Dark Mark
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The Dark Mark, in the Harry Potter book series, is the symbol of Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Its appearance is that of a skull with a snake coming out of the mouth in place of the tongue. It is summoned using the incantation "Morsmordre" ("take a bite out of death"). While unknown at the time, the summoning of the basilisk by Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets may have been the inspiration for the Dark Mark. The basilisk emerged from the mouth of the statue of Salazar Slytherin in the Chamber of Secrets.
Its first appearance in the Harry Potter books is in chapter nine of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, "The Dark Mark." During the Quidditch World Cup, there is a riot, during which a number of former Death Eaters seize a number of muggles and make a show of levitating them high in the air. In the midst of the commotion, the Dark Mark appears in the sky, and the Death Eaters scatter. Soon afterward, Winky, the house-elf of Bartemius Crouch is found holding the wand which, upon inspection with the Priori Incantato spell, reveals itself as the wand that released the Dark Mark into the air. In apparent anger at this incriminating evidence, Crouch fires his elf, much to her distress.
Toward the end of the book, it is learned that the actual perpetrator was Crouch's son, Bartemius Crouch Jr. He had been at the Quidditch World Cup in an invisibility cloak, and was able to steal a wand which he used to manifest the mark. It was in anger that his house-elf had failed to control his son, that Crouch Sr. fired her.
The Dark Mark also appears as a brand on the forearms of all Death Eaters, as the followers of Lord Voldemort are dubbed. During his years out of power, the mark remained as a dull icon on the arms of its bearers, but became progressively clearer as Voldemort's strength increased. To this effect, Igor Karkaroff, the headmaster of Durmstrang is seen fearfully attempting to attract the attention of Severus Snape to the fact, on a number of occasions in the story, and finally flees in fear from Hogwarts, when Voldemort is reincarnated near the book's end. When he wished to summon his followers, Voldemort had only to touch the Dark Mark on one of them, and it would become pale and burn, alerting them that their master calls.
Fred and George Weasley created an edible version of this symbol as part of their products in the "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes" store in Diagon Alley, which could sicken people if eaten.
It should be noted that the Dark Mark acts in a similar manner to a mystical brand worn by the Order of the Midnight Sons, a group of Magical/Supernatually powered heroes created by Marvel Comics.
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