Author's note: New chapter! I'd really like some reviews, or maybe I'll slow down my writing... Threats always work... Not really. Oh, just in case you're confused: "Quotes" means a character is talking in normal speech. flashbacks are clearly stated as flashbacks and written in italics. The Speech (mind-speech) and thoughts are written in italics. Parseltongue is written in bold with a colon beginning and ending the phrase. (Eg. :Hello, snake:) I think that's it.

Disclaimer: The Dark Mark and Kingsley Shacklebolt belong to J.K. Rowling. I stole Voldie but don't tell 'cause I don't think she'll mind anyways. (Lolz)

Chapter Four:

The Dark Mark

"The Dark Mark," Dr. Shacklebolt breathed. He was as white as as a piece of paper. The Dark Mark was history! It wasn't supposed to be around still! It hadn't been seen since the downfall of Voldemort and his followers. The fact that it was still around was NOT good.

Chloe had never seen the Dark Mark before, but she had Seen it and Knew that it was bad. She had never heard of Lord Voldemort whose name, after many centuries, wizards and witches everywhere were afraid to speak. He went by You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or, among Death Eaters, his faithful servants, the Dark Lord. If his Mark was here, something was terribly wrong. "What...?"

"Voldemort's sign," Dr. Shacklebolt replied.

"Who's Voldemort?" Chloe knew it was not a 'good guy' from Dr. Shacklebolt's expression.

"You muggleborn?" At Chloe's questioning look he explained, "A muggleborn is a witch or wizard born in a family of non magical people."

Chloe nodded.

"I thought so. That's why I didn't talk about magic in front of the others. I expect your mother knows...?" Chloe shook her head. "I really don't have time to explain now, go back to your mother and be a good girl, okay?"

"Maybe later?" Chloe beamed when he nodded. "I'll see you later then. Oh, what are you really? Or is it normal for wizards to be doctors?"

"Later," he whispered softly.

-:-

"Mum?" Mrs. McDonalds looked down to see her 6 year old daughter standing at her side.

"Yes, Honey?"

"Where are we gonna live?" Chloe bit her lip. She didn't want to move away from Sunny!

"The Nelsons are letting us settle at their place for a while while we fix the house up."

"Can I go grab a couple of things from my room first?"

"The house has collapsed. You won't be able to get in.

"My room hasn't collapsed. I'll manage." Chloe ran to the back of the house where her room was before her mother could stop her.

The house was indeed in bad shape. They would have to remove all the broken pieces of the wall and roof before starting over and building from scratch. It would cost a fortune and most of their belongings would be ruined.

Chloe crawled under a normal-looking bush and brushed away the dirt and leaves under the north part of it revealing a flat rock. She lifted it carefully, pushing it out of the way, and crawled into the opening of a tunnel.

I haven't been here in a long time. It sure is smaller and dirtier than I remember! Chloe had dug the tunnel one month when she was grounded so she would have some way to visit Sunny.

flashback:

"Hi, Sunny!" a four-year-old Chloe whispered to the proud palomino. "I digged a tunnel from my room and out of the house so I could come visit you! Yes, I know it's called dug and not digged 'cause Mum keeps reminding me, but I like digged. Mum grounded me 'cause of something that wasn't even my fault and I really don't wanna repeat it. But you understand, don't you Sunny?"

Sunny nuzzled her cheek and Chloe giggled. "That tickles! And so I digged the tunnel so I could come visit you, my friend." She reached up and patted Sunny on the nose. "I'd better get back before Mum realizes that I'm not in my room. I'll see you tomorrow night!" The four-year-old ran across the star-bathed lawn, crawled through a small tunnel in the hedge, sprinted to her bush, and crawled into the tunnel.

/end flashback

Finally her head touched the end and she pushed it open, entering a small cabinet. She inched her way through, pushing open the cabinet door. Her room looked normal.

Hurrying, Chloe grabbed her bag/small backpack. She put on an extra sweater plus she was about to stuff some clothes in her bag when she got an idea: she held her hands, palm out, flat towards the clothes and whispered :In the noble tongue of snakes I say, change now how much you weigh. Reduceth in the way of the wise, to one tenth your original size: The clothes did shrink and Chloe looked pleased with herself. She them folded the doll-sized clothes carefully before placing them at the bottom of her bag. She also grabbed a couple of books; all of her non-fiction books that would be helpful if she had to survive on her own, a guide to horse care, and a good fiction to help pass the time. She also grabbed her jewelry box, photos, and her diary. She made sure to pack a sleeping bag, blanket, water bottle, bowl, and anything else that might be useful that she kept in her room, which was quite a lot. With a full bag--the only thing that wasn't shrunk--she crawled back out. Once she exited the tunnel she lifted the spell on her room and heard it collapse.

"Mum! I got my stuff!" Chloe called, running up to her.

"Let me see what you took!"

"You never cared about my stuff before, so I'd rather keep it to myself." Chloe sounded confused.

"Of course. Do it your way." Mrs. McDonalds smiled at her daughter.

The men were still there, Chloe noticed, and Dr. Shacklebolt seemed to relax when he saw her. The Dark Mark had been removed; memories modified. Dr. Shacklebolt made his way towards Chloe.

"Young lady--" the six-year-old giggled at the way he addressed her "--could you meet me here tomorrow at twelve? I'd like to question you a bit more about what happened today, perhaps have a little interview with a reporter? I might also be able to give you a bit of personal advice regarding the wizarding world"

"Sure, I'll be here. Let me jus--"

"Chloe! We're leaving!" Mrs. McDonalds called.

"Coming Mum!" Chloe yelled back. "See you tomorrow!" she shouted over her shoulder as she took off running.

"See ya!" he called back pleasantly.

"Chloe, hide your bag so it won't look suspicious," her mother hissed once she got within earshot.

"No need, Mum. I'l merely tell them that I had my bag with me to the barn, so it wasn't in the house during the 'gas explosion'." Chloe smirked at her remark.

"As you wish, Honey, as you wish..."

They walked together along the street to the Nelson's house for a good nights sleep. Or so she thought.

-:-

This chapter is dedicated to Harry Potter 101 for putting this on her favourite stories list. Please R&R!