act one: the girl in the bubble
chapter seven

Emptiness was a feeling that everyone seemed to feel. Something about the Dementor had sucked everything out of the group of teenagers. Bringing in the negative emotions and feelings that everyone tried so hard to tuck away. It really did a number on them, even if they managed to be strong enough to hide it.

Daphne's ears were ringing as she found herself thinking about what had just happened. The dementor that had brought everything forward to whoever it came near. The feelings it had brought forward in her... she felt numb. Despite the panic that had later set in when it first appeared, she felt nothing.

Almost as nothing as her baby sibling at the moment. Almost as nothing as the dead. Just a shell of a person and she couldn't help but hate that. She didn't want to feel as if she was nothing. That she held nothing. She wanted to feel something. Something that wasn't pain or anguish. Something that would just make her feel normal.

Thinking about her Uncle Sirius and who he had been once upon a time made her pause. Only now realizing how her life was a lot like the one that her father and his brothers had endured in their youth. Part of her heart went out to her father in that moment, hating how history seemed to repeat itself for him. But part of her couldn't help but decide what she was going to do from them on.

"Are you sure you're okay, Harry?" Hermione asked as she narrowed her eyes, watching Harry anxiously.

Hermione seemed beyond worried about the boy with emerald-eyes. Just as she was worried about Daphne, not that the girl to find herself to care for in the time being. Her mind was so spaced out as she found herself thinking like clockwork.

"I don't get it ... what happened?" confusion laced Harry's tone as he wiped more sweat off his face.

"Well – that thing – the Dementor – stood there and looked around...I mean, I think it did, I couldn't see its face... – and you – you –" Hermione's words fell into a stuttering fit.

"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron spoke up, who still looked scared as his skin resided a ghostly white. "You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching –"

"And Professor Lupin stepped over you, and walked towards the Dementor, and pulled out his wand," Hermione spoke as she began to fiddle with her hands, "And he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the Dementor didn't move, so Daphne muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of her wand at it, and it turned round and sort of glided away ..."

"It was horrible," Neville squeaked out, in a higher voice than usual.

"It wasn't terrible," Atticus said as he made a face which made everyone look at him as if he were insane.

"Did you feel how cold it went when it came in?" Harry found himself asking while Daphne nodded, still not saying a word.

"It began to freeze, almost as if we were all outside," Caius agreed as he looked at the boy with an eyebrow raised, not yet leaving the compartment.

"I felt weird," Ron made a face as he spoke, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably, "Like I'd never be cheerful again ..." as Ron finished speaking, his sister, Ginny, who had hid herself in the corner of the compartment let out a sob as she looked as sick as everyone else while Hermione attempted to comfort her.

"But didn't any of you – fall off your seats?" Harry asked awkwardly, making an expression that Daphne couldn't easily figure out.

"No," Ron shook his head, looking anxiously at Harry again, "But you didn't. Daphne had a hold of you as she panicked."

"Ginny was shaking like mad, though ..." Harry didn't understand why it seemed that he was the only person this thing seemed to have an affect on.

Daphne's head had gone to pieces and she wasn't sure why. Ignoring the whispers that seem to plague her mind. She concluded that she was going insane. There was no other explanation as she sat there. Blinking slowly as she continued to nibble on the chocolate before Professor Lupin had come back.

Remus paused as he entered, looked around and said, with a small smile, "I haven't poisoned that chocolate, you know ... besides I wouldn't risk giving my niece poison."

Daphne looked over at Harry who had been hesitant on eating the chocolate. She gave a slight nod as she continued to eat as Atticus continued to rub a soothing motion up and down her arm. Harry gave her a soft look before he mimicked her actions.

"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," Remus informed the group of teenagers before going back into protective mode, "Are you all right, Harry?"

Harry didn't ask how Professor Lupin knew his name, it took him a moment before remembering that he was in fact related to Daphne, "Fine," he muttered, embarrassed.

"She talks about all of you, nothing special," Atticus had to joke as he looked over at Harry which caused the boy to turn bright red.

"Atticus," Remus gave the boy a look as he moved to take his seat once again.

Daphne couldn't help but hide a grin as she chewed on part of her lip. Shaking her head as she looked over, watching as Caius slipped out of the compartment while everyone else remained crammed in. Atticus slowly gave his sister more space as she got a better grip on herself while Harry remained pressed against her.

Something that she hadn't been ready for. She hadn't been prepared for as she was the one who was usually leaning all over him. The girl didn't pay any mind to it, knowing that he wasn't feeling well after what had went down with the dementors so she decided to spare him from further embarrassment.

They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey, all shifting awkwardly as they basked in their own emotions. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get out; owls hooted, cats meowing, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat which startled Daphne.

It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets and Daphne had not been prepared for it. Despite wearing her school uniform, minus her robes which were packed away, she found herself freezing. She held her arms close as she tried to use them to warm herself up, but she failed to do so.

Atticus had gone off to find Caius and the rest of their slytherin friends as soon as they exited the bus. Deeming Daphne protected with the group that she was with. After all, she seemed to be herself again. Sitting in her usual silence with the occasional comments with anything she deemed worthy enough of her words.

"Firs' years this way!" called a familiar voice, she smiled widely.

Daphne, Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake. Daphne couldn't help but smile at this, it had been her favorite part of her first year.

"All righ', you four?" Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd as soon as he caught sight of the group.

They waved at him, but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shoving them away along the platform. The constant sound of footsteps padding against the cobblestoned ground caused Daphne to grab a hold of Ron's sleeve since he was the closest to her.

Daphne, Harry, Ron and Hermione followed the rest of the school out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students, each pulled, most could only assume, by an invisible horse. But Daphne could see it, and she nodded at the creature before allowing Harry and Ron to help her in the coach.

After she got in, they climbed inside one and shut the door, the coach set off all by itself, bumping and swaying in procession. Daphne kept quiet as she sat comfortably in the coach while her friends all shared glances as if trying to figure something out.

The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. Daphne looked at Harry who immediately looked away upon meeting her gaze momentarily. She snickered before noticing how Ron and Hermione kept looking at him sideways, as though frightened he might collapse again.

As the carriage trundled towards a pair of magnificent wrought-iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Daphne saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either side which caused her to tense up and look at Harry.

A wave of cold sickness threatened to engulf the group again; Harry leaned back into the lumpy seat and closed his eyes until they had passed through the gates. Daphne found herself frowning, feeling responsible to keep an eye on everyone now. Not wanting anyone else to get hurt by these rugged creatures.

The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. Daphne couldn't help but imagine if she had managed to fall out the tiny window. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out, Ron helping Hermione down as his ears went pink.

As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded in everyone's ears. Harry made a face as he looked in the coach and offered a hand up to Daphne, which she took, as he helped her down safely before the two looked as Draco Malfoy drew closer.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously.

Daphne let out a low grumble as she muttered, "This git."

''Shove off, Malfoy" Ron seemed to match Daphne's energy, whose jaw was clenched.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" Malfoy taunted, raising his voice which caused a pit to form in Daphne's stomach, "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you, too, Weasley?"

"Is there a problem?" Thank Merlin for Uncle Remus, Daphne smirked like no other upon her Uncle's entry.

Remus Lupin had just got out of the next carriage. Now finding himself planted at his niece's side as he gave the boy a glare. Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. The two relatives having the same expression.

With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, Draco began to run his mouth once more, "Oh, no – er – Professor," then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle, and led them up the steps into the castle.

Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the four of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, and into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches and housed a magnificent marble staircase which led to the upper floors. Daphne being held onto by each of her friends so that she wouldn't be lost in the crowd.

The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right. Daphne followed the crowd towards it despite being lugged around and annoyed as she got bumped into, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called.

"Black! Potter! Granger! I want to see you three!" The three who had been called turned around surprised by the immediacy of their existence within the walls being acknowledged.

"We're usually not in trouble this quick," Daphne whispered as Harry now took a hold of her wrist.

Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house, was calling over the heads of the crowd. Somehow managing to find them rather quickly. Stupid redheads, Daphne figured it was because of Ron. After all, the redheads stuck out in the crowd as much as the platinum blondes did.

She was a stern-looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. Harry fought his way over to her with a feeling of foreboding as Daphne was pulled along and protected from the crowd; Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong.

"There's no need to look so worried – I just want a word in my office," McGonagall held her head high as she noticed that Ron tried to follow along, "Move along there, Weasley."

Ron stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry and Hermione away from the chattering crowd. Daphne supposed he was rather surprised that he wasn't included in the trouble this time. The group accompanied her across the Entrance Hall, up the marble staircase and along a corridor. Once they were in her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned for the three to sit down.

She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly, "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter. Not to mention the illness of you, Black, as you tried to help your friend."

Before anyone could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the matron, came bustling in a fret. Daphne blinked rapidly while Harry felt himself going red in the face. Daphne knew he felt bad enough about passing out, she knew that he was worried about what others were going to say on the matter further.

"I'm fine," Harry was quick to put up a fuss, "I don't need anything –"

"Oh, it's you, is it?" Madam Pomfrey was anything but surprised, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him, "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again? Ms. Black, following along again? Glad to see you don't have a giant gash..."

"It was a Dementor, Poppy," Professor McGonagall looked at the woman as she looked at Daphne as if inspecting her.

They exchanged a dark look, both clearly not agreeing with the Demetors being at Hogwarts, and Madam Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly, "Setting Dementors around a school," she muttered, pushing Harry's hair back and feeling his forehead while she seemed to bubble with anger, "He won't be the first one who collapses. Yes, he's all clammy. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate –"

The boy's eyes widened as he quickly spoke, "I'm not delicate!" Harry looked rather offended by this statement.

"Of course you're not," Madam Pomfrey spoke absent-mindedly, now taking his pulse.

"I don't know, I think you are," Daphne couldn't help but tease her friend as she looked at the ground with a slight smirk.

"What does he need?" Professor McGonagall spoke crisply, "Bed rest? Should he perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?"

"I'm fine!" Harry refused this as he jumped up, knocking over Daphne's chair before he attempted to grab ahold of the girl.

It seemed that the idea of Draco Malfoy taunting him further had a hold on the Potter boy. Not that Daphne could blame him, Draco's taunts often went too far and caused a lot of emotional damage. She was thankful he had caught her though, despite him being the reason she nearly hit the floor.

"Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least," Madam Pomfrey was at least trying to give some sort of remedy, as she was now trying to peer into Harry's eyes.

"I've already had some," Harry stood tall as he looked between the two women, "Professor Lupin gave me some. He gave it to all of us."

"Did he, now?" Madam Pomfrey spoke approvingly, "So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies."

"Are you sure you feel alright, Potter?" Professor McGonagall questioned sharply, needing to make sure that he was alright before she moved onto the next.

"Yes," Harry breathed out wanting this to be over.

"Very well, Ms. Black," McGonagall the older witch looked at the younger girl, "What happened to your face?"

"I fell," Daphne lied as she looked at Madam Pompfrey who got really close, tilting the girl's head up to inspect her.

"This wasn't no fall," Madam Pompfrey grabbed the girl's hands as she inspected her nails before speaking, "You did this to yourself."

"What?" Harry seemed worried at the news of her doing this to herself.

Daphne swallowed thickly, "I didn't."

"You can't lie to me dear," Madam Pompfrey looked at the girl, not ignoring how she flinched away.

Daphne went quiet as she got healed by the woman. Something caused Madam Pompfrey to pause, which caused Daphne to look rather confused.

"They've scared, they shouldn't be doing that," Madam Pompfrey found herself rather annoyed, "This is unusual..."

Daphne pulled herself back before looking at the woman, "I'm fine. Can we just go?"

The Professor paused before sharing a look with the nurse, something unspoken was said between the two before McGonagall spoke, "I'm glad you two are alright, kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her timetable, then we can go down to the feast together," McGonagall dismissed the two.

Daphne went back into the corridor with Harry and Madam Pomfrey who left for the hospital wing, muttering to herself. The two only had to wait a few minutes; then Hermione emerged looking very happy about something, probably some bonkers class she wanted to take, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the four of them made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall.

It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long house tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Professor Flitwick hobbled by carrying a hat and a three-legged stool out of the hall.

"Oh," Hermione hummed softly, "we've missed the Sorting!"

Daphne, Harry, and Hermione set off in the other direction, as quietly as possible, towards the Gryffindor table. People looked around at them as they passed along the back of the hall, and a few of them pointed at Harry and a few looked horrified at Daphne which caused her to grow uncomfortable. A now tense silence filled the air between the trio, while Ron looked confused.

"What did I miss?"