The Mark of Death

"Firs'-years over 'ere!"

Harry looked up to see Hagrid's giant frame silhouetting the night sky, waving the first years through. He wore a very grim expression, unlike Hagrid on the first day back, as he usually seemed happy and eager to take the first years across the lake.

"All righ', Harry?" Hagrid asked quietly, looking around the platform. Harry looked around and could see the dark shadows of men lurking around nearby. He gave Hagrid a look of curiosity.

"Security," Hagrid muttered gruffly. "Hit Wizard's, those are. They're all 'bout the grounds righ' now, they'll be here all year I'm bettin'"

Draco Malfoy pushed by Harry violently as he walked over to get onto a carriage with Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. Pansy had seen Draco push Harry and let out a shrill laugh. Hagrid glanced over at Malfoy then bent down low and said to Harry quietly, "Yer goin' to 'ave a lot more trouble with 'im this year... no matter wha' though, always trust Dumbledore, Harry - he knows wha' he's doin' he does."

Harry was about to ask what he had meant, but Hagrid turned his attention back to the first years before he could, giving Harry the impression that Hagrid wouldn't have told him. He walked along quietly with Hermione and Ron to find a carriage, Harry barely took any notice of the Thestrals, considering he wished more than ever now that he couldn't see them.

As the carriages slowly made their way towards the castle, Harry noticed many more of the figures looming in the darkness, making him feel even more uneasy.

"Who are they?" Ron asked quietly, pointing them out to Harry and Hermione.

"Ron, if you had actually listened to the Head Boy during the meeting instead of chatting it up with Cho..." Harry glanced at Ron and could see he was blushing bright red even though it was dark. "...You would know they were International Hit Wizards. They're all over the grounds now that the Ministry knows that Voldemort is back."

"It's not as if he's going to come out and kill us all though," Harry muttered, looking down at his wrist and absentmindedly tracing the snake with his finger.

"I can't help wonder," Ron said, looking down at the mark, "who did that to you? I mean, most of You-Know, I mean, of Voldemort's supporters are in Azkaban, aren't they? How many are still at large?"

"We've got to think, there's Bellatrix Lestrange," Hermione started to list on her fingers. "Goyle, Wormtail of course, Travers possibly, and those are only the ones we know of, there's a good chance they could have recruited more, too."

"Lestrange and Pettigrew we could probably rule out, they'll both be in hiding," Harry muttered. "It just seems weird."

The carriages pulled up to the castle and they jumped out, grabbing their things and moving into the castle. Harry saw Malfoy out of the corner of his eye, butting through a crowd of second years, casually pushing his hair out of his eyes and stalking into the castle.

"He's very odd this year," Hermione whispered as they walked in and sat at the Gryffindor table. "I wouldn't put it past him to be the one to give you the mark, actually."

"Come off it, Hermione! Malfoy?" Ron sniggered quietly, as the Sorting Hat was singing it's song. "He's too thick. Besides, chances are the Ministry have been keeping tabs on his family with his father being imprisoned and all."

"Really?" Hermione asked smugly, raising her eyebrows at Ron and pointing to the High Table. "So then why is she here?"

"Who?" Ron and Harry whipped their heads around at the same time to look over at the Teacher's table. Professor Dumbledore was watching the first years get sorted (Evans, Mark - GRYFFINDOR!), Professor Flitwick was talking animatedly to Hagrid, and Professor Snape was glowering at a blonde woman who looked vaguely familiar to Harry... (Travers, Gavin - SLYTHERIN!).

"Guess that explains who set us that book," Ron muttered, glaring over at the table where Narcissa Malfoy was sitting and looking straight down at her place setting. "Can't see why Dumbledore would hire her with everything that happened, though."

Harry was too angry to speak. His throat seemed to have closed up so tightly that he was barely able to breathe. This was obviously what Draco had meant on the train. And why Hagrid had warned him that Draco may be worse than usual. She was the reason Sirius was dead, surely Dumbledore wouldn't employ her knowing that? He would have had to have been forced, or hoodwinked, or...

"Harry! Where are you going?" Hermione cried as Harry kicked his chair out from the table and stood up to leave. He was vaguely aware of several people staring at him as he left the Great Hall, without so much as a bite of the usually delicious feast, and marched up to the Gryffindor Common room where he slumped into his favorite cushy chair by the fire. Watching the flames flicker, wishing more than ever that Sirius's head would pop up to talk to him.

He felt so betrayed by Dumbledore. Why had he hired her? The Ministry had enforced the employment of Professor Umbridge last year, but now the Ministry were more behind Dumbledore since they knew that Voldemort really had returned. So it couldn't be them. She had helped Kreacher lure Sirius out of hiding! She should be rotting in Azkaban with her husband!

His thoughts were interrupted by a searing hot, stabbing pain in his wrist. He rolled up the sleeve of his robe to see the pale snake had stretched, it's shape was more defined, making Harry wonder if this tattoo was similar to the Dark Mark as if someone was making it burn. The flickering flames were casting shadows across his arm, causing an effect that made the snake appear alive.

Hermione and Ron then burst into the Common room, Ron's cheeks were puffed out. Harry figured Hermione must have dragged him away before he had finished his meal, so he had obviously stuffed as much into his mouth as possible. He quickly rolled his sleeve back down, not wanting them to know it had burned.

"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione demanded, clearly worried. "Dumbledore confirmed she is here teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts! I don't understand why!"

Ron seemed to be struggling to swallow what was left in his mouth, nodding his head furiously as though agreeing with Hermione.

"You really should speak with Dumbledore, Harry. Ask him why. He owes you an explanation I think."

Harry shrugged, trying hard to seem casual about it. "Hagrid warned me. He said that I have to trust Dumbledore, so I guess he must have his reasons, though I honestly can't think of any..."

"Harry! You're pale, are you ok?" Ron had finally managed to swallow whatever he had in his mouth and was looking anxiously at Harry. His eyes darting towards the scar on Harry's forehead, then to his wrist.

"I'll be fine!" Harry snapped, sick of being fussed over. "Neither my scar or this stupid tattoo are bothering me, just the fact that Dumbledore has hired a likely Death Eater to teach us how to protect ourselves against Dark Magic! Seems the cat leading the mice to me."

Ron jumped back from Harry, startled. Hermione looked thoughtfully at Harry as though he had said something that had given her an idea. "I'm going to bed. I'm sure we'll have a busy day tomorrow. Harry, try not to let it bother you too much. At least talk to Professor Dumbledore and hear him out."

Harry nodded as though agreeing with her. But in reality he had no intention of confronting Dumbledore, who had told him last year he should be honest with Harry. Why hadn't Dumbledore at least warned him? Or any other member of the Order for that matter? Harry felt emotionally exhausted and muttered a goodnight to Ron before retreating up the stairs and to bed. Really wishing that Fred and George had given him a year's supply of Skiving Snack boxes instead of a Dragonskin jacket.

*

The next morning Harry groggily went to breakfast without waiting for Ron or Hermione, glaring over at the High Table to see if Malfoy was there, but fortunately she wasn't. Neither was Dumbledore, only Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout so far. He tucked in hungrily to some bacon and toast as Hermione approached the table with the new schedules, handing one to Harry and taking her own and sitting next to him.

"Looks like we have a few classes together today," she said quietly as Harry glanced through his schedule. "Now that we're in the NEWT levels the classes will be different, we're going to be more mixed. We have Potions together, I bet Ron will have a spare, he only got an E. Professor Snape only takes those with an O in Potions."

"I honestly don't get how I managed an O in Potions," Harry muttered as Professor McGonagall walked by stiffly. "I was actually looking forward to a year without Snape."

"HA!" Neville piped in, taking a seat next to Hermione and grabbing his schedule and looking through it while fidgeting with his silver stud. "I don't envy you at all. I don't have Potions and won't have to put up with his abuse at all this year."

Hermione didn't say anything. She was watching Neville curiously as he twisted the earing casually as Ron came and sat down to eat, grabbing a piece of toast and a pumpkin juice.

"It's lucky we had you last year, Harry. I think every one of us who took your DA classes passed Defense with flying colors. There is no way we would have if Umbridge had her way."

Harry nodded sullenly. Almost wishing he hadn't passed Defense Against the Dark Arts along with Potions, seeing as he didn't want to sit in a class directed by Narcissa Malfoy. Glancing at his schedule he realized he would have both classes today, and...

"Oh man! I failed Divination, why do I have to take it?" Neville moaned, throwing the paper down unhappily.

"Remember Trelawney said she doesn't use the tests for guidelines, she only does them because Dumbledore insists. You either have the Eye or you don't. I guess it's her way of keeping a full class." Ron shrugged, snickering. "At least Firenze will be there to somewhat normalize the lessons."

*

After breakfast they slowly made their way to their first class, Defense Against the Dark Arts. They slowly filed into the classroom. Professor Malfoy was sitting at her desk at the front, not even bothering to look up as everyone settled into their seats. Harry noticed that Draco was absent, though Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be saving him a seat. It was weird to see so many students from the other houses in here, as they had always taken Defense separately, and Harry had personally preferred it that way. Once everyone had taken their seats, Professor Malfoy stood up from her desk and walked to the front of the class.

"Wands away," she muttered, glancing around the room with a slight frown, looking at the empty desk by Goyle. Everyone groaned, and Harry felt himself wondering again if the Ministry had placed her there as he stuffed his wand into his bag. She then paced the front of the class looking angrily at everyone, her navy-blue robes swishing and twinkling as she moved, they seemed to be speckled with tiny diamonds that Harry noticed were actually the constellations.

"Well," she said quietly, looking them over calculatingly. Though she didn't smile, Harry could see in her cold blue eyes that she was amused. "I guess you will all be easy pickings for Dark Wizards if you are so quick to part with your wands. Your wand is your best defense against anyone or anything, and you must always try and hold onto it if you can. Some wizards are known to have a spare wand concealed in their robes in the event that they are disarmed of the one in hand."

Harry glanced around him at the other students, who seemed fascinated by what they were hearing. Pansy Parkinson was watching with great interest, as though Professor Malfoy was the most interesting teacher she had ever seen. Harry looked away in disgust. The door opened and Draco stepped in, smirking and walking over to the seat being saved for him.

"Draco, how kind of you to finally grace us with your presence," she said sarcastically. "Next time you decide to be late, at least try to do something about your hair."

Draco's eyes narrowed, Harry saw Seamus and Dean looking at Professor Malfoy with deep admiration now. The Slytherins, on the other hand, were now glaring at her.

"My father has long hair," Draco said defiantly, standing over his chair and glowering at his mother. "So does Professor Snape. They're both brilliant."

"Ah, yes. Two very perfect examples of brilliance," she said in a voice filled with sarcasm. "One imprisoned in Azkaban, one teaching Potions, which is equivalent to a Muggle cooking class."

Harry heard Ron gasp, and looked over to see he was covering his mouth trying not to laugh. Many of the others were doing the same. Snape was not a very popular teacher except to the Slytherins, who were all glaring murderously at her. Pansy had switched from the look of interest to a look of deep loathing. Malfoy seemed oblivious to this fact, though, and walked over to the door and swung it open. "Out Draco, don't disrupt my class again. Ten points from Slytherin."

Draco grabbed his books off his desk and started to walk towards the door, stopping in front of his mother briefly. Harry heard him mutter the word "traitor" before Draco deliberately tossed his hair back and walked out, slamming the door behind him. Leaving everyone sitting whispering or sitting in shock.

Professor Malfoy seemed to not be too concerned, walking over to the blackboard and lifting her hand to it. Harry wondered what she was doing, as most teachers used their wands to put things up - until she raked her nails hard down the board. Quite a few people made noises of disgust and plugged their ears, some seemed to shiver. Malfoy smirked and sat back down.

"Now that I have your attention... read chapter one about dueling. We're going to have a few dueling sessions soon. I realize you had a Dueling club in your second year, but," she smirked again, her eyes glinting maliciously, "from what I hear you haven't learned much, and the Headmaster wishes for these skills to be sharpened with more than Disarming charms. I would also like one foot of parchment on common curses used in Duels."

They all read the chapter in silence, Harry glanced over at Hermione, who had already started on her parchment and was giving Professor Malfoy looks of disapproval every so often. After what seemed a very long while, they spilled out of the class quickly, heading in different directions. Ron looked at his schedule. "I have a spare, guess that means you two have..."

"Potions," Hermione finished for him. Ron grinned, obviously happy to not have the class.

"That woman," Hermione fumed. "That was very unprofessional making light of Professor Snape's class, and to humiliate her son that way..."

"He deserved it Hermione! He's an arrogant little git! I think he was deliberately late," said Ron.

"I could care less," Harry muttered. "I hate the three of them. Especially her. So seeing as I just had to sit through two hours in a class with her, I'd rather not talk about it now." He stormed off angrily towards the dungeons, leaving Hermione and Ron gaping at him in surprise.

Harry wasn't the first to arrive in Potions. Draco was already there, and it looked as though he had been for a while. He was sitting at a chair pulled up to Snape's desk, and judging by the murderous look on Snape's face Draco had told him what had happened in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Harry had a terrible feeling Snape was going to take it out on him, as he usually was horrible to Harry on a good day. Draco swept his hair out of his eyes as he stood up and walked over to a table on the other end of the room from Harry.

"I understand why you are mad at Malfoy, Harry, but do not take it out on me and Ron again," Hermione hissed from behind him, taking a seat at his table and putting her cauldron down in front of her. "She seemed to have made herself popular with the students that don't know better."

Harry nodded and muttered an apology, feeling guilty. He looked around, this was a much smaller class than Defense. Harry guessed that with Snape's expectations of O marks, not many people managed to pass. Draco, Pansy, Theodore Nott, and Millicent Bulstrode were the only Slytherins. Hermione, Harry, and Dean Thomas were the only Gryffindors and a small handful of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. But still a very small group. Snape walked around the room glaring at them, his black robes billowing behind him.

"Regardless of what others may say, our NEWT level Potions classes are going to be highly dangerous, you will be brewing Potions now that can do serious harm if incorrectly made. Anyone caught meddling in here will be removed from the class and not allowed back in and will receive an instant failure." He paused in front of Harry before continuing. "Many of you here managed to somehow swindle your way in. Had it been me marking your OWLs, this class would have only half it's number..."

Harry knew Snape was talking about him. He never missed an opportunity to remind Harry how miserable he was at making Potions, making Harry wonder for the second time that day how he had managed top marks in his OWL.

"Today we will be working on the Polyjuice Potion. Though I sense a few of you may have already experimented with this concoction," Harry kept his eyes away from Snape's, knowing that Snape was yet again, talking about him. Harry read and reread the blackboard before beginning. Today all they would be doing is stewing the Lacewing flies, which they would need to continue to stew for twenty one days, Harry wondered what they would all be assigned in the meantime. After the class was over Harry stuffed his books into his back and was about to leave when Snape walked in front of him, stopping him from going.

"I need a word with you, Potter." Snape hissed, making Harry wonder what he may have done this time.

"I'll see you in the Great Hall," Hermione whispered and rushed out. Snape waited for the rest of the class to exit (Draco seemed to be desperately trying to remain behind as long as possible) before locking the door and motioned for Harry to sit at a chair near his desk before taking a seat himself.

"It seems that the Headmaster wishes for you to resume learning Occlumancy again this year. And as he will be too busy with the Order to do it personally, he has assigned me the task again."

Harry could see that Snape was just as, if not more, unhappy about this as he was himself.

"Certain new aspects have come into light. I'm sure I don't need to tell you," Snape paused and looked at Harry's arm momentarily before continuing. "He feels as though you still may need sharpening on those skills. You will continue to follow the same story as before, seeing as you will have to keep up with the rest of the NEWT class, and Professor McGonagall had ensured your pass. It shouldn't be too difficult a story to..."

"McGonagall did WHAT?" Harry interrupted, startled.

Snape's eyes widened, obviously he had thought this wasn't news to Harry. "Professor McGonagall had found that you were slightly lacking the necessary mark to make my class, so she pulled rank and put you in,"

"I don't want to be in here anyways..."

"Do not interrupt me, Potter," Snape hissed dangerously. "McGonagall wanted this out of some promise made to Umbridge. I didn't care to hear the details." Harry remembered McGonagall vowing that she would do everything in her power to help him become an Auror. "The point is you really have no business in this class and I will expect to see you to keep up with the others rather than drag them down along with you. Report to me on Wednesday for our first session."

Harry stormed out of the classroom to the Great Hall, where Ron and Hermione were already sitting to eat. He joined them, throwing his bag angrily in his chair. Quietly, he told them all of what had just occurred in Snape's classroom. "I swear," he whispered to the two of them, "this is by far going to be the worst year ever."