Shoutout to a person named Tori in one of my fanfic groups for this prompt! I found the screenshot of her prompt in my "prompt document" and was like "YAAAAASSSSS" So here we are! Enjoy!
It started as a fluke. Hermione's scar was itching. She had contemplated for a very long time on whether or not to get it removed. The Healers at St. Mungos had tried in vain to remove it, but it was too cursed to be removed.
Finally, a muggleborn healer exasperatedly suggested she just get it covered up the muggle way with a tattoo if it bothered her that much.
Hermione had sat on the advice for a few weeks, and was wandering muggle London when she stumbled upon a seedy looking Tattoo Parlour named "Draconian Drawings and Tattoos."
She didn't know what brought her in, but the bells on the shop door jingled as she entered.
She found a bored looking receptionist with purple spiky hair sitting at the desk. The girl looked up from her zine and smiled a fake smile at Hermione.
Hermione didn't look like the kind of person to enter a seedy tattoo parlour, but she was desperate at this point.
Every morning and every night, she had to look at that ugly scar on her forearm, and it was draining. It was the worst part of her life, and she couldn't take it anymore.
"Hello. I'm new to this," Hermione said as she approached the desk, "But I need to cover up a scar."
"Where's the scar?" The receptionist asked.
Hermione pushed up her sleeve to reveal the ugly word.
The girl scrunched her face up. "That is, truly, a scar. I won't pry, because I sense that it is sensitive. But we have a few artists here at the parlour. I would personally suggest the owner, Draconian, he's really good with scar cover ups. Warning though, he is pricey."
"Is he in today? Money is not an issue. I'm at my wits end with this scar." Hermione asked, desperation in her voice."
"He will be in at noon to work on books. I can schedule you for a consultation at noon."
Hermione checked her watch. It was eleven in the morning. So she had an hour.
"That works. I have a free day and can dilly dally a bit. Is there a cafe you recommend nearby that I can visit for a pick me up coffee?"
The receptionist nodded, "Yeah, Florence's is up the street. I suggest the caramel macchiato personally. Delicious."
Hermione nodded, "Thank you. I'll see you in an hour then!"
"Oh! What is your name so I can put it in the book?"
Hermione was tempted to give a pseudonym, but decided not to; these people wouldn't know her name, so she would be fine.
"Hermione. Hermione Granger."
The girl scribbled it down on the calendar and thanked her.
Hermione went to the cafe where she ordered what the girl had recommended and it was delicious.
Draco walked into his tattoo shop, "Draconian Drawings and Tattoos," around eleven fifty five.
He had worked hard for many years to make himself unrecognizable since his disappearance from the wizarding world since his trial a year before.
He had covered almost every inch of his visible body with tattoos, focusing heavily on his dark mark. He didn't wish to be recognized. He had connections all over the world that could have helped him disappear, but he didn't want to leave England.
There were floral patterns and sleeves of tattoos up both his arms, a large hungarian horntail was wrapped around his bicep. He had it stunned to keep it from moving around.
Draco had learned the art of tattooing very quickly, and often used his wand in secret to help him.
He waved at Alisha, his receptionist, as he walked in.
"Hey Draconian. A girl came in and booked a consultation for noon. She wants to get this super ugly scar covered up. I recommended you. She seemed almost desperate."
"Name?"
"Hermione Granger. Such a peculiar name."
Draco blanched. He had hidden himself so well, so this was his first test. To hide in plain sight from the Hermione Granger, whom he had tormented all through school. He already knew what scar was being discussed before he even had to see it.
MUDBLOOD.
Carved by his aunt across Hermione's beautiful flesh. In his own home.
He shook his head a tad to clear it out and forced a smile at Alisha.
"Sounds perfect. Hopefully I can help her. I suspect she'll be here soon."
Alisha nodded, "Yeah, I sent her to Florences up the street to wait, so she's probably on her way back right now."
"Wonderful. Send her back when she arrives."
Draco disappeared behind a mauve curtain that led to the tattoo parlour and sat at a chair.
He buried his head in his hands and tried to push away all the memories. But it was in vain.
A few minutes later, the door jingled and Draco sat up.
He heard her familiar voice greet Alisha and the rustle of the curtain as Hermione stepped into the back.
Draco had changed everything about himself. From dying his hair blue, to covering himself with Tattoos. He was completely unrecognizable. He took solace in that fact.
And as he predicted, Hermione didn't recognize him.
"Hello," she said, with an awkward wave.
"Hello," Draco replied, standing up and holding out his hand for her to shake.
She took it and gave a firm shake of his hand, then released.
"So, I hear you have a scar you wish to be covered up. Take a seat please and let me see."
Hermione nodded and did as instructed. She sat and then pushed up her sleeve.
MUDBLOOD screamed at them from her arm.
Draco took her forearm in his hands and resisted the urge to trace his fingers on his shame.
Yes, shame.
He hadn't lifted a finger to help her at the manor. And that is what haunted him most on his sleepless nights.
"If you don't mind, what happened?" He asked, hating himself for lying that he didn't know.
"A madman kidnapped me a few years ago, and carved this nonsensical word in my arm. I don't want to erase my past, but I don't want to relive it every single day." Hermione said smoothly. She had practiced her lie to herself while in the shop and it rolled off her tongue with ease.
Draco nodded, not wanting to tell her that he knew and he was sorry personally.
"Well I'm sorry that happened. I just need to know, what did he use to carve it in? I just need to know what I'm dealing with."
"A poisoned knife. Thankfully I was rescued before the poison killed me."
"Well, I'm glad you're still with us." Draco replied, his mind racing on how to remove the curse. He knew the countercurse, better than the fools at St. Mungos. He knew what curse his aunt had used and how to counter it. It wouldn't be easy hiding his wand from her, but he could solve this; if he didn't perform the countercurse, the ink would just splotch. He'd have to charm his tools he decided.
"Have you put any thought into what you want to cover it up with?"
"I haven't actually. You think that I would have."
"Well, how about something that makes you happy? Flowers, trees, something that brings peace to you?"
"Well, there is a cottage, the first place I went to after my incident. It's called Shell Cottage. What about sea shells?"
Draco smiled, "Perfect. Any in particular?"
"Cockle and conch would be nice."
"Colors?"
"Purple and blue."
"What about some flowers speckled throughout?"
Hermione nodded, "That would be pretty."
Draco grabbed his sketch pad and flipped to a blank page. He started sketching a preliminary design for her.
It was a conch shell, dripping water and some flowers sprouting from the top. Cockle shells dotted the bottom of the conch.
"I can add color to it later, but how does this look?"
Hermione was in awe, "Beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous."
Draco smiled, "Perfect. Now, it will take a few sessions, most likely two, maybe three, depending on your pain tolerance. Let's get you scheduled for your outline. Come on, let's go see Alisha. Prepare to set aside three to four hours of your day okay?"
Hermione nodded, "I can do that. I'm not, unemployed, per say, but my work is here and there. What's the cost?"
Draco pondered for a moment, "Look, due to your story, I feel that resonates with me." He pushed up his sleeve, revealing his dark mark. Only, it was covered with a floral design, "Something similar happened to me, I was young, got involved in a cult, and was branded like cattle. I covered up my shame, yet it is still a part of me. So, I will do this one for no charge. Please, do not argue. Your peace of mind is what is most important to me. So, let's go get you scheduled."
Hermione followed him to the front of the shop, where Alisha found an opening for that upcoming Saturday at one to five.
Hermione didn't know what came over her, but she engulfed "Draconian" in a hug, tears brimming.
"Thank you, I've been living with this bad memory for a long time, and it's finally going to go away."
Draco chuckled and hugged her back, "Absolutely my pleasure."
She left, a new joy in her step.
Alisha looked at Draco quizzically, "You didn't ask for your standard down payment. That difficulty is at least $1,000. What's going on?"
"She's my old nemesis from school, she doesn't recognize me, thank fuck. But I was a complete arse to her, and while she'll hopefully never know it's me, I wish to apologize the best that I can."
Alisha nodded, "Well, as long as your consciousness is cleared, I really don't care."
Draco went to his office, to work on the shop's books, both anticipating and dreading the upcoming Saturday. He just hoped that he could hold up his facade.
Pls Review, Comment, and favorite! Chapter 2 coming soon! Laptop about to die! Must plug in!