A/N: So this is a fic that suddenly hit me and I had to write it. It's going to focus mainly and James and Al and their relationship as brothers but also how they relate to others. I am hoping to find a beta reader so this first chapter might be rough since I betaed it myself.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or things associated with it.

Nothing But a Stranger

Chapter 1

Al always thought he knew his brother. He knew his brother was an expert Quidditch player who loved pranks. He was sarcastic, laid back flirt who held the world in the palm in his hands. His favorite thing was himself and he didn't know the meaning of the word "no". At least that was who Al thought his brother was and it was a shock to find out how horribly wrong he was.

Only four days ago James Potter had been found barely conscious on the floor of his bedroom; beside him was an empty bottle and blood leaked from his mouth and nose. Teddy had been the one who found him after he had been asked to check up on James when James didn't make an appearance at the Burrow for the family vacation. He had promised his mother he would be there but he needed to tie some things up at home, when he was late Ginny got annoyed and told Teddy to get James. Everyone was sure the boy was either goofing off or got distracted. The family never suspected he would be found toeing the line between life and death.

It was needless to say the vacation was canceled while James was rushed to the hospital. The first two days were a blind blur as the healers worked quickly to save James. The administered a potion that would purge James of whatever he had taken but it made him violently ill. For forty-eight hours he laid in a hospital bed vomiting and shivering. An adult was always with him but they didn't let any of the kids see him. The only way Al got any information on the status of his brother was by eavesdropping on whispered conversations between adults. The words "failed suicide" sent a shiver down his spine and brought about the feelings of confusion and anger.

Al couldn't understand how his brother could ever want to commit suicide. He had the perfect life. Everyone at Hogwarts loved him. He was captain of the Quidditch team and had no lack of friends. Girls made it no secret that a good majority of them found him dreamy and boys looked up to him, wanting to be like him. The media loved James, one paper declared him to be one of the most promising upcoming wizards and he had been featured on a list that declared him to be one of the hottest young wizards. It was no secret that several professional Quidditch leagues wanted James when he graduated. He was a Prefect and everyone was confident he would be Head Boy as well. Everything came so easily to James and he always looked so happy. Al couldn't remember the last time he saw James without a sarcastic smirk plastered on his face. Someone like James simply didn't commit suicide.

He almost didn't believe it. For three days he thought the adults were mistaken. That maybe this had been a prank gone wrong or his brother had been poisoned. But then on the forth day he was finally allowed to see his brother and Al knew the adults had to be right. He almost didn't recognize the boy who sat in the hospital bed.

James was as pale as the sheets he rested on and he did not smile. He sat propped up in bed his eyes started forward into nothingness. He did not acknowledge Al or Lily when they came in. His grim face was frozen into a frown and his eyes were dark and blank. He had not spoken since he had been admitted to St. Mungo's and barely ate. If Al hadn't know better he would have thought his brother's soul had been sucked out by a Dementor. It hurt Al to see his brother like this.

Lily was the first to take action. She ran to James's side and took his hand in hers. She had tears in her eyes but she said nothing. Instead she took his hand and flipped it as she placed something in his palm. It was a piece of chocolate, one of James's favorites. She closed his fingers around it and James's head jerked down to look at it and then at Lily.

"Thanks Lil'" His voice was barely above a whisper and it cracked horribly. The healers had warned his voice would be off. The potion James took tore up his insides and the vomiting would have brought more damage. It would hurt him to talk.

"No problem, Jamie." Lily sniffed not able to keep the tears from falling. She had always been close to James and Al suspected this whole ordeal hit her hard. Part of Al was angry with James for making their sister cry. Part of Al was jealous that the person to make their brother finally talk was their sister.

Al took this moment to step forward. James looked at him but made no movement to talk. Al never really knew how to define his relationship with his brother. If he was honest he knew they didn't have the closest relationship. Al was always of the opinion that James was a little too pompous. Besides Al often fell victim to the pranks James pulled. Al would never say he didn't love his brother. Of coarse he loved his brother; he simply didn't always like his brother.

So when Al locked eyes with his brother he couldn't stop the words that tumbled out of his mouth. He couldn't help but let every thought and opinion to tumble form his mind and off his lips. He ignored his father's reminder to be gentle with his broken brother. He spoke and found he couldn't stop even though he could see his words hurt his brother.

"Why did you do it? Why are you so selfish! Do you know how much you hurt mum and dad? You made them cry! You made Lily cry! Are you really so full of yourself that you can't see how your actions effect those around you? Or do you like the attention?" Al wanted to stop these accusations that flew from his mouth but he found he couldn't. They kept coming until Al felt a stinging slap hit his cheek.

It had been Lily who hit him and he had never seen such fury in her eyes. He had been so lost in his words that he did not hear his brother's sobs, his brother who had collapsed into a small, shivering ball. Al felt a stab of guilt through his heart and tried to mutter an apology but it was too late. Al was being escorted out of the room while his mum and Lily tried to calm a broken James.

Al had no idea what had come over him in that moment. He was never one to be cruel or hurtful. When he looked into the surprised and disappointed eyes of his father Al knew there was something he had to do to fix this. He needed to make it up to his brother and his family.