Reckless Abandon (Drarry)

Chapter 18

"I can't believe he had Snodgrass debating against Whistleton! How was it?" Nathaniel leaned closer to his co-worker, obviously interested in the topic.

Folade just shook her head, her braids slipping to the side with the movement. "Amazing. Whistleton totally had him flustered and sputtering, flipping madly through his notes. It was epic."

Harry carried on to his own desk, and set a mug of tea in front of Ron. "Are they talking about Regina Whistleton, head of the Obliviator department?"

Taking a deep sip of the hot beverage, Ron gave an appreciative hum. "Oh yeah. Everyone's been saying she slayed at the Stormcloud last night."

"And who is Snodgrass?" Harry slumped down in his chair and piled his files to the side.

Ron shrugged, picking up a Priori Incantatem report a specialist had done on a suspect's wand. "Some hot new author. Hermione read his book and has been raving about it. Something about reversing the Secrecy Statute."

As Ron concentrated on his work, Harry looked back towards Nathaniel and Folade, still avidly discussing ideas at the foundation of the modern wizarding world. Young aurors, fresh on the job, who usually discussed Quidditch or relationship issues when they weren't talking about a case.

It wasn't the first time he had encountered this. At the cafe getting his morning coffee, at the pub, picking up groceries, everywhere. Conversations about deeper topics, passionately argued. Students, seniors, mothers walking their young children to school.

A few times a week, there were special events at the Stormcloud Cafe, adjoining Draco's bookstore. Tickets were highly sought after, and the events reported on thoroughly in the newspapers to those who hadn't been fortunate enough to attend in person. Often pitting an author against an expert holding the opposite view.

Michael Corner, a Ravenclaw and former DA member, was said to be running the special events. Slytherin Millicent Bulstrode had even been hired as extra security and crowd control to keep the audience in line.

Harry had found out far too much about the whole operation from these overheard conversations and the articles in the papers. He couldn't keep from reading what was published or walking out of his way to pass the store almost every day.

Pathetic.

It was almost like investigating a case. He had researched everyone involved, watched the store from a distance, kept up with the media. Most surprising was that the store was even busier now than when it had opened. Harry had expected it to be crowded for a week or two, while everyone checked out the novelty, soon to be replaced by the next new thing. But people kept coming back.

Draco had become even more famous, his picture appearing often at Stormcloud events, or going out to hot restaurants and nightclubs. He was being treated like a rock star. The man who had made reading cool again.

Now, it was grating every time Harry heard Draco's name mentioned or saw his pictures. Was this how Draco had felt about Harry in school? Irritated at all the people gushing on and on about him, and seeing all the newspaper mentions? Harry had always put it down to Draco being jealous of the attention, but seeing it from this side, it didn't feel like that.

It wasn't that Harry wanted the attention from people or the press directed back at him, away from Draco. He had been in the spotlight enough for ten lifetimes' worth.

Why did it bug him so much?

Harry just buried himself in his work, just needing to think about something other than Draco.

...

There was something nice about getting up early on the weekend, before everyone else was out. The cafe was quiet, and Harry leisurely ate a scone and sipped a large coffee as he read the paper.