Pawn of Darkness

"Now, Phoenix," the Headmaster said, "I would like you to tell me your whole story up until tonight."

Phoenix told it willingly - everything, with nothing omitted.

"I just didn't know," she ended. "I never really wanted to consider that Riddle might be Lord Voldemort. He told me that was his name."

"It is, though. Lord Voldemort was born as Tom Marvelo Riddle. Tom Riddle came to Hogwarts once, he went bad while he was still here. But after he left, he went to the most despicable of our kind, underwent horrible transformations, and returned to the world as Lord Voldemort."

"Oh." Phoenix didn't know what to say, really.

"Several years ago, before the Dark Lord came back to the body he has now, he brought havoc on the school by using another first year under the name of Riddle. The poor girl almost took the blame, although she was saved at the last minute."

Phoenix stared out the carriage window at the now moonlit grounds.

Professors McGonagall, Black, Snape, and Sprout were waiting at the school gates. "Just a minute, I'll talk with you in a second," He told them when they started to harass him with questions. "Minerva, I need you to take Phoenix and Harry up to Gryffindor Tower. Do not question them on the way up, please. And please, neither of you tell anyone what went on tonight. I make an exception for Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, of course, Harry." McGonagall nodded and took them away.

The three of them slipped away from the knot of teachers, where Dumbledore was talking urgently. "Are you two all right, though?" McGonagall asked, "Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"

Potter glanced at her, she shook her head, and he said, "No, Professor, we're both fine. I think sleeping would be best now, we're kind of tired."

"Oh, fine then Potter," McGonagall said, sounding slightly annoyed.

* * * * *

During breakfast, she received an owl to meet Dumbledore in Professor McGonagall's office. She slipped away while the few of her friends that had stayed for Easter Break finished their meal.

McGonagall wasn't in the room when Phoenix walked in. Dumbledore motioned for her to sit down, and she sank in.

"Phoenix, I would like it if you told me everything that happened last night, from where you ended last night. Can you?" And so she told him.

Dumbledore remained silent and motionless the whole time, blue eyes sympathetic, and spoke only when she had finished. "Phoenix, I think we should tell you something else, to take a small edge of guilt off. First of all, you did something almost no wizard could do against Voldemort. You did a marvelous job holding him off, and were extremely brave. You may find it interesting that five years ago, Riddle tricked another first year into doing things she didn't know were wrong. She is perfectly fine now, and I think you don't bear any guilt at all. You do have a certain gift, Phoenix. Voldemort didn't lie about you being extraordinarily powerful," (One of the few things he didn't lie about, Phoenix told herself.) "You have a very powerful gift. Since you seemed to have learned almost everything we can teach you here at Hogwarts, I'm offering you the chance to graduate at the end of the year."

"But - but what would I do then?" she asked, startled by the suggestion.

"Ah, Phoenix, something very important indeed. The Auror's League is stretched out over all of Europe - as well as the other continents - fighting against the Dark Lord and his followers...trying to protect potential targets, and could use your help. Would you like to try?"

"That'd be wonderful... to help try and fix what I did, make up for it, really. But there has to be loads of things I haven't learned yet that an Auror needs to know."

"Nothing you couldn't learn in a quick summer course with the Aurors, Phoenix. You'd be sure to be accepted. You'd also be safer here than at home. Voldemort now knows your power is perhaps stong enough to send him to a state much like the one Harry sent him to years ago... He'd be sure to come after you, for revenge."

"Oh, Professor, I'd love to. I want to learn, but that's where he got me..."

"Wishing to learn is not a sin, and I do not hold you guilty for what happened. Nor," he added, looking at Phoenix's worried face, "Does Harry, as I expect he already told you."

"And my parents?" Phoenix asked.

"I will send them an owl. I'm sure Ariana and Dram will be thrilled that their daughter is carrying on the Auror tradition of the family. They were Aurors when they were younger too."

"Professor, thanks so much."

Dumbledore smiled. "The thanks belongs to you, Phoenix, for your incredible bravery. I think you'll make a fine Auror. I think you must be wanting to spend a little time by yourself now, though. Goodbye."

Phoenix nodded and left, wondering how Dumbledore could have guessed exactly how she felt.

But she had decided. No longer would she be a pawn of dark powers. She was a champion of the light.