act one: the girl in the bubble
chapter two

Life was one tough thing for anyone to go through. For anyone involved. Daphne sat on her bed in the Lupin home as the sun drew closer than ever. The raining had stopped, Daphne didn't exactly know when. Finding herself stuck in her mind. Stuck on what she was missing and what she had left behind.

And suddenly, she found herself remembering the letter. The letter that she had felt weighed her down only a few hours prior. She almost scolded herself for forgetting about it, whatever would he think of her? She knew he looked forward to receiving her letters due to the fact he was all alone at home.

Daphne found herself getting up as soon as she could. Upon hearing her Uncle awake as well, knowing Atticus was definitely still asleep. Daphne knew he had a skill of being a heavy sleeper when he was asleep. Unlike Daphne who'd easily wake up but take many naps throughout the day.

Though, an owl came in early in the morning to the Lupin home. Daphne hid by one of the doors as she peered through the hall as Remus allowed the owl in before grabbing the letter. Daphne recognized the bird, it was her father's. She noticed the look that passed over her Uncle's features which made her frown. She wondered what had been written.

"I know you're there, Daph," Remus placed his hand against the counter as he let his head turn slightly back so that Daphne could see part of his face.

Daphne bit on her inner lip as she looked at her Uncle, "Did my father write to you?" She questioned softly, blowing softly at the wisps of hair in her face.

She noticed the look on his face as he ran through different scenarios in his head before finally, he lifted himself off of the counter before leaning his back against it, "He did."

The sentence was short and simple. Her Uncle was not a man to speak in short and simple sentences unless he was hiding something from her. Knowing the fact the letter was from her father, he was withholding some sort of information about her parents from her. She'd presumably find out alongside Atticus once they went back home.

Daphne adjusted her posture as she tilted her head, "Well, I assume if you aren't telling us we will find out upon returning to our hell."

"Language," Remus gave his niece a sharp look as he shook his head, "You'll find out upon returning."

Daphne rolled her eyes before shaking her head, "Can I ask you one thing, Uncle Rem?" She walked over to him but didn't move to lean against him or the counter.

"Go ahead, Firefly," Remus tilted his head down so that she would understand that his attention was on her and only her as she stood there.

Her feet rocked back and forth against the floorboards as she sighed, wishing she wasn't curious enough to ask this knowing the answer already, "Did they even notice we were gone?"

Remus paused for a moment, Daphne took his silence as a no which caused her to spin on her heels, with the creak of the floorboards, before beginning to walk back to her room. It wasn't until she heard steps behind her that she paused before feeling Remus' hand clasp around her shoulder.

"Your father did notice. He wanted to make sure you and Atticus were safe," Remus gave her a pointed look before adding, "Among other things."

"Other things," Daphne scoffed before sighing, "It's whatever."

She wasn't sure if she actually wanted to believe that her father had noticed the disappearance of both of his children. He normally would be too caught up on their mother. After all, that's where his focus usually sat. Atticus and Daphne were never the priority. Not since the day they were born. Not since ever.

"Go get some more rest, you need it," Remus looked at his niece as he gently poked the dark circles under her eyes, "You're too young not to get enough sleep. Wait until you're old like me to keep up."

Daphne raised an eyebrow, before cracking a small grin, "I do sleep. I am old enough!"

"Go get some sleep or I'm going to get you!" Remus joked as he backed up from his niece, hints of joy shining within his eyes, "You have three seconds... one... two..."

"Ah!" Daphne began to sprint as fast as she could into her room before Remus could catch up to her.

"Three! I'm coming to get you!" Remus' strides shook the small cottage as the man was able to catch up to her quickly due to having long legs, "I've got you!" His fingers wiggled against her sides causing laughter to echo from her lips.

"Uncle Rem!" Daphne managed to get out through her fits of laughter as she tried to remain quiet so that she wouldn't wake up Atticus, "Shhh!" She couldn't help but continue laughing till she had no air left in her lungs which caused her to start coughing rapidly before she froze.

Remus then grew concerned, watching as it seemed the girl had left reality, "Firefly?"

Daphne's vision became clouded over. Remus' words faded as slowly the area around her became dark. Her eyes narrowed as she rose to her feet, now finding herself standing inside of Azkaban prison. She blinked rapidly before trying to rub her eyes, this is just a dream. This isn't real. This is just a dream.

She let out a strident sound as she felt fur rub against her leg. Watching as a dog pranced out of the stall that once housed Sirius Black before the scenery changed. Her chest began to heave up and down rapidly as she now stood beside Sirius Black staring up at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

This isn't real. Don't let your mind fool you, Daphne. She kept trying to talk herself into being calm. After all, there was no way that any of this was real, right?

She couldn't prepare herself quick enough for anything that she was seeing. Finding herself rather startled as she now stood in front of herself and Harry Potter. Something seems wrong. Heated almost heated. Her eyes were filled with hurt, and his were filled with anger that overpowered the hurt.

Daphne began to rub her eyes furiously despite the pain. No, no, no. She refused to see any of this any longer. Finding herself in a rather unhappy situation. Let me out. Wake me up. She had hoped her Uncle would see that something's wrong, Remus would help her out, right? He had too. He was her Uncle. After all, all of this was just a dream.

She kept rubbing her eyes over and over. Harder and harder. She could feel how bad they burned. She could feel how raw they were becoming as they began to water. The pain flowing through her face as she continued to rub over and over. Not stopping once due to pain. Not even as she finally felt a pair of hands wrap around her wrists.

"Daphne, Daphne," Remus' tone was urgent as he was trying to get ahold of the young girl, "Daphne stop it," He managed to get her hands away from her eyes but she had already caused quite a bit of damage, "Hey, look at me. You're alright."

Daphne's sight was blurry as she narrowed her eyes, feeling the hot tears roll down her cheeks as her face pulsed in pain, "Uncle Rem?" Her voice wavered out of fear, not knowing what had just happened or why it had happened.

Remus was now sitting on the floor, the younger of the two within his arms as he held her close to his chest with her wrists down in his hands as he kept ahold of her just to make sure she wouldn't cause any more harm to herself, "I've got you, you're alright."

His words sounded like not only a reassurance to the girl, but to himself. The girl's body had a slight shake to it as she leaned more into his grip. Tears continuously slipped from her eyes as her sight remained clouded over for a moment. Her eyes closed tightly as she tried to calm down the pain and regain her vision. Hoping to not see whatever she had just seen again.

Remus slowly let go of her wrist before he began to take his fingers through her hair softly. Trying to soothe her shaky state. He could feel her tears soaking into his jumper as he held her close. He was almost afraid to let her go in the state that she was in. Daphne knew it. She could tell by how he was holding onto her.

"Daphne, do you know what happened?" Remus asked softly as he continued to softly weave his fingers through her hair.

Daphne shook her head softly before stopping when the side of her eye rubbed against his shirt which had caused her more pain, "No. I don't know. It was... It was strange."

"It came out of nowhere. It was like you were going into deep thought out of nowhere then you just began to freak out and speak really quickly, I couldn't catch a thing you were saying," Remus spoke softly, almost as if he were afraid that he was scaring the girl.

Daphne just continued to sit in her silence as she held onto her Uncle. He didn't seem phased by this, despite everything that had just happened, Remus slowly began to calm himself down so that he could calm down his niece. Knowing she had absolutely no clue about what had just happened to her.

"I've got you," Remus repeated softly to the girl as he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, "You're here with me and Atticus. He's asleep in the other room. You're safe here." 

Daphne sat in her own silence as she tried to process what she had just gone through. Hat she had just seen. It wasn't something usual. It was like some sick dream while she was awake. Something so jumbled up and so real that she was just being thrown into everything.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Remus then asked as the gears in Daphne's head continued to turn.

"I'd rather not at the moment," Daphne's voice was soft as she shook her head.

And after that, that was the end of the conversation. The two children remained at the Lupin household for nearly seven days before they returned to the Lupin-Black household. Atticus knew nothing of what had happened with Daphne in the early hours of the morning on their second day there. Not even her parents knew.

Daphne held onto the letter that had seemed to weigh her down in the beginning. Sending responses back yet never actually knowing what rested in the first letter. He had not wanted her to open it, not until they saw each other again. So, she followed his wishes despite wanting nothing more than to rip it open and read what resided on the page.

On July 31, she wrote to him. Telling him she hoped he had a good birthday and telling him about how thankful she was to have him as her friend. Ignoring the pit within her stomach after knowing what she had seen. Ignoring the fear she had for the fact one of her Uncles had escaped Azkaban to do Merlin knows what.

She wrote to her other friends as well. Writing to Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, and to Neville Longbottom and Caius Malfoy. Draco's older brother and her cousin. He was only two years older and not a prick like his brother. Expressing his disdain for blood supremacy to his cousin in secret in fear of what his father would do.

On her birthday, she received many letters and gifts from her friends. Which she held dearly. Not to mention what she had received from her family, minus her mother, that had made the day very dear to her. Atticus had given her a small ring with a raven and a moon engraved within it, matching a small necklace she received from her father.

Then, came the day before the two children of the house of Black were set to return to Hogwarts for yet another term. Rosalie had called a family meeting, the letter that her Uncle Remus had received remained thick within Daphne's mind as she sat on the couch. Atticus at her side while Lucerys looked rather worried.

"I have some important news that you two must know," Rosalie grinned as she tilted her head, looking at the two children as she placed a hand on her stomach, "You're going to have a little brother."

Daphne sucked in a breath as she felt her chest tighten. Atticus' gaze turned to Daphne as the two sat in an uncomfortable silence. Lucerys' gaze fell to the floor in shame while Rosalie looked expectantly for a positive reaction.

"Well? Be happy," Rosalie snapped as she looked at the two children, "Maybe this will give you two more sense and responsibility since it seems you lack both."

Daphne couldn't bring herself to be happy. Feeling that everything had just gone down the drain for her. Her life. Her place. A boy was all the House of Black ever wanted. Once a son was born, the girls were not acknowledged. They received nothing once their parents passed. They had to make everything up for themselves.

"You know what this means," was all Daphne responded as she rose to her feet, "I'll be nothing but a pawn for you to wed off now. You have your heir."

"Daph," Lucerys shook his head as he looked at his daughter, "Rules can be changed."

"Oh don't be ridiculous," Rosalie's hands moved over to her hips, "Is that all you care about? You were never truly going to be the heir, darling. Not whilst Atticus or Sirius live."

"That's not the point. Atticus already has an inheritance waiting for him as does Uncle Sirius. I had one. I had a future until you decided this and don't talk of responsibility and sense between Atticus and I. It seems you lost yourself over the years, mother. You wonder why your children run off so much," Daphne tried to shut her own mouth but the words kept spilling out, "Oh, wait, you don't wonder that because you don't even pay your children attention."

"Daphne," Atticus tutted her softly as he rose up beside his cousin.

"You've given me so much trouble growing up, Daphne. You were spoiled more than other kids and yet you still disrespect me in such a way. After everything I've done for you? I carried you for nine months, I gave you this life!" Rosalie's tone slowly began to rise.

"Don't," Atticus gave the woman a pointed look.

"Funny that's the only thing you see fit to use in an argument. Some mother you are. Riches don't change anything. You can buy me things all you want but that doesn't change the neglect," Daphne tried to keep her posture before spitting at her mother, "A life I never wanted to live."

"Go to your room, now," Rosalie ordered as she shook her head at the young girl, "We'll talk about this later. Do you understand?"

Daphne felt the pressure in her chest building as she flared her nostrils, huffing angrily, "Yes ma'am," She turned on her heels, yanking her arm out of her brother's grasp as she practically ran up the stairs.

Some mother she was. Rosalie Lupin-Black was a woman that Daphne could hardly stand over the years. The girl did not have many fond memories of her mother, not since before she started Hogwarts. She didn't understand what had happened to her mother to cause her to start to deconstruct over the years.

Daphne sat down in her bedroom as she sat down in one of the chairs. The newly thirteen year old held her arms tightly against her chest as her eyes stayed narrowed. Why is she like this? I can't stand her. Daphne couldn't help but think negatively of her mother in her mind.

Daphne found herself chewing at her nails as she fell deeper into her mind. Hearing as the yelling from the floor below began to pick up. The creak of the floorboards became methodical to the girl's ears. She didn't even seem phased at the creaking of her door as it opened.

"Daphne," Atticus tried to catch the girl's attention as he spoke, but he knew she had dug herself a deep hole into her consciousness.

"What?" Daphne asked softly as she turned to look at Atticus with an eyebrow raised as she came back to reality, "Did father send you?"

"You know I come on my own," Atticus moved to sit near her, a slight smile on his lips as he sat on her bed, "Don't listen to Aunt Rosalie, we both know that she's absolutely bonkers."

"Beyond bonkers," Daphne muttered as she smiled slightly.

Atticus moved and ruffled a bit of Daphne's hair, despite her failing attempt to dodge his grasp, "Uncle Luc won't let it change anything, you know. He would never love anyone as he has loved you, his firstborn."

"I doubt that," Daphne looked at her cousin as she raised an eyebrow, "He loves you as well, Ace. Besides, we all know how the house of Black is. Not to mention I've been the only daughter for thirteen years."

"That doesn't change a thing," Atticus rolled his eyes, "You know I am right."

"I don't," Daphne hummed back as she chewed on her inner lip.

"You're bloody stubborn," Atticus sighed before looking in the doorway, "I'm going to have a piss."

"Didn't need to know that," Daphne made a face of disgust as she turned around to watch as he left before noticing that her father had been standing in the doorway, "Dad."

"Daph," Lucerys mimicked her tone as he took a few strides to her, a sad look resting in his eyes, "How's my sweet girl?"

Daphne faked a scowl at the nickname before a small grin broke out as she looked at the floor, "I think you can come up with an answer based on my outburst," suddenly, she felt small as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Lucerys let out a small chuckle as he shook his head, "I'd much rather ask my daughter for a proper answer than make assumptions. Assumptions only further problems if wrong."

"I'm fine," Daphne tried to lie as she looked at her father, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her thigh.

Lucerys seemed to take notice as he raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"

"It is," Daphne tried her best to keep a serious expression but the moment she looked at her father a smile busted out across her face.

"You're lying, sweet girl," Lucerys let out a warm chuckle as he shook his head, "I knew it."

"You know I can't keep a straight face," Daphne shook her head as she huffed out her words, "This is rather unfair."

"On the contrary, I think it works in my favor, sweet girl," Lucerys tilted his head, "Will you please tell me?"

And the bonds of the House of Black became twisted - yet tied together in this flush of youth.