AN/ So this one is short. Nothing too special about it. Have you guys gotten the illustrated edition of the Philosopher's Stone? Isn't it beautiful?

Anyway, enjoy the story

During The Forbidden Forest Chapter While They Are In Detention

Snape snapped up from the grading he was doing in the staff room. He decided to stop wallowing in his dungeon and mingle with the other staff members more, trying not to be too sour.

And mostly these days pass by with no incident.

But suddenly there was a slight burn in his right arm and he quickly pulled the sleeve of his shirt up, checking where the Dark Mark had once laid so many years ago. There was no sign of the skull, but the area did have a tinge of redness to it.

His brows creased, what could that possibly mean? Maybe he was just imagining it?

No. He doesn't imagine things. Something I definitely wrong.

"What's going on, Severus?" McGonagall said from the doorway, watching him look at his arm. "Is it…?"

He shook his head. "Nothing's here, but I did feel something for a moment."

Snape began to pack up his stuff. He needs to inform Dumbledore. Any news that could potentially link to the Dark Lord, he needed to know right away. "What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure, not yet anyways." Snape walked passed McGonagall and left for Dumbledore's office. Luckily it wasn't too far away and all Snape had to do was belt out "Liquorice Wands," and the big Griffin opened up for him, allowing him entrance to the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore was reading a book on his desk in his pyjamas, a sight Snape was not sure he wanted to see. "Why, hello there Severus. What can I help you with?"

He pulled his sleeve back again and showed him the redness of his arm. Dumbledore examined it, but it was hard to with the low light, seeing as it was pretty late in the evening. "When did that occur?"

"Only moments ago. It burned for a moment and was red a bit, no mark though. Could it have anything to do with the Dark Lord?"

Dumbledore looked lost in thought. "It's possible. I wouldn't rule it out, but I wouldn't say that's the only explanation. There could be many reasons your arm reacted like that, like say a potion spill earlier?"

Snape sighed, "That was on my shoe not my arm, so I think we can rule that out."

"Well, whatever the situation, we are going to have to handle this delicately." He stared out the window that faces the Forbidden Forest, right where Potter, Granger, Draco and Hagrid were doing detention. "I fear what I told you when I first hired you might come true sooner than we would like, but the longer we can delay it, the better we can prepare I guess."

Snape didn't say anything in response. He just stood there. Like always.

"Best get yourself off to bed, Severus. You got an early class tomorrow." He started to leave when Dumbledore finished a thought, "Do let me know when you see even an echo of the mark."

Snape nodded and left, not feeling any better about what happened than before.

AN/ Review!