The Dark Mark

[Brandgwen G.]

No: HPFGUIDX 5684

Blaise wrote:
> Firstly, the Dark Mark is not always visible on the arms of the 
Death  Eaters.  It only appears when Voldemort is summoning them; at 
other  times it fades into invisibility.  

This is incorrect.  The Dark Mark did fade, while Voldemort was lying 
defeated.  However, as he regained strength, the Dark Mark
reappeared.  In fact, if what Snape says about it being a way for the 
Death Eaters to recognise each other, it mustn't fade.  I doubt the 
Death Eater can make it appear on demand - neither Snape nor
Karkaroff seem too pleased with having it.  If they need Voldemort to 
make it reappear every time they need to know each other, they might 
as well just get him to introduce them.

One paragraph upon which I base these observations follows;
" 'There,' said Snape harshly.  'There.  The Dark Mark.  It is not as 
clear as it was, an hour or so ago, when it burnt black, but you can 
still see it.  Every Death Eater had the sign burnt into him by the 
Dark Lord.  It was a means of distinguishing each other, and his
means of summoning us to him.  When he touched the mark of any Death 
Eater, we were to Disapparate, and Apparate, instantly, at his side.  
This Mark has been growing clearer all year.  Karkaroff's, too....'"  
GoF (English edition), The Parting of the Ways.

Based on this, my contention is that those Death Eaters who were 
openly supporting Voldemort during his reign of terror were branded 
with the Dark Mark.  These include all of the Death Eaters Snape was 
aware of, but not those in sensitive positions.  When Voldemort was 
defeated, the Dark Mark faded, only to reappear as he regained 
strength.

Blaise wrote:
> The more interesting point is whether or not Peter was marked with 
it, and the truth is that I'm not sure.

Dave wrote:
>Peter indeed had the Dark Mark, you can find it on page 645 (US 
version)...

Yes, as I recall, Voldemort summoned the Death Eaters to him by 
touching it with his wand.  However, Voldemort had been able to use a 
wand for months, during the GoF, before his encounter with Harry.  He 
was powerful enough to perform all the unforgivable curses.  He could 
have branded Pettigrew at any time.  The real question is this: was 
Pettigrew branded when he was a spy?

A lot of people have asked "if they Death Eaters saw each other in
the circle, why didn't they rat each other out?".  The answer is they
did.  In spectacular fashion.  When trying to get Fudge to believe
his story, Harry lists the names of a number of Death Eaters he saw at
the graveyard.  Fudge's reply is that these are all people who were 
exonerated 13 years ago.  They are not the clever ones, who avoided 
the Ministry altogether, they're the ones who wormed their way out of 
punishment.  Their function is to supply Voldemort with influence, 
money, muscle, and that special air of ruthlessness, which really 
makes Muggle torture an occasion.  Not brains.  Not information.

In the pensive, Karkaroff gives Crouch a number of Death Eater names. 
 He gives them torturers, practisers of the Imperious Curse and 
murders.  None of these names did him any good.  They were already 
known.  It wasn't until he mentioned a Ministry spy that Karkaroff
hit pay dirt.  Rookwood's identity would have been divulged on a 
need-to-know basis, so it was news to Crouch.

The Death Eaters at the graveyard are not the ones Harry really needs 
to worry about.  The really dangerous ones never had to make up 
excuses for their actions.  When Voldemort fell, they were still 
squeaky-clean.  They are probably still working in the same Ministry 
department they were before, still living next door to the powerful 
anti-Voldemort wizard, still married to the same public official.  
They have nothing to fear, because they were never brought before the 
Ministry, never part of the circle of Death Eaters and never branded 
with the Dark Mark.

Gwen.