Harry and Draco, brothers (BOOK 1)

Chapter 7

The Potter household became one of silence and tension. The tension in the manor was so thick and sharp the least act, the least insult, would set hell loose.
    It had been a whole week since Draco stayed in the household with the Potters. And that week was hell upon hell upon hell. Draco ignored the Potters. That is, he locked himself in the room he'd been given, which was the one next to Harry's, and stayed in there. He never stepped out of the room for he saw no reason to. His pride has been tarnished and destroyed. He could only imagine what would happen if someone, anyone, realized where he was and who he was living with.
    He never dinned with the Potters. Whether breakfast, lunch, supper, he stayed shut up in his room. Lily and James, understanding what he was going through and why, let him be. Harry, on the other hand, thought it was suspicious that Malfoy never came down. He was planning something, that's for sure. Bur what?
    'Harry, leave him alone.' Lily told Harry on the second Monday of Draco's stay at the manor.
    'No, we cannot leave him alone.' Harry said firmly. 'Mom, you do not leave a Malfoy alone in a room. It is dangerous. He can attack us at anytime.'
    'Harry, if he wanted to attack us, he'd have done that already.' James added. 'Leave the kid alone.'
    'But...' Harry stopped, realizing he was getting nowhere. He instead sighed in annoyance and went to his room.
    But even as he went to his room, James and Lily actually thought through of their son's words.
    'I - I think tomorrow we should invite him for breakfast.' James suggested.
    Lily nodded in agreement.
    So the next day Lily and James woke up quite early and, with the help of the house elves, prepared all sorts of food for breakfast. Harry woke at his usual time, that is seven in the morning. He went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and went down for breakfast. He was hit with the smell of the various food placed on the dinning table. His mouth watered and his stomach growled.
    'Whoa,' Harry asked suspiciously. 'What's happening? Is the Minister of Magic coming here?'
    'We wish,' Lily answered, then she  kissed Harry's cheek when he came closer to her. 'Just normal breakfast?'
    'Normal? You do know some will be spared.' Harry told them.
    'Oh no, they will all be eaten.' James stated, setting down a bowl of roasted chicken nuggets on a table.
    'Well, then, it's a good thing I came with an empty stomach.' Harry said and Lily and James laughed.
    Before long they were settled and ready. 'Okay, let's eat.' Harry said and moved to take a piece of sandwich.
    'Wait, honey.' Lily said and Harry redrew his hand, though slowly and in confusion.
    'The guest isn't here yet.' Lily announced. Then she turned to James. James got up from his seat and went up the stairs.
    Harry understood instantly. He turned to his mom. 'Mom, no.'
    'Yes. We thought about what you said last night and, well, we thought it was a good idea.'
    'Not when I am around. Mom, come -'
    'Shh, darling.' Lily said.
    Draco, on the other hand, had been eavesdropping from his room, listening to the conversation downstairs.
    They think they're smart, he thought. There is no way that I'm going to sit and eat with them. Not today, nor ever.
    Draco, upon hearing James' footsteps, hurried to his bed and laid down. Then he coveted himself with the bedsheet and pretended to be asleep.
    James knocked on the door. 'Malfoy, open up.'
    Draco didn't respond.
    'Malfoy, open the door.' James called again.
    Again Draco ignored him. There was a sigh from behind the door and suddenly the door opened on its own. This shocked Draco so much, he sat up, confused, forgetting to look like he just woke up. He didn't understand why James hadn't ignored him. Normally that trick worked.
    What he didn't know was, James was an Animagus and, with the stag animal, he could the faintest sounds. He'd heard Draco rush to his bed. And he wasn't exactly quiet too.
    James stepped into the room and junped in shock.
    He was surprised by how thin and gaunt the boy looked. His skin was white and pale. His ribs were on display. Oh my...
    'Malfoy, get out of bed and come for breakfast. Now. Not a request.'
    Draco frowned so deeply. 'No.' Then he rolled over.
    'Malfoy,' James sighed. 'I understand what you're going through right now. I understand you want nothing to do with us, but - I am adding please - come down and eat with us.'
    This did not move Draco one bit. He only laid in the bed, ignoring the man. James sighed agained. It was pointless. He couldn't force the boy to do anything. Not after what had happened to him. Things tragic as his take time to heal.
    He stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door.
    Draco, on the other hand, was fuming. How dare he come and talk to him? That Blood Traitor. Ugh! No way was he going to eat anything from that table. He'd not eaten anything served to him for the past week. Whenever he was served, he poured the food down the toilet in his room and flushed it. I will not eat anything that Mudblood gives me, he had told himself.
    Suddenly Draco's stomach growled, signalling that he was very hungry and that he needed to eat. He wanted so bad to eat but his pride kept him on his bed.
    James, on the other hand, went downstairs, still shocked out of his mind at how thin the blonde boy had become.
    The worry was still on his face because Lily asked, 'Anything the problem?'
    'Died in his sleep, hopefully.' Harry muttered under his breath, but that didn't go unnoticed.
    'Books in the library should be arranged properly as punishment.' James said sternly.
    'But, Dad!' Harry complained but James ignored him.
    'We'll save some for him another time.' James said.