Three more days passed, and we were at least allowed to hear how the order planned to collect Harry, and to meet a number of the members, though we couldn't discuss what we'd heard in the meetings. They were going to use brooms, as every other method of transport would be too risky. A large number of people offered to attend unsurprisingly, as most of them had never met Harry before. In the end it was decided that Mad Eye, Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, Sturgis, Emmeline Vance and Dedalus Diggle would be part of what was called "The Advance Guard". Hestia Jones would also attend, and Demelza and I were ecstatic to learn that she was the sister of Gwenog Jones, our favorite professional Quidditch player! She said she would gladly set up a meet and greet for us when the time was right!

Ron, Fred, George and Amy widely mocked and teased us for our fangirling, but we didn't care, meeting her would be a dream come true! On the fourth day after Harry was attacked, Mum surprised me by saying that I would be allowed to go into Muggle London if I wanted, but only with Dad's supervision. I was perfectly happy to accept this offer, as I knew Dad would be fascinated by the concept of tattoos. Demelza and Amy would accompany me. Hermione found the nearest parlour, which had some spaces available to be booked that evening. I was therefore booked in for 7pm, and although Hermione wanted to get her own tattoo, she said that Harry would be arriving that evening. Keen though I was to see Harry, I needed to get it done that evening as the parlour was booked up for the rest of the week.

So, at 6:30pm, Demelza, Amy, Dad and I left Grimmauld Place to head there.

"I've got a booking under the name Ginny Weasley for 7pm" I said to the receptionist.

"Sure, let me have a look" she replied "Did you book by phone or in person?"

"By phone" though it was Hermione who had actually done it.

"Yep, got you listed her, you'll be with artist Smith, who's just setting up. If you want to sit over there for about 10 minutes or so, he'll come out when he's ready"

"So am I right in saying that you're about to get something permanently inked onto your skin?" Dad asked.

"Yes" I said

"And they use, oh what do you call them, uh needbles?"

"Needles" Demelza corrected, smirking "though these are probably mechanical in some way"

Soon enough, the "artist" came out of a room beside the reception desk and said "Ginny Weasley?"

He looked like he was in his early 20s, with dark blonde hair and really powerful, shiny blue eyes. He was tall and thin, about 6 foot 2 by my guess, and he walked in a slightly unusual manner, with his left arm moving and not his right. His left foot was also slightly bigger than his right. The four of us stood up and made for him, but he said "only the person being tattooed can join me in the room, I'm afraid"

"Why" said Dad, suddenly suspicious, "that's my daughter, I think I have a right to be in there with her"

"Sir, if there was any danger of me harming her, would I even be in this job? Why would I do something like that in a public place where she could easily make shouts for help?"

"You could gag her as soon as you close the door for all I know"

"Sir, if you continue to make unfounded assumptions of our staff, then I'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave!" said the receptionist.

I looked at Dad and said calmly "It'll be fine, don't worry"

"I'll always worry, Ginny" Dad replied

"Come on Mr Weasley, Ginny can handle this" said Amy, and Demelza nodded encouragingly.

"This could take a couple hours by the way" Smith said

Dad sat back down alongside them, and I entered the room with Smith.

"So, Miss Weasley, my name is Daniel Smith, how can I help you today?"

I'd like to get this on my cheek please, handing him a photo. I had used a stillness charm and ensured the picture was taken very close up to the Hippogriffs arse, so that the Muggle doing this wouldn't get suspicious.

"Seriously?" he said, laughing

"Yeah, I, uh, lost a bet" I replied, biting my lip in embarrassment.

"That makes sense then. Believe it or not, we've had a fair few clients do such things. It's very brave, because unless you're rich, this is permanent. You'll likely have it on your cheek for the rest of your life. Are you sure you want to go through with it?"

I bit my lip, now hesitant. There were many people who didn't know about the bet, including the majority of the order, and almost everyone at Hogwarts. Mum appeared to have somehow known, and what would she and Harry say if they saw that I actually went through with it? What would everyone else say? Was I prepared to look like this forever? And what about if I achieved my dream of going pro in Quidditch? But then I thought that I was probably overthinking things, and I did make a bet at the end of the day. You're supposed to fulfill your bets, and I intended to do so here. Ron probably thought I would chicken out anyway. I wasn't going to let him have that particular satisfaction.

"Yes" I eventually told him.

He had me lie down on a reclining seat similar to the one Hermione's parents used in their dental clinic. Then, he had me relax as much as I possibly could.

"What's your pain tolerance like?" he said

"Pretty high" I replied "I play Qui-football". Nice save there, Ginny, nice save. "I'm a striker so I'm often fouled, which means I get hurt fairly regularly"

"Facial injuries aren't particularly common in football, although they do happen, and your face is one of your most sensitive parts, but you said you'll do it so here we go!"

He produced a mechanical needle which he switched on, and I knew right away that this would not be a pleasant experience. I chewed my lip as hard as I could to avoid making any noise, and when the needle hit my skin my eyes widened and I made some humming sounds out of my throat. I also started moving around a bit.

"You sure you're ok?" Smith asked "I can stop at any time, if it's too much for you just let me know ok?"

I nodded and said "Keep going!"

I was not going to back out!

Eventually though I began to get used to the feeling, and after an hour, it was finished.

"How do I look?" was the first thing I said to Dad, Demelza and Amy when I rejoined them, after paying £135.

"Pretty weird" Amy said

"But I'm sure we'll get used to it"

"You still look wonderful" Dad said, "Muggle art is truly fascinating, this perhaps most of all!"