Harry and Draco, brothers (BOOK 1)

Chapter 9

Harry grumbled in annoyance as he scrubbed the tiles of the washroom on the fifteenth room on the second floor of the manor. That was his punishment for talking out of turn during breakfast two days ago. The punishments were in three folds - the first, being to sweep the whole manor with a single broom and dustpan, no magic required. The second was clean ever single glass material or tool in the manor until they sparkled shiny (and they were a lot in the manor) and the last was scrubbing all the washrooms on the first and second floor. He'd managed to fnish the first punishment, that one was done the other day. Now he decided to do the scrubbing. The glass cleaning, though will be a difficult task, had to be saved for last because it was less tiring than the cleaning of the glass.
    Harry wiped his face and sat down to relax. 'What a way to begin my vacation.'
    'What a way indeed.' Said a voice. Harry turned. James stood at the door of the bathroom, leaning by the wall with his arms folded.
    'What you did the other day was not a characteristic I taught my son.' James said, stepping into the bathroom.
    'Again, I am sorry.' Said Harry for the billionth time.
    'Sorry does not cut it short, Harry.' James said.
    'Why, though?' Harry asked.
    'Because just saying 'sorry' -'
    'No, not that. Why now? Upon any other day, month, year, why now that he is brought to this house? And why us in the first place?' Harry asked his dad.
    'I have no idea, Harry.' James said.
    'Something is up, isn't it?' Harry said, looking at his father's face with suspicion.
    Sometimes James forgot that Harry was his son and that certain things were not easily hidden from his son.
    Nonetheless, he kept his face void of any suspicion. 'Look, kid, what is happening is none of your concern. What should be your concern is how you and Draco Malfoy will come to speaking terms.'
    Harry looked up at his Dad with a horrified expression. 'Speak. With. Malfoy? You do realize telling me this is basically in comparison to you telling me to talk to talk to Dudley but in a very bad way.'
    'Oh come on, it cannot be that bad.' James said.
    'Right. Then how about I let Mom call Snape so the two of you talk over tea.' Harry said, grinning questioningly.
    'Okay, there is a difference between Snape and I and you and Draco. Big difference.'
    'I do not see any difference, Dad. In fact, we're all totally the same. You and I come from Gryffindor and they come from Slytherin.'
    'And it ends there.' James intoned. 'I mean, what bad thing could he possibly do?'
    'He called Mom and Hermione Mudbloods.' Harry exclaimed.
    'Harry, Severus and I never got the chance to become...friends. But you and Draco have the chance. Make use of it. Because there is no way that I am going to let you and Malfoy destroy the peace in this house for two whole months.'
    James got up. 'Finish this and continue to the next room, after you can be done for today.'
    'Yes, Dad.' Harry responded. James left.
    Harry scrubbed some more but he had put it in his head that there was no way he will ever talk to Draco. Then to talk of becoming friends with him. Not now. Not ever.