Listening to Reason – A Harry Potter fanfic

Disclaimer: I am in no way the owner of the Harry Potter series, and my name is not JK. I do own any Custom Chars in this fanfic though, even though they were inspired by many other fics!

Chapter One: Prologue

'"Got to"? Why "got to"? He's dead, isn't he?' said Aberforth roughly. 'Let it go, boy, before you follow him! Save yourself!'

'I can't.'

'Why not?'

'I-'Harry felt overwhelmed; he could not explain, so he took the offensive instead. 'But you're fighting too, you're in the Order of the Phoenix –'

'I was,' said Aberforth. 'The Order of the Phoenix is finished. You-Know-Who's won, it's over, and anyone who's pretending different's kidding themselves. It'll never be safe for you here, Potter, He wants you too badly. So go aboard, go into hiding, and save yourself---'

Extract from Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

'So go aboard, go into hiding, and save yourself. Have a think; I'll be back in a minute' Said Aberforth, in a slightly calculating voice, as he moved to the kitchen, and grabbed a cub from a dusty shelf, precariously hanging from the wall.

'We can't,' said Harry, with a note of finality in his voice. 'We can't leave all our friends. What about Neville, Or Luna?'

'Yeah, but think Harry, we could leave, you know, go to Fiji, or the Caribbean, he'd never find us – OOF!' Ron Exclaimed, as Hermione had just punched him in the gut. 'What was that for?' He moaned, indignantly.

'Honestly Ron, you should hear yourself! Go to Fiji! As if you didn't know 75% of the Island is already under water! What were you planning to do? Start a farm, breed sheep, and sell wet-look knit-wear? I can't believe you! And abandoning your friends! That's almost as bad! And-'

Hermione stopped talking abruptly, as Aberforth re-entered the room, with an empty cup in his hand. 'I made you a portkey, It's not set to go anywhere, but to take you to somewhere safe.'

'So Fiji, then?'

'Shut up, Ron!'

'I'm sorry Aberforth, but Dumbledore-' Harry started,

'To hell with Dumbledore! Has he been honest with you Harry? Was he clear with what you were to do?' exclaimed Aberforth. Trickles of doubt were forming in Harry's head, had Dumbledore really been honest with him? 'Of course he wasn't, I know my brother! Take my advice and leave, get far, far away from here!'

'I'm sorry, but-'

The door to the Hog's Head blew open, a resonating crack filling the air, accompanied with the noise of many Death Eaters thundering through the sizable hole in the wall, clamouring up the rickety stairs.

'Quickly, you must go! I'll distract them' shouted Aberforth over the noise,

'We couldn't, -' replied Harry

'JUST GO!' he shouted. Death Eaters were entering the room now, throwing spells randomly across the room. Just as Harry grabbed hold of the portkey, he lunged for Ron, who was protecting Hermione with a fierce determination spread across his face, so as to take them with him, but as he lunged for them, a death eater grabbed hold of the hem of his robe, before the cup glowed blue, and all disappeared in a wash of colour.

The air was much warmer than he was used to, and when he finally got his bearings, he looked up, and could smell the taste of salt in the air. His surroundings were quiet, but before he could think to what had happened, a blow hit him to the floor. His head was dizzy with pain, and he heard an annoyingly eloquent laugh ring through the air. He looked around, and saw Lucius Malfoy standing above him, his foot only an inch from his face.

Harry suddenly saw a flash of violet light, and Malfoy's foot collided with his face, as he saw the older ferret slump to the ground unconscious.

He looked up into the stars, and saw a brief flash of violet eyes, before he too passed out.