Better Than Cookies {COMPLETE}

A/N- Some of you reviewers are hilarious. No, we cannot simply shoot Bella. *amused look*
Enjoy.
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“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry fumed, finally turning away from Ron to look at the opposite wall of the living room.

“Is everything ok in here?” Remus voice floated into the room from where the werewolf stood in the doorway. He wore a slightly peeved expression and avoided looking in Ron’s direction, an obvious sign that, with his well-developed hearing, he had heard every word of their argument.

Harry turned to face him, trying to keep the depth of his anger off his face. Ron had, with a single sentence, completely destroyed their friendship. He was unsure if he wanted to cry or scream. Remus made the decision for him by pinning Ron with an artic glare.

“I need to speak with Harry alone, Mr. Weasley.” His normally friendly tone was completely absent as his words came out in a harsh growl. “I think it would be best if you left.” He tipped his head in the direction of the fireplace and watched as the tall redhead stalked over to it.

Without a word of apology to Harry or a backward glance, Ron flooed back to The Borough. The moment he was gone, Harry expelled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and the past few minutes came to the front of his mind. A warm hand closed on his shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze.

“Harry?” Remus moved up to stand in front of him. His sad, amber eyes silently begged to ease his internal anguish.

Harry let out a sound halfway between a sob and a curse and launched himself at Remus. “Did…did you hear what…what he said…” Harry asked between ragged breaths. His entire body shuddered violently and his stomach cramped, threatening to expel the small amount of food he had ingested.

“I heard him, Harry.” Remus murmured in a soothing tone, patting Harry’s back.

Unable to hear past the ringing in his ears, Harry continued speaking as if Remus hadn’t spoken. “He said he could never be friends with a worthless orphan whore.” Harry choked the moment the slur left his mouth and gagged, his knees giving out.

Remus quickly moved toward the couch. Sitting Harry down beside him, he shook him gently by the shoulders. Harry continued to simply stare straight ahead. “Harry. Harry, you need to listen to me.” When he continued to stare unseeing at a point just over Remus’ shoulder, he began to worry. “Harry!”

“What’s if he’s right…” Harry mumbled as if talking to himself.

“He’s not. Harry, you need to listen to me. You’ve been through a lot in these past few months and you need to understand that none of this was your fault. Harry! Harry!” Remus wrapped his arms around Harry’s waist as the slim boy slid from the couch in a dead faint.

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“I told him the truth.” Ron stood in the middle of the living room staring at Hermione’s angry stance.

“I didn’t ask about your skewed opinion, I asked what you said to him?” She glared at the redhead in disgust. “To think,” she spat, “I actually liked you.” With that she turned on her heel and strode toward the fireplace. As she reached into the pot of floo power, Ron’s hand closed over her wrist and jerked her around roughly.

“Just where do you think you’re going?” He grabbed her shoulders and shook her until her head snapped back. “You’re going to choose that little ponce over me?” As if he was offended by the very thought, he threw her to the threadbare carpet. “You know he’s gone dark, Hermione. How else do you explain him acting as that muggle’s fucktoy.” He sneered down at her horrified face. “You would choose that over me?”

Hermione rose into a crouch. “If you believe Harry had anything to do with what happened, you are a bigger fool than I thought you were, Ronald Weasley. Further more, I love Harry as a brother, nothing more, and I would choose him over you any day.” She raised her chin defiantly.

“Bloody whore!” He leapt on her, his larger body pressing hers into the floor.

Hermione felt her spine grind against the hard floor and struggled to shove him off. “Get off me you daft bastard.” She wiggled until her knee slid between his legs. With one hard upward jerk, she buried her knee in his crotch, shoving at his chest with her hands.

Ron rolled off her with a wounded yelp. “Bitch,” he screamed between gasps as he clutched his privates. “I’ll kill you! I swear to Merlin I’ll kill you!” Tears streamed down his face giving him a crazed appearance.

Hermione quickly rose to her knees, fishing her wand out of her pocket. She gave him a dark glare and raised her wand. “No, Mr. Weasley, you won’t. Obliviate.” She watched his eyes go unfocused with no small amount of satisfaction.

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Voldemort stared at the sea of white masks, deaf to the report his second in command was giving. After his name was spoken in a voice that echoed around the hall, he turned to Lucius with narrowed eyes. Luckily for the blonde, the room was empty of everyone but the inner circle, Lucius having dismissed them moments before.

“My lord. Your attention was visibly waning during the meeting. I know I don’t have to tell you how important it is that the troops know you are completely in control. Yourself, included.” Lucius ducked his head respectfully.

Voldemort glared but his wand hand didn’t so much as twitch. “You are correct,” he swept his inner circle with a sharp eye, “you don’t have to tell me.” He allowed his lips to twitch upwards into a smirk. “Now…” he turned his attention to the dark-eyed gaze of his potion’s master. “Ssseverus, it has come to my attention the potion is finished. Is this correct?” At the man’s nod, he graced the small group with a smile. “Lovely. Let’s not dally then. I want the boy as soon a possible. Bella.” He turned his eyes to the dark-haired witch. “I am disappointed in your lack of foresight. The Diagon Alley attack should have been a success but,” he scowled, “you somehow managed to be outthought by a mere slip of a girl-”

“In Bella’s defense, Ms. Granger is the top of her class. A very bright witch,” Severus’ voice interrupted the Dark Lord’s tirade.

Voldemort slowly turned his head to pin the man with a furious glare. “Sssseverus! When I want your opinion I will ask you for it,” he snapped. The man gave him a slight bow of the head and stood silently watching the argument, a spark of amusement in his eyes.

“Hermione slipped an emergency port key into his pocket while I was distracted.” Her voice came out with a slight whine and her lower lip thrust out in a pout. “Clever little witch.” She smiled for a moment before she appeared to realize what she was doing and scowled.

“Indeed,” Voldemort murmured, watching her face for any show of emotion. He finally jerked his eyes away to look at Lucius and the Lestrange brothers. “Organize an attack on the ministry. I want Dumbledore and his precious Order focused there. Greyback, I will trust you with the responsibility of procuring Harry.” He stood to walk down the steps. At the base, he turned to Greyback, “Bring that godfather of his while your at it. I think he may come in handy.” Voldemort’s smile was wicked as he swept from the room.

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“Remus,” Harry whispered into the darkness. When no reply was forthcoming, he stepped further into the other man’s bedroom. Quietly closing the door behind him, he crept toward the side of the bed where Remus’ head was just visible above the covers. “Remus,” he whispered again. The werewolf came awake with a jerk, grabbing Harry’s hand and jerking him forward. Harry lay face down on the bed breathing hard and trying not to whimper at the knee in his back.

“Harry?” The hands instantly released him. “Harry, what are you doing here?” Remus sighed tiredly. “You should be sleeping. There’s an Order meeting tomorrow and I’m sure you will be asked to attend.” He suddenly seemed to realize, Harry wasn’t replying. “Harry?” He flipped him over.

“Remus. I’m sorry I woke you but I have to…” He frowned and glanced around the room as if looking for spies. Seemingly content they were alone, he met Remus’ eyes with his intense gaze. “I’ve been having feelings.”

For a long moment, Remus simply stared at him uncomprehending. “Feelings…,” he repeated. When Harry widened his eyes dramatically and waved his hand vaguely in the direction of his crotch, Remus got it. “Oh! Feelings. Right.” He shifted into a position to better see the boy’s face in the dark. “You want to talk about it.” He saw a small movement and took it as a nod. “Right. Is this the first time you have felt these feelings? Not around puberty?” He saw another small movement and nodded somberly. “I see. What in particular is bothering you?”

Harry made a small sound in his throat before he finally got any words out. “I think I like…guys.” He finished with a whisper.

Remus fought the urge to laugh, knowing Harry would be mortified. “I see. Is this a new development?” Again there was a movement from Harry. “You have been thinking about this for a while then?” He got a quiet affirmative from Harry. “What exactly brought this on?” Harry mumbled something even his keen hearing couldn’t pick up. “What was that?”

“I saw you after your shower,” Harry mumbled again a little louder. He peeked up to see Remus simply looking at him in amusement.

“I see. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Harry.” Harry visibly relaxed and Remus smiled. “Was there anything else?”

“No,” Harry said in a considerably brighter tone.

“Best if we go to sleep then, hmmm?” He watched Harry climb off the bed and walk to the door.

“Remus,” Harry paused to look back at him.

“Yes?”

“Thanks for not making me feel like a freak.” He gave Remus a grin and left the room.

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