The Mark of Death

Chapter two

Harry woke early the next morning feeling refreshed; it was the first full night's sleep he had slept in months. He put his glasses on, looked around the room, and saw the other occupant was still sleeping Sitting up, Harry vaguely wondered what kind of potion he had been brewing.

The Healer Medissa soon came, carrying tea and breakfast, and talking in her sing-song voice.

"How are you feeling this morning, Harry?"

"Better, thanks." He sipped the tea, not feeling much like eating. "Am I going to be allowed to leave today?"

"I don't see why not, though you will need to wait for a parent or guardian to sign you out."

She refilled a jug of water next to the man in the other cot, and then breezed out, leaving the room smelling fresh, as though it had just rained inside.

Harry felt a pain in his throat - Sirius was his legal guardian in the Wizard world, now all he would have is the Dursleys, and there was no way they would come in here to do that - they would be too angry that the poison had been unsuccessful and would leave him there. He pictured himself having to wait until he became of age, when he turned seventeen the next year.

"I don't have a..."

"Harry!"

Mrs Weasley burst in, followed by Ron and Hermione.

"I hear you are well enough to go? You will still have to take it easy, mind - but that is what I'm here for."

"Someone needs to sign me out."

"Nonsense, Harry. Dumbledore has seen to it. Ron and Hermione will help you to gather your things, I'm going to visit a friend of mine who works on the fifth floor."

Mrs Weasley walked out, leaving them.

"How are we getting to the Burrow?"

Ron and Hermione exchanged an uncomfortable look.

"Um, Harry, we're not going to the Burrow."

"Yeah," Ron made a coughing noise; he was looking at Harry like he was waiting for him to explode. "We are going back to the Headquarters."

Harry felt as though he couldn't breathe. The last place he wanted to be right now was Sirius's house, where Sirius had spent the last year of his life virtually imprisoned. The home he had hated. Hermione seemed to realize this.

"Harry, we have to go there - actually - you are needed there."

Harry was about to ask her why when the door opened and a round-faced boy popped his head in.

"Hullo Harry, my Gran said you were here."

"Neville!"

Harry could tell by Hermione's shout that she was happier for the distraction than for Neville Longbottom's company as she ran over and hugged him.

Ron also looked relieved. "Hi Neville, how are your parents?"

"The same," A shadow crossed Neville's face. "My gran is talking to the nurse on that floor privately, will you guys come up with me? I need to meet her there."

Harry could see that neither of them wanted to, but the prospect of telling Harry why he was needed at the House of Black seemed to outweigh their lack of desire to go where many witches and wizards wandered mindlessly around their ward, insane from various curses.

"Sure, Harry's all packed, and we have to go up to the fifth anyways."

They all walked onto the lift, getting off on the fourth floor, where Neville's parents resided, tortured to insanity.

"Poor Neville," Harry thought, as a Witch ran by wearing a kilt on her head and singing the Welsh anthem.

"Excuse me, miss," an old, greying wizard said urgently to Hermione, holding his pale blue hospital gown close to himself.

"Yes? Sir, do you need help with something?"

"I'm a Centaur!" He smiled, Harry could see he was missing many teeth, and the ones that remained were very yellow.

"Oh, really?" Hermione spoke gently, looking at the man's feet, obviously trying to humor him.

"Yes, want to see which half of me is a horse?" The man smiled insanely and it looked like he was about to open his robes before a couple men in white robes jumped on him.

"Come on Mr Lashier, time for your potion again."

They dragged him off, leaving Hermione looking confused.

"What was he going to do?"

Ron and Neville were in quiet hysterics, Harry figured it was disrespectful to laugh at the patients, but he was having an impossible time keeping it in.

"That was Lashier the Flasher," Neville whispered, tears in his eyes. "He showed my Gran his treasures a couple of years ago - I thought she was going to scream, but she just looked calmly and said, 'is that all?'"

This sent them into more fits of laughter, enough to cause angry glares from Mrs Longbottom, Neville gulped.

"I better go, see you guys at school!" He hurried off. Harry could see his formidable Grandmother scolding him as they made their way to Neville's parent's room.

"I can't believe Neville comes here every year," Hermione said quietly. "I don't know how he manages."

"Makes you wonder," Ron muttered, as they made their way to the fifth floor to wait for Mrs Weasley. "I bet if Neville had been raised by his parents he'd be a lot more confident."

Harry nodded in agreement, feeling a great amount of empathy towards Neville - the Dursley's were likely a lot worse, but Harry had never cared enough about them to let it get to him. Despite this, Harry could see that Neville loved his Grandmother and desperately sought for her approval.

"All packed up?" Mrs Weasley asked gently, as she store towards them. "We should be going, then, I have a meeting to attend, and I expect a few people will want a word with you, Harry."

He couldn't help but feel curious. Why would anyone from the Order need him? They piled on to the Underground, taking Muggle transportation was their only option - they were too young to Apparate, and the Order was very strict on detectable uses of magic, which included Portkeys and Floo Powder.

Before long the three of them were upstairs in one of the bedrooms of Sirius's house, Harry's trunk already there, along with his owl, Hedwig. Harry found himself wishing he had been there to witness people getting them off the Dursleys.

"Who brought my things?"

"My dad did, Fred and George and I helped," Ron grinned. "Your cousin's got a girlfriend now, does he?"

Harry nodded, smiling mischievously.

"Man, she makes Millicent Bullstrode look good."

Ron explained how Dudley had tried to look tough in front of Jassmine, shouting at Fred and George - and then burst into tears when George pointed his wand at him.

"George says it was worth a hundred scoldings from mum, seeing him blubber like that - and when she hears he took it out in front of the Muggles, he's going to get about that many!"

Harry felt the mark on his wrist burn and began to scratch at it.

"Harry," Hermione whispered, looking delicately at the snake. "I don't think you should be scratching it."

"Why?" Ron asked. "Because he might give it a scar? Hermione - the Death Mark is permanent, just like the Dark Mark. I just don't get why someone gave it to him - I mean, no offence Harry, but it's no secret that they want you dead..."

"RON!"

"What's the matter, Hermione?" Harry asked indifferently. "It's true. I don't get it either."

"It's a defiant stab at Dumbledore! Don't you see that?" Hermione cried. "They're showing him there are ways to get around his protection! Don't you care that you are going to have that for the rest of your life?"

Harry shrugged, finding that picking on Hermione seemed to be relieving some of his tension. "Well, if they succeed in doing what this mark symbolizes, I guess I won't have it long, will I?"

Ron burst out laughing and Hermione looked like she was ready to kill Harry herself when the bedroom door opened and Kreacher walked in, looking at the three of them with disgust and muttering under his breath.

"The new master is here, with his friends, the Mudblood and the Blood traitor brat. When will it all end? They says they may need new lodgings, if the new master doesn't approve..."

Harry looked at Ron, confused. He had an impulse to kill the Elf, who was directly responsible for Sirius's death, but Dumbledore had warned him a long time ago that this cursed little thing was to be pitied.

"What was that, Kreacher?"

Kreacher straightened up, eyeing Harry with unmistakable disrespect, and then bowed down.

" Kreacher's new master, master of the House of Black. Harry Potter." He bowed a couple times and Harry could hear his undertones:

"Not even part of my Mistress's blood yet I'm forced to serve..."

"Um, Harry?" Ron seemed to see Harry's confusion, and walked over with a cautious look on his face, as though he were about to say something he didn't know how Harry would take to.

"Sirius left everything to you. The house, his money, and unfortunately, that means you are stuck with Kreacher, too."

Harry sat down on the bed, awestruck. He was about to tell them he didn't want it but Hermione quickly cut in.

"Don't say anything negative, Harry. You have to keep it - otherwise the Order is in jeopardy."

Kreacher walked out of the room, still muttering about filth and traitors, slamming the door behind him.

"How?"

"Because if you refuse to take possession of the estate, it will go to the closest living relative..."

"Draco Malfoy's mother," Ron chimed in, disgusted.

"So we need to act fast for obvious reasons. At least hear them out."

Harry didn't want the house, yet he didn't want to hurt the Order.

"Fine, I'll see what they have to say."

Chapter Three

Before long Harry was settled at the kitchen table, where Mr and Mrs Weasley, Tonks, Bill Weasley, and Remus Lupin were sitting, having just explained to Harry why he must take the house.

"Harry, dear, if you don't do it, Kreacher will be bound to Mrs Malfoy - and he has heard far too much of what goes on here."

"What about Tonks?" Harry asked. Tonks's mother was Sirius's cousin, and Narcissa Malfoy's sister.

Tonks shrugged. "Sirius left everything to you, Harry. I don't want to contest that, besides - the minute my mum married a Muggle-born she was no longer considered a part of the family. If you refuse it, it goes to the nearest one - Bellatix Lestrange can't collect as she's a wanted felon, but Malfoy hasn't done anything illegal."

"Last I checked, murder was illegal," Harry said coldly.

Lupin seemed eager to keep the subject on track. "Harry, please, will you agree to take the estate? It's what Sirius would want. He wanted the Order to use the house, and he left everything to you - but if you don't want it - that is your decision to make."

Harry looked down at his plate. The only thing he wanted was for Sirius to be alive - he didn't want his house or his money, but he knew Lupin was right. He looked up and saw they were all looking anxiously at him, waiting for his answer.

"I'll do it."

Mrs Weasley ran over and hugged Harry as Lupin pulled a very long paper out of his robes.

"You'll need to sign this Harry, I'm the executor of Sirius's will."

Lupin's face was hard to read as Harry took a quill and signed the legal document. Kreacher walked into the kitchen then, and saw Harry signing - he seemed to know exactly what it was, and looked thoroughly disappointed.

"So Kreacher has a new Master, he does" He bowed down low to Harry, muttering, "Godson of the traitor, friend of Mudbloods and thieves and werewolves..."

Harry stood up and walked over to Kreacher. "As I'm your new master, I want the rude muttering to stop. You are not to leave the house at all, and are not to communicate with ANYONE unless I approve of them, got it?"

Kreacher nodded and bowed, but his eyes were full of rage. "Yes, Master, anything you say."

Harry had such a deep loathing for this repulsive Elf, he felt a strong desire to rip his head off personally and mount it on the wall with the others, but Dumbledore had insisted they be kind to Kreacher, blaming the Wizards who mastered him for his attitude. But Dobby was owned by bad wizards, Harry thought. Then again, Dobby was a very strange elf, who wanted clothes and salary, where most of them don't.

The sound of a doorbell chimed, followed by Sirius's mother's portrait shrieking insults as the guest walked through the hall. Kreacher fled the kitchen moments before Severus Snape walked into the kitchen. He seemed taken aback at Harry sitting there, but quickly regained composure.

"Severus, I almost think you ring the bell to provoke her," Lupin muttered, angrily, as Mrs. Black hollered about filth and werewolves. "Anything on Malfoy's hearing?"

"Now now, Lupin," Snape said with a note of sarcasm. "Not to speak about it with any underage wizards here." He gave Harry a hateful look.

Harry resisted the urge to tell him whose house it was, and that Snivellus should be more respectful, but he knew his school year would be miserable if he dared, so he quietly stole upstairs to see Ron and Hermione, who were playing Wizard's Chess on the bedroom floor.

"Snape's here," Harry muttered, climbing onto his bed and pulling a copy of Which Broomstick off the dresser to flip through. "They're about to talk about Malfoy's preliminary hearing..."

"OH!" Hermione squeaked excitedly, knocking over a rook. "I forgot that was today! What did you hear?"

"Just that. He wouldn't speculate with me in the room."

"It's your house now, isn't it?" Ron asked incredulously. "You should demand to be informed!"

"I think they'd sooner find new headquarters before telling any of us anything," Hermione said, lifting the Daily Prophet and skimming through it. "Here it is, look - Lucius Malfoy to have preliminary trial today, if he pleads not guilty - I bet he does - his trial will be held in November... NOVEMBER?"

"They need time to stack evidence," Ron shrugged. "Chances are the others are going through it all too, separately. Malfoy's name is coming up the most because he's so well known for his contributions to charities."

"Bribes, you mean," Harry muttered, disgusted. "How come we don't have to be at these trials? Aren't we considered key witnesses?"

"That's obvious, isn't it Harry?" Hermione said in her annoyingly superior tone. "We gave our statements on the night they were charged, and they'll use the statements to keep our identities secret. Sure, they put your name in the paper - yours isn't one they can exactly keep quiet... but for our safety - witnesses tend to go missing, don't they?"

"Like Carradoc Dearborn," Ron muttered.

Harry had heard the name before, but couldn't remember where.

"Who?" Hermione asked.

"Carradoc Dearborn was a member of the Order I believe," Ron said quietly, glancing at the door as if afraid his mother would hear. "My dad told me he was to give evidence that would have certainly gotten a few Death Eaters sentenced to be kissed by a Dementor, but he disappeared without a trace."

Hermione looked very pale. Harry suddenly remembered Mad Eye Moody showing him the picture of the original Order of the Phoenix - Dearborn had gone missing six months after the picture had been taken.

A couple of crashing noises interrupted his thoughts as Fred and George Apparated on top of Ron's chess set, causing Hermione to scream and move back quickly.

"Damn it guys! I only just got that board fixed!"

"Sorry Ickle Ronnikins!" Fred said, saluting Ron.

"Important business," George said, tossing a package onto Harry's bed. Harry looked up at the twins with confusion and amusement.

"Happy belated birthday, Harry," Fred exclaimed, pointing to the rather large, bulky package. "We bought you a surprise to thank you for helping us to achieve our dreams!"

Harry was very reluctant to open it - wondering if a large snake was going to pop out, or if Ron would be envious, whatever it was, it was big.

"OPEN IT!" the twins chorused.

Harry gingerly took the package and unwrapped it, Ron looked on with mild interest - Harry suddenly got the impression that he knew about it. Hermione, on the other hand, looked annoyed.

"Is this what I think it is?" He held up the emerald green jacket in awe.

"Yup! We match," George said enthusiastically. "Genuine Dragon hide, hand stitched - and charmed to block mild curses."

"Oh! It really brings out your eyes!" Fred exclaimed, in an obvious imitation of Mrs Weasley. "But I do wish you would do something about that hair!"

"Sorry we didn't send it to you on your birthday, mate." Fred smiled. "Thought it was too big for any of our owls to handle, and we wanted to do it in person."

"Thank you." Harry grinned as he tried it on. "This is awesome!"

"So," Ron said, eyeing the twins with interest. "Is Snape still down there?"

"Naw, he was leaving just as we came in, Mrs Black's portrait was yelling a few things at him I would have loved to say to him myself..." Fred was practically drooling.

"Mum still won't let us in the Order," George said, dejected. "She thinks we're not mature enough, and our career decision is proof to that - oblivious to the fact that we've made in a week what Dad and Percy pull in a month combined!"

The mention of Percy brought such a change in the atmosphere told Harry that they were all still having problems with him.

"Where's Ginny?" Harry asked, hoping to change the mood.

"Luna Lovegood's invited her for a few days and they're heading straight for Kings Cross from there," Ron sighed, and Hermione giggled. "Loony invited me along too, Hermione thinks she fancies me."

"Come on," Harry said, feeling protective of her for some strange reason. "Don't call her Loony - she's alright."

Hermione sat up very straight and looked at Harry with a bemused expression. "Harry - have you heard from Cho at all over the summer?"

"No, and I really don't care to, either - she cries too much."

Hermione scoffed, as though she thought Harry was being insensitive, but he didn't care. He had absolutely no interest in Cho Chang anymore.

"She's Head Girl this year," Hermione said, deliberately keeping the subject going, much to Harry's disappointment. "It was in our Prefect notice with our book orders, we have to meet with her on the Hogwart's Express."

"Good for her," he muttered. Ron laughed.

"We got our book orders?"

"Harry - they came with our O.W.L. scores..." Ron said, looking at Harry with mild surprise.

"Harry - didn't you look at your O.W.L.s yet?" Hermione asked with irritation.

Harry winced, he hadn't given it another thought, the envelope was tucked away in his trunk. Fred and George looked up with curiosity. He really wanted to do it privately, but there was no chance of that now. He went to his trunk and retrieved the fat manila envelope and slowly ripped it open.

"Oh no!" He moaned with pure disappointment as he read over his results.

"What?!" Hermione squealed. "Did you fail Transfiguration?!"

"Worse!" Harry muttered, throwing the thick graded paper to her. "I somehow got an Outstanding for Potions, must be because Snape wasn't grading me. That means I take his NEWT levels."

Fred and George shook their heads with mock sympathy, patting Harry on the back.

"Harry, these are really good, you have Es in Charms, Transfiguration - another O in Defense..."

"Well, we all expected THAT!" Ron said, reading over her shoulder. "Harry - you got all the required grades you needed if you want to be an Auror!"

Harry sat on the bed, pleased at his grades. He hadn't failed anything, though he had come close in Astronomy, but that would be because their exam was interrupted by Hagrid being sacked.

"Looks like we all get Snape together again this year then," Ron said. "Hermione and I both passed it high as well. I hate to think how nasty he'll be in the NEWT levels."

So did Harry. Snape had always hated him, but after finding Harry with his head in the Pensieve full of his memories, Harry was sure Snape would be worse than ever before. He picked up his booklist and looked through it, Fred plopped down next to him and read along with him.

"Ah, look at this, will you?" Fred muttered, pointing at titles with a hint of jealousy. "Defense At All Costs - by Cassiopeia Skye. That book isn't available at Flourish and Blott's."

"George jumped up from where he was perched, reading over Harry's O.W.L.s. "You're kidding me! That's in their list? Oh Harry, you're going to have some VERY interesting lessons in Defense Against the Dark Arts, that book is only available in Knockturn Alley."

"Wonder who your teacher is?" Fred mused. "There's nothing really wrong with that book, it just teaches you to fight to the death - instead of just blocking."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but Ron looked delighted. "Ah, real classes again! This should make up for last years theory classes. I hope we get to use our wands again!"

"I'm guessing you will," Fred grinned as Mrs Weasley hollered from downstairs. "We better all get down for dinner, or we're going to need more than that book to save us from her!"