Dark Marks

[leahsm2]

I understand that the Dark Mark is used to summon followers, and I would assume that the threat of the Dark Lord's wrath is the impetus for the Death Eaters to come running, but if a Death Eater chose to ignore the summons of a fully empowered Voldemort would there be any tracing mechanism in place to find the miscreant Death Eater? I am assuming before Voldemort infiltrated the ministry.

[shadolily]

I'm thinking it does, because otherwise the disobeying death eater would be simply impossible to find. IMpossible. I don't think they ever mention that in the books, or I would go look it up. :D

[mudbloodproud]

I am not sure there is a way to trace a non-answering Death Eater. Remember, Karkoloff didn't answer the summons to the graveyard. He instead fled and went into hiding. He lasted almost a year before being found and killed. If Voldemort could have traced him, he wouldn't have lasted so long.

[la_vie_boheme]

Well, Karkaroff was able to hide for a year, so I'm not sure. If there actually was a tracking device, I'm not sure how he would have been able to do that for a year, no matter how clever he was or how unexpected it was.

[bluexroses]

Well, I wouldn't say it was impossible. Voldemort has spies and informants everywhere, but I agree it would be difficult. Karkaroff runs away in GoF, but they do find him eventually right? When Sirius was talking about Regulus, I believe something was mentioned about how a dissenting Death Eater couldn't hide for very long before Voldemort (or other Death Eaters) found/killed them. I'm thinking that there must be some sort of tracing mechanism, but it may not be completely accurate or immediate. It probably wouldn't be as instantaneous as something like the Trace because that was Ministry controlled.

~Ayesha

[Great beirniny]

I think that there isn't a trace with a Dark Mark. Regulus and Karkaroff were able to hide for a year or so before Voldemort found them. When a deatheater disobeys Voldemort other Deatheaters probably rat him or her out. Voldemort can also just blackmail the Deatheater or question his family until he comes back.

[Snape's Talon]

But there is a link inherent to the Dark Mark. Not only can Voldemort summon his followers, but they can call him with it (DH - Carrows). The Mark works both ways.

Now, obviously it requires some sort of spell to trigger it. Otherwise every time, say, Lucius Malfoy, takes a bath and washes his forearm, Voldie doesn't get accidently summoned.

*snorts at amusing mental image of Lucius in a bath and Voldemort popping in*

That being said, I would imagine there might be enough residual or lingering magic for Voldemort to eventually track it. Might not be easy or perhaps is time consuming, but he might be able to direct other followers to a general area if the target goes to ground for a period of time. If Karkaroff was on the move constantly, it could explain why he lasted a year.

Just an idea.

[leahsm2]

I thought there had to be some form of trace involved simply because the threat of the other Death Eaters, while a big threat is considerably less of a threat than Voldemort would be if you mess up, but for the most part the Death Eaters show up anyway. But, one of the more elder Death Eaters would more than likely be savvy enough to have figured out the mechanism behind the mark, don't you think. At least enough to make running seem survivable.

[Elmindreda]

There was a discussion of how the Dark Mark may work here: {Voldemort's Mark} (http://fanfiction.mugglenet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17575)

The idea I personally settled for after that discussion was blood-magic related. It requires further study, but the main gist of the idea is like this. When a DE is branded with the Mark, some part of Voldemort - his essense, his conscience, if you like - is placed into the very blood of the person being branded. Remember that the Mark is placed on the inner forearm - quite conveniently above some veins, which would let the magic from the Mark "seep" into the blood easier than otherwise.

As for the effect of that presence - I once described it as a link not strong enough for remote Legilimency or, Merlin forbid, possession (as in the case of Harry), but strong enough to tie all DE to Voldemort, as if by a giant intangible web. In terms of tracing, it would mean that it is not possible directly, but it would be somewhat easier for Voldemort to find a DE than some other person.

My theory and I are also in agreement with Sandy here:
I would imagine there might be enough residual or lingering magic for Voldemort to eventually track it

[leahsm2]

Thanks, Elimindreda. I actually read that thread yesterday, and didn't see this portion covered in that discussion, so I started this one because I had some lingering doubts. Probably still do, but, that would be me!

Edit: I mean doubts about my character's chances of survival, not in the information given, which was extremely helpful!

[Snape's Talon]

It would be interesting as to whether or not a Dark Mark can be removed and if that would improve a person's chances of survival.

[leahsm2]

I thought of that, too but I don't think my character has the umm. . . Magical eptness(?)
to be able to pull that off, so I sort of discounted it, but that is interesting. Although, I could be wrong. . .

[Lola-Louisa]

Wouldn't Essence of Dittany work?
After all, it is just a burn, and it sorts Ron out after he gets splinched.

However, thinking about it, it makes Voldemort look stupid and we all know he isn't.

I think the Dark Mark only allows Voldemort to find you if you intentionally summon him. I mean, imagine someone accidentally brushing your arm and Voldemort turns up? Or when you're in bed? I think Voldemort would have to put up some defences against that.

But then JK contradicts herself in DH when Amycus Carrow says he'll tell Voldemort the kids pressed Alecto's Dark Mark.

Hmm, it's difficult, but from the whole Karkaroff thing, I think it's plausible that he can only find you when you summon him.

Hope this helps. x

[JOHN91043353]

It would be interesting as to whether or not a Dark Mark can be removed and if that would improve a person's chances of survival.

I doubt the dark mark can be removed. If it was possible to remove it why didn't DEs like the Malfoys remove it when they thought Voldemort was dead? Also I think JKR said something about it in a chat - that the dark marks would never go away but eventually they'd only become scars.

I don't think Voldemort can trace the DEs unless they summon him with the mark, and if they were trying to hide from him, why would they do that?

Now, obviously it requires some sort of spell to trigger it. Otherwise every time, say, Lucius Malfoy, takes a bath and washes his forearm, Voldie doesn't get accidently summoned.

I don't have my books with me, but if I'm not mistaken, in the Malfoy Manor chapter Bellatrix uses her wand to press the mark. I can be wrong about this though.

MvH Johan

[Snape's Talon]

Well if you can't remove it (and Muggle methods of erasing tattoos won't work) , what about cutting off the offending limb? As grotesque as that might sound, it could be a viable option - desperate situations call for desperate measures, and all that. If there is a lingering trace in the Mark, then it would lead Voldemort/DE's to your severed limb and not you ... provided you recovered and got the heck out of dodge.

And while I like the image of Bella holding up an arm and being outraged at the deception *snickers*, the idea of perhaps using equally dark magic to transfer the Mark to another (an innocent) is also intriguing. It would probably require extensive knowledge of dark magic.

On second thought, perhaps limb removal would be best ... ;)

[h_vic]

Well if you can't remove it (and Muggle methods of erasing tattoos won't work) , what about cutting off the offending limb?

I guess that depends on whether the magic is in the Mark itself or whether it permeates the whole body. If the magic stays localised in the Mark then removing the limb, or even just excising sufficient skin, ought to work, but if it flows out of the Mark to 'infect' the rest of the body and the Mark is only the physical representation of the magic rather than actually housing the magic then even amputation didn't ought to be sufficient.

~Hannah

[Rushia]

Well, I'm not sure if it would infect the whole body. Or if it did, if the magic in the rest of the body wouldn't drain out once the Mark was physically removed. We have several references to the direct Mark having a very physical relationship with the arm {that almost sounds dirty....}, like it "burning" when Voldemort summons them {and I believe when they summon Voldemort as well}. The magic clearly is focused in the Mark itself, and without that physical representation to "tie down" the magic, if you will, then I don't think they would be able to be traced. I think that the magic would still sort of linger in the actual Mark but slowly fade away as the limb decays. As for the magic in the person, without the Mark to pump the magic through them {a rather grotesque version of a heart, kinda}, I think it would slowly fade away, and they would no longer be tied to it or traceable.

And Sandy, you make me giggle so much. *hugs*

~ Lucia, one half of The Ladies of the Silver Diadem

[MC Kair]

I don't think that the Dark Mark itself can be traced because, as everyone else said, Karakoff was hiding for over a year. I think when Sirius said that once your a Death Eater it's either life long service or death, he meant that if you desert the Dark Lord he would tell the other Death Eaters to keep an eye out for you. In other words all of his followers would be on lookout for you, or any trace of you, and since the Voldemort has a lot of followers, it would not be very long before they find you.

-Hope that helped :)

[Snape's Talon]

I would tend to disagree. With the spells and potions available, one should be able to hide him or herself for quite some time if the Dark Mark didn't have some sort of tracing mechanism. Otherwise, wouldn't be rather easy to disguise oneself? Just use a portkey to some distant land, and then take Polyjuice Potion to hide among Muggles.

Karakoff might have been frightened, but I can't imagine him as being so dimwitted not to think of this. However, if the Dark Mark could be traced, well then, no amount of hiding or disguise would work.

[leahsm2]

I would think that there would have to be a "spreading" effect from the initial area of the Dark Mark throughout the system, also, especially since the person who came up with the idea loves blood and soul magic. The Dark Lord trusts no one and doesn't really need anyone except to solidify his power, so this is a good way to mark his "sheep" as his, and keep them within bounds.