======The Dark Mark======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Magical]] Brand / Summoning Sign
  * **Owners:** [[Lord Voldemort]], [[Death Eater]]s
  * **Maker:** [[Lord Voldemort]]
=====Description and Appearance=====
The [[Dark Mark]] exists in two distinct forms: a physical brand on the forearm and a magically conjured sign in the sky.
  * **The Physical Brand:** This is a mark magically burned into the skin of a [[Death Eater]]'s inner left forearm. It appears as a vivid red, tattoo-like image of a skull with a large [[serpent]] issuing from its mouth like a tongue. When inactive, it can resemble a faint scar. When activated by [[Lord Voldemort]], it turns jet-black and burns, signaling a summons.
  * **The Conjured Sign:** Cast using the incantation //[[Morsmordre]]//, this version of the [[Dark Mark]] is a colossal, glittering green skull formed of what appears to be emerald stars. A [[serpent]] likewise protrudes from its mouth. It hangs eerily in the sky, a terrifying beacon announcing a [[Death Eater]]'s presence, often after they have committed a murder.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The [[Dark Mark]] serves primarily as a symbol of allegiance to [[Lord Voldemort]] and as a powerful magical tool for his [[Death Eater]]s.
  * **Summoning Device:** The physical mark connects every [[Death Eater]] to their master and to each other. By pressing his finger to any single [[Dark Mark]], [[Lord Voldemort]] can send a burning, summoning sensation to all of his followers, who are expected to [[Disapparate]] and [[Apparate]] to his side immediately. This is first explained by [[Lord Voldemort]] himself in the [[Little Hangleton]] graveyard.
  * **Indicator of Voldemort's Power:** The brand on a [[Death Eater]]'s arm darkens and becomes clearer as [[Lord Voldemort]]'s power grows. [[Igor Karkaroff]] grows increasingly panicked as his mark becomes more defined, and [[Severus Snape]] shows his own darkening mark to [[Cornelius Fudge]] as proof of [[Lord Voldemort]]'s return.
  * **Psychological Warfare:** The conjured [[Dark Mark]] has no known direct offensive capability, but its primary function is to inspire terror. During the [[First Wizarding War]], the sight of it was enough to make [[witch]]es and [[wizard]]s flee in panic. It serves as the [[Death Eater]]s' calling card, most often cast over a house or building where they have murdered someone.
=====History=====
The [[Dark Mark]] was invented by [[Lord Voldemort]] during his initial rise to power and was used extensively throughout the [[First Wizarding War]] as his symbol. It became synonymous with terror and death.
After [[Lord Voldemort]]'s first downfall, the marks on his followers' arms faded to scars, barely visible. They began to darken again as he regained strength, a fact noted with terror by [[Igor Karkaroff]] and used as evidence by [[Severus Snape]].
The first time the [[Dark Mark]] is seen in the series is when it is conjured by [[Barty Crouch Jr.]] at the [[Quidditch World Cup]] using [[Harry Potter]]'s stolen [[wand]]. The appearance of the mark causes mass panic among the [[witch]]es and [[wizard]]s in attendance.
Later, in the graveyard of [[Little Hangleton]], the newly-restored [[Lord Voldemort]] touches [[Peter Pettigrew]]'s mark to summon the [[Death Eater]]s, demonstrating its primary function.
One of the most significant uses of the conjured mark was when it was cast over the [[Astronomy Tower]] at [[Hogwarts Castle]] following the death of [[Albus Dumbledore]], signaling a major victory for [[Lord Voldemort]] and his followers.
=====Role in the Story=====
The [[Dark Mark]] is a recurring and powerful symbol of [[Lord Voldemort]]'s evil and the loyalty of his followers. It represents the permanent and inescapable bond a [[Death Eater]] has with their master. For characters like [[Draco Malfoy]], receiving the mark signifies his forced entry into true darkness and the immense pressure placed upon him. For [[Severus Snape]], the mark is a constant reminder of his past but also a crucial element of his role as a double agent, as it grants him access to [[Lord Voldemort]]'s inner circle.
Throughout the series, the appearance of the mark, whether on an arm or in the sky, signals immediate danger and the presence of [[Dark Magic]]. It functions as a constant, visible threat that hangs over the [[wizarding world]] during [[Lord Voldemort]]'s reign.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * The incantation used to conjure the [[Dark Mark]], //[[Morsmordre]]//, is explained to mean "take a bite out of death" in French (mors, 'death' and mordre, 'to bite'), fitting for followers who call themselves [[Death Eater]]s. (J.K. Rowling interview)
  * In the film adaptations, the physical mark is often depicted as a more intricate, blackened brand, sometimes appearing animated on the skin. The conjured mark is a large, swirling cloud of dark smoke that resolves into the skull and serpent image. (film)
  * The skull and serpent imagery is a direct reference to [[Salazar Slytherin]], the founder of [[Slytherin]] house and ancestor of [[Lord Voldemort]], who was famous for his ability to speak [[Parseltongue]].