act one: the girl in the bubble
chapter nineteen

Everything was changing, new facts were being brought out as the truth seemed to surface. Or what was left of it. In this short amount of time, everyone seemed to have some sort of change in their act. Ron and Hermione had gone quiet, barely saying anything. Daphne was boiling with anger and rage to the point she was crying and in that moment it was almost like she'd kill someone.

Harry stood listening and making sure he understood what was going on. Ready to end it all right then and there if he had too. Doing what he needed to protect the ones around him and doing what he needed to do to avenge his parents. Daphne couldn't blame him for wanting revenge, but if he killed Remus, she'd kill him.

Daphne wondered what her father would say about his entire situation. She wondered if he'd believe she was doing the right thing or if he thought she was doing the wrong thing. She wondered if Atticus had told him about what had happened between Harry and the girl, the fight that had broken out. She wondered if he'd approve of her protecting him even after he had hurt her...

Remus breathed heavily as he looked back at his friend, the other Uncle of his niece, before he looked back at the teenagers, "Very well. Kill him," Remus handed the wand back to Sirius as he kept his eyes on Daphne, "But wait one more moment, they understand to know why."

"I know why," Harry's voice cracked as he walked forward, full of emotion, "You betrayed my parents. You're the reason they're dead."

"No, Harry, it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents but... it was somebody who... until quite recently I believed dead!" Remus began to explain as he tried to rival the young teenager.

"Who was it then?" Harry yelled, causing Daphne to feel a pit in her stomach.

"Peter Pettigrew," She spoke softly as all eyes fell on her.

"Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius then yelled as he nodded at the young girl, "And he's in this room! Right now! Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out, and play!"

Snape then ran into the room, his wand at the ready and pointed at Sirius, quickly disarming him as he walked towards the kids, "Expelliarmus! Vengeance is sweet... how I'd hoped I'd be the one to catch you."

"Severus," Remus walked over to the man before the wand was pointed at him, causing him to back up.

"No!" Daphne exclaimed as she moved forward.

"I told Dumbledore you were helping an old friend into the castle, here's the proof. The lack of care for what you know he's planning to do to your own niece is disgusting..." The way Snape spoke made Daphne want to cry.

"Brilliant, Snape. You've once again put your keen mind to the task and come to the wrong conclusion," Sirius couldn't help but remark as he side-eyed the teenage girl, "Now if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to!"

Sirius had walked forward to Snape who pressed the tip of his wand into the man's throat, "Give me a reason. I beg you!" Severus growled.

Remus moved forward as he shook his head and his hands raised, "Severus, don't be a fool."

"He can't help but be a fool," Sirius retorted as he looked at the man who had his life in his hands.

"Sirius be quiet!" Remus was quick to shout at the man, "Think of Daphne here!"

"Be quiet yourself, Remus. I'm thinking of the family!" Sirius couldn't help but yell back.

"Look at you two, quarreling like an old married couple," Snape snarled as he looked between the two men who were trying to figure out the situation.

Sirius looked rather annoyed at the Slytherin leader, "Why don't you run along and play with your chemistry set?"

Sirius felt as Snape pressed forward more, digging his wand into the man, "I could do it you know."

"You wouldn't do it in front of her," Sirius mumbled lowly as he huffed.

"But why deny the dementors? They're so longing to see you..." Snape pressed on as he backed up the man, "Do I detect a sliver of fear? Oh, yes. A Dementor's kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like to endure. It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best."

"Severus, please," Sirius was pressed against the old dusty piano and Daphne knew that Harry had just grabbed a wand, but she wasn't giving him that pleasure.

"After you," Snape sneered at her Uncle.

Snape looked back at the teenagers and nudged his head for them to leave first. Both men looked over at Daphne before she was quick to finally grab her wand, after much struggle.

"Stupify bitch!" She had no idea why that felt so good to say, or how she stifled a laugh watching the man fly.

But she hadn't been the only person to cast a spell making it hit even harder. Daphne turned to look back as she looked at Harry who held onto Hermione's wand while looking slightly worried before relaxing.

"Harry... Daphne... what did you just do?!" Ron breathed out, seeming as shocked as ever what the two had just done.

"Harry, Daphne! You attacked a teacher!" Hermione looked petrified at this.

The bed that Snape had landed on had broken badly, not causing Daphne to feel as good as she wished. Now feeling remorseful for what she had done, but she had done it for her family which seemed to be in some sort of crisis at the moment.

"No one tell my dad about any of this," Daphne breathed out as she looked flustered.

"Tell me about Peter Pettigrew," Harry pointed the wand at Sirius as he expected him to give an answer.

"He was at school with us, we thought he was our friend," Remus began to speak up as he leaned over while partially holding onto the dusty old piano.

"No. Pettigrew's dead, you killed him!" Harry turned and pointed his wand at Sirius while looking angry.

Daphne shook her head as she blocked Harry's view from Sirius, "He's not. I've seen him, Harry, in my visions," Daphne gave him a firm look, not sure what she was doing at all or even if she was on the right side.

"Daphne's right, no he didn't. I thought so too, until you mentioned Pettigrew on the map," Remus was quick to now run and get in front of Daphne, blocking her from any further harm.

Harry kept trying to point the wand at everyone, "The map was lying then!"

"The map never lies," Sirius yelled as everyone now turned to get a look at him as he spoke, "Pettigrew's alive. And he's right there!" Sirius pointed to the rat in Ron's lap.

"Me? He's mental!" Ron shrieked out as the rat began to cry out.

"Not you! Your rat!" Sirius yelled as he began to walk over.

"Scabbers has been in my family for..." Ron held the rat close as he trailed off.

"Twelve years! A curiously long life for a common garden rat! He's missing a toe, isn't he?" Sirius continued to move forward as he gesticulated his words.

"So what?" Ron cried out as he did his best to protect his pet from the man walking near him.

Harry looked at Daphne as he slowly connected a lot together in his mind before he quietly spoke, "All they could find of Pettigrew was his..."

"Finger!" Sirius shrieked as he turned around to face the Potter boy, "The dirty coward cut it off so that everyone would think he was dead! And then he transformed into a rat!" He yelled down at Ron as he stalked over the boy.

"Show me," Harry demanded as he looked at the man and Ron, Sirius went to grab the rat and fought against Ron as Harry then spoke, "Give it to him, Ron."

Sirius finally had the fighting rat in his hands as he began to walk away while Daphne watched, "What are you trying to do to him?" Ron cried out at the loss of his rat, "Scabbers! Leave him alone!"

"Ron," Daphne spoke softly, trying her best not to just lose it on everyone around her.

"Leave him alone, get off him!" Ron had rose to his feet as Hermione caught ahold of him.

Daphne followed Sirius and Remus, despite Remus trying to keep her back, as he put the rat down. Everyone's wands pointed at the rat that began to run quickly. Everyone was throwing spells trying to get the rat to become a man as it ran around the room. Sirius ran over both Remus and Daphne before Daphne managed to hit the rat.

And the rat ran through the door before turning into a man which caused everyone to stop and look in shock. The man looked just as he did in Daphne's vision which caused her to sigh, standing alongside both of her uncles as she looked ahead.

"He's one ugly man," Daphne couldn't help but say before realizing she said that out loud, "Oops?"

Both men went to rip him out of the door as he whimpered and groaned, twitching methodically in his hands. Daphne was quick to move over to Harry since the rat man had moved over to where she stood as he looked at the two men before looking at the teens.

"Remus? Sirius? My old friends!" He then tried to run between the two men, who stopped him, in an attempt to escape.

"Harry! Look at you, you look so much like your father," When the man came close to Harry and Daphne, Harry was quick to move in front of the girl, "James. We were the best of friends! Daphne, oh, Daphne. You look so much like Lucerys!"

"How dare you talk to them?! How dare you speak to Harry?!" Sirius ran over and blocked the two teens from the man who then ran, "How dare you bring up my brother and James in front of them!"

They now stood around the piano, everyone trying to keep Peter inside, "You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you?" Remus questioned as he raised his wand.

"I didn't mean to!" he cried as he made a face, "The Dark Lord. You have no idea the weapons he possesses! Who he's going to!" Peter looked over at Daphne which enraged everyone, "Ask yourself, Sirius! What would you have done?! What would you have done?!"

"I would've died! I would've died rather than betray my friends!" Sirius yelled before Remus chased after Pettigrew who crawled under the piano.

Daphne dragged Harry and the two ran to quickly block the door. Knowing that it wouldn't be good if Pettigrew got away. They needed him caught and trailed.

"Harry! James wouldn't have wanted me killed, your dad showed mercy. He would have showed me mercy!" Peter yelled before he backed away in fear as Daphne's wand poked into his stomach, "Touch him again and I'll kill you."

Harry looked fearful as the rat cried out while Remus and Sirius grabbed ahold of him and dragged him away. Daphne's wand still raised as her face held content. Various malicious acts going through her brain.

"Should've realized, Peter! If Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Together!" Sirius yelled as Remus held up his wand.

It took a moment before anyone spoke, Harry yelled out, "No!"

"Harry... this man," Remus looked back at the boy as he spoke slowly as if trying to get the boy to agree.

"I know what he is. But we'll take him to the castle," Harry pushed down Daphne's hand with her wand held up before he slowly took arm and moved forward.

"Bless you, bless you!" Peter went to his knees as he squealed in delight.

"Get off! I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the dementors can have you," Harry sneered as he made sure to keep Peter off of him and Daphne.

The man began to quiver in fear. Looking terrified before everyone decided that it was best to leave the Shack. Harry looked at Daphne in worry as he caused a momentary hold up.

"What?" Daphne asked softly, she could never stay angry at the boy even when she needed too.

"I'm sorry," Harry looked at her, "I really am. I should've said something sooner and I completely deserve you to be angry at me or-"

Daphne shook her head which caused him to silence, "You had every right to be upset. We can talk more about this later, but I'm not mad at you. I could never stay mad."

Harry gave her a small smile before he helped Sirius pick up Ron as Sirius spoke, "Sorry about the bite. I reckon that twinges a bit."

They descended down stairs through the dark corridor, "A bit? A bit? You nearly tore my leg off!" Ron cried out in fear.

"I was going for the rat," Sirius admitted as he sounded a little bit out of breath.

"I think you missed," Daphne stated the obvious as she sighed falsely, "Harry, I think your blindness is rubbing off on others!"

"Daph! Not funny," Harry looked back at her momentarily before shaking his head.

"Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog," Sirius began to explain as they trudged on.

"You almost killed me by knocking me off changing stairs," Daphne deadpanned.

"You ran!" Sirius couldn't help but exclaim, "Gosh, you really are related to Moony and I, aren't you?" Sirius sighed before he continued, "In fact, more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent. The tail I could live with, but the fleas? They're murder."

They had finally made it outside of the corridor and back into the world. The sky was dark. Daphne sighed as she finally stretched and looked around as they sat Ron on the base of the tree. Daphne began popping her knuckles again as she looked around, walking more out into the cool breeze of the night.

Daphne smiled as she watched Harry go off and talk to Sirius while she ignored the yells from Pettigrew trying to get pity from his owner. That's bloody weird to say, Daphne couldn't help but think. That's when she halted.

"Uncle Remus," Daphne was quick to turn around in horror which caught his attention, "I had a vision about tonight... that's where..." She paused as she let her hand ghost over the nail marks on her face, "It's tonight. You know what's tonight!"

Remus seemed to understand what she was saying, but it was too late. The moon had come out and Remus was staring straight at his niece, the two standing together while Hermione seemed to realize it as well.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled as she pointed towards the two.

Remus looked over at the moon, breaking his gaze with his niece as the moonlight shined brightly on them. Daphne began to freak out as everything from her vision seemed to become reality. She was scared. But not for herself.

She watched as his eyes changed. Dilating and as the change began. Daphne's hands began to shake as she remained frozen in place. Pettigrew behind her. Sirius ran over and moved his niece away as he began to make sure they were all safe.

"Remus, my old friend, have you taken your potion tonight?" Sirius asked as he blocked Remus from the others, "You know the man you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you live! Here!"

Daphne felt as tears fell from her eyes while Harry grabbed ahold of the girl as she tried to run forward to her Uncle. She was terrified to watch the change knowing how painful he said it always had been. She never thought she'd see it - she never thought that she'd be around.

"This flesh is only flesh!" Sirius yelled as Pettigrew grabbed the wand and changed before anyone had a chance to stop him.

Harry and Daphne went to run forward after Pettigrew but Daphne couldn't bring herself too which caused Hermione to grab ahold of Harry. Daphne's full concern was resting on her Uncle at the moment. More like Uncles she should say.

"Remus! Remus! Run, run!" Sirius yelled towards the teenagers who all moved back in fear.

Daphne let out a choked sob watching her uncle change, "Uncle Moony!"

Once the change had finished, Sirius had been thrown over the edge which caused Daphne to sob even louder out of fear. Hermione now grabbing ahold of the girl as she tried her best to calm her down while watching the werewolf in front of them.

Hermione slowly walked forward while holding onto Daphne, "Hermione... Hermione! Bad idea... bad idea!"

"Professor? Professor Lupin?" Hermione questioned before the beast began to howl.

"Nice doggy, nice doggy," Ron cried before Hermione was quick to run back with Daphne.

Snape got in front of them as he grabbed ahold of Harry, "There you are, Potter, Black!" He heard the growl from behind him and turned as he wrapped his arms around all of the teens in fear.

Remus raised his claw and slashed down causing Hermione and Daphne to scream as Snape fell. Everyone dispersed and Daphne felt as her back hit the ground. Pressure and nails digging into her shoulders as she sobbed, her eyes barely registering the claw raised, ready to slash down on her face just as she had seen...

"Daphne!" Ron and Harry cried out.

Daphne was crying even as the wolf's claw came down, grazing over her face as she screamed out before Sirius, in dog form, came over and knocked him off of her as she held her bleeding face as she sobbed in pain. She felt as Snape grabbed ahold of her and hoisted her up, blood covering the ground where she had been and her hands.

"Merlin!" Ron cried out as he looked at Daphne.

They watched as the dog and the werewolf began to fight. Daphne doing her best to watch as she held onto her bleeding face, ignoring how dizzy she became as she tried to watch what was happening right in front of her while her friends freaked out.

"Sirius!" Harry yelled before running off upon hearing a whine and a flying sound.

Everything was falling apart. Breaking like glass on picture frames or mirrors. No one knew that this would happen, no one except for Daphne who had tried her best to diminish her visions and act as if they were the stupidest things ever. As if they were lies that her mind told to her. But, what if that mistake proved... proved life changing?

Only time would tell.