Title: My Own Demise

Author: Kyra

Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot is mine, so please don't sue! All you'd get is some pocket lint anyway.

Summary: Harry's tired of everyone expecting him and him alone to save the world, or die trying.

Spoilers: Through book 5, starts the following summer.

Warnings: Slight slash, nothing hardcore though, just hints of it for now.

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Chapter 9: He Has A Dark Mark!!

Harry, Draco and Ginny walked into the kitchen for lunch whispering to each other. Ginny was wearing a pair of light blue low-rise jeans with a light blue shirt that read 'I Love Boys, They're Stupid!' in bright pink letters. Harry was on her left in a pair of loose grey jeans and a black long sleeve shirt that said 'Not Guilty By Reason Of Celebrity' across it in gold. On Ginny's right, Draco was wearing jeans that matched Harry's, only his were black instead of grey, and a long sleeved blue shirt that said 'Everyone Has The Right To Be Stupid But You Abuse The Privilege' in black across the front with the sleeves pushed halfway up his forearm.

"…So, what do you think? Wanna work with us?" Harry was asking as the Trio walked into the room.

"I think that's a wonderful idea, Harry! It's probably something that should have happened a long time ago. And I'd love to work with you guys, though I'm not sure what I'll be able to contribute," Ginny replied.

Draco snorted softly, "That's easy. With as big of a family as you have, I'm pretty sure you'd probably make a pretty damn good den mother."

Harry nodded, "Yeah, Gin, I've seen you with some of the younger years, you're great with kids."

The redhead beamed at the two boys, trying not to blush. "Thanks guys. We'll definitely have to talk about this more later, see if we can't iron out a few of the details now, that way we can get it up and running as soon as possible," She said.

"Sounds good to me," Harry replied as the three of them sat down at the table, ignoring the curious looks being sent their way by Ron, Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Remus and Tonks.

"What are you talking about, mate?" Ron asked looking at Harry after casting a quick glare in Draco's direction. He really couldn't see why his best friend was insisting on hanging out with the ferret, he had barely spent time with anyone other that Ginny and the Slytherin in the past week, ever since the trip to London.

Hermione nodded, curious as well, "Yes, get what up and running?"

"Just a project I'm thinking about doing that Gin and Draco are going to help me with," Harry replied, barely glancing at the other two Gryffindors as he reached for a sandwich. He and Draco had finally gotten around to telling Ginny about Harry's idea to start up an orphanage for kids who lost their parents during the war. However, Harry didn't want anyone outside his immediate group of friends to know about it yet, and that group no longer included Ron and Hermione.

"Wait!" Ron exclaimed, "You're letting the Ferret help you with this project, but you won't even tell us what it is?"

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging, "Yeah, pretty much."

Draco snickered at the shocked looks on the faces of the three Weasleys and Hermione. He reached over with his left hand to grab a sandwich as well, having to stretch a bit and causing his shirt sleeve to slide back a bit further on his arm.

Ron glanced down as Draco reached for his sandwich and the redheaded boy's eyes widened as he caught sight of a bit of black peeking out from under Draco's sleeve. His hand shot out, grabbing the blonde's wrist.

"Hey! What the hell, Weasel?!" Draco exclaimed, jerking his arm back and away from the other boy.

"He has a Dark Mark!!" Ron yelled, pointing at Draco.

"What?!" Harry asked incredulously, "No he doesn't! Did you forget that he's here because he refused the Mark?"

"I'm telling you he has the Dark Mark, Harry! I saw it when his sleeve slid up, there was black, on his left forearm, the same place where the Dark Mark goes!" Ron yelled angrily as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the Slytherin.

Hermione also pulled out he wand and pointed it at Draco.

Seeing the other two pointing their wands at Draco Harry quickly stood up and pulled Draco to his feet pushing the blonde boy behind himself, shielding the other boy with his body. Ginny quickly stood as well, also placing herself between Ron and Hermione's wands and her new friend.

"Harry! Ginny! Move!" Hermione exclaimed.

"He's not a Death Eater!" Harry nearly growled out, glaring furiously at the other two.

"Oh? Then why does he have a Dark Mark?" Ron demanded.

"Oh for Merlin's sake!" Draco exclaimed in exasperation as he pushed between Harry and Ginny, "It's not a bloody Dark Mark! It's a Muggle tattoo!" With that he pushed his sleeve the rest of the way up before switching arms and pushing his right sleeve up as well and holding both arms out, forearms up.

There on Draco's left forearm were the words 'Meus Vita Quod Meus Fortuna Es Meus Own' in black and on his right forearm was a black Dragon.

Harry glared at his former best friends, "I have the same one on my left arm, Ron. You gonna accuse me of being a Death Eater as well?" He spat.

"What? Merlin, no, Harry! How could you even ask that?" Ron replied, looking shocked.

We're sorry, son," Mr. Weasley said as he moved over to Harry, "But you have to admit that a tattoo in the same spot as the Mark is a bit suspicious. You boys should have just told us about them," He said as he clapped a hand onto Harry's back.

Harry let out a yelp and jumped away from the Weasley Patriarch.

"Harry?" Mr. Weasley questioned.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Let me see it, Harry. I need to make sure he didn't aggravate it too much," He said as he moved toward the dark haired boy.

Harry just nodded and turned his back to Draco, reaching over his head and pulling the back of his shirt up so that the blonde could see his right shoulder blade.

Ron, Hermione and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley all let out gasps as they saw Harry's shoulder.

Tonks just grinned, "Very cool, Harry."

Ginny nodded, "It's very nice, I like it. I'm guessing this is what distracted you two while we were in London last week?"

Harry nodded, wincing slightly as Draco touched the still-healing tattoo that covered most of his right shoulder blade. It was a large 'M' with a Stag, a Wolf and a large Dog surrounding it or peeking out from behind it along with a Lily flower wrapped around part of the 'M.'

After a few minutes, Draco stepped back, "It should be fine," He said and Harry let go of his shirt, letting it fall back into place.

Everyone was quiet for a moment before Hermione spoke up, "What do they mean?" She asked curiously.

"Well, the 'M' is for 'Marauders,' the Stag is my Dad, the Wol-" Harry started slowly, as though her were talking to a particularly stupid child.

"No, no," Hermione interrupted, "I didn't mean that one, I now what it means. I meant the others."

Harry and Draco both smirked, knowing exactly which tattoos she was talking about but having too much fun to just give her the answer that she wanted.

This time it was Draco who answered, "Well, you see, 'Draco' is Latin for 'Dragon.' So the Dragon represents me."

Hermione threw a vicious glare his way, or at least she thought it vicious; Harry, Draco and Ginny just found it amusing. "I meant the words," She hissed in annoyance.

"It's Latin," Harry replied, "It means 'My Life And My Fate Are My Own.'"

"Oh."

"No, if you don't mind, I'm not really all that hungry anymore so I'm going to go back up to my room," Draco said before turning and leaving the room.

Harry and Ginny turned and started to follow him only to be stopped by Ron's voice.

"Hey, where are you two going?" The redhead asked.

Harry glanced back at him for a moment before continuing out the door, "Yeah, I'm not all that hungry anymore, either."

Ginny nodded, not even turning back to glance at her brother, "Same here."

With that, they exited the kitchen and followed Draco up to his room.

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Well, what did you think? You finally found out what distracted Harry and Draco while in London, yay! LOL

So, the main reason it took me so long to get this out is because I had someone who was supposed to be drawing the tattoos for me but she flaked on me and I decided that you had all waited long enough for this. If anyone would like to take a shot at making a pic of the tattoos and e-mail it to me, I'd really appreciate it. I really want a visual for people to look at if they want but I can't draw for shit.

Next chapter: The train ride back to Hogwarts!

I hope you liked it! Please, please, please leave a review and let me know what you thought!

Kyra