act one: the girl in the bubble
chapter six

Daphne couldn't understand the concept behind rage. She didn't understand why it was something that could fuel people. Why it could be the reason they did some unthinkable and unforgivable things to those around them. Rage was like a parasite, leeching onto whoever it could and causing them to go down some sort of deep rabbit hole they could barely get out of.

At every corner of her life, Daphne had met rage. Ignoring it's constant fight with her. She wouldn't let it control her. It would only make her situation a lot worse than it already was. Despite the fact that rage ran through her veins, she would never let it win against her. Rage was Rosalie Lupin, a woman who had destroyed herself and her family over the years behind closed doors.

Doors that protected the secrets of what actually happened in the Lupin-Black house from the public eye. Not wanting word about it to get out and the constant whispers following the children or Lucerys wherever they went. Whispers already followed them, but for a very different family reason. For the fact of what they were known for in the past and what one of the original Black brothers had done to his best friends

Daphne knew about the whispers. She knew about the constant swirl of secrets that were passed around by her family. She knew what she was believed to be, who she was perceived to be. To the purebloods, she was a halfbreed. An unforgivable abomination of a creation. To the muggleborns, she was more magical than they'd ever be. Even to half bloods, everyone had a different position on who they were. 

Some half bloods believed that pureblood supremacy was the way and refused their 'tainted blood'. But Daphne was not one of them.

Caius looked at his younger cousin, unbeknownst to what lingered in her mind, "The less the world knows about someone, the better."

"That is what you say, dear cousin, the most the world knows about me is I'm the halfbreed daughter of a Noble house," Daphne looked at her cousin as she tilted her head to the side, "The weak link. The female that no one could claim as the heir."

"Female heirs in the house of Black aren't unheard of," Caius looked at his cousin shaking his head, "You would know of that."

"But female heirs who aren't pure, are," Daphne remained firm on her stance before the train jutted, causing the girl to nearly fall over resulting in Caius catching ahold of her and catching himself, "What was that?"

"I don't know," Caius remained unbothered as he adjusted the two to stand once again, looking around as he tried to find the source that caused the train to come to a sudden halt.

The rain thickened as the train sped yet further north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering grey, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors on and off. Almost as if the lanterns had yet to decide if they wanted to illuminate the way for those who decided to stick out.

Daphne was quick to pull her hand from the window seal with a hiss at how cold it had rapidly become, "Ouch."

Caius looked at her hand and noticed how it almost looked to have frost on it, "Are you alright?"

Daphne began to rub at her hand in an attempt to warm it, "Fine. Just... cold."

Cold. A cold that had seemingly come from out of nowhere. The cold that had frosted up the windows slowly. Daphne's eyes were wide with shock as she watched the frost climb up the glass. Following it with her eyes before looking at Caius who seemed confused as well.

The train was getting slower and slower, still jutting softly against the tracks. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows. Harry opened the door of the compartment that had been previously shut by Daphne and poked his head out. Meeting Daphne's gaze as he leaned into the corridor.

All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments. No one understood what was happening with the train or with the frost. The train came to a stop with a jolt and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.

"Get inside the compartment," Caius was quick to push Daphne into the direction of the compartment she had previously been in.

"Bloody hell, Harry, grab my arm so I know where you are," Daphne was trying to make sure she could find someone.

Harry grabbed her arm which was what she wanted but did scare her nonetheless, "I've got you, Daph."

But then another hand grabbed ahold of Daphne causing her to squeal. She jumped off of the floor which caused Harry to have to catch her in his arms nearly causing both of them to fall back. A small bit of laughter echoed from Ron's lips.

"Ronald," Daphne huffed out as she clung to Harry as if her life depended on it, "I don't like this at all."

"What's going on?" questioned from whatever side of the compartment he found himself a resident of through the darkness.

"Ouch!" gasped Hermione as she began to shuffle around presumably to soothe her pain, "Ron, that was my foot!"

Harry slowly let Daphne down, still holding onto her as he felt his way down to a seat before moving so that he could pull Daphne into a seat, "D'you think we've broken down?"

"Dunno ..." She wasn't exactly sure who said this but went along with it.

"Can this train even break down? It's a magical train - we're all magical people. Can't we fix it?" Daphne asked, being quite confused, "But that wouldn't explain the cold."

There was a squeaking sound, and Daphne saw the dim black outline of Ron or at least the girl believed it was Ron, wiping a patch clean on the window and peering out. Until the compartment rocked and presumably Caius had finally entered as he shut the door behind him

"There's something moving out there," Ron's voice quivered with fear as he began shaking the compartment, "I think people are coming aboard ..."

"We are on a bridge, I highly doubt that someone can enter off a bridge for a train," Caius spoke through the darkness as he began to feel his way around the compartment, "That's a rather stupid thought, Weasley."

The compartment door suddenly opened and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs before hitting their face harshly against Daphne's thighs, "Sorry! D'you know what's going on? Ouch! Sorry –"

"Hello, Neville," Harry's voice seemed to have a bit of amusement behind it, feeling around in the dark and pulling Neville up by his cloak.

"Harry? Is that you? What's happening? Whose legs did my..." Neville's voice waved with mortification, he wished he was petrified in that moment.

"Neville, if I have an imprint of your face on my thighs..." Daphne knew that Neville's face was as red as their house colors, as was hers.

A few laughs echoed from the compartment while Caius spoke, "Daphne that sounded rather inappropriate. Use a better choice of diction."

"No idea! Sit down –" There was a loud hissing and a yelp of pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks.

Daphne felt as if the compartment was getting unbelievably full as everyone seemed to fall into theirs. How many people would they end up holding before they knew what was happening? The entirety of Hogwarts? This wasn't some house party that everyone was invited to, this was their compartment.

"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," Hermione's voice slowly began to fade out as the rocking of the train picked up once again.

Daphne felt her pass or at least attempt to, having to make her way around quite a few people. She heard Caius make a noise of discomfort, so she assumed Hermione must've grabbed him by accident thinking he was a wall or a door. The girl heard the door slide open again and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain that reminded her of wild pigs.

"Who's that?" Hermione questioned as she tried to figure out who had just toppled onto her, both now laying on the floor of the compartment on top of everyone's feet.

'Who's that?' Ginny Weasley made her debut as her voice seemed pained, almost as if she had the air taken straight from her lungs without warning.

"Ginny?" Hermione questioned as her voice went a few octaves higher as if she were trying to confirm her suspicions.

"Hermione?" Ginny questioned in return, despite knowing good and well who was speaking.

"What are you doing?" Hermione managed to feel herself up to her knees once Ginny had gotten off of her.

"I was looking for Ron –" Ginny found herself cut off as she tried to feel herself around, falling back onto Caius, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that."

"Don't fret. As long as you get up safely, I do not mind," Caius tried to remain kind despite his voice holding no emotion.

"Come in and sit down –" Hermione grabbed Ginny away quickly as she stepped onto Daphne's foot causing her to hiss in pain and grab hold of Harry once again.

"Not here!" Harry seemed to have a surge of panic not needing any extra weight, "We're here!"

"Ouch!" Neville squealed out through the darkness causing Daphne to make a face.

"Quiet!" said a hoarse voice suddenly.

"Don't you tell me to be quiet," Daphne huffed as she tried to figure out who it was, "How the bloody hell is my Uncle still asleep?"

"I am your Uncle," Remus seemed to deadpan with slight amusement, "And I am not asleep anymore, Daphne."

"Oh," Daphne placed a hand over her mouth, finding herself rather embarrassed by this.

Remus Lupin appeared to have woken up at last just to make comments to his niece. Or so Daphne would say. Daphne could hear movements in her corner. None of them spoke, sitting in an odd silence. There was a soft, crackling noise and a shivering light filled the compartment. Remus held up his wand, using lumos to give some light. The light illuminated his tired grey face, but his eyes looked alert and wary.

"Stay where you are," Remus spoke, in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his wand ready and alert as his eyes darted down to his niece.

But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the glisten of the wand in Remus' hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Daphne's eyes widened in horror as she felt her stomach begin to knot. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, greyish, slimy-looking and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water ... It was visible only for a split second.

Slowly reaching in the area where Daphne and Harry sat. Daphne was practically shaking with fear at the creature as she felt herself feel drained. Almost as if she'd never had a moment of happiness in her life. It wasn't too terrible though, it was a rare occasion for the girl to be truly happy.

As though the creature beneath the cloak sensed the boy's gaze at her side, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of the black material that cloaked its body. And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath, as though it was trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.

An intense cold swept over them all, a cold that felt as the train had. Daphne felt her own breath catch in her chest and she felt how Harry completely froze in his. The cold went deeper than their skin. It was inside their chest, inside of their hearts, and inside of their minds.

Daphne felt her breathing start to go mad and it only worsened when she felt Harry's body begin to slide down. She panicked and grabbed hold of him despite feeling rather nauseous. Nerves surged through her body as she noticed he was unconscious.

Absentmindedly, she grabbed her wand. She wasn't sure what spell she casted or what she did that scared it off but all she knew was that she was reminded of her happiness and a light became vibrant from the tip of her wand. Once she came back to her senses, her panic worsened as she felt herself grow dim.

"No, no, Harry... come on... wake up," This was scaring her beyond belief, almost more than the basilisk had, "Uncle Remus! Hermione!" The girl was freaking out as she held onto the Potter boy.

"Harry! Harry! Are you all right?" Ron began to slap his face, making sure that he didn't hurt Daphne in the process as she held onto him, shaking messily.

"W-what?" The boy's eyes began to flutter open which made Daphne feel a sense of relief.

There were lanterns above and they began to flicker, and the floor was shaking – the Hogwarts Express was moving again and the lights had come back on. Everyone was now able to see each other once again. Ron and Hermione were kneeling in front of him, and above them she could see Neville and Professor Lupin watching.

Remus looked worried at his niece as her body continued to shake but she tried her best to sit still for Harry. Knowing Harry felt very sick. The boy wiped the sweat off of his face before carefully taking his glasses from the girl's hands. Ron and Hermione heaved him back to sit upright in his seat and not on the girl.

"Are you OK?' Ron seemed nervous, finding himself at a loss over what had just happened.

"Yeah," Harry's words were faint as he spoke, looking quickly towards the door.
The hooded creature had vanished. Presumably gone out the way it had come. Caius found his gaze still residing on his young cousin as someone came barrelling down the hall. Atticus quickly pushes himself into the compartment and immediately goes to Daphne.

He inspected her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Daph. Hey, what happened? Nothing got you, right?" He was clearly worried and the girl was in a sort of mental daze.

"What happened? Where's that – that thing? Who screamed?" Harry's questions were similar to Atticus' but his were aimed at a completely different audience.

"No one screamed," Ron stood still, which was surprising due to the nerves laced thickly through his tone.

"Daph," Atticus spoke as he tried to snap his sister out of the daze she was left in.

It was almost as if she couldn't hear anything. Her face was blank, as were her eyes. Something felt odd. Her ears were ringing and it was almost as if someone was whispering in her ears. Not one, someone. Multiple.

Her body was still shaking. She had lost all the color in her lips and her cheeks. Her skin is so sun-kissed yet so pale at the same time. A frightening sight.

"But I heard screaming-"A loud snap made them all jump, well, except for Daphne whose lips parted as if she were about to speak.

Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces for anyone he deemed fit to need them. He always carried chocolate on him, it was something that the Lupin's loved.

"Here,"  he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece that he had broken off, "Eat it. It'll help."

Harry took the chocolate but didn't eat it, stunned in his own right, "What was that thing?"  he asked Lupin curiously.

"A Dementor," Remus spoke, passing out chocolate to everyone else before pausing in front of his niece, "One of the Dementors of Azkaban."

Everyone stared at him. Professor Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket.

"Daphne," Remus watched as the girl stood, chewing her lip as her eyes moved back and forth while her hands shook softly, "You're okay."

"What's happening to her?" Hermione asked as she looked horrified.

"Panic attack," Neville offered up in conclusion, "She used to have them often."

"Or it's something deeper," Caius adjusted his posture as he lifted his gaze.

It was clear that everyone was uncertain with Daphne's state. Hermione was trying to pass it off as excessive shock but it seemed to be something deeper. Even in Harry's state, he found himself worried for her.

"It's probably nothing," Atticus figured it was something that the two had discussed prior that he was swore to keep a secret about, "She's probably in shock, with everything happening that is."

"Or her fear of the dark escalated," Caius tried to be of help before narrowing his eyes, "I'm sure she'll have my head for that enlightenment."

"Daphne," Remus took her hand, ignoring how hard she flinched as he placed his palm in hers, "It's just me."

Daphne finally seemed to pull herself out of the daze as she looked at her Uncle. Her chest heaving momentarily as she looked around before she sat herself back down.

"Eat," Remus repeated as he handed his niece a piece of chocolate with a worried gaze, 'It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me ...' He strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor but not without motioning at Caius and Atticus.

"Are you sure you're OK, Harry?" Hermione asked, watching Harry anxiously before looking at Atticus and Daphne.

"I don't get it ... what happened?" The emerald-eyed boy was at as much of a loss as the others, as he wiped more sweat off his face.

"The real question is, how did she get rid of it," Caius couldn't help but comment as all eyes fell on the young girl.

Daphne slowly rose the small piece of chocolate to her lips, taking a small bite as she shook her head, "That can be figured out another time," Atticus declared as he rubbed the girl's arm.

Things were not going to be easier this year. As the Darkness had taken over the castle.