Harry and Draco, brothers (BOOK 1)

Chapter 8

James told his wife his observation from when he saw Draco.
    'He does not eat, Lily.' James told her. 'I am sure he throws the food away or something.'
    Lily became worried. 'This is serious. I don't think he should be left in his room nowadays. If he won't come on his own accord,' Lily said, fiercely now, 'we will force him.'
    So the next day, once breakfast was ready, James went to the Malfoy's room. He knocked on the door. He didn't get a response but opened the door anyway and entered the room.
    Draco Malfoy was awake by then, standing in front of the window and gazing outside. His blonde hair was all over and close to a white colour. He was still in his pyjamas, a black silk one.
    'Come downstairs and have breakfast. Not a request.' James said firmly and sternly.
    Draco turned to look at James. James nearly jumped. The boy was white as chalk and skinnier than a broomstick. His eyes were hollow woth bags under them. He hadn't been sleeping well.
    'How many times should I tell you no?' He said. 'I am not hungry.'
    His stomach growled suddenly. James' brows went up in a uh-huh way.
    Draco frowned deeply and turned away.
    'Malfoy, you are already not feeling well. And you are on drugs. You haven't eaten in a whole week. How do expect to get better?' James asked the blonde boy.
    'I told you, I am fine. Leave me alone.' Draco snapped.
    James pinched the bridge of his nose to calm himself down. 'Alright, you leave me no choice.'
    That caught Draco's attention. He turned sharply but was not quick enough. James hauled him up and slang him on his back.
    'What? Let me go. Put me down right now!' Draco shouted, hitting James hard with his hands.
    James ignored him for a second because he realized that Draco was light. So awfully light. Like cardboard. Harry was light but Draco's weight was too scary. This boy really needed medical attention. But now, food first.
    James held Draco tightly as he descended the stairs. Harry, sitting at the dinner table, grinned brightly. Oh this was worth telling Ron and Hermione. It's a shame he'd promised to keep this a secret.
    James reached down and dropped the shouting and cursing Draco into a chair. Before he could move or talk again, Lily said, 'Draco, you're thin and sick. You have to eat.'
    'I will not eat anything that has been cooked by you or,' he pointed at James, 'you. And most certainly by him.' He said as he turned slowly to face Harry.
    'Shame. Was ready to poison you.' Harry stated.
    'Harry, no.' Lily snapped. Then the Draco, 'Draco, eat, please. Or you want Severus to know you are not -?'
    'Yes. Yes, tell him. Tell him to come and get me out of here.' Draco shouted. 'I am going crazy. This place is driving me crazy.'
    Harry, watching Draco, started to think. What was wrong with Malfoy? Normally he was the cheeky, arrogant, pretending boy. Whatecer was happening now, Harry realized, was different. Whatever was happening to him must be real - the sickness, the whining more than usual. Or it was all still a fake?
    His parents seemed super worried about him, which put Harry in more difficult position to choose who was lying to who.
    'Honey,' Lily said, reaching for Draco's should. 'It's alright -'
    Draco moved sway sharply and said, 'Don't touch me, Mudblood.'
    Lily closed her eyes slightly, then redrew. Harry, on the other hand, had vexed.
    'Mudblood?' He thundered.
    Draco looked at Harry then grinned. 'Is that not what she is?'
    'She is not one, you stupid -'
    'Harry!' James shouted.
    'Stupid what?' Draco sneered. 'I am the stupid boy? You prancing around and injuring yourself, everyone calling you 'Saint Potter' for doing absolutely nothing in your life? You call me stupid?'
    'Draco!' Lily shouted. 'Enough. Please, eat -'
    'At least I injure myself for something good. What have you done but go and cry to that crazy man you call your father? Speaking of which, where is he these day? Lost in a barn? Oh,' Harry suddenly said, realization dawning on his face. 'That's why you're here? He couldn't stand how much of a disappointment you are so Snape shipped you to me house so we'd take responsibility over you.'
    'Harry!' James shouted.
    'Wow, explains a lot. Your disappointment reeks, Malfoy.' Harry snickered. 'And you know what of? Bad breath and sweaty armpits.'
    'Harry!' Lily shouted.
    By then Draco was shaking. Not in coldness but in rage. He was super angry. 'You foolish Potter!" Then he pounced on Harry. How he managed to get to the other side without anyone seeing was a wonder. The next thing that's happening is the two boys quarreling on the ground.
    Draco was on top of Harry. For a sick guy he was pretty strong. He pinned Harry to the ground and, holding him with one hand, he raised his other hand and punched Harry in the jaw.
    James and Lily were on their feet and rushed over.
    'Don't,' punch, 'talk about,' punch, 'my father,' punch, 'again.' Punch.
    'Draco, come off him.' Lily said, pulling the blonde boy off his son. But Draco clinged tightly to Harry, and giving him as much punches he cpuld muster.
    Harry did not go quietly. He gave Draco a punch in the neck and in the stomach. Draco felt his stomach twist and churnch but he held on and gave the Potter punches of his own.
    Lily and James finally pulled Draco off Harry. James dragged the boy all the way up the stairs and into his bedroom.
    'Draco, I am so sorry for the way Harry behaved.' James apologised.
    Draco huffed in anger. 'Control that deranged son of -'
    'Do not only talk about Harry, you are at fault too.' James said. He waved his wand and a tray of sandwiches and a cup of tea appeared. 'Eat. I will be back. And I want all that gone before I return.' And with that the adult left.
    Draco's face was red and his face was shiny with tears. Then he burst into tears. He hadn't expectex Potter's words to pierce through him like that but they did and it was painful. So painful. Even though Potter didn't know what happened, he couldn't help but think that Potter was right about him. Right about the one thing he'd been telling himself for a week now: he was a disappointment.
    New fresh tears casscaded down his eyes as he knelt down and laid himself on the cold floor and wept.