Don't own.. Don't sue.. If'n I did.. I would be backpacking through Europe... looking for my own potion master....

Everyday, Ron Weasley stops at Starbucks and buys his usual morning coffee. Then walks three blocks, picks up three chocolate fudge muffins at Mama Molly's. From there he continues his daily trek to Liberty Avenue.

He passes throught Crescent Moon Cafe, waves at Giovanni and steps through the barrier. As Ron walks along the shopping district, he glances at the construction as he does everyday since it started, when he sees the sign.

Coming Soon: Flourish and Blotts Superstore.

"Oh Bloody Hell!" and walks off in a daze.

Harry and Hermione are unpacking textbooks when Ron enters the store. "Morning", he mumbles, looking at his longtime friends meaningfully.

"What? Do I have ink on my face?" Hermione asks as Ron continues to look at her.

"Outside."

"What's outside?"

"A sign."

Hermione rolls her eyes in frustration. "And..."

"Come look," he says as he walks out the door. Harry and Hermione follow behind.

"Oh Bloody Hell!!" They chorus together.

"Quel nightmare, " Hermione moans.

"It has nothing to do with us. It's big, impersonal, overstocked and full of ignorant salespeople," Harry stated using his hands gesturing at the construction site.

"But they discount," Ron stated.

"But they don't provide any service. We do."

Ron and Hermione nod in agreement.

Later on in the day, Harry is in his apartment unloading groceries and spelling them to their places in the kitchen, listening to Draco.

"When you're finished with Flourish and Blotts, the Shop Around The Corner is going to be responsible for reversing the entire course of the Industrial Revolution."

Harry steps out of the kitchen smiling, "That is so nice, Draco. Thank you. "

Holding out his arms, "Hey...."

Harry steps into Draco's arms and they hug. "Although...."

"What?"

Over Draco's shoulder, he notices a typewriter, breaks from the hug. "What is that doing there?"

Excited, Draco pulls Harry over to the table. "Listen to it. Just listen....." He strikes a key, practically swooning.

Harry cocks an eyebrow up at his lover's antics, asking himself if he should be worried.

"The Olympia Report deluxe Electric Report. As in Gunshot. "

"That sound is familar."

"Now listen to this." Draco puts his ear to the typewriter.

Harry listens too, "That whirring?"

"The gentle and soothing lullably of a piece of machinery so perfect...."

"I know where I've heard it before. I know." Harry whips a cover off the other typewriter on the table. It's the same machine exactly.

"I needed backup."

"Don't you have another one at your appartment?"

"I might. I might. So what?"

"You're turning my appartment into a typewriter museum."

"I'll stop. I'll try. I probably can't. I see one and my knees go weak."

"Are you sure you're not related to Ron's Dad? He goes crazy over muggle gadgets?"

Draco glared at Harry, "That's not funny, Harry. Anyway, what were you starting to say?"

"When?"

"Before."

"Nothing."

"Come on."

Harry looked down at his hands for a moment, before looking back at Draco. "I don't know. I was just wandering about my work and all. I mean, what is it I do exactly? All I really do is run a bookstore....."

"All you really do is this incredibly noble thing..."

Harry nods, "But I don't know if I...

"Harry..."

"But I just..."

"You are a lone reed."

Harry looks puzzled.

Draco sits down at the table, sticks a piece of paper in the typewriter, and starts typing. "You are a lone reed standing strong and tall in the corrupt sands of commerce." He whips the piece of paper out of the typewriter and hands it to Harry.

"I am a lone reed." Repeats. "I am a lone reed." Clutching the piece of paper, Harry wanders off.

Later on that evening, Harry is sitting at his desk, looking out at the window at the street below, lost in thought.

To: PtnMstr

From: SntchSkr

Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well not small, but circumscribed. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or beca use I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So Goodnight, Dear Void.

tbc....

A/N: Yes it's late REAL late.. but honest.. i've been working on transferring Care plans to the new computer at work for the past month. I'm the only nerd that works there they told me over and over..... All i've been doing is keeping up with new chapters on my fave authors and a horrendeus toothache..( got some good drugs).

Forgive me for the lateness of this chapter.. I'm already working on the next chapter... and back to my regular hours at work...

thank you for all who have reviewed..