Disclaimer: none of this is mine, it's all J.K Rowlings. Except for the twist in the storyline. I have been on fan fiction for a couple of years but this is my first story so I'd really appreciate feedback, thanks. Enjoy :)


What defines the good and the bad, our intent? But what if it was for the greater good? The majority over the minority? I was the minority. My life was the sacrifice made. Murdered, burned, transformed and then released from my imprisonment only to be poisoned from the magic that had set me free. Confusing? Let me start from the beginning. My name is Ariana Dumbledore and I am a phoenix.

Burning embers and smouldering splinters scorched the worn wooden floor of the thatched cottage, the ingrained marks a permanent reminder of the tragic event that occurred. A young innocent life taken only to be reborn in flames. A powerful and ancient magic to preserve life and in return to protect those alike, those pure in heart from the inky darkness that threatens to overwhelm them. A phoenix rising from the ashes.

Her body lay broken among the wreckage, the rattle of her breaths accompanying the howling wind that invading the cottage through the gaping hole in the straw roof.

"Ab" she rasped, calling to the young man that knelt at her side clutching her desperately. "I-I- oh God- it's alright, it's alright Ari " he murmured in her ear while stroking her locks of blonde hair in reassurance, his trembling hands that frantically gripped her and unshed tears glistening in his dazed eyes said otherwise.

Across the room another man stood in disbelief, his precious wand lay strewn somewhere in the debris, his eyes wide and face drained white. "ALBUS! Albus save her, dammit Albus do something, anything, we have to help her!" the other man wailed in desperation to his brother as he watched the life drain from his sister's blue eyes. But there was nothing they could do, for all of their power and knowledge they was helpless to save their little sister. The spell was one of obscure magic, in the scuffle that had occurred Albus had deflected Gillert's spell from Ab by conjuring a shield of steel only to watch in horror as the spell had rebounded and collided forcibly with a confused Ariana.

Albus was snapped out of his denial by a loud thump, Aberforth had been forcibly thrown across the kitchen and lay slumped against the wall, a swirl of flickering flames now radiating from Ariana's chest. He rushed towards his sister grapping his cloak in an effort to smother the flames , horrified he reached his sister only to be violently flung into the opposing wall, his last memory the flames that were consuming her broken body.

Pain. Throbbing pain, he touched the back of his head grimacing as he felt the large bump. Using the wall for support Albus pushed himself to his feet trying to regain his senses, he peered around the room seeing Ab still unconscious in the corner and the kitchen in shambles, splitters, dust and debris strewn everywhere blacked by the fire... the fire! He clumsily stumbled towards where Arianna had previously lay. There was nothing, she was gone. Tears ran down his cheeks, it was his fault, all his fault, and for what, for the greater good?! How pathetic and naïve he had been, and Gillert oh god Gillert he had... "chirp" a quite thrill snapped him out of his thoughts, he turned back to the pile of ash looking closer this time in the dull light of dusk. "Lumos" he said stooping down and shining the light emitting from his fist to inspect the area. Albus gasped in wonder, sitting there in front of him was a small chick, its red and gold down coated in grey ash. It's beady eyes staring back up at him in recognition, "Ari"? he whispered.