Summary: It was a slow day for the new shop owners, but practice was always important to keep their skills sharp.

Rated: T

Genre: General

Warning Tag: References Tattoos; Needles; and Body Modifications/Piercings

Art Comes in Many Forms

It was a slow day at the shop. The downpour of early spring rain in the heart of Seattle didn't deter its residents from wandering out into it. They just weren't interested in checking out the new shop that recently opened and had very little reputation yet. A business that offered body modifications to fellow wixen was more welcoming in the States where magical tattoos weren't completely tainted with the stigma Voldemort wrapped around them during his reign in the United Kingdom. They even worked on the occasional muggle—they didn't discriminate. In fact, they chose a storefront on the outskirts of the magical community in order to serve both worlds their services.

Traveling to the Pacific Northwest was the freedom Harry needed. The burdens of being the hero to an entire country was exhausting to carry long term, and so once he felt that everything he could possibly do for them after the war was done, he allowed Luna to take him far away from it all. It was their dream to take their secretive talents and do more with them, and so they made it happen.

Luna was the true artist, if Harry had any opinion on who was the most gifted. All he did was the piercings, but it was Luna who painted the immaculate images on others bodies. Each one was a masterpiece, even the ones with the fewest colors and movements fascinated him. Of course, the muggles get the non-moving pieces—they weren't completely reckless with their work, after all—but it didn't make them any less spectacular.

She claimed his work required the most precision, which was true when it came to punching holes out of people's skin. Steady and accurate hands were required with acute attention to detail, positioning, and execution. Her work was more forgiving, at least there were ways for magic to reverse the mistakes ink made—even if it was more painful than the actual procedure.

She hummed to herself while flipping through her own portfolio of moving artwork. Luna had her mass of hair piled on top of her head, barely held together in what could pass as a monster of a bun. The baby blue streaks Harry helped dye into it peeked through the blonde locks. It contrasted well with the pale blue dress she wore. He ran a hand through his own hair, revealing the bright red hidden underneath his own dark, unruly locks. Boredom had them experiment with different styles of art, and their hair was always fair game.

Harry had his piercing station fully sanitized and prepped, but he was nervous on how to ask Luna about allowing him to give her yet another piercing. Her ears were already tastefully decorated from the lobe up to the helix. She had left her mark on him as well. The fresh petals she added to the acacia branch he bore on his ribcage still itched—still healing. He personally thought the witch would look amazing with an eyebrow piercing, but piercing the face was very different to just an ear.

"Your hair is doing that unruly mess again," Harry pointed out, pulling her attention away from her work to look his way. "Mind if I tame it for you?"

Luna smiled brightly, absently reaching up to touch her hair before closing the book. "You know I'd never say no to you when it comes to my hair."

Harry stood and stretched, glancing to the window across the way. "I know you're very busy," he teased, stealing a giggle from Luna, "But should we just close up?"

It only took a few minutes to move to the back studio where Harry expertly brushed through Luna's hair. Separating the blue top layer of hair from the rest, he braided the colored hair down the sides of her head and to the center of her back, leaving the blond underneath loose.

"How do you like it?"

Luna took in her appearance at a nearby mirror, a smile splitting across her face as she ran her fingers over the braid. She turned to set silver eyes on Harry.

"I love it." She combed her fingers through her hair then, silently contemplating as Harry cleaned up the loose strands. "What's on your mind, Harry?"

He paused and addressed her briefly. "Nothing. I wanted to thank you for adding the new blooms on my tattoo."

She hummed her thanks, but knew there was more. "You know it is never a problem. There's something else, though."

"I think…" Harry abandoned the broom he grabbed to absently sweep the spotless floor to approach Luna. "I think you'd look quite good with stud piercings here."

He pointed to each outer point of her eyebrows. "Maybe a blue color stone? They'd look great with your eyes and new hair."

"I think I'd like that," Luna agreed, examining her face in the mirror again, brushing her fingers along her browline. "They'd look lovely."

"It might be a little uncomfortable to do, is all. I'd have to cut out a circle of skin from your face," Harry quickly explained, not wanting to spring something like a microdermal piercing on his companion without warning. "The stud has a flat metal piece that hooks and sits inside the skin—"

"I trust you, Harry. I have seen you do them before, and I am flattered you think they'd suit me." Luna placed a gentle hand on his forearm for reassurance.

"You'd look amazing with them," Harry repeated. " You can change out the stud, too."

Luna smiled warmly. "Even better."

It didn't take long for Harry to sterilize the skin before drawing small x's on the sides of Luna's face where the jewelry would be.

"Maybe it'd look better if they were down here more?" Luna pointed around the area beside her eye. "It'd make them look like beauty marks."

Harry gave a nod and cleaned the marks and new location, carefully making sure the x's on each side were aligned with each other. After Luna picked the aquamarine studs Harry recommended, as well as a couple moonstone and sapphire stones for future switch outs. He carefully set to work, focusing keenly on the task with steady hands as he numbed the area with a firm pinch of the skin. He removed the piercing tool from its sterile wrappings before giving the area another good pinch.

"Ready?"

Luna took in a breath and nodded, wary of not making a single move as her companion worked. She kept her blinks slow and steady, and before she knew it, the slight sting on her face was gone as quick as it was felt.

"Easy part is done. This one might hurt a bit more. Sorry." Harry grabbed the scissor-looking tool that held the jewelry with the back facing out. "This slips just inside…"

He grew silent as he quickly took gloved fingers and spread the open wound slightly, using the metal piece to hook in before settling it into place. Luna flinched just slightly at the fast work, but was grateful for it. Knowing what to expect now, she was much calmer for the other side.

Once Harry cleaned up and tended to the new piercings, he offered Luna a hand mirror to critique his work. She turned her head to each side, examining the small jewels that now rested beside her eyes. A smile formed when she looked back to him.

"What do you think?"

"They are beautiful."

"You'll have to wait a while before switching them, but once they are fully healed up you can change them out to your heart's desire," Harry explained. "I think they really compliment your eyes."

"Thank you." Luna helped Harry clean up before she lifted his shirt to inspect her own handiwork.

The two always would have each other for companionship, and to practice their craft on one another when they faced slow days. They treasured the time, because once they became more established in the community, they became quite the popular establishment.

Originally Written For:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

Monthly Challenges for All

The Houses Competition

Word Count: 1,331

Originally Written: July 2018