The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

An Average Day At Weasleys' Wizardly Wheezes

Dear Reader's, our journey together through Hogwarts is gradually coming to a close. The finale and my final words for TGWL is creeping closer. But before the story begins sixth year, I'd like to know if you, the audience, want anything specifically to occur next year. You can either message me, or write bellow in the comment box. In addition to your requests (if any), I also have a few twists of my own that I plan to incorporate next year. Happy reading.

- Sincerely, Chopinssonata

George recovered fairly quick, but he sure did milk out the special treatment that Fred and I provided him with. He even used a bell to signify when he needed our services. We had worked in the shop as George was healing. Sometimes he would work (mostly micromanage and complain about how we weren't doing our jobs right) with us. There weren't many customers, but it was rather aggravating to try and serve them, only to have that bell ring constantly until we fulfilled George's needs.

George stood on the stairs along with Fred. Just as we had taken turns with attending to the shop when George was recovering, we took shifts caring for George, which mostly consisted of putting up with his insane demands. It was Fred's turn now. The bell on the door rung when someone new entered the store. A majority of our customer's were Hogwart's student's. Neville's face peeked through the door as if there were a trap lying beyond the door. I arranged the disorgnized pile of edible Dark Marks that had been horribly messed up by some of the customer's who hadn't bothered to return them to their proper place. 

"Come on in, Neville. There's nothing that's going to jump out and scare you". I said, arranging the products into several different rows and columns. By size and color. Neville entered the store, and stood opposite of me, on the other side of the half organized bin. "Thanks, Scarlet". He said. "What brings you here?" I asked him. "I'm with my grandma picking up books for next year, and I remembered that you said that you'd be working here. I thought that I'd drop by. How's your summer been?" "Trust me, you wouldn't believe me if I told you". "Try me". I checked the surrounding area, to make sure we were out of ear shot of everyone. Apparently Fred had gotten fed up with George and they were bickering. Whenever they argued, they didn't pay any attention to their surroundings. 

"There was a little incident at Malfoy Manor. They want me to keep watch over Harry and report everything to them". "As expected. He-Who-Must-Not-Be Named has been targeting Harry ever since he's been back". "They also held somewhat of a Death Eater initiation. They tried to make Draco a Death Eater". Neville didn't seem to be surprised. Draco was a Malfoy, after all. "So does he have the mark like you do?" He asked. I didn't say anything. I simply shook my head and pulled up my left sleeve. My altered Dark Mark did the talking for me. His eyes widened. His fingers traced the inked serpent that emerged from the mouth of the skull that took up the entire width of my upper arm and coiled itself around my arm to my wrist, to see if the tattoo was real. As if when he brushed his fingers along my skin, the ink would simply smear. 

"So you took the Dark Mark for him". I quickly covered my arm again. "I did. If it's anything like the one I had before, it'll burn terribly when Voldemort needs me. But this isn't just any ordinary Dark Mark. The effect of the one before was unbearably painful. Who knows how I'll react to the effect of twice, or maybe three times that pain. What if this tattoo that's nothing more than ink on my skin, has the power to control me?..... What do I do, then?" I babbled on and on about my worries. About my never-ending list of fears. "You don't know that. Let's cross that bridge when we come to it. Together". His warm hand on my shoulder made me feel reassured. "Together". I said, after him. Augusta Longbottom peeked her head into the store, searching back and forth for Neville. "Looks like my grandmother's here. I really shouldn't keep her waiting. I'll see you at Hogwarts in a couple days".