act one: the girl in the bubble
chapter eight

The air was thick between the group. Daphne wasn't sure what to say after the fact that McGonagall had been informed that the markings were from her own fingers, not to mention the fact that her friends were informed and she had told them that she hadn't done it. She felt as if they wouldn't trust her anymore. That was the last thing she wanted. That was the last thing she needed.

What would they think of her now? Daphne found herself looking down at the table where she sat. Harry looked at her with a worried glance. She hated how he kept looking at her. Almost as if he felt a sort of pity for her. That's not what she wanted. She just wanted him to look at her as he usually had. As everyone usually had.

But things were changing too rapidly for the girl to handle. She was starting to lose herself to some sort of reaction that was happening within her mind. She was losing her family. She was losing her titles. She was losing the positive whispers that the world around her held for her due to her last name. That seemed to be where it all drew back to. It all fell back onto her lineage. Her blood.

"What was all that about?"' Ron muttered to Harry once again, wanting someone to explain what had happened while they were away.

Despite the questioning of Ron, Daphne found herself in her mind like clockwork. If everyone around her saw her as her blood, her last name, why not become what they see? They did not see Walburga or Orion. They saw the brothers. The sons. The fallen.

Harry looked at Daphne once again for a moment, noticing how her posture had changed and the expression that slowly grew on her face, "Er... nothing important, mate."

Daphne's mind fell back onto the visions she had. Hoping that they would help her come up with some sort of explanation of what would happen but all she could think about was the moon and the fact she'd soon have a fight with Harry. The dog. Sirius.

Daphne found herself in remembrance of something, feeling into the waistband of her skirt before pulling out a letter, "Remember this?" She questioned Harry, an eyebrow raised as a small smirk tugged at her lips as she disregarded her worries.

Harry looked at the letter in her hands before nodding, "I do and you're beside me now, so you can open it. If you haven't cheated," Harry attempted to joke which caused Daphne to let out an airy laugh.

"I didn't cheat, I do not cheat, Potter," Daphne rolled her eyes before swiping her finger under one of the folds and opening the letter.

Daph,

I'm writing this to you and I told you in the letter
before not to open it yet. If you are reading this,
You either listened or didn't but I need to tell you
About something and I didn't want you to get
Upset that the others would hear. I had a dream.
You were in it and so was Voldemort. You were
Fighting and thrashing around and it looked as
If you were hurting yourself and he needed something.
I can only assume something is going to want you for
Something, but I just need to know if this is true?

Harry.

Daphne looked up from the letter, slightly startled about what he had a dream about. It was scarily similar to something she had been alerted of in a vision. Daphne refused to let anything show on her expression as she placed the letter down so that no one could read it as she furrowed her eyebrows at Harry which seemed to give him the answer he needed.

"Harry," Daphne realized that and tried to deny it but the boy shook his head.

"It's okay," was all he said before leaning over to explain everything to Ron while Daphne resisted the urge to sigh as she placed her head in her hands.

Daphne felt as if she were being piled deeper into something. Harry wasn't one to be serious and she knew this was one of the rare times that he was. Voldemort was dead though. He couldn't get ahold of her even if he wanted to. He wasn't a living and breathing person. He was nothing more than the dust on the ground. The ashes of the past.

Harry started to explain in a whisper, but at that moment the Headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke off. Professor Dumbledore, so old that he was almost a historical relic, always gave an impression of great energy from the dinosaurs. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles and an extremely crooked nose.

He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age, but that wasn't why others had respected him. It surely wasn't why Daphne secretly disrespected him. You couldn't help trusting Albus Dumbledore, and as Daphne watched him beaming around at the students, she felt an eerie sense of calm for the first time since the Dementor had entered the train compartment. It's what drew her away from him.

"Welcome!" beamed Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast ..." Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused, and stroked his beard and Daphne found herself thinking about the uproar about the dementors.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, and the trio glanced at each other, "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors."

Percy, who was sitting a few seats along from Daphne, puffed out his chest again as if he were something impressive and stared around impressively. Daphne faked a gag as she looked at Harry while making a face of disgust. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.

"On a happier note," Dumbledore continued on while seeming amused, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic, applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Daphne rose to her feet and whistled as she, alongside her brother from afar, beamed. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.

"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed in Harry's ear, Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin.

It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, but even the quartet, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing. Daphne knew that expression only too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on Harry. It was absolutely hilarious.

A grown man arguing with a child, a child who is now a teen? Daphne witnessed that every day when Snape tracked down Harry Potter. Despite the fact he angered her by taking away house points the way he just had it out for the boy was really upsetting yet really hilarious.

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away, "well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at each other, stunned. Daphne quite literally kissed the table as she started to rejoice. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Daphne and Harry leaned forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.

"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table happily, "Who else would have set us a biting book?"

Daphne, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. Daphne could feel her heart melt watching how emotional Hagrid got at how happy everyone was to have him. She adored the man.

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore continued to stroke his abnormally large beard, "Let the feast begin."

The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Daphne was slow to eat. Finding herself embarked in conversations with others. Eating slowly before she decided to just eat and then talk. It was a delicious feast; the Hall echoed with talk, laughter and the clatter of knives and forks. Daphne, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, however, were eager for it to finish so that they could talk to Hagrid.

They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to him. Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, for a crime he had not committed. It had been Daphne, Harry, Ron and Hermione who had cleared Hagrid's name last year. At long last, when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and they got their chance.

"Congratulations, Hagrid!" Hermione squealed happily, as they reached the teachers' table.

"All down ter you three," Hagrid grinned down at the teenagers, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them, 'Can' believe it ... great man, Dumbledore ... came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough ... it's what I always wanted ...'

Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away.

Daphne moved over to see her Uncle for a moment, "This going to be a good year?" Daphne found herself asking.

"I believe so, Firefly," Remus gave her a soft smile, "We have a lot to discuss later. Important matters I've been informed of."

"I understand," Daphne gave a swift nod before bidding her goodbyes.

"Daphne?" Remus called out to her as she turned to leave which caused her to pause, "Remember, it's Professor Uncle Remus now."

Daphne's eyes gleamed as she let out a small laugh, "Got it, Professor Uncle Rem."

Daphne and Remus shared a laugh before she met up withHarry, Ron and Hermione before they joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and, very tired now, along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

A large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, "Password?"

"Coming through, coming through!" Percy called from behind the crowd, "The new password's Fortuna Major!"

"Oh no," Neville Longbottom sighed sadly.

He always had trouble remembering the passwords. Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided towards their separate staircases. Daphne let everyone else run up first before she walked through into the dormitories. Practically jumping onto her bed as she sighed happily.

It wasn't long before lights out had been called within the dormitory. Daphne found herself lying comfortably in her head as her mind wandered. Thinking about what was happening outside the walls of Hogwarts. What was happening in the night? It caused her to have a little bit of anxiety but she refused to let it bother her.

She closed her eyes ignoring how her mind wanted to linger back to Harry's dream. She had nothing to worry about. There was absolutely no way that anything could get a hold of her. She was a person and they were dead. And death was a hold that no one could escape. You could try, but you'd never out run it.

As the night slipped away from Daphne, she faded into a sleep that kept her under until the next morning. When all of the girls rushed to get on their uniforms and head down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione had said nothing further on the matter about the scratch marks on Daphne's face and Daphne made no advances to talk in fear of it.

When Harry, Daphne, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast after meeting up in the common room, the first thing they saw was Draco Malfoy, who seemed to be entertaining a large group of Slytherins with a very funny story. As they passed, Malfoy did a ridiculous impression of a swooning fit and there was a roar of laughter which made Harry look embarrassed and Daphne just look annoyed.

"Ignore him," Hermione's words caught their ears a little too late, the girl stood right behind Harry, "Just ignore him, it's not worth it ..."

"Hey Potter!" shrieked Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl with a face like a pug, "Potter! The Dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooooo! Got to get protected by a little halfbreed!"

Daphne felt the rage within her and tried to keep herself cool, "Say all you want, Pugface, at least I'm the life of the party and not the ruin of it. Everyone runs from your face, oh wait, you probably don't even know what you look like since you even scare mirrors," Daphne feigned a fake happiness.

"Nice one," Fred Weasley couldn't help but speak up as he grinned at the girl.

The girl realized her little outburst and simply let it flow as she sat down at the table. Not having the energy within her to hide anything anymore. She needed to stop caring about everything anyway, maybe this was the way to do it. Harry dropped into a seat at the Gryffindor table on the other side of Daphne, next to George Weasley.

"New third-year timetables," George spoke up, passing them over. "What's up with you, Harry?"

"Malfoy," Ron huffed, sitting down on George's other side and glaring over at the Slytherin table.

George looked up in time to see Malfoy pretending to faint with terror again, "That little git," he said calmly, "He wasn't so cocky last night when the Dementors were down our end of the train. Came running into our compartment, didn't he, Fred?"

"Nearly wet himself," Fred spoke, with a contemptuous glance at Malfoy, before he smirked down at the table.

"I wasn't too happy myself," admitted George, "They're horrible things, those Dementors ..."

"Sort of freeze your insides, don't they?" Fred looked at Daphne as he spoke which caused her to roll her eyes.

"Yeah, literally," she couldn't help but retort.

"You didn't pass out, though, did you?" Harry whispered in a low voice not wanting anyone to hear.

"Forget it, Harry" George huffed, "Dad had to go out to Azkaban one time, remember, Fred? And he said it was the worst place he'd ever been. He came back all weak and shaking ...They suck the happiness out of a place, Dementors. Most of the prisoners go mad in there."

"Anyway, we'll see how happy Malfoy looks after our first Quidditch match," Fred acted smugly, "Gryffindor versus Slytherin, first game of the season, remember?"

Daphne couldn't help but let out a laugh. Knowing that everyone always loved the Gryffindor and Slytherin games, the two were rivals after all and who did not love rival teams. Everyone went all out for the game and often it got brutal. Daphne then noticed Hermione's timetable.

"Ooh, good, we're starting some new subjects today," Hermione beamed happily.

"Hermione," Ron spoke, frowning as he looked over her shoulder, "they've messed up your timetable. Look – they've got you down for about ten subjects a day. There isn't enough time."

"I'll manage. I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall," Hermione was quick to dismiss Ron's words.

"But look," Ron pointed, laughing, "see this morning? Nine o'clock, Divination. And underneath, nine o'clock, Muggle Studies. And –" Ron leaned closer to the timetable, disbelieving, "look – underneath that, Arithmancy, nine o'clock. I mean, I know you're good, Hermione, but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once?"

"Don't be silly," Hermione spoke shortly while shaking her head, "Of course I won't be in three classes at once."

"Well, then –" Ron found himself at a loss for words.

"Pass the marmalade," Hermione ushered to cut off the Weasley boy.

"But –" Ron still attempted to add himself into the conversation.

"Oh, Ron, what's it to you if my timetable's a bit full?" Hermione snapped, becoming bothered, "I told you, I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

Just then, Hagrid entered the Great Hall. He was wearing his long moleskin overcoat and was ab- sent-mindedly swinging a dead polecat from one enormous hand. Daphne waved at the giant man as she paused her attention on the Weasley twins.

"All righ'?" he said eagerly, pausing on the way to the staff table. "Yer in my firs' ever lesson! Right after lunch! Bin up since five gettin' everythin' ready ... hope it's OK ... me, a teacher ...hones'ly ..." He grinned broadly at them and headed off to the staff table, still swinging the polecat.

"Wonder what he's been getting ready?" Ron questioned, a note of anxiety in his voice.

The Hall was starting to empty as people headed off towards their first lesson. Ron checked his timetable while Daphne let her eyes linger on Fred Weasley.

"We'd better go, look, Divination's at the top of North Tower. It'll take us ten minutes to get there ..." Ron spoke as he nudged Daphne's arm roughly, "Stop staring at my brother."

"Why?" Daphne faked a pout before realizing how bold that was and how shocked Harry and Hermione looked.

"How would you feel if I looked at Atticus?" Ron questioned.

"Well if you're into that then... you do you I won't judge"