A/N Hey! I'm already in school, so I'm definitely going to have less time to write. I plan on finishing up Sixth year in two chapters so be prepared for very long chapters or very short…It truly depends on how many ideas I can come up with. Tell me, do want Seventh year to be a sequel or do you want it to be the same story? Well on to chapter 15!

Chapter Fifteen: Mark Of The Beast

"Can someone please shoot Slughorn?" Jen threw her quill onto the table spattering Aden with ink.

"Watch it would you?" He wiped ink off his cheeks and glared at Jen for a moment while she ranted.

"This is absolutely ridiculous! What does this have to do with Potions? He's a pompous, overbearing, attention seeking, sucking up, fat little—Remus no!" He leaned over and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

"Ow Ow!" Sirius whistled and James high-fived Aden.

"Remus! What was that for?" Jen tried to glare and found she couldn't.

"That was because I haven't kissed you yet today." He smiled gleefully and scooted down the couch. "It was also to shut you up."

"Lupin!" She took a pillow and began to chase after her boyfriend.

Lily came down the stairs and surveyed the situation. After she let her eyes linger on James a moment longer than was necessary, she pulled Jen up the stairs.

As they climbed Lily hurriedly whispered a warning to Jen. "Something bad has happened, you'll know what when we get in there."

The door opened and soft weeping filled the room. Hannah sat on her bed and stared at the letter in her hand. It didn't take a genius to figure out why she was crying. Jen ran to the bed and threw her arms around her cousin.

"Why did he do it Hannah-hoo?" The letter was shoved into Jen's hands.

Hannah,

I don't suppose you know why I'm writing this, but read it anyway. We've been dating for a while now and I'm afraid I've come to my senses. I've thought about this a lot and I've decided I have to do what's best for both of us.

Jen glanced up before continuing to read.

After talking with my fellow peers I have come to a conclusion. I'm sorry, but I can't be with you. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin can't be together.

Make no attempt to contact me. I'll see you in class.

Severus

"That bastard! Oh Hannah, I'm so sorry!" Jen placed the letter on the bed and reached for her cousin.

"You're not s-s-sorry, you're probably g-g-glad." Hannah sobbed on Jen's shoulder nonetheless.

"I'd never be glad about something that hurt you. I'm glad if you are, even if it did mean you were dating him." She stroked Hannah's back.

Andromeda conjured four cups of tea and passed them out. "Here Hannah, drink up, it'll make you feel better."

Lily drew her wand and dried Hannah's tears.

Three hooded figures glided out of the oaken doors and onto the grounds, their breath misting in puffs. They strode stealthily and purposefully towards the ominous trees that loomed in the distance. As they drew nearer they quickened their pace.

As the group entered the trees they were submerged in darkness. One drew their wand and hissed "Lumos!" Following a winding path through the shadows, they eventually came to a clearing.

A semi-circle of robed figures with white masks greeted them. In the middle and to the front a man stood cloaked, but not masked. His unearthly pale skin and blood red eyes gleamed in the wand light. He beckoned to the newcomers.

As one they stepped forward, letting the middle figure stand slightly to the front.

"Come…Severus Snape…Come…" A slithery hissing voice issued from the man's mouth. The figure pulled down his hood and stepped forward suppressing a shudder.

"Master." Snape addressed Voldemort.

"You must complete one task before receiving your gift." His penetrating eyes bored into Snape's eyelids as Snape stared at the ground.

"Speak, I listen." Snape continued to stare at the ground refusing to look up fearing the hate he was sure filled his eyes.

"A simple matter of telling us the location of the Evan's residence."

Snape's eyes snapped up. He knew the address, she had told it to him once so he could send her letters there. He also knew what it would mean if he told Voldemort. But did it matter? He probably already knew from Legilmency and was just trying to see if Snape would be loyal. She'd never forgive him for being the cause of so much pain. Then something connected. She must already hate me; she'll never forgive me anyway. In that instant Snape's heart hardened just that little bit more.

"184 Elizabeth St., London." The last syllable cracked slightly. He said before he could change his mind.

"Good." Voldemort hissed. "Then come closer and receive my gift."

For a fraction of a second Snape hesitated. This is your last chance. Do this and you'll never get her back. He stepped forward and Voldemort smiled evilly. He lifted the arm of Snape's robe and pressed his wand to the inside of the elbow.

Immediately searing pain shot through Snape's whole body. It felt like nothing else. He let out a tortured scream.

Every bone was being broken.

Every muscle was torn to shreds.

Every inch of skin was being peeled off.

Every hair was being pulled out.

Every nail was ripped out.

His brain pressed against his skull.

His eyes were gouged.

His ears were cut off.

Fire burned through his veins.

Blood spouted from every pore.

His heart was stabbed.

His lungs were punctured.

Blinding, tearing, wrenching pain was the only world Snape knew in that moment.

Voldemort pulled his wand away and admired the skull and serpent. "How beautiful! Another magnificent masterpiece! The true test, is if you can survive the recieval of your glorious Mark."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the Death Eaters. Snape fell to his knees pain still throbbing through him. Voldemort laughed and signaled for the other two of the trio to take him away. They supported Snape as he staggered back to the castle. All the while his mind wept. 'She'll never forgive me. What have I done? Why would I want this? I've been marked by the Beast.' He knew that he had just betrayed the only woman he would ever love; he knew he was causing so much pain to her and her friends. But what hurt the most was that he could never go back, and he'd never stop loving her.

Breakfast had started just as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. The Gryffindor girl's, while more somber than usual, still laughed and joked. They sat down and piled food on their plates. Jen commented on how wretched Snape looked. The post arrived in a flurry of wings and envelopes.

A tawny owl dropped a letter in front of Lily and flew away, as if scared to stick around. She picked up the letter interested. After reading two lines she screamed in sorrow and terror.

"No! No…No…No!" She sobbed and ran from the hall tears streaming down her face.

Andromeda picked up the fallen letter:

Dear Ms. Evan's,

We are sorry to inform you that an attack occurred last night. In an explosion caused by Death Eaters your parents were killed. Your sister was safe, but the entire house was…

A/N I don't have much to say. It was short, to the point, and I cried as I wrote it. What did you think of the chapter?

GoldenLocket14

Celina K2