Draco went in search of the tattoo artist as soon as he left Madam Malkin's Robes. The shop was at the end of Diagon Alley, a bit further out than Gringotts. Wormwood Tattoo, read a fancy sign above the curtained window. A bit apprehensive, Draco stepped into the shop.
The smell of cedarwood and cinnamon hit him like a brick. The reception area looked like a waiting room for a doctor's office, accept the walls were covered in graffiti. A black desk stood to one side with a short witch behind it.
"How may we help you today, sir?" she asked brightly, smiling. The moon tattoo on her left cheek shimmered, and a meteor shower began on her right cheek.
"I… uh. I need an old tattoo covered," Draco said nervously. "I'd like it done by Sarah Wormwood?"
"Sarah's booked until December. What are you looking to get covered? We may have another just-as-skilled witch or wizard more available for you!"
In that moment, Draco decided to give zero fucks. He lifted his left sleeve and revealed the Dark Mark on his skin.
"Oh shit…" the witch said softly, before turning and rushing down the hallway behind the desk.
Draco sighed. This was what his life had come to. He had thought that maybe this place would help him, but no. They were just as bad as every other witch and wizard in Diagon Alley.
As he turned to leave, he heard footsteps come up behind him.
"Hey mister!" a playful female voice called out to him. "I was on my lunch break but if you wanna come on back, we can take a look at that ol' ugly Mark of yours. I specialize in that kind of cover-up, y'know!"
Draco turned back to the desk to see a thin, beautiful witch standing in front of him. She had her bright purple and pink hair tied in a messy bun, and she was covered head to toe in moving tattoos. She was smiling at him.
"Just give your name to my receptionist, Dolly."
Dolly peeked out from behind Sarah, then sat back down at the desk.
"Potter," Draco said to them. "Just put down Potter."
"Hey, Doll, we can pretend Harry Potter came to visit us now!" Sarah cackled gleefully before beckoning Draco to follow her down the hallway to the very last room.
"Now, let's see that Mark, hmm?" She sat down and patted the cushy chair next to her.
Taking the seat, Draco rolled up his sleeve again. Sarah inspected it, poking the Mark with her wand a few times before nodding sagely.
"How fresh?"
"Couple of years."
She gave him a wink. "We'll get you covered in no time Mr. Potter."
Draco felt his heart thump at being called Mr. Potter.
"What designs were you thinking? Maybe a dragon? You seem like the dragon type."
"I was thinking… more like some flowers?" Draco looked down, slightly unsure of himself. He hadn't thought of what he would cover his Mark with before.
"Sure thing! How about some lilies? Maybe some roses?" As Sarah spoke, a rough outline of what she was saying appeared on his forearm.
"Uh… How about you pick? Surprise me."
Sarah smiled. "Sure thing, Mr. Potter."
"Oh and uh… Could you add a small Hungarian Horntail? You know, flying around the bouquet?"
"You definitely seem like the dragon type, mister."
…
Draco was in awe of the rapid, sure work that the witch did. After four hours or so, he could hardly see the Dark Mark at all, between the fresh bouquet of his mother's favorite flowers. The Hungarian Horntail nestled in the crook of his elbow, and in awe he tapped it gently and sent the little dragon flying off again.
"How much do I owe you?" he asked at the end.
"Nah, don't worry about it Mr. Potter. We do these things for free y'know."
Dolly looked a little uncomfortable when Draco walked back to the front of the shop.
"When do you close?" he asked quietly.
"Eight o'clock, or nine, depending on who's getting tattooed and when."
Draco hurried to Gringotts, got as many galleons as he could stuff into his Slytherin bag, and ran back to Wormwood Tattoo. Dolly stared at him anxiously.
"Now, Mr. Potter, Sarah already messed up her schedule today for you. You'll have to make an appointment to see her again," she said timidly.
"Of course, we'll do that in a minute," Draco told her. "But she wouldn't let me pay her, so here." He dumped the bag out on the desk, and galleons rattled all over.
"Mr. Potter sir- we can't possibly take this!"
"You folks did me the kindest service I could have been given today. Thank you."
And with that, Draco turned on his heel and walked back to Madam Malkin's.