Chapter 6: The Dark Mark

Severus smiled as he led Harry into his manor. Severus toured Harry throughout the Manor and then showed him a room that could be his. Harry smiled and accepted the room, it was as big as the Slytherin common room and the bathroom was bigger then the Slytherin showers. Harry felt tiny.

Severus smirked as Harry started to unpack his things. Harry seemed to be at home everywhere he went. Severus turned and started for the door when he heard Harry's voice. "Severus," he caressed softly.

"Yes, Harry, what is it?"

Harry grinned. "Where can I find you when I'm done?"

Severus chuckled. "I'll be in my rooms, at the end of the hall, unpacking. You can join me there."

"Thank you, Severus…" Harry whispered after Severus had gone. Harry felt strange, he was going to have the relationship he wanted but how were they going to get there? Harry unfolded his Invisibility Cloak and smiled. He hadn't used it once the previous year, Ron had on two occasions, Harry presumed that he'd been spying on Blaise, but other then that, it had been dormant. Harry placed it in the closet.

Harry smiled at the Marauder's Map. Remus Lupin had yelled at him, again, this year about it. But, Harry hadn't cared much. He only used it, now, to locate people he needed to talk to. Harry smiled and placed it in his desk. He sighed and walked out of the room.

He walked into Severus' room to see him removing his robe. Harry gasped and turned away; Severus chuckled and turned to look at Harry. "Come here, Harry, it's all right."

Harry turned and sighed; Severus still had his undershirt and slacks on. Harry walked over to Severus and smiled softly, warmly. Severus indicated the chairs and they sat. Tea almost Apperating before them, the house-elf wasn't sure what to think of Harry. They smiled and looked into the fire that Severus was lighting. They talked for a few hours, then ate a small dinner, both extremely tired, and went to bed.

Severus awoke late to the sound of movement outside in the hall; it was too large to be any of the house-elves so he reached for his wand and slowly made his way into the dimly lit hallway. Severus sighed, it was just Harry. "Harry," Severus whispered.

"Sev…" his voice quivered.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Harry walked forward to Severus and hugged him. He was trembling. Severus wrapped him in his arms and held Harry. "What upset you?"

Harry sighed, taking an unstable breathe. "We're not safe here, Severus, former Death Eaters are coming here as we speak…" Harry paused, eyes closed, "There are eight at the door of the manor, and sixteen more will be here shortly."

Severus gasped. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, Sev… If we hurry we can get out before they notice us."

"How…? The only means of exit are out the front or the back door, and we'll be caught before we could get far enough to Apperate."

Harry smiled; given the situation that was not very comforting. "With these," Harry replied holding the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map.

"And what, may I inquire, is that?" Severus asked of the folded piece of paper.

"That, Severus, is the Marauder's Map. A family heirloom, as is my cloak. With it I will be able to tell where everyone is and get us out of here."

Severus frowned. "Didn't I and Lupin confiscate that from you during your third year?"

"Yes, he gave it back as it was rightfully mine and couldn't harm anyone. Now, do us both a favour and shut up; the front doors just opened."

Harry shuddered as he looked at the map and at his cloak. "I'll find our way out of here; I want you under my cloak and pull me under when I figure out how to safely get us out of the manor." Severus smiled. Harry grinned as he pulled his wand out of his robes. "Do you have your wand?"

"Yes, Harry," Severus whispered from under the cloak.

He waved his wand around the map quickly. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Suddenly the blank paper map shifted to show Hogwarts and everyone in it. "Mischief unable…" Harry's voice faded as Hogwarts turned into the Manor. Harry's eyes roamed over the manor watching everyone move.

There was a passageway right beside Severus' rooms, password guarded. Harry smiled and followed that path; it led to Severus' dungeons. From the previous passage exit there was a passageway that led into the nearby village, the passage was passworded to Rain. It was perfect. "Mischief managed." The map vanished and Harry sighed. "Severus," he whispered, "let's go."

He felt arms wrap around him and then he felt the cloak resettle over him. Severus frowned; "Where to, Harry."

Harry started to walk towards his rooms and then stopped next to the passage. "Password, please, Sev."

"How did you know that it needed a password?"

"The map tells you, I could have gotten the password but I figured you could do it."

"True…Black." The passageway opened much to Harry's surprise, black was not a password. They entered the newly opened hallway and the doors shut behind them. It was total darkness; and a light spell would be too bright and would cause attention. So as Severus was about to have them walk blindly he heard Harry chuckle.

A small light appeared before them, dim and shadowy but light at the same time. Severus frowned and looked at it again. light had formed from nothing; "There now we can see but they can't see us." Severus was going to question it but being that Harry had started to walk again he kept quiet. They were outside the door into the dungeons when Harry stopped again. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The map blazed to life, showing the manor, and that there was no one in front of them. Or anywhere in the dungeons for that mater. "Mischief managed."

They entered the dreary room and turned towards the new passage. "Why are we stopping here, Harry?"

"There's an old passage here that leads to the village. You don't know the password do you?" Severus shook his head. "Rain," Harry said and the door opened. They continued on their way. When they were out in the village Severus sighed inaudibly and looked around.

"We should rest a bit before we Apperate to Hogwarts, don't you think, Harry?" Harry nodded and they walked into the pub. They took a private table and as they waited for their drinks, Harry cuddled into Severus' arms.

Severus put his arm around Harry and kissed the top of his head. After their drinks were delivered, Harry turned his head and captured Severus' lips with his own. Severus was shocked. He gasped and Harry deepened the kiss, his tongue started to duel with the others and they continued for a long time.

Eventually they left and Apperated to Hogsmead. They than followed the trail up to the castle, where Filch was waiting for them. He greeted them with a dark grin and led them up to Albus' office. Albus was sitting next to his fire, eyes wide and glazed.

"Albus," Severus inquired as they reached the top of the steps.

"Severus, I am glad you and Harry are safe."

Harry frowned. "Sir, something is happening; we should have been told that they were able to find us there."

"It is supposed to be impossible to locate, remember, Albus!" Severus continued evilly.

Albus frowned. "We didn't know… With the Dark Lord dead, the Order is having a harder time following all of the Death Eaters that roam the world. Also, I would like to know how they found your Manor, Severus, I know I didn't tell anyone and I'm the only other person besides you and Harry who knew where you were."

Harry shuddered and gasped. He was clutching his left arm, and then suddenly, Severus was clutching his own arm. Severus paled; "Someone's using the dark mark… Or else something has triggered it."

Harry froze, blinking. "I triggered it…" Harry paused, thinking. "my anger triggered it; I also know that you aren't the only one who felt it."

Albus took in a deep breath. "You triggered it, Harry?"

"I must have, headmaster; the Death Eaters are trying to make me mad… If I get mad enough they think I'll summon Tom's spirit into me and he'll come back to lead them…" Harry chuckled. "I, they want that or for me to become the next Dark Lord. I can feel their desires in my mind."

"Harry," Severus asked softly.

"Because of Tom's magic; I control the dark marks, I can command the Death Eaters as much as Tom did and they're trying to get me to become the Dark Lord. They know that I am the only living person who's capable of becoming a Dark Lord, so that being true, they are trying to get me to go dark…"

"Harry," Albus ventured.

I think it might be working, Severus, Harry thought quietly, fear riddled his internal voice. I feel as if I should be heeding their demands. What am I going to do Severus? I can feel my Dark powers rising within me, and if it gets to strong I will turn Dark and you know it. What am I going to do…?

Severus pulled Harry into his arms and sighed. "We'll find a way around it Harry, don't worry."

Albus gazed at them, curious as to what Harry had said. "I don't think that it is safe for you two to return to the Manor so why don't you go back into Slytherin and we'll talk tomorrow."

Harry sighed; waving his wand hand side to side. All of Severus' and Harry's things appeared packed in trunks besides them. "Death Eaters will come here as well, Headmaster. The worst threat of the War was destroyed, yes, but his armies still remain; and instead of being after my blood, they're after my… reign as their leader. Things will only get worse before things will get better." With that Harry and Severus walked out of the headmaster's office, their things levitating behind them.

They walked into Severus' rooms and started to manually unpack all of their things; with an unspoken agreement that Harry would be sleeping in Severus' bed. After all their unpacking was done, Harry lit a fire and pulled out a bottle of scotch and two glasses. He and Severus drank a glass before Harry ventured towards the attached bathroom with his night things.