Forever, Ginny

much more macho

*THIS SCENE IS FROM THE BOOK WITH A FEW TWEAKS FROM ME MOST RIGHTS GO TO JKROWLING*

Ginny sat on the floor of the common room, her back leaning against Harry's legs, reading the Daily Prophet.

"Six dementor attacks a week and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a hippogriff tattooed across your chest!" She scoffed, but a smirk was playing on her face all the same. She wanted to see if Harry would tell the others. She sat up a bit straight, closed the daily prophet, and turned to face Harry and the group. She put her elbows on Harry's knees and smiled.

Harry didn't mind Romilda and her group's gossip about him and Ginny, he sort of liked the gossip around him. He preferred rumors and gossip about Ginny Weasley being his girlfriend going around rather than The Chosen One floating around every time he walked by.

"Well, what did you tell her?" Harry asked as Ron and Hermione were shaking with laughter.

Ginny grinned, "I told her the truth, a Hungarian Horntail, much more macho."

All four of them burst out laughing, thinking about Romilda Vane and her friends until Ron quieted down and looked at Ginny and Harry thoughtfully. He looked as if he was starting to piece something together. "The truth?"

Harry flushed, "What?"

"Ginny said 'the truth, a Hungarian Horntail'," Ron explained, his eyes wide. Hermione leaned into the conversation, her expression curious as well.

"Do you actually have a tattoo?!"  Ron asked excitedly, making Harru grin awkwardly, giving away the answer. Hermione smirked. She had caught him trying to hide something on his chest a couple weeks ago and she had suspected it was a battle scar from the ministry, so she didn't ever bring it up. Now, she was putting the puzzle pieces together.

Harry sighed, looked at Ginny, who grinned mischievously, and stood up. Looking around to make sure no one was watching him, he pulled off his shirt to reveal his large and very much real Hungarian Horntail dragon tattoo on his chest. It was large, detailed and had its wings spread out, blowing fire that barely reached his left shoulder.

Ron's jaw dropped, his eyes wide and glittering. Hermione gasped and dropped her book, covering her mouth with her hand dramatically. Ginny stared, biting her lip, and Ron swatted her on the head as Ginny ducked away, grinning bashfully. Harry laughed nervously and pulled his shirt back on as well as his tie - he didn't want Ron to explode.

"How on earth did you get them to do that?" Hermione looked shocked, her eyes wide with surprise, "You need to be 18 to get one, or 16 with parental permission to do that!" Hermione questioned, her curiosity peeking in, and Ron looked impressed, not really listening to Hermione speak, "Or at least in the muggle world, and I know the Dursleys would certainly never allow it!" Hermione exclaimed, her face reading shock as well as Ron, who's face also read admiration.

His curiosity, though, was different.

"Did it hurt?" Ron asked excitedly and Hermione smacked him over the head with a book. Harry rolled his eyes and Ginny sensed that she was finally going to get the story as to why and how he got that tattoo. He never specified, usually just dodging the question or changing the subject. She got up from the carpet floor, sat on his lap and curled up into his chest comfortably—much to Ron's dismay—waiting for Harry to start speaking.

"Well," Harry chuckled, his face clearly embarrassed. I—Hermione don't lecture me—it was a rather long and hard day at the Dursleys." Ginny's eyebrows stitched together in concern.

Harry sighed, he had never told anyone this before. "Vernon hit me." Hermione gasped quietly. He continued, looking away from them. "He hit me rather hard on my chest, and gave me a black eye—I didn't actually get hit by Hedwig like I'd told you lot. Anyways, I wasn't feeling the best. So, I sneaked down the stairs and stole a bottle of—"