New Thought on Theory of the Dark Mark

[Juliet]

No: HPFGUIDX 60597

Here's what we know about the Dark Mark...

1.  It was growing ever clearer during GoF, presumably as a result of 
Voldemort gaining power- and, as far as we can tell, it was *not* 
visible while Voldemort was out of power.  
2.  The Mark burns black when Voldemort touches one of his DEs arms 
and "calls" them to him.
3.  We have not(atleast, that I remember) seen anyone in canon(MoM 
personel or otherwise) check a person's arm for the Mark to prove or 
disprove that they are a Death Eater.

The last has always made me assume that the Mark was *not* always 
visible, even during Voldemort's strong years.  Thus, the MoM didn't 
know about it.  I mean, you think they'd have noticed that all these 
wizards and witches that they're pulling in that admitted to 
servicing Voldemort have this similar tattoo...

Here are my thoughts:

Voldemort has complete control over what the Mark does.  DEs 
obviously know that "burning black" means "Apparate to Voldemort 
instantly."  How they know where to apparate is possibly an extension 
of the Dark Mark.

Voldemort can turn the Mark invisible if he wants to, whenever he 
wants to.  I have always thought that the Mark was never visible 
during the Dark Years, unless Voldemort was using it as a means of 
communication with the Death Eaters.  I'm going to give him the 
credit of being Smart!Voldemort and say that he must have known that 
having such a permanent mark would be a huge disadvantage to picking 
off who's a Death Eater and who's not.  Basically, the Mark will show 
up if he wants it to or it will be invisible if he wants it to.

So, the Mark was *never* visible from that Halloween Night when 
Voldemort lost his powers up to Goblet of Fire time.  Voldemort, once 
he had a body and was slowly regaining strength, made a conscious 
effort to keep the Mark growing slowly more visible.  Why?  Well, to 
make those who were loyal and went to Azkaban for him hope, and to 
make those who were disloyal and renounced him squirm.  Let those who 
will run from his service run, and those who will stay and wait for 
his call join him.  

So, basically, mo one knows about it's tattoo form besides Death 
Eaters(and, obviously, the people they tell, as Snape has done with 
Dumbledore) and it is only visible when Voldemort wants it to be.


Maybe I'm completely off base...but that's how I've always thought 
the Mark worked.  

Aldrea