I think it’s time for another Harry Potter theory that is extremely stretched/forced but is presented in a way that makes it seem 100% canon.
Ariana Dumbledore is really Fawkes.
We know that Ariana Dumbledore was attacked by three Muggle boys after they saw her doing magic. The word ‘attacked’ has many different meanings but I have the tendency to think the worse. (Especially since I’m watching Law and Order SVU as I type this.) But regardless of what actually happened, we know that it was enough to traumatize her. It was also what caused their father to attack the Muggle boys in return (and possibly kill them?). He was shipped off to Azkaban, leaving Albus, Aberforth, and their mother to look after Ariana.
And not just look after her.
We know that they had to hide her from the rest of the world because she was so unstable that she was causing accidental magic. Dumbledore even thought about hiding her beneath an Invisibility Cloak. But then he started to hate the fact that his sister needed their constant care.
So what if Dumbledore had an idea. Perhaps it was an idea whispered in his ear by his kind-of-sort-of boyfriend. Perhaps it was an idea that he came up with on his own.
I think that Dumbledore turned his sister into an Animagus.
Now, I know what you’re thinking:
“Nope, no, not a chance. Ariana died. Dumbledore said-”
Exactly, Dumbledore said.
And we all know how much he told the truth, right?
Dumbledore lied through his teeth throughout the entire series. And this time, he would actually have a fairly good reason to lie. When he did talk about Ariana, he told everyone that she had died, so that nobody would ever go looking for her. And certainly nobody would ever suspect that Dumbledore’s new pet phoenix was really his sister.
“Okay, marauders4evr, you’re really stretching here. I mean there’s no possible reason for Dumbledore to want to turn his sister into an Animagus.”
There’s no advantage that could come from being an Animagus.
I mean, it’s not like turning into your animal self helps control your emotions or anything.
Oh my god turning into your animal self totally helps control your emotions or anything!
Sirius said that he transformed into a dog when he was in Azkaban because it somehow made the Dementors have less of an effect on him; it made the emotions easier to control.
So if Ariana was an animal (like, say, a phoenix) it would make it easier to control her emotions, making her less likely to display accidental magic, and less likely to be caught and taken to St. Mungo’s and/or Azkaban.
“Okay, I want more proof.”
Unfortunately, I don’t have more proof.
I mean, it’s not like, had she been an Animagus, she would have been extremely loyal to Dumbledore and would have stayed by his side for decades, protecting him, protecting Hogwarts, and protecting the people that he loved.
Oh my God if she had been an Animagus, she would ahve been extremely loyal to Dumbledore and would have stayed by his side for decades, protecting him, protecting Hogwarts, and protecting the people that he loved.
Plus just imagine that conversation between Sirius and Dumbledore in Flitwick’s office during POA. When Dumbledore curtly asks him how long he’s been an illegal Animagus and Sirius coolly replies that, yeah, an illegal Animagus certainly is a terrible crime isn’t it, Bumblebee? (Sirius would and you know it.)
And I know what your final argument is.
“Oh, marauders4evr, Fawkes is a boy phoenix and Ariana was a girl.”
But it’s my contrived theory and I can do what I want!
Besides, is there any indication that Fawkes is a boy? Other than Dumbledore using male pronouns? Which he could have easily used if he was doing everything in his power to hide the fact that his pet bird was really his sister?
Ariana Dumbledore is Fawkes probably.
