Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Written for Assignment 5, Travel and Tourism, Task 10. Attempting or having a new beginning.

Pairing - DracoHarry

Word Count - 1646

Beta'd by Grandma Lizzy

Vibrant Pink on Pale Cheeks

The cottage was… quaint.

Draco put his backpack and guitar case down and looked around the small living room. It was clean and bright, and just what he needed. Something new. Something different.

Something to spark his muse.

Smoky Hollow was a small town out in the middle of nowhere, and when he'd first told Blaise, his manager and friend, that he was taking a year out to just relax, Blaise had laughed until he cried. It was only when he noticed Draco wasn't laughing that he realised Draco wasn't joking.

Which… fair.

Draco was probably the last person in the world to want to move to somewhere so out of the way, but after years in the spotlight, he needed a change of pace.

He loved London, would always love London, but just for a moment, he needed peace and quiet.

His last album had sold well; his fanbase were supremely loyal, but Draco couldn't even bare to listen to the music. It was flat, generic, boring.

He needed something fresh.

So. Smoky Hollow.

Draco checked his watch and sighed when he realised he had hours until the moving van would be there with the rest of his things. He glanced at the guitar case and then shook his head, picking the keys up from where he'd put them on the table.

He had time to explore. Besides, the town was so small, it really wouldn't take long.

…

The bell above the door tingled, and Harry looked up from his arrangement to see who had entered his shop.

He didn't recognise the blond hair, but when the man turned, Harry realised who he was. Huh. That was… unexpected.

"Can I help you with anything?" he asked, moving his flowers to the side a little.

The man looked up and blushed, the pink vibrant on his otherwise pale skin. "I'm new to the area. Just… looking around, I guess."

Harry nodded and smiled, turning his attention back to the flowers.

"I'm Draco," the blond said after a moment, stepping nearer to the counter.

Harry looked back up, amused. "I know. I live in the countryside, not under a rock. I'm Harry."

Draco's blush intensified. "I, uh, you're not going to ask why I'm here?"

Harry shook his head. "Wasn't planning on it. Not really my business, is it?"

Draco snorted. "I don't think I've ever met anyone that didn't think they were entitled to know everything about me."

"People around here won't," Harry said. "All people here really care about is that people are nice, and respectful. It's a nice place to live."

"So, the exact opposite of the city, then?"

"I've never lived in a city, but I'll take your word for it."

Draco smiled. "I should go, but… I'll see you around?"

"It's a small town, so I'm sure you will," Harry agreed with a small smile.

…

Draco spent his evening unpacking as he contemplated the small town. It was small, even smaller than he'd expected, but it was certainly functional. Two pubs, one at either end of a long street, a greengrocer, a butcher, a florist, a chemist.

The people seemed nice too. Especially the florist. Harry. Draco was kind of surprised to see a man around his own age arranging flowers. Back in London, he couldn't imagine any of his friends doing that kind of job.

It was refreshingly different.

Once unpacked, Draco took his guitar from its case and set himself up on the patio in the back, plucking the strings. He hadn't been there for twenty four hours yet, and already cords and words were spinning in his mind, ideas arriving faster than he could keep up with.

Smoky Hollow had been a good decision.

…

Harry removed the leather jacket and put it on the stool before he sat down. Hannah smiled at him from behind the bar and a moment later, placed his usual in front of him. Moments later, Hermione arrived and sat on the stool beside him.

"Hey you," she greeted, leaning over to kiss his cheeks. "Heard the news?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Draco Malfoy's arrival?"

Hermione nodded. "Uh huh. Have you met him?"

"Briefly," Harry replied. "He came into the shop earlier, said he was exploring."

"What did you think?" she asked, accepting the drink Hannah put in front of her with a smile.

Harry shrugged. "He's got a pretty adorable blush."

Hermione giggled.

"Evening folks," George chimed as he and his brothers, Ron, Percy and Bill entered the bar, swarming them quickly. "How is everyone?"

They fell into conversation, and Harry settled in for an evening of chatter with his friends. He couldn't help but wonder about Draco though, and what he was spending his evening doing.

…

Three weeks into his new life in Smoky Hollow, Draco had almost an album's worth of new material. He wouldn't use it all, of course, but the music was flowing from him like it hadn't for years and his inspiration was at an all time high.

He was, though, missing human interaction. He spoke with Blaise often on the phone, but he still felt the absence of someone there in person to talk to.

Deciding to venture out to the pub, he grabbed a jacket and locked the cottage door behind him. It was only a five minute walk, which he was grateful for because the evenings were getting colder and colder as the last tendrils of summer faded away.

Entering the pub, he found it already half full. He was surprised to see so many people around his age; he'd expected there to be more people of an… advanced age. At least, that was what town pubs always seemed like on the tv.

He ordered a drink from the pretty blonde barmaid and took a seat on one of the few remaining stools. He could feel eyes on him, and he couldn't help but feel a little awkward, so he pulled his phone from his pocket and opened up his twitter feed.

"You can join us, you know?"

Draco looked up to see Harry.

"We won't bite," Harry added. "Well. Unless you ask really nicely."

Draco felt his cheeks heat, but he smirked. "I prefer to be on the other side of the begging, actually."

Harry quirked an eyebrow, but then nodded to his group of friends. "Come and join us. They're a rowdy bunch, but they're nice people, I promise."

Draco picked his drink up and stashed his phone back in his pocket. "Lead the way."

…

Harry saw Draco before the blond saw him. He'd been out delivering flowers, and Draco seemed to just be wandering. He had headphones in, and his head was bobbing to whatever he was listening to.

Moment's before it happened, Harry saw the little rock, and he tried to call out in warning. Draco's music must have been too loud though, and he tripped over it, falling to one knee.

Harry walked over to him, and looked down as Draco pulled his headphones off his head.

"You didn't have to literally fall at my feet, you know? Could have just asked me on a date."

Draco looked up, and sure enough, his cheeks were red with embarrassment. Harry offered a hand to help him up, and he took it without hesitation.

"You okay?" Harry asked.

"Apart from my ego, I'm fine," Draco replied, rolling his eyes at himself. "You didn't have to bring me flowers though."

Harry smiled, pulling a burgundy rose from the bunch on his arm and offered it up. Draco took it, his blush intensified.

"I should get on," Harry murmured, nodding to the house at the bottom of the road. "Mrs Figg gets antsy if I'm late with her flowers."

Draco nodded and stepped around him.

Harry took a few steps and then looked over his shoulder. "I was being serious about asking me on a date, by the way."

…

Draco had a problem.

A big problem.

He played his guitar absently, picking at the strings in a random pattern. He couldn't stop himself from replaying the conversation with Harry.

He wanted to do as the man suggested. A date with Harry sounded perfect, but… he shouldn't. Draco was selfish, and he knew if he had him, he wouldn't ever want to give him up. That said, Smoky Hollow wasn't his long term plan.

He intended to go back to London eventually, to record a new album, maybe do another tour. Living away from that life for a while had given him a new lease for life, but he knew he wouldn't be here forever.

He didn't want to make any promises he couldn't keep, and a date, the possibility of a relationship, probably wasn't the most sensible thing to do.

And yet… Draco had never been known for his wisdom.

And he wanted.

…

The bell tinkled, and Harry looked up to see Draco entering the shop.

"Hey," he greeted. "What are you doing here?"

Draco smiled, leaning on the counter. "Taking your advice."

Harry blinked. "Advice?"

"Go on a date with me?"

Harry was surprised, but pleasantly so, and he smiled. "Love to."

…

2 years later

…

"That was fantastic," Harry said, tugging Draco into a hug as he walked off the stage. "You rocked it out there!"

Draco grinned, still high from his performance and the adulation of the crowd. "Thanks. You enjoyed the show?"

"I always enjoy watching you perform, baby," Harry murmured, grinning at the immediate flush on Draco's cheeks. Even after over two years of them being together, making Draco blush was still his favourite thing.

Draco shook his head. "Why do I put up with you?" he murmured, pressing a kiss to Harry's jaw.

"Because you're an intelligent man who knows what's good for you."

Grinning, Draco nodded. "That must be it."

Written for;

Meet-Cute, Day 3 - Musician [A] arrived in Smoky Hollow, battered suitcase and precious violin in tow, to rediscover his passion for music—not to fall for the town's most eligible bachelor, [B].

Book Club - Katrina Clark - Florist / Selfish / Sensible

Em's Emporium - 1. The absence of something

Angel's Arcade - 14. Impa - Cottage / Wisdom / Playing an instrument

Around The World - 7. Leather Jacket

Mythology - 11. A new town or city

Pop Figure - Spiderman - 1. Adorable / 2. Intelligent / 3. Falling / 4. Backpack

365. 63. Fresh

1000. 939. Burgundy