Harry and Draco, brothers (BOOK 1)

Chapter 13

'Guys, we have waited too long enough. We will go and buy your school books today.' James announced.
    'No problem.' Draco said, not raising his head from the book he  was reading.
    'So let's get ready. And we'll be staying in the Leaky Cauldron as well for the night.' James added.
    Both Harry and James raised their head up. 'Why?' They asked in unison.
    James started to smile but not in a cheerful way. 'Because it is closer to King Cross Station.'
    'We can use the Floo from thr house to King Cross.' Harry suggested.
    'No, no, no, kid.' James stated. 'Just get off your butts and go and start packing for tomorrow.'
    'Okay?' Harry responded and James walked away. Then the two boys looked to each other and said in unison, 'He's hiding something.'
    'Wow, never thought you were that observant, Malfoy.' Harry commented.
    'What do you mean?' Malfoy frowned.
    'There must be something going on. We have never stayed at the Leaky Cauldron before school before.' Harry told his friend.
    Draco eyed Harry suspicious. 'Potter, I know that look.'
    Harry's expression suddenly became blank. 'What look?'
    'That look. It says I want to know what it is. Potter, certain things are not meant for us to hear. This is one of them.' Draco told him.
    But Harry was not hearing that. 'Lately Dad has not been coming early either.' Then an idea came into his head. 'Do - do you think it is because of Sirius Black?'
    Draco, who had been sipping a cup of tea, spat out everything in his mouth out of shock.
    'Are you mad? Do not mention his name, Potter!' Draco said, terrified.
    'What? Also scared of that name? I'm not mentioning, Vol -'
    'Don't you dare speak his name.' Draco ssid, now angry. 'Oh, why am I stuck with you? You drive me crazy.'
    Harry only grinned. 'That's what friends do, mon ami.'
    Later in the morning, by ten, the family were done packing and ready to leave.
    'Okay, so...' James said, reaching for the small pot of ash.
    'Draco, are you sure you don't want to others to know of you and us?' Lily asked the boy.
    'Very sure, ma'am.' Draco said firmly. Even though he and Harry were chill and friends, he was not ready for other people to know of the relationship he had with the Potters. People will talk. Most importantly, Potter might loose his own best friends because of this. He knew Potter would defend and protect him if people spoke ill about him and Draco. And Draco was not ready for that kind of stress. He already had a lot on his plate. That is why the other day he and Potter had their very own meeting:
    'Potter, I am not ready to display pur friendship out in the world.' He had told him.
    'And why?' Harry asked.
    'You're in Gryffindor and I'm in Slytherin?'
    'And I am to care how?'
    Draco smiled but Harry could see sarcasm in it. 'Oh, are you telling me you will talk to the Slytherins and become friends with them -?'
    'Of course not. Except you.' Harry said.
    'Well, I am not ready to talk to any Gryffindor but the point is, once we're in school we should go back to how we were before - arch-nemsises.'
    'And what will we achievre from this?'
    'Are you not listening? If we talk nicely and there is no hostility, people will become suspicious. Soon someone will find out we are friends. No doubt Granger will find out.'
    'But there is nothing wrong with that, is there?' Harry asked.
    'Potter, I, unlike you, take my time when it comes to emotional problems. Look at how long it took before I told you what happened to my parents.' Draco told him.
    Harry nodded in understanding. 'Well, I'll try. I have totally forgotten how to hate you but we'll see.'
    Draco nodded.

'Draco?' Said Lily, pulling him out if his mind.
    He looked up. Lily was holding the a handful of ash in her hand. James and Harry were gone.
    Lily poured the ash in his hand and he walked into the fireplace.
    'Leaky Cauldron.' Draco shouted and poured the ash. Thr flames engulfed him. He closed and opened his eyes and found himself in the Leaky Cauldron.

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