𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍𝐄 :: 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊 🕷

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𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝟭

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞

greetings hpa! its hails once again, presenting our groups' very first edition! we are so so excited to show all of our works! for our first edition, our given topic is "the dark mark". everyone's creations were to be themed/centered around the dark mark. all of our have done such an incredible job! keep reading to see their work ♡

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𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

cover by aurora

playlist by venus

fanfiction by venus

moodboard by areum

moodboards by dabyy

themes by hana

playlist by amaya

blog by ron

interview by mae

poll by mae

fanfiction by jill

interview by [su|http://aminoapps.vertvonline.info/p/lop8op7]

blog by anna

moodboard by anna

themes by irene

jokes by sec

blog organized by hails

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𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗬 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗨𝗦

playlist link

to match the dark and intense vibe of the dark mark from harry potter, I picked five songs from the playlist that each show a different side of that darkness much like guilt, temptation, fear, madness, and the thirst for power.

"favorite crime" by olivia rodrigo feels like a death eater looking back with regret. the lyric “the things I did just so I could call you mine” shows how far someone might go for loyalty, even if it means doing awful things for someone they once trusted or loved.

"west coast" by lana del rey gives off a hypnotic, dangerous energy which is kind of like how the dark arts lures people in. "you’re feeling hot at the show, I’m feeling hot to the touch” captures that mix of attraction and danger that’s hard to resist.

"paranoia" by kang daniel is all about feeling watched and not knowing what’s real. With "paranoia, don’t know what’s real or fake,” it really fits the fear and suspicion that comes with being involved in something as dark and twisted as serving voldemort.

"cradles" by sub urban sounds like a creepy lullaby gone wrong. the line “I live inside my own world of make-believe” reminds me of how people can lose touch with reality when they’re obsessed with power or ideology.

"you should see me in a crown" by billie eilish is pure dark power. “I’m gonna run this nothing town” screams confidence and control which is perfect for someone who fully embraces the chaos and wants to rule it.

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𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗬 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗨𝗦

the wound that never bleeds

The air was suffocating in the library of Malfoy Manor, thick with smoke from a single, flickering candle. Draco stood still in the center, his pale face illuminated just enough to show the shadows beneath his eyes. His heart thundered, not with fear exactly but something colder. Something emptier.

He hadn’t cried when they told him what he had to do. He didn’t cry now. But inside, something cracked. Lord Voldemort stood before him, silent and smiling. The others were standing at the corner of the room, like a statue. His mother’s hand had lingered on his shoulder when they entered, the tiniest tremble betraying her calm. Lucius said nothing.

When the Dark Lord raised his wand, Draco clenched his fists, bracing himself.

The pain was unlike anything he had felt. It was sharp, burning, ancient and striking. It coursed through his veins like fire made of ice. His knees buckled, but he didn’t fall. He wouldn’t give them that. The skin on his forearm sizzled as the mark was carved in, inked in magic and fear. It felt like it was being branded into his soul, not just his skin.

He didn’t scream. But he bit down so hard on his lip that blood ran down his chin. When it was done, Voldemort whispered, “Welcome, Draco,” as if it were a gift.

The room applauded quietly, as if they hadn’t just watched a boy lose what was left of his childhood.

Later that night, Draco stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom, staring at the mark. His hand hovered over it, afraid to touch it, afraid not to. It was dark, harsh, alive. He pressed his fingers to it. The pain was gone now. But something worse remained. Shame. Grief. A silence that screamed louder than anything ever had.

He didn’t sleep that night. He couldn’t. The mark throbbed faintly in the dark like it had a heartbeat of its own. And Draco, once so proud, so sure, lay curled beneath the weight of it reminding that he was just a boy who had been asked to be a monster.

At Hogwarts, everything looked the same, but nothing felt it.

The Great Hall buzzed with laughter and chatter, but it all sounded distant to Draco as though he were underwater. He sat at the Slytherin table, hands clasped tightly in his lap, sleeves pulled down past his wrists even though the fire crackled warmly behind him.

No one knew. Not really.

Pansy flirted. Blaise joked. Crabbe and Goyle trailed behind like always. But Draco had stopped hearing them. The mark on his arm had faded to a dull ache now, but it pulsed at odd moments, as if to remind him it was still there. That he was still theirs.

Some nights, he would sneak into the Prefects' bathroom and just sit on the cold tiles, staring at the dark swirl on his skin. He’d press his hand over it, as if that might smother the guilt rising in his chest. But nothing dulled it.

Once, in the corridor near the Astronomy Tower, he caught his reflection in the tall window. For a second, he didn't recognize himself. His face had thinned, eyes sunken, mouth constantly drawn tight. He looked like a shadow.

And yet, when he ed Potter in the corridor, part of him still flared with anger. But it wasn’t the same as before.. it wasn’t rivalry. It was envy. Because Harry still had choices. Freedom. People who saw him. Listen to him.

Draco turned away from the window and pulled his sleeve down again, the skin beneath still marked, still his secret burden. The kind of wound that didn’t bleed, but never healed.

𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗨𝗠

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ edit type ::                     moodboard ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ subject :: dark mark ,, death eaters ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ time taken ::  20 mins  (  photopea ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ kept        crashing     :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: ) ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ apps used :: pinterest  ,, ibis paintx ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ websites used ::     photopea  ,,  da ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ psd used ::  angelina by archerps ,, ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ drunk   dazed   by   khyunkie    and ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ mismatched        by         pockybub ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ rating ::  3/5  could've  been worse ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ considering   its    been   3    years ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ since  i   last   made  moodboards ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ about / procedure ::    i    made   a ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ collage of the pictures using  ibis ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ paint and  then  applied  the  gif ,, ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ psd and  my  watermark  through ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ photopea.     i    feel      like      the ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ moodboard    really     suits     the ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ the theme  and  the  gif  looks  rly ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ good  in  the  edit  ,,   turned  way ҂ ⤸

〔 🕷 ⸝⸝ better than i expected it to be :sob: ҂ ⤸

𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗕𝗬 𝗗𝗔𝗕𝗬𝗬

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│ ↬𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕: dark mark

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│ ↬𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒔 & 𝒘𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅: photopea, picsart, pinterest, deviantart

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│ ↬𝑬𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆: moodboard edits

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│ ↬𝑷𝑺𝑫 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅: moodboard 1 psd and for Moodboard 2 psd

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│ ↬𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅: 2 in total

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│ ↬𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏: 30 mins

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│ ↬𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 8/10

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│ ↬𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: for first moodboard i used a photopea to create my first ever moodboard there since im mostly used at the picsart collage, and then i put all the pictures i got from the pinterest, next is i put a psd from the deviantart. And for the second moodboard i used picsart this time to collage all the pictures, then i use photopea to put psd that i got from deviantart.

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│   ະ 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 ୨୧

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𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗬 𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗔

hi everyone

So for this edition I wanted to make something with a dark colour scheme since the theme itself is related to the dark arts. I first found two images with dark marks which i can use for backgrounds and then chose death eater characters for the profile pictures. All I did after finding the images was slap on a psd and adjust some lighting in photoshop. Psds used and proof can be found in the drive link with the themes :) themes are ftu <3

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗬𝗔

Regulus Black After Receiving His Dark Mark

Playlist Link

The Dark Mark itself is a very complicated symbol within the magical world, being the image of many dark deeds and representing pure evil actions and intentions. So, for my playlist I want to create something that represented one of the Dark Mark's recipients and how they felt after being branded with the magical image. Regulus Black's life was not a pretty one to say the least and after he got the skull infested snake forever enchanted onto his arm, that life of his only seems to spiral deeper.

This playlist has a combination of songs following his regret and redemption as he succumbed to the repercussions of having such a symbol embedded into his skin. All of these songs are relevant to the end of Regulus’ life, but I would really like to focus deeply on the first initial song.

Deep End by Ruelle

The beginning of this song perfectly sums up the very end of Regulus Black and thoughts I imagine may have been going through his mind.

"Where can I go,

when the shadows are calling,

shadows are calling me?

What can I do,

when it's pulling me under,

pulling me underneath?"

The 'pulling me under' I find particularly fitting as the boy did die when he succumbed to his underwater fate. The 'shadows' both metaphorically and in reality represent the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort himself, how after receiving his Dark Mark, Regulus would constantly be feeling trapped like he could be called upon at any moment - he would have never been able to properly rest or relax.

"I'm slipping, into the deep end,

I'm in over my head, I can't catch my breath,

I'm slipping, into the deep end,

feel the current within,

I can't help but give in."

Again with the 'deep end' being in reference to a pool, yet another sign of water. The whole song references water and being pulled underneath the surface to an uncertain fate with the inability to fight or escape. When Regulus stole Lord Voldemort's horcrux, he would have felt as if he had no choice, having made many bad decisions in his life. He ended his time in the wizarding world doing good, alluding to the darkness which left the boy feeling as if he couldn't 'help but give in.'.

"Like blood in my veins,

darkness is sinking,

darkness is sinking me,

commanding my soul,

I am under the surface,

where the blackness burns beneath."

Regulus' life was very dark with his rash decisions leading to him sinkinging deeper and deeper into a world he may have thought he wanted at one point, but deep down was petrified of.

𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗚 𝗕𝗬 𝗥𝗢𝗡

The Dark Mark:

Legacy of Terror and Psychological Warfare

Symbols have been powerful instruments since time began, reshaping assumptions and stirring emotions. In the wizarding world, there were few symbols as psychologically potent as the Dark Mark—the mark of Lord Voldemort and his followers, the Death Eaters. Whether called up into the air as a portent of death or burned onto the arm of his followers as a symbol of allegiance, the Dark Mark was designed to strike fear and exact obedience. Its power extended beyond its physical form, leaving deep psychic scars on the victim and the Death Eater both.

The Dark Mark as a Tool of Fear

In the period between the original Wizarding War and Voldemort's return to dominance, the Dark Mark was employed as a psychological weapon against the masses.

When cast into the air using the spell Morsmordre, the mark—a green skull with a snake curling out of its mouth—signaled the recent murder of a victim. Eyewitnesses were aware that if the Dark Mark appeared hovering over a home or a public space, a Death Eater had killed somebody. As Arthur Weasley eerily described, "Just imagine coming home and seeing the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're going to see inside. Everyone's worst nightmare. the very worst" (Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). This association of the symbol with death accustomed the wizarding world to react with instant fear, creating an atmosphere of psychological despotism. Like conventional symbols of totalitarian power in the Muggle sphere, the Dark Mark itself was not physically risky, but merely by being, it was able to drive people into panic (HP Lexicon, 2025).

Psychological Bondage: The Curse of the Marked

For the Death Eaters themselves, the Dark Mark was not merely a badge of loyalty—it was a magical connection that enslaved them to Voldemort's bidding. The Mark, branded into the left forearm of his followers, glowed black whenever Voldemort summoned them. This put them in a state of constant anxiety, since they never knew when their master would summon them.

Psychologically, this had disastrous ramifications:

- Loss of free will: The Mark deprived the Death Eaters of their free will, reinforcing their surrender to Voldemort (HP Fandom, 2025).

- Irresistible fear: The Mark was a promise that betrayal could never happen—any attempt to escape would mean Voldemort tracking them down.

- Everlasting shame: Even once Voldemort was dead, the Mark never fully disappeared—it withdrew but could still be seen, a sign of their past allegiance.

For some, especially those bullied into service under Voldemort, such as Draco Malfoy, the Mark was as much a curse as a blessing. It controlled them by manipulation rather than outright loyalty.

The Echoes of Trauma

Even years after Voldemort had been defeated, the Dark Mark continued to haunt survivors of the Wizarding Wars. To the grieving, seeing the Mark—even in archive reports—may again reopen the sores and revive old fears. The psychological trauma associated with the symbol did not fade with time; just as survivors of real-life wars carried psychological scars years after the war had ended, individuals who survived Voldemort's reign carried the same too (HP Lexicon, 2025).

Symbols, particularly those which symbolise oppression and violence, have tremendous psychological power. The Dark Mark was more than just Voldemort's signature—it was a psychological leash that held the Wizarding World hostage to fear. Even in a time of peace, its legacy continues to exist as a cautionary symbol, reminding future generations of the dark past it represents.

works cited :paperclip: :paperclip: :paperclip: :paperclip:

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗕𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗘 ]

The dark mark is seen as a high honor within the Death Eater ranks. But do everyone see it this way? I got the chance to interview one of HPA's biggest Slytherin haters :sparkles: Corinne :sparkles: to see if the other side of the Death Eater spectrum thinks the Dark Mark is as epic as the Death Eaters think it is.

One of the features of the Dark Mark is that it evokes fear in their enemies. People who wear the dark mark on their arms are known to be of Voldemort's inner circle so for a non Death Eater they would certainly be some of the people you should stay away from. Corinne has a slightly different view on this, however. When asked how she would react to realizing the person in front of her carries the Dark Mark she answered thoughtfully that she "would try not to judge them based on one thing alone, after all [she doesn't] know their background. Draco was pretty much forced into the mark by his family or Snape had the mark even though he was actually betraying Voldemort." This is quite a considerate way of reacting to a potential Death Eater but Corinne chooses to see the good in everyone and that is a beautiful quality that i hope won't get her killed. She does go on to say that "[carrying the dark mark] is not a good sign, I don't racism or uh blood-ism.." so let's hope she has the ability to sense when people are being truthful so she doesn't end up befriending any real Death Eaters.

Corinne's way of being friendly towards potential Death Eaters could come in handy for her if she is ever in the position where she needs to pretend to be on their side (such as Snape and Malfoy were). She says that "if given the right motivation" and "given the right training" she would "absolutely be willing to take the risk" of being a spy. Corinne is definitely someone who cares for people and wants to help create the best world possible for everyone and that is so beautiful.

Voldemort is able to summon all the death eaters by pressing his own dark mark, which is one of the many things he is capable of doing with his powerful magic. "[The] Dark mark definitely falls on [the mid to good ideas] side of things because its discrete, permanently binding so he knows his people stay loyal, and it looks cool af" says Corinne when asked about which of Voldemort's ideas were good and whether or not the Dark Mark was one of them. She mentions that even though it isn't one of the most powerful things he has done (Hermione was able to do a similar thing in 5th year) she says that "just because its easy doesn't mean its not effective", which is an excellent point to be made and one that I think many people can resonate with.

The design of the Dark Mark is a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth and as a tattoo it looks (in Corinne's words) "pretty epic". The dark mark is quite similar to Salazar Slytherin having the basilisk come out of his mouth in the chamber of secrets, which means that the Dark Mark can be seen as a sort of tribute to Voldemort's ancestor being Slytherin himself. By doing this, is Voldemort shining a bad light on Slytherin house? According to Corinne he is not; "this was a tribute to salazar specifically and he was known for believing in blood purity, same as voldemort. In that respect, it doesn't shine any bad light on him because he already was bad, its just true." Now, she does herself as being a "proud Slytherin hater" so other people might disagree with her on this and if you do you can email this newspaper at morsmordresinterviews@voldivamail.com answering the question "Is Salazar Slytherin himself the reason for Slytherin House being seen in a bad light by many non-Slytherins?"

Thank you to Corinne for participating in this interview and letting us get a deeper insight into how one of HPA's proud Slytherin haters view the Dark Mark. Thank you to Aurora for submitting questions and thank you to everyone for reading! Until next time :v:

𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗘 ]

Who on HPA will get the dark mark tattoo and why? A public poll by Mae

For this poll I asked people around the community the following:

Name one person for each category. Who here on hpa is most likely to get the dark mark tattoo for the following reasons:

1. Because it looks cool (they get a fake one just for the looks of it)

2. Because they are actually a Death Eater

3. Because they're pulling a Snape and spying for the good side

Before we get into the specific answers I would like to first announce the person who got the most votes overall and thus who is most likely to get the Dark Mark in general for whatever reasons. That person is Sec!! Here are some of the people's reasons for voting for her:

“Sec would 100% get a fake Dark Mark just for the aesthetic and fashion. She just thinks it looks badass. She would rock it and be like “It’s not real, obviously—but it’s a vibe.”” - Kaira

“idk why but thats the vibe i get :relieved: ” - hails

“Seems like the type to do something so silly and end up having to pretend to be a death eater because real death eaters find her.” - Hana

People seem to view her as quite the chaotic queen fr!! Let's hope it isn't all an act and she isn't secretly spying on us for the Death Eaters’ side!

Now, the first category of people are the ones who, if they got the Dark Mark tattoo, people would automatically assume that it's a fake one and that there's no way they got it directly from Voldemort himself:

Corinne

Kitty

Kara

Draco

The next category is the people who, if they got the Dark Mark tattoo, people would immediately believe that they're now a real Death Eater who works for Voldemort:

Hana

Irene

Ivan

lily

Barty Crouch Jr.

This third category is the people who, if they are seen with the Dark Mark tattoo, people would not question that it is the real Dark Mark but they would still believe that these people are working for the good side:

Alex

Ema

Sev

Venus

Prasanna

Marianna

Lay

Amaya

Taehyung

Pinocchio

Now, there were several people who got voted for all the categories so I've decided to make some extra categories for those people:

This fourth category are the people who, if they got the Dark Mark, people would assume that they have no idea what they're doing with their life and that they probably ed the real Death Eaters just because they thought the dark snakey vibes were cool (mix of category 1 and 2):

Ra

Niki

This fourth category are the people who, if they got the Dark Mark, people wouldn't know what to believe at all. Everyone thinks that if it came down to it these people could fool anyone with their spectacular poker faces so that no one would ever really know if they were a real Death Eater or not (mix of all 3 categories):

Rio

Aleks

Sec

Aurora

Mae

Aaand those were the results I were able to gather. I hope yall enjoyed! Byeee :wave:

𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗬 𝗝𝗜𝗟𝗟 ]

Regulus Articulus Black, the Werewolf

Summary: An alternative version of how Regulus got his dark mark.

It had all started with a trip to the Forbidden Forest.

Regulus knew he wasn’t supposed to be out here, but that was the whole point. He didn’t have a ton of friends, since many Slytherins were wary of him due to his brother, but recently, a group of guys in his brother’s year had taken him under their wings. They claimed that he had to “prove himself”, though, and that meant going into the Forbidden Forest, after curfew, and plucking a few leaves of a mallowsweet plant to bring back as proof.

As he walked through along the trail now, with only Lumos to guide him, Regulus questioned if this was all really worth it. If he got caught on the way back to the common room, a hefty amount of points would be taken and the Slytherins would surely have it out for him.

Finally he spotted the mallowsweet. Letting out a breath of relief that he could now get out of here, Regulus leaned over to grab the leaves, when a howl that was definitely too close to him made him jump.

”Bloody hell,” he whispered under his breath, taking a few slow steps backwards. The werewolf was only a few feet away, snarling at him. He started to walk towards Regulus and the Slytherin just reacted, pointing his wand at the creature and muttering the first jinx that came to mind.

The werewolf narrowly dodged the flash of light and it only served to anger him. Within the split-second that ed, Regulus was only able to see a mass of fur and fangs in his face. He was knocked onto his back and felt a burning sensation right on his collarbone, where the werewolf clamped down on him.

Thankfully, Regulus still has his wand. With two more jinxes that hit his target directly this time, the werewolf ran off, retreating into the woods. Pressing his hand over the wound, Regulus grunted and got to his feet, turning around to return to the castle.

Once he made it back to the common room, he pushed past the Slytherins, not bothering to listen to any of their comments. He made a beeline for the bathroom, where he was able to dress the wound. Staring at his reflection in the mirror, Regulus didn’t need a healer to tell him that this was a bite. It was as clear as day.

He was a werewolf now. Forever changed.

Regulus’s lips curled into a snarl and he pounded his fist on the sink counter. He cursed the Forbidden Forest, those boys, and his own stupidity for listening to them in the first place.

He felt more alone than ever now. Not only was he a monster, but he was going to have to worry about keeping his “condition” a secret now. He’d be lying to everyone . . . His classmates, his Professors, his parents. Oh, Merlin. His parents were definitely going to be the most difficult. If they ever found out he was a Werewolf, it would ruin the perfect image of him that they had in their minds. He was the son they looked to since Sirius was considered a disappointment. He was supposed to do right by the Black family name.

If it was discovered that he was a werewolf, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be ousted, his image on the family tapestry burned.

——————————

Regulus managed to keep his condition a total secret for three weeks. It was only days before the full moon when he caved, knocking on Professor Slughorn’s door late at night to ask him for some Wolfsbane potions and beg him not to tell anyone. His Head of House took pity on him, though he did say that he would have to inform the Heaster. Regulus did not care as long as no one said anything to his parents — or Sirius, for that matter. He did not need to give brother any more of a reason to dislike him.

Regulus went through two transformations, neither of which were pleasant, before the summer arrived. And that was . . . Disastrous, to put it mildly. Regulus already felt like he was on his own in that cold, unforgiving house, but once Sirius left and got burned off the tapestry . . . Well, it ended up making his younger brother cry in his room at night. He wasn’t attached to Sirius by any means, but to know that he was gone . . . That there was no hope at all that their relationship could ever be prepared . . . It was a tough pill to swallow.

Regulus withdrew into himself even further than he already had, if that was at all possible. He only spoke up to appease his parents, otherwise keeping quiet and getting his schoolwork done. It all came crashing down on him, though, when Kreacher found one of his Wolfsbane potions in his room and promptly reported it to his parents.

They called Regulus into the family room, saying that they had a very important matter to discuss. Instead of outright disowning him like that had with Sirius, they handled it rather . . . Calmly, though that did nothing to comfort Regulus. In fact, it only served to put him more on edge.

”Although I would prefer not to have a lycanthrope under my roof,” his father began, making his disgust abundantly clear. “You may still have some use, and you should thank your lucky stars for that.”

Regulus pinched his eyebrows together, unsure if he was supposed to thank his father or not. He had no idea what this meant, but it didn’t sound good. Nothing in this house ever sounded good.

”You would be an asset to the Dark Lord,” his father continued. Regulus could practically feel his heart drop into his stomach and he tried his best not to let that show on his face.

No, no, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t—no.

”B-because I’m a werewolf?” Regulus asked, wondering what on earth the Dark Lord could possibly want with him.

His parents nodded and this time, his mother spoke. “Werewolves are strong beasts. They are predators. Lots of folk are terrified of them and terrified of being bitten by them. If the Dark Lord has a werewolf on his side, perhaps that’s a sign to other werewolves, and all beasts. You’d be an inspiration for them and everyone else would see more of a reason not to cross him.”

The way she put emphasis on the word ‘inspiration’ made Regulus feel nauseous. He knew of his family’s allegiance, but his parents weren’t Death Eaters themselves. He never thought that he’d be expected to . . .

”What’ll happen now?” Regulus asked, even though he definitely did not want to know the answer. In fact, he was instead wondering where Sirius ran off to when he left.

”Nothing yet. We’ll have to get into with the Dark Lord first,” his mother told him.

——————————

Over the next semester, Regulus kept to himself, as per usual. Slughorn continued to supply him with Wolfsbane potions and Dumbledore arranged it so that he had a section of the Forbidden Forest to himself during the full moons. Regulus wasn’t keen on returning to the place where he’d been bitten, but it was all he had.

He did look out for his brother every so often, expecting to see him upset, but Sirius always looked so happy with his friends. As if nothing had happened over the summer, as if it hadn’t affected him at all. Regulus couldn’t help but resent him a little for that.

When winter break came and his parents picked him up at King’s Cross, Regulus was surprised when they did not take him home. Instead, they went over to his aunt and uncle’s house. His cousin Bellatrix greeted them at the door, giving Regulus a smile that was quite unnerving.

”It’s all ready,” Bellatrix said giddily. His parents looked pleased at that. Regulus was just confused.

She led them downstairs, to the basement. Even though it was dimly lit, Regulus could see that there were quite a lot of people down here. Almost his entire family and their friends. Narcissa was here. Andromeda wasn’t.

His parents began to walk over to the side of the room but when Regulus went to follow, his father stopped him. “Stay,” he said.

Regulus looked all around. It was chilly in here. He wanted to ask what was going on, but he couldn’t form the words.

”Come, boy.”

That voice made Regulus jump and sent shivers down his spine. Someone was in front of him, sitting in a chair. Regulus had a horrible feeling that he knew who it was.

He didn’t move until his mother cleared her throat and gave him a very stern look.

“Kneel.”

Regulus dropped to the ground on shaky knees. His whole body was trembling.

”Hold out your forearm.”

Regulus began to raise his arm, then stopped. He yanked it forward.

”I don’t—” the student began to say, only to be interrupted by an incantation.

A burning, white hot pain consumed him. Regulus cried out, his other hand clawing at the fabric of his pants to try and ground him. His head throbbed, so did his arm. It was almost numb.

The next thing he knew, his father was pulling him up by his arms. He surely would’ve fallen had the man not been holding him.

”We are so proud of you,” his father said, kissing him on the top of the head.

Regulus did not the last time his father kissed him, hugged him, or even touched him beyond a heavy pat on the shoulder.

”You may be a beast, but you are a tamed beast now.”

He could not look at his arm, even though he knew it was there. It would be on him forever. He couldn’t ever remove it or scrub it away.

“Say ‘thank you’,” his father commanded, hissing in his ear. The little bit of warmth that had been there was now gone again.

”Thank you,” Regulus croaked. Those two words had never felt so backwards, or twisted, before.

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗕𝗬 𝗦𝗨

For Harry Potter fans, the Dark Mark is one of the most striking symbols in the whole series. Whether it’s lighting up the sky after a death or burned into the skin of a Death Eater, it’s instantly chilling—tied to fear, loyalty, and the darker side of magic. But over the years, it has taken on a new life. We find it in tattoos, fan art, cosplay and in a lot of fan theories. In this interview, we will take a closer look at what the Dark Mark really means to the fans and why it still captures our imagination more than twenty years after the book first came out.

Question O1:: In your opinion, why did JK Rowling choose a skull and snake for the Dark Mark?

Question O2:: If you had to provide an alternative to the particular skull and snake, what would it be and why?

Question O3:: What do you think the branding of followers with the Dark Mark says about Voldemort’s leadership style?

Question O4:: How has the Dark Mark been portrayed differently in the books versus the films?

Question O5:: If you could ask JK Rowling one question about the Dark Mark what would it be and why?

Question O6:: Can someone be redeemed after bearing such a powerful symbol of darkness? What does the series suggest about the possibility of change?

Question O7:: What lessons—about identity, fear, or resistance—can readers take from the existence and impact of the Dark Mark in the story?

–answers by irene

O1:: The dark mark really is one of the most iconic and haunting symbols in the whole series. It is so deeply tied to fear, loyalty, and control, and the fact that it’s still being reinterpreted by fans today says a lot. The dark mark is something I think about often. and to answer your question, I think JK Rowling chose the snake and skull for the dark mark because they both represent fear and death, which fits the death eaters perfectly. The skull obviously symbolizes death, and the snake has always been associated with danger, deception, and dark magic— especially since Voldemort can talk to them. it also ties in with slytherin’s symbol, reinforcing the connection between him and salazar slytherin. Overall, it’s a terrifying image meant to strike fear, and it definitely does that.

O2:: This is gonna be a little unhinged. but we're talking about the dark mark, so, I’d go with a symbol of a hollowed-out infant cradled in skeletal hands, with black moths flying out of its chest cavity. Here, the infant represents lost innocence— completely twisted by the idea that Voldemort and his followers kill without mercy, even the most defenseless. The skeletal hands show death’s grip, exactly like how there’s no escaping it once you’re marked. and the black moths? They symbolize transformation and the spreading of darkness— like the way Voldemort's ideology infects everything it touches. It wouldn't just scare people, it’d haunt them.

O3:: Branding his followers with the dark mark says everything about Voldemort's leadership style. It's rooted in control, fear, and complete ownership. He doesn’t ask for loyalty; he demands it, and then marks your body as proof. The dark mark is not just a symbol— it’s a tether. With it, he can summon you, track you, and remind you that your body, your choices belong to him now. It's cult-like, dehumanizing, and symbolic of how Voldemort strips his followers of individuality. It reflects Voldemort's need for absolute dominance— a perfect visual for someone who sees every member as nothing more than tools to further his own power. The dark mark strips them of autonomy and replaces it with fear-fueled obedience. And by marking their skin, he turns their bodies into extensions of his will— living proof that they belong to him.

O4:: For me, in the books, the dark mark feels much more haunting and symbolic. It's not just a visual— it’s deeply psychological. Do you get it? the way it appears in the sky after murders, or how it burns on death eaters’ arms when voldemort calls them, gives it this looming, ritualistic weight. It is a constant reminder of fear, death, and control.

Whereas in the films, though, it’s more of a dramatic visual. It's still powerful, but a bit more aestheticized— like the swirling green smoke in the sky looks cool, but doesn’t quite hit the same chilling, emotional impact that the books build up. the sense of dread, the internal panic the characters feel– it's much heavier on the page than on screen.

O5:: If I could ask jk rowling one question about the dark mark, i'd love to ask:

“Was the pain of the mark meant to reflect the emotional toll of following Voldemort, or was it just a practical summoning tool?"

Because honestly, there’s something poetic (and horrifying) about the idea that everytime Voldemort calls them, it hurts. like a physical reminder that choosing him comes with constant suffering— no matter how loyal they are. I'd love to know if that symbolism was intentional or just a side effect of magical mechanics.

O6:: Honestly, redemption after bearing the dark mark feels possible in theory. but in practice, the series shows just how isolating and brutal that path really is. The dark mark isn't just a symbol of darkness. It's a curse that follows long after you stop believing in what it stood for. You can leave the cause, but the cause never really leaves you.

Snape spends his life haunted by it, defined by a single desperate choice. and even when he dies, he’s never truly free. Draco is still a teenager when he's dragged into it, and the fear in his eyes says everything. he didn't want it but it was burned into him.

The series suggests that change is possible, but it never really comes with peace. It comes with guilt, loss, and a kind of...loneliness that lingers forever. the dark mark doesn’t fade and neither do the consequences.

O7:: The dark mark teaches us that identity can be stolen, reshaped or branded by fear. but it can also be reclaimed. It shows how easy it is to fall into darkness when you're desperate to belong, and how terrifying it is to realize— too late— what you've become a part of. But fear doesn't have to win. Resistance can be quiet, trembling, full of doubt and still be real.

It is a symbol that strips people of their names and replaces them with a cause. it doesn’t shout, it whispers: promises of power, of purpose, of being chosen. and by the time you see the truth, it's too late. You're already marked, already changed.

Some people spend their whole lives trying to scrub a symbol off their skin, when what they truly need is to reclaim who they were before the darkness touched them. not everyone escapes it. not everyone survives it. but those who do, the ones who carry the weight and still choose not to sink— they're proof that even in a world built on fear, there's still room for defiance.

because the most powerful resistance isn't loud. it's the quiet, relentless refusal to let the mark define you.

–answers by axel

O1:: I think she chose it because the stereotypical meaning in many ways is a skull, which matches because of the title “Death Eater” for those who receive the mark. I think she added the snake because of the Slytherin house, considering the fact that the Death Eaters are Slytherin’s. It could also be a representation of Voldemort. As we know, Nagini is a snake and the dark mark has been known to be used for summoning Voldemort.

O2:: I would recommend maybe the elder wand, since it symbolizes power and in the wrong hands it is dangerous. If i could i would keep the snake, but specifically a basilisk as that was a major part to slytherin house and tom riddle.

O3:: I think it shows that he enjoys power and possession! Oftentimes we see people get couple tattoos, and in a way it’s similar to the dark mark being a permanent tattoo and symbol of someone which shows voldemort almost likes to have a “claim” on them. It also shows that he’s extremely dominant and that his followers are willing to do anything, even get a mark that signifies such an evil person.

O4:: I think they definitely showed more of it in the films, but in my opinion the way the book describes it is intriguing. I think JK Rowling did a good job at painting the visualization through her words, but the films for me really just gave me a visual to connect it to.

O5:: I would definitely ask her what inspired her to create the dark mark. Obviously it’s a symbol of power for the death eaters but I would like to know what gave her the idea to make it a mark specifically v.s. a ring, bracelet, etc!

O6:: I think it’s definitely more circumstantial whether or not someone could be redeemed. I believe that if a character such as Draco who was forced to the evil, could have redemption. He just didn’t want to die, and therefore he couldn’t refuse the dark mark and that isn’t his fault, it was the family he was born into. I think the series suggests that people can change, as we see Draco later at the end with a family and he seems happy. I think in general though, the idea of change depends on the character and what led them to bear that symbol.

O7:: In the Harry Potter series, fear and identity can affect many who either have the dark mark or were born to a dark family. We see all of these traits in characters such as Draco malfoy, he didn’t want the dark mark but his identity was determined by his father, he was scared of getting killed, yet he wanted to resist and make it out. This shows that the dark mark is a serious honor and once you are in it, it is nearly impossible to escape that lifestyle. Readers can also connect the dark mark to real life themes of identity and fear due to governmental laws based on racial identity, or sexual orientation/identity.

–answers by rio

O1:: The dark mark, as dark as it sounds, if you look closely at the mark itself, the attention to detail on it is fascinating. Why do I feel so? It is because every object drawn in the mark instills some kind of fear.

The skull is the universal symbol of danger and death which fits with the dark lord's obsession with power and his willingness to use violence to achieve his goals.

The snake is often depicted as betrayal and corruption therefore they align well with the death eaters who use the art of treachery to harm others.

The skull and the snake together acts as an intimidating imagery for anyone who sees it. They the power of Voldemort and how evil he can be if they get on the wrong side of his robe.

Therefore in my opinion, the points I have mentioned above seem to be a logical explanation on why JK Rowling's use of the skull and snake for the dark mark created an ominous emblem that effectively represents the dark lord and his followers' dark ideology.

O2:: Hmmm, since I read a lot of fantasy and if HP was made during this generation, I'd see a design of the dark mark as a skull wearing a black thorn crown with a snake twisted around the skull.

Though it might have looked over the top but feel this would have been alright (though the original is irreplaceable).

The crown represents power, authority and also aligns with Voldemort's ideology of dominance and control.

The skull would represent the same death and corruption. The thorns, the dark magic stemming in the roots of the ones following his ideology. The snake his followers.

O3:: The first point would definitely be control. Branding is like a watermark, if it's used on a human or even an object, it declares the object or person to be the servant or property of the owner.

By branding his followers, he's ensuring loyalty and intimidation which also shows that he's relying on coercion rather than going for genuine loyalty. The dark mark will serve as a constant reminder to the death eater's allegiance to the dark lord.

The branding also signifies commitment that Voldemort expects from his followers to carry out certain tasks for him. If they fail to assist him, there would be severe consequences.

I can come to the conclusion that Voldemort follows a fear based leadership style which is dependent more on coercion than genuine trust. He prioritises control and dominance and eliminates anyone at his convenience. He's not much of a leader at all with these kinds of qualities. Therefore his downfall was inevitable and satisfying.

O4:: Before I go ahead and explain how different it is, movies and books will have a slightly different representation of a scene, imagery, object etc. It looks good on the screen and viewers can enjoy the live version of something they had only created in their imagination while reading the books.

In the books the dark mark is a symbol of loyalty, allegiance and respect to the dark lord. As far as I can , the mark can change its appearance if it senses the dark lord is near or having uncontrollable emotions like anger, hatred etc.

In the movies, the dark mark when cast onto the sky, gives a glow and shows movement. It is a tattoo-like symbol etched on the left forearm of the bearer. Voldemort can even manipulate the tattoo to his liking and probably can also use it as a source of communication.

The books focus more on the symbolism of the dark mark whereas the movies focus on the visually appealing liberty for the viewers, making it more  fascinating and a type of cool aesthetic for the death eaters.

O5:: I believe I'd ask her how the dark mark functions. Yes we all know what it does, its effects and vice versa but we do not know what kind of magical qualities it has to be able to be used as a means of communication for the dark lord and a means of identification for the death eaters.

I would ask this specific question because I would like to know the insights of the dark power present in the wizarding world and also how the dark lord channels his energy.

Does it bind a death eater's soul to the mark so that they'll think twice about betraying the dark lord? or is it only just sheer fear? Her answers would shed light on these aspects of  the dark mark.

O6:: Yes absolutely! The series suggested that people bearing the dark mark can change if they want to. The dark mark is a brand which will stick to those certain characters till the end of time, a constant reminder of the past but they are capable of change.

For example, Severus Snape and Regulus Black. Snape, a complex character, despite being a death eater he used this opportunity to redeem himself to be a protector for Harry.

The series emphasizes on the power of love and sacrifice, personal growth and forgiveness, that change is possible and individuals can work towards redemption with enough hope, self-reflection and dedication.

O7:: The identity of the Dark Mark signifies the type of choices a reader makes and how much they are able to handle ability in the future. It also involves loyalty. Will they continue to commit evil acts in the name of “loyalty,” or will they engage in self-reflection and gain the ability to question blind faith and assess the true importance of loyalty?

Fear can be a tool of control, but if the reader chooses, they can overcome it by showing courage, bravery, and self-trust, just like the golden and silver trios and many other heroic characters in the story.

Resisting oppression by standing up to a pitiful excuse for a leader like Voldemort, and demonstrating the power of unity and solidarity, is one of the most powerful lessons a reader can apply to the real world.

Readers can absolutely take meaningful lessons from the dark mark and apply them to their human experiences in everyday life, encouraging them to reflect on their own values and choices throughout the various stages we’ve just discussed.

–answers by lily

O1:: The snake is known to the symbols of the house of Slytherin, Voldemort’s Hogwarts House; the skull can be interpreted as a reminder of Death, something the Dark Lord has defeated with the creation of the seven Horcruxes.

O2:: Should I provide an alternative image, I would suggest something connected with Prometheus, the one that gifted men with fire and knowledge and was unjustly punished by Zeus because of the god’s fear to be dethroned.

O3:: I see it as Orwell’s big brother: a reminder that the Dark Lord is ALWAYS watching.

O4:: In the books, the Dark Mark tattoo is a magical brand on Death Eaters’ left forearms that burns and darkens when Voldemort summons them, causing intense pain. In the films, it appears as a static black tattoo that slightly changes when activated, but the pain and magical intensity are downplayed or not shown, making it seem more like a visual identifier than a powerful magical connection.

O5:: I would be curious to know if the spell that Voldemort created in order to honour its followers with the Dark Mark can also be used with other symbols. Just out of curiosity.

O6::  Yes, the *Harry Potter* series suggests that redemption is possible, even for those marked by darkness. Characters like **Severus Snape**—a former Death Eater with the Dark Mark—demonstrates that people can change and seek to atone for past wrongs. Though he carried the symbol of Voldemort’s cause, Snape's actions, especially his protection of Harry and sacrifice for the greater good, reveal that a person's choices define them more than their past affiliations. The series emphasizes themes of **free will, remorse, and redemption**, showing that while the Dark Mark is a symbol of evil, it doesn't permanently define a person if they choose a different path.

O7:: The Dark Mark teaches readers powerful lessons about **identity, fear, and resistance**. As a symbol of terror and allegiance to Voldemort, it shows how fear can be used to control and silence others. Yet, its presence also highlights the courage it takes to **resist evil**, even when marked by it. Characters like Snape and even reluctant participants like Regulus Black show that identity is not fixed by a symbol or past choices—**true identity is shaped by one’s actions and values**. The fear the Dark Mark inspires serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up against oppression, and that resistance often begins with small, brave choices in the face of overwhelming darkness.

–answers by peri

O1:: Both skulls and snakes are sort of dark symbols (I love them but to general society, they’re evil/death/dark), the snake because they’re dangerous, venomous and lethal most of the time

And skulls represent part of a skeleton or death, which is morbid in itself. And Voldie lowkey looks like a skeleton anyway, and he’s trying to escape death and mortality

O2:: Probably some sort of symbol that represents purity or magic, maybe even runes in some form

I mean if I was going to make my own dark mark I’d make it white, that symbolises purity and also looks cool as fuck I think, it’d be ethereal. But that obviously veers away from ‘dark’ mark

O3:: He’s obviously all about control, he needs to feel superior to others and that’s another way of him doing that

He can summon them through it and a myriad of other things I’m sure sooo yeah just another way to control

O4:: In the films the dark marks are not really explored as much in depth as in the books. Like it was mainly just a tattoo. In the books there was more weight to it, it was something to fear and you see Snape’s guilt and Draco’s reluctance too it

O5:: I wanna know what else Voldemort can do with it, like through fanfiction there are so many possibilities and I’d just love to hear what she imagines

O6:: For example, I love Draco and I believe he was forced into it rather than willingly taking it. He was a child and all the negative influences around him pushed him towards it, but he still came out on top. Giving Harry his wand. Smiling at Harry on the platform 17 years later.

But at the same time I don’t think the death eaters fully know what’s expected of them when they take the mark. Like they don’t know what they’re properly g up for so maybe they are able to be redeemed

Like Snape did his fair share of redemption, Dumbledore put him through the wringer and he obviously switched sides.

I have a headcanons that it sort of changes you in a way, dulls your positive emotions, enhances your negative ones sooo you gotta fight hard to redeem yourself

I know that

Draco’s definitely capable of change, we don’t get to see that as much as I would like but I believe its possible

They portray Snape so negatively though, that even though he’s a double agent, he’s seen as evil the majority of the way through the series which affects the viewers opinions of him. Some see him as irredeemable and that he won’t change cause he’s just a dick to these kids

O7:: The dark mark is used to sort of strip them of their individuality and identity and it teaches us that some choices have big consequences.

It’s used to deliver fear, it’s a symbol of fear in the books when people see it but we see that it can be resisted

𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗚 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗔

Origin of the Dark Mark

The Dark Mark was the symbol for the Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. It was introduced during Voldemort’s rise to power in the First Wizarding War (around 1970s) by Voldemort himself. It has a skull with a serpent emerging from its mouth as skull represents the dark side and the serpent represent Voldemort's Parselmouth.

Purpose and Use

It started to serve as a magical brand and signal. It was cast into the sky above the places where the Death Eaters would murder someone. Mostly it's used to strike fear into the people of the Wizarding World. Not only that, a the mark was also branded onto the inner left forearms of all the Death Eaters.

Magical Properties

The mark on the forearm burns and darkens as they use it to summon their Dark Lord. And only Voldemort could activate all the marks at once to summon the death eaters to where he wants.

Death Eater Loyalty Symbol

It also acted as loyalty and servitude to Voldemort as it's seen as a badge of honor among the Death Eaters. So, the fading of the mark after Voldemort’s death was very symbolic as well.

Disappearance and Reappearance

So, after Voldemort’s first defeat, the mark faded and lost power but it stayed there as a scar. But when Voldemort returned in Goblet of Fire, the mark regained its dark power and reappeared fully.

Aftermath and Legacy

But after the Second Wizarding War, the mark faded again permanently. It just became a symbol of shame and fear rather than power anymore. Some former Death Eaters, like Draco Malfoy, reportedly carried the faded mark as a reminder of their past as it was never fully gone.

𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗔

Time taken: 40 mins

Psd used: Warm nights psd

Apps and Webs used: PicsArt, Photopea

Description:

I've used the dark mark tattoo in the centre as the main focus of the moodboard. I wanted to put all the death eaters possible in the moodboard but too many people pictures were crowding the whole edit. So instead I just adjusted and put pictures of Snape, Malfoy, Bellatrix and Narcissa. For the rest, I added aesthetic pictures of the dementors, death eater mask, chamber of secrets door and the dark mark in the sky. Added my watermark and used the warm nights psd to finish it up.

Picture credits: Pinterest

𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗕𝗬 𝗞𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗡

1. Sketch

I wanted to do a perspective drawing of the iconic dark mark, So decided on drawing the snake coming out of the skull from a side profile! I drew quite a lot of skeletons over the years so that was easy enough, but the curving snake body took me a while to figure out till i was satisfied.

2. Lineart

My favorite part of any piece. The stylized line work. I used a chalk brush because i like to draw with different textures to give the piece more personality.

3. Color

After laying down the flat colors and adjusting them to my liking i went over it with more textured brushes to do the shading and add grain. I use an inkbrush to cross-hatch the shading with a darker color on top of the base, and add as much shade or highlights as i see fit. I didnt want to leave the snake body too flat so went over it with different texture effects.

4. Finished

After the subject was done i thought i'd try to fill in the blank spaces aswell with an outdoor background. Stale grass and starry sky. I usually dont do backgrounds so im not very good at it but i'm satisfied with how it turned out either way.

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘

helloo all! was very excited for our first edition "dark mark". when i heard about the topic, i knew i HAD to go for draco hbp era. and harry. who believed draco had gotten the dark mark. well, ive been experimenting with pixel themes as well as different kinds of themes these days, and i liked these two quite well :smirk_cat: :smirk_cat: :bangbang:

𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗢

welp, that wraps up our very first edition! we all had so much fun working on this, and everyone did incredible! make sure to send lots of love to everyone in the comments, as they worked very hard on everything! I hope you all enjoyed this edition, and we'll be back soon with edition 2! ♡

blog organized by hails

cover photo by aurora