Better Than Cookies {COMPLETE}

A/N: So, I'm a flake. Sorry, I'm late. Lots of stuff going on... Anyway, I had a lot I thought was going to be in this chapter but it just really didn't want to happen. I can only assume it will be in the next chapter. So, as usual, read and enjoy!
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Three dark figures moved through the shadows. Their cloak hems made only the slightest rustle against the wet leaves. The shop windows of Diagon alley were dark. All save one. The three stood directly across from the brightly lit shop and watched two red-headed men move around the main area. The leader of the group narrowed his eyes, making a sharp slashing movement with his right hand. As one, the two split from him, each going in a different direction.

The light glinted briefly off the highly polished wood of the lead wizards wand, ten the scene turned to mayhem. The figure just to the right of the shop entrance muttered a few syllables. The front window and glass door exploded violently. Shards of glass became murderous weapons with another curse. As the two identical redheads fled the debris, the second figure stepped into the shop.

Taking a quick look around, they pursued the twins to the back room. A voice yelled something indiscernible over the crashing of glass against solid objects. Seconds later another voice yelled, sounding almost identical to the first. A high, cold laugh cut through the noise to reach the two figures outside. The lead wizard smiled coldly seconds before green flashed through the open storeroom doorway. Someone screamed, an agonized sound, before green flashed a final time.

All down the alley it was silence. The cloaked figure strode from the backroom with a small smirk on his face. It was returned by his master. The lead wizard glanced around once before sending the other two a sharp nod. Both hurried toward him, following his retreating form down the street. The shell of the shop sat hauntingly quiet as the owners lay in the back room growing cold.

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VOLDEMORT STRIKES FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF WIZARDS AND WITCHES

The headline screamed the word in bright red, flashing every few seconds to attract even more attention. The house elf stared at the paper for a few beats before the opening of the dining room door announced his time to retreat to the kitchen.

Lucius Malfoy smirked at the quick departure of his house elf. Feeling in particularly high spirits after the events of the night before, he sat in his usual place at the table. After picking up a shining, silver fork and scooping up a forkful of eggs, he reached for the paper. Chewing contentedly, he nearly choked at the front page news.

“Narcissa!”

Completely throwing aside all attempt at decorum he yelled for his wife, the newspaper clutched tightly in his fist. A house elf appeared beside him with an audible pop.

“Lord Malfoy, sir. Lady Malfoy wishes to know what you will be needing, Lord Malfoy, sir.” The tiny elf blinked up at Lucius’ face which was growing redder by the second.

“Tell her it is of utmost importance,” he hissed angrily.

Popping out of existence and then back with Narcissa Malfoy in tow, the tiny elf took one look at the terrifying expression on his lord’s face and vanished.

“Did you see this? Do you know of this? Does our lord know of this? No, of course not.” Lucius fired off a barrage of questions, not even giving his wife a chance to answer before he started for the door.

“Lucius?” Narcissa frowned worriedly at his retreating back. “What is it?”

Lucius paused at the door to turn and look at her. “Someone killed the minister of magic’s children. They are blaming it on our Lord.” He leaned out the door to bellow for his wand before looking at her again. “It will mean war. Truth or not, the light side has a perfect recruiting tool now.” He sighed and flipped his hair back over his shoulder.

“You will go tell our Lord.” Narcissa nodded solemnly.

Lucius nodded. “Yes, but for now, and perhaps the time to come, he will not be my lord. I follow him as my dominant and if this,” he shook the paper, “brings war, so be it.”

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Harry’s eye lashes fluttered faintly. After a few seconds, they opened a inch only to be blinding by too bright light and slam shut again. He scowled and focused on what he could observe with his eyes closed. The surface beneath him was soft and cushioned. Something in the air smelled faintly sweet. His first thought was that the twins had brought him something to try from the shop. The thought didn’t seem quite right.

He shifted on the bed and suddenly noticed the slight rocking of his sleeping surface. With an almost sickening twirl, all the pieces fell into place. He was on the school train. He was returning to Hogwarts. For some reason, it felt like his stomach was trying to force out everything in it.

Harry sat up slowly, one hand pressed against his stomach in an attempt to quiet its fury. Why the thought of Hogwarts school make him sick, he had no clue. Feeling carpet beneath his bare feet and the cushioned seat back behind him, he opened his eyes gingerly.

The sunlight that spilled in the window didn’t seem quite so bright the second time. He spent a minute looking out the train window at the green scenery, trying to pinpoint the train’s progress into the trip. Blinking sleepily at the rolling hills speeding past, he looked away from the window. He smiled at the figure slumped in the seat across from him.

Hermione lay in the seat, arms splayed out on either side of her, snoring softly. Every bump in the tracks made her nod as if affirming some important matter. Harry shook his head and sat back against the seat. Closing his eyes, he could just hear the sound of voices from the compartment next door. A girl’s high pitched giggle made him jump.

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Draco frowned at Crabbe and Goyle in annoyance. “You realized that spell is completely made up. It will never work. You do know that, right?” At their nods, he snorted in disgust and stood. “I’m going to go make my rounds. Do try not to blow up the train.” Seeing the two were no longer listening, he slipped from the compartment and strode down the hall in the direction of Harry Potter’s compartment.

Everyone he passed either scowled at him or shrank away. He smirked. Near Potter’s compartment, the train traffic lessened significantly. Draco frowned over his shoulder and then ahead of him where Potter’s compartment door was just visible. Something was off. He hadn’t been brought up in his family, sorted into Slytherin, and made their prince without being overly Slytherin. That included the ability to sense when something was happening without his permission.

He approached Potter’s door quickly, slipping inside and nearly slamming the door in his haste. He pulled back at the last minute and managed to slide it closed quietly.

“Potter,” he whispered harshly.

“Yes, Malfoy?” Potter’s voice sounded as if it came from directly behind him.

Draco turned to find Potter’s wand less than an inch from his nose. “Potter, now is not the time,” he whispered, managing to sound remarkably like his father.

“Get out, Malfoy.” Potter watched him with cold, green eyes, his wand not even twitching.

Draco opened his mouth to say something scathing as the train came to a sudden, lurching stop.

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Voldemort curled in toward his mates heat only to find the spot empty. His eyes instantly flew open. Scanning the room with his gaze he noticed something that made his eyes darken. Someone else had been in his bedchamber. He closed his eyes and felt for his wards. They were gone, which was impossible.

Loud pounding on his door, drew his attention from the mystery. Illogically he considered the possibility that Harry had gotten locked out and wanted back in. He discarded the half conceived notion immediately. Throwing the covers back dramatically, he padded across the carpet to the door. He assumed the person would at least know his mates whereabouts.

He slowly pulled the door open, careful to let the door obscure his nudity. Lucius stared at him with worried silver eyes. After taking a second to give him a once over, Lucius cleared his throat awkwardly and thrust a wad of paper toward him. Voldemort raised an eyebrow, but took the offered item. Quickly unfolding it, he realized it was a newspaper. A quick glance at the front page and he was cursing fluently in parseltongue tongue.

“How long have you known of this?” Voldemort looked up from the flashing headline to look at his second-in-command and mate.

Lucius frowned. “I got it with breakfast. It’s not true is it?”

Voldemort’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Of course it’s not true.” He looked over his shoulder at the bed and frowned. “Don’t let Harry know. I think it may upset him.” He turned to pin Lucius with a stern glare. “How is he this morning?”

Lucius stared at him in confusion. “My Lord, the house elves tell me he is not in the manor. Did you not send him out with someone?” Lucius took a step back when Voldemort tipped his head to the side and narrowed his eyes.

“What are you trying to tell me, Lucius?” His voice came out as a sibilant hiss. “Are you saying Harry has left the grounds without my permission?”

Lucius bowed his head. “So it would seem. Unless…” He raised his eyes quickly. “It impossible that someone could enter the wards and take him.”

Voldemort turned from his to look around the room again. All of Harry’s clothing was still on the floor where it had fallen the night before. He turned back to look at the blonde.

Lucius took a step back at the fury in the Dark Lord’s eyes.

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A/N: I'm not sure, but I might add more to this chapter or just make the next chapter a bit longer.