of the anteroom swung open without a sound. Serena sat up a little straighter, straining to see and when she did finally catch a glimpse of Severus she nearly burst into tears. He was thin and drawn and he had circles under his eyes. His hair was unkempt. She wasn't necessarily surprised. Let the villain look scruffy, she thought. Use how he looks to turn opinion against him.

Severus saw Serena and stopped short. It took all of his self-discipline not to try to hurry over to her or call her name. He had to be content with the long, trusting look they shared. The bailiff gave him a hard shove between the shoulder blades and Severus stumbled forward. They brought him to circular area surrounded on three sides by a waist-high railing.

"Order! Order!" shouted Umbridge, peering over the rim of her glasses. Just hearing her voice made Serena fume. She leaned forward and Jeremy leaned back.

"How the bloody hell did she get on the panel of judges?" hissed Serena. Jeremy shook his head; he didn't know but seeing her up there gave him an uneasy feeling down in the pit of his stomach.

Lucius glanced around the packed courtroom with an amused smile as he enjoyed the circus. He was also enjoying Malificus' discomfort. Lucius had made sure his brother was impeccably groomed and dressed and the refinement only made his disfigurement more pronounced. He'd also taken great pleasure in only allowing Malificus to speak when reciting his story about how Severus had tempted him to evil as a Death Eater.

Serena thought the trial started well. Jeremy made an impassioned and thought-provoking opening argument, but after that, things began to slowly unravel. No matter what Jeremy asked of the witnesses, his line of questioning was challenged and cut down for no legitimate reason. As each moment wore on, Serena could see the frustration in Jeremy's eyes increasing and as that happened Serena felt more cornered and desperate. The only think keeping her in her seat was what she read in the book Sirius had brought… but that was a last ditch option.

Severus was also feeling desperate. He could see very clearly that he was being railroaded and no matter what Jeremy said, no matter what excellent point he started to make, it wasn't going to make any difference. They were going to condemn him and then they were going to execute him. He – along with everyone else in the room – could feel the presence of the Dementors in the other anteroom. They were just waiting for the moment Umbridge proclaimed him guilty.

He shifted in his space. His arm was starting to itch but he didn't pay too much attention. He was too busy trying to find a way to turn the tide in his favor. Suddenly, a searing pain shot up Severus' arm. He knew what it was and he wanted to deny it, but the pain was so intense he couldn't help but cry out in pain and sink to his knees.

Serena jumped up and shouted his name. Tonks and Arthur held her back, keeping her from jumping the railing. If she'd done that she would have brought the wrath of the bailiffs down on both her and Severus. And if that happened, it would turn sentiment even harder against Hogwart's Potions Professor.

"What's the meaning of this?" shrilled Umbridge and then her eyes got wide. "His arm! Show me his arm!"

A bailiff with distinctly trollish features literally ripped the sleeve of off Severus' linen shirt. The courtroom exploded in an uproar of shouts and cries. There, clear on Severus' arm, in all its horrible glory, pulsed the Dark Mark.

Voldemort had returned.

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