T̶h̶e̶ D̶a̶r̶k̶s̶i̶d̶e̶

The Dark Mark

As Hermione was escorted through the long corridors and gigantic rooms of the Malfoy Manor, all she could think about was whether Ron would find Ginny alive and well.

She also wished with all of her heart that they would hurry up because having to face Voldemort while she looked like a 17-year-old psycho who wanted to slaughter Muggle-borns was her worst nightmare.

Hermione acted as confident as she thought Nadia would and took a seat on a stone bench at the side of the corridor.

Another Death Eater with a dark mask that covered his whole face, similar to the ones standing at Hermione's sides, came out of an opaque and ornate door. "Miss Dobrev, in a couple minutes the Dark Lord will be ready to see you."

Hermione suppressed a shiver. She didn't feel ready at all. Being face to face with the Dark Lord, even if she looked like somebody else, was probably the scariest thing she'd done in a long while. And she would do it all over again for Ginny.

Hermione dared a glance at the masked men standing silently at her left and right. Based on the respect they'd shown her compared to how she'd been treated the last time they'd been held captive in the Mansion, the girl she was impersonating was popular among the Death Eaters.

They trusted her, that much was clear.

"The Dark Lord is ready." A woman with curly hair and the most unsettling smile Hermione had ever seen announced as she exited a room Hermione had never been in.

Without overthinking her next moves, Hermione stood and walked into the room. The Death Eaters escorted her inside.

Voldemort was sitting in an armchair, his head tilted back. He looked almost bored. When Hermione walked in, though, his lips curled into a smile. Hermione felt sick.

She didn't stop walking even though all she wanted to do was turn around and run out of the room. She forced herself to concentrate and push all of her thoughts into the box in her mind, just as Harry had taught her. Occupancy hadn't been easy at first, but now she could do it without too much trouble.

Keeping her memories and thoughts out of reach of the Dark Lord was of vital importance: a glimpse would be just enough to blow her cover.

When she was close enough, she bowed her head slightly. "My Lord." She said, "Thank you for having me."

"Oh, Nadia. You always have been the grateful type, haven't you?" Voldemort flicked his hand and the cauldron on the fireplace stirred. Hermione hadn't noticed it before, but she remained impassive as the Dark Lord stared at her.

Hermione answered the questions the Dark Lord asked her as well as she could. She swore she would be loyal and faithful.

"It is the greatest of honours for me to carry your Dark Mark, my Lord," Hermione said. Inside, she was panicking. It was too soon. She hadn't expected the ceremony to last so little, and she and Ron had never even considered that she might have to take the mark. They thought that they would've been able to get out before that happened. But there was no way out now, not without blowing her cover. The golden Galleon Ron and she had put a spell on to communicate when he and Ginny got safely out still hadn't burnt, and that could only mean bad news. Ron might have gotten caught. Their plan might have been discovered already. Ginny could have been tortured to death. Hermione didn't even want to think of that possibility, though. Or maybe, just maybe, they were just running late.

"Well, Nadia." The Dark Lord hissed, talking slowly. "I think I was right when I decided to award you the mark. After all, you've proven your loyalty over and over, and discovered pieces of information that men twice your age wouldn't have been able to extract." Voldemort gestured with two fingers to the Death Eater by the fireplace to bring him the small cauldron.

Voldemort took with his bare hands the red-hot iron that lay inside. Hermione flinched.

The Dark Lord's serpentine eyes flickered to her face. "Having second thoughts, Dobrev?"

"Never, my Lord." Hermione offered her left arm.

The Dark Lord sneered and pulled up her sleeve, his fingers icy cold against her skin and the scratching of his nails sent shivers down Hermione's spine.

When the red-hot iron connected with her skin, Hermione clenched her teeth, desperately trying not to scream. It was a kind of pain she'd never felt before. Tears welled in her eyes, and yet Hermione held on, she fought to keep the box closed. Occupancy was the one thing that would force her to keep her mind blank. Voldemort started chanting a wandless spell.

It might have been two minutes, it may have been two years. Hermione lost track of time. When she looked down to her left forearm, she held back a whimper.

Her skin - Nadia's skin - was stained permanently in dark dark ink. The skull looked hollow and terrifying, and the snake protruding from its mouth looked exactly as Hermione remembered. Suddenly she was fourteen again, joking about something that happened at the Quidditch World Cup with Harry and Ron. She remembered the symbol in the sky like it was yesterday.

Voldemort dismissed her, and Hermione thanked the Dark Lord once again. The two masked Death Eaters escorted her outside.

When the door closed behind their backs, they turned to Hermione.

"Congratulations, Miss Dobrev." The blonde one said.

"Thank you." Hermione answered quickly, "I have to get back to school before they notice I'm missing. Would you mind if I see myself out?"

"As you wish, Miss Dobrev."

Holding her chin high, Hermione walked through the corridors. She wobbled on her feet, but not enough for anyone to notice how shaken she truly was.

As she was about to exit through the front floor of the mansion, she felt the Polyjuice Potion starting to wear off, and the Galleon in her pocket started to burn. She found Ron and Ginny outside the gate, waiting for her.

Ginny was in a bad state, and her clothes were covered in blood from her injuries. "Ginny! It's Hermione."

Ginny gave her a weak smile. "Thank you for rescuing me."

"Of course." Hermione gave her a bright smile as she walked their way. Her hair was curly again, and her face was starting to change as well. "Sorry, we couldn't do that sooner."

Ron frowned at the Hermione forearm. Hermione noticed she had forgotten to button the sleeve of her shirt. "Hermione... your arm."

"It's Nadia's, not mine. Now, let's get out of here."

"Gladly." Ginny chuckled feebly, taking Ron's hand so they could use side-along Apparition.

They Disappeared with a crack.

When their feet touched the ground again and they could see Hogwarts in the distance, Hermione threw her arms around both of the Weasley siblings, ignoring their protests and whimpers of pain. "We beat the odds! I can't believe all of us made it out alive."