act one: the girl in the bubble
chapter sixteen

Life could change in an instant. Daphne knew that, as did everyone around her. Whether it be life, a new life being brought into the world or into a group. Or it could be mortality, being reminded that you won't be around as death raises its scythe and unleashes his wrath upon your life.

And in the case of the Black family, in a way, they were reminded of both. At the same time. There was a new child coming, sometime soon within the spring or summer months. Someone who'd grow up and take on the crown from Daphne. Someone who'd be the proper heir and erase the girl.

The eraser was practically the cause of death. A fate as swift as the end. The girl could try and challenge the succession, as her father was the only one who had a say but she knew that it would be difficult for him. Asking him to choose between children, asking him to make a choice that would only bring him more judgement...

But Lucerys had made a similar choice before. Daphne knew it was selfish to think about, selfish to ask her father to make a decision like this, but it was only fair to her. She was the eldest by blood of his line. She had been prepared for this and she did not want to, no, she wasn't going to let some baby take it from her.

A lot of things seemed to be popping up making life even more difficult for those who shared the Black bloodline, well, only those who shared the last name. Part of the line remained unaffected by accusations and slander against their name - as it was not their name, but their blood.

For some reason, life seemed to be in a sort of whirlwind. Daphne couldn't exactly keep herself in one spot with everything that was happening. She had come back from Hogsmeade early during one of Hogwarts many weekends. Sitting alone in the Common Room as everyone seemed to be in all sorts of areas.

Daphne was sitting on one of the many red couches. Her hair let down in loose waves as she wore a pair of low rise distressed jeans and a red henley shirt. A few buttons were undone much like her usual school shirt and she fiddled with the necklace that hung loose around her neck from her father that adorned the engraving of the moon and a raven as it did on her ring.

Her legs were over one of the arms, making her doc martens noticeable to anyone who passed. No one ever commented on what the girl wore as it changed so rapidly over time. Anyone who passed her now would talk about how she was a perfect mix of two of her Uncles. She often thought that as her eyes glazed over the pages of her book.

That was until she heard the fat lady talking from the other side of the portrait and she grew curious. The girl had gotten up and slowly strided over to the portrait, forcing it open before it was quick to snap back shut behind her. Leaving her alone and standing face to face with none other than Sirius Black.

Daphne had no clue how to react. At first, she believed it was some sort of vision that was brought on or some sort of lie that her brain fabricated after drinking an absurd amount of Fire Whiskey she had found in the dormitories, not that she had actually drank a lot, maybe just a tiny sip. The girl's lips were parted as she tried to figure out what to do. Or how exactly to react.

"Well shit," Daphne's reaction was simple as she blinked rapidly before the panic set in, "Oh shit!"

Sirius was quick to place a hand over her mouth, pushing her back into the portrait to shut her up, "Sh."

Daphne's eyes were wide as she looked at this man who probably had no clue who she was. His dirt covered hands covering her mouth and part of her nose making her struggle a bit to get a good breath in. Holding her firmly against a portrait in broad daylight, someone could easily see, but no one came by.

"Where is he?" Sirius asked as his eyes dug into the girl's, "Where is he?" His voice was quiet yet frantic, "I know you know."

"I don't," Daphne's body began to shake as she looked scared, "I don't know what you're talking about," She tried to speak but her voice was muffled by his hand while the Fat Lady screamed.

Sirius moved his hand and grabbed Daphne's shirt before roughly moving her behind him. Slashing the painting as the Fat Lady disappeared in Daphne's horror as she watched before debating on running, but he had a grip on her.

"I would advise against screaming," Sirius turned back to her as his eyes scanned her carefully, "Little firefly..."

"Don't call me that," Daphne snapped as she shook her head, "You have no right to call me that. You're a madman."

"I'm your uncle," Sirius narrowed his eyes as he kept his grip on her shirt before pointing a finger at her, "Can you get me in there?"

Daphne shook her head rapidly as she acted as if there were no other ways to get in. She didn't know what he wanted or what he was going to do, so why would she let him in? The thought of doing that was absolutely insane.

Sirius did not seem pleased with her answer, "You know, Daphne, for someone with your ability I'd believe you already know certain details," The way he talked, the way he acted, Daphne felt sad for him but also a great sense of fear.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Daphne shook her head before gripping the bannister behind her tightly, "You know, I'd love to help you out," Daphne faked a grin which seemed to please the insane man, "So, which way did you come in?"

Now that seemed to frustrate him even more as he let go of her harshly as he huffed, "You really are your father's daughter."

"Awe thanks," Daphne faked a grin before noting as he looked away and she began to run down the staircases.

"Hey," she could hear the annoyance from the man as she was quick to go down and try to hop across the stairs as they changed.

That was, until a dog barreled at her as she jumped across one. Causing her to not fully make it across and grab ahold of the stairs in fear of falling while the dog was quick to turn back into a man and yank her over.

Daphne pushed herself back against a banister as she looked at the convict, her uncle, a murderer who about just killed her as a dog. What a day... Daphne tried to remain calm, trying to do her best not to panic.

"Don't you dare tell a soul," Sirius pointed a finger at her before he heard voices and turned back into a dog and slipped away.

He left Daphne on the moving staircase as if he wasn't worried about her saying anything or her going and telling anyone about what had just happened. As if he hadn't held her mouth shut. As if he hadn't had to chase after her. As if she was harmless and quiet.

Not that she could blame him. After all, the girl had been easily intimidated over the years. Often diminishing the real amount of hurt she felt and blaming everything on herself believing that she was overreacting or causing an unnecessary ordeal for everyone.

Daphne wasn't sure of what she wanted to do. Imagine if she told someone, if someone knew, she had seen Sirius or even so much of had a momentary conversation with him? What would they think of her? Nothing kind. Not even anything like she's rebelling. No. They'd think that they were working together.

The girl felt dirty. Dirtier than she ever had. As she stood with her back against one of the banisters she continuously began to rub her sleeve against her mouth and her nose. Where the man's hand has been. Needing to get the dirt off of her - his dirt.

The dirt she felt like had been tainted by crimes. By who he had been. By what he had done. Daphne continued to scrub until her face burned and she let her hands fall back down as she held the bannister behind her. Breathing heavily as she forced herself to gather her thoughts. The last thing she needed to do was spiral.

Daphne decided there was one person she needed to go see. One person who knew as much knowledge about the house of Black as she did. Her brother. Atticus was as knowledgeable as she was. But it was a hit or miss if he would ask questions, and Daphne hoped that he wouldn't this time because she never had been a good liar to him.

She knew she had to be careful though. She knew that she was being watched for who she was. She knew that someone was waiting for her to just have a small little slip up so that they could wreak havoc on her 'perfect' little life.

Daphne adjusted herself before she moved her shoulders around and wiped her face one more time before going through the corridors. She comes to a halt trying to remember if he had gone to Hogsmeade. She had gone for an hour but it wasn't anything special so she had came back - but what if he was still there?

She couldn't help but huff to herself before figuring that he was still there.

And that leads us to now.

Ron and Hermione had returned from Hogsmeade in the evening and told Harry about the many wonders that he had missed out on. Though, Daphne wasn't that impressed with Hogsmeade finding it rather boring and really not that interesting.

"Honeydukes sweetshop is brilliant, but nothing beats Zonko's joke shop," Ron explained as the group began to stalk up the staircase that Daphne had run down much earlier, well a few hours ago or so, "We never did get to go to the Shrieking Shack. You heard that it's..."

"The most haunted building in Britain," Harry muttered, looking rather annoyed by his best friend's words as halted, upon hearing the others whisper and stare at the Gryffindor entry, "What's going on?"

Daphne side eyed her friend before adjusting herself and shrugging her shoulders, acting clueless, "I have no idea."

"Probably Neville's forgotten the password again," Ron grumbled out before realizing that the Longbottom boy had been behind him the entire time.

"Hey," Neville couldn't help but let out as he looked a little hurt by the statement.

"Ronald," Daphne lectured the boy with a firm look.

"Oh, you're there," Ron rubbed the back of his neck while smiling apologetically at Daphne.

It wasn't long before Percy Weasley's voice caught everyone's ears, no doubt trying to stretch his authority, "Let me through, please! Excuse me! I'm head boy!"

Everyone was crowded around the portrait hole. Daphne felt almost as if a switch had been flipped, knowing she couldn't act suspicious. There was a lot at stake now and she couldn't let her own anxiety ruin it. It was almost like everything in her had shut off in a way as she looked over at Harry once more.

"Get back, all of you!" Percy called back once again as the crowd moved around, "No one is to enter this dormitory until it has been fully searched."

Harry looked alarmed and little Ginny Weasley ran down the stairs looking at the group worriedly, "The Fat lady! She's gone!"

The little girl was clearly in a panic and Daphne sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose before shaking her head. She showed a little bit of her worry as she then placed a hand on the young girl's arm as they watched what was now happening.

A path began to clear through the students and the markings of Sirius Black's claws resided in the painting. The paper peeled back revealing the wood beneath and the missing lady as everyone murmured and gossiped.

"Serves her right, she was a terrible singer," Ron muttered as he looked alongside his friends at the distressed painting that was merely a few feet ahead.

"It's not funny, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed as her worry showed through as well, clearly not liking how close to home this had hit.

The portraits were going wild, screaming and crying which hurt Daphne's ears. Usually, she wasn't really bothered by things like this. Was this her guilt? Was that what was eating her up inside? Daphne thought it was stupid to feel guilty about everything. She had done nothing wrong.

"Keep calm, everyone! Break into fours! Back to your common room," Percy Weasley continued to try to keep the peace as he told everyone what to do.

"We can't you bloody idiot, not until it's searched!" Daphne muttered up at the boy as she crossed her arms across her chest, "Did he not say that? Where else do we go? Anyone fancy going to Slytherin?"

"Merlin, no," Ron made a face of ultimate disgust at the mention of the other house, "Go at your own risk."

"Be quiet, the headmaster's here!" Percy called out as he tried to get the attention of all those that were littering the staircases and taking up room, "Come on, move!"

Dumbeldore managed to get through the crowds of students. The students all moved to make a path in the middle as they made rows against the banisters. Dumbledore held up the bottom of his robes as he moved which almost made Daphne laugh thinking of it as if it was some sort of gown.

"You heard. Move!" Percy was more aggressive when yelling this time causing a strike of fear to go through Daphne as she huffed since Dumbledore had already made it through the students.

Dumebledore and Filch began to inspect the painting before the rougher looking of the two spun around on the steps. Making a face as he looked through the other paintings, probably trying to spot the woman. Daphne kept her arms across her chest while her friends all looked worried.

Dumbledore ran his fingers over the ripped pieces of paper before speaking, "Mr. Filch, round up the Ghosts. Tell them to search every painting in the castle to find the Fat Lady."

Dumbledore had turned around and caught sight of Filch who began to speak, "There's no need for ghosts, Professor. The Fat Lady's there," Filch raised his finger and pointed her out to everyone.

This caused an uproar of movement as every student raced forward trying to get over to the Fat Lady. Harry and Hermione now running in front as Ron caught hold of Daphne and pulled her along as they raced up the stairs rather quickly. Quiet the workout for the group of Gryffindor's.

"Hey! Mind where you're going! Slow down!" Percy yelled loudly as he presumably got trampled over by all those who tried to get to the other painting, "You listen! I'm head boy!"

"Come back here!"

"Keep moving!"

The group managed to get behind Dumbledore, stopping full and well in front of the painting. Daphne tried to move out of sight of the painting in fear of what the Lady would say about her in her own distress but Ron had shoved her forward and Harry had latched onto the girl.

"Dear lady, who did this to you?" Dumbledore looked at her worriedly as he inspected her in the new frame, a clear look of sadness over his face.

She raised up from behind the cattle as she cried, "Eyes like the devil, he's got, and a soul as dark as his name! It's him, headmaster. The one they all talk about! He's here, somewhere in the castle! Sirius Black!" She sobbed before going down.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione whispered from beside Daphne.

But the Fat Lady wasn't finished as she lifted up, "Poor girl!" This now peaked everyone's attention, "He had a hold of her... chased her down and fought against her! Oh my poor girl! Black!" The woman cried in hysterics again and everyone now looked at Daphne who was as pale as a ghost.

"Secure the castle, Mr. Filch. The rest of you, to the Great Hall. I'll talk to you there, Ms. Black," Dumbledore looked over at the girl who was shaking lightly.

Now, every Gryffindor was laid down on the floor of the Great Hall. Everyone except Daphne lay in their sleeping bags as she awaited for all of the Professors to arrive. Her friends had been worried, fussing over her safety and what could have happened. Harry seemed a little off but his concern was noticeable.

"I've searched the Astronomy tower and the Owlery, there's nothing there," Filch came back in as he explained this to the Headmaster.

"Thank you," Dumbledore nodded his head as he stood near the young girl.

"The third floors are clear too, sir," Flitwick explained as he stood at Filch's side.

"Very good," Dumbledore seemed pleased with these results, but also worried as he had yet to be found.

Snape came breezing in last as his cloak flew behind him as he walked, "I've done the dungeons. Headmaster, no sign of Black. Nor anywhere else in the castle," Snape looked at the young girl in slight disgust.

"I didn't really expect him to linger," Dumbledore admitted as he looked at Snape before nodding at Daphne who made a face.

"Remarkable feat, don't you think? To enter Hogwarts' castle on one's own... completely undetected except for his niece?" Snape couldn't help but remark as he followed Dumbledore's path.

"Quite remarkable, yes," Dumbledore agreed in a different tone as he held his hands behind his back.

"Any theories on how he might have managed it?" Snape then questioned with an eyebrow raised at the headmaster.

"Many. Each as unlikely as the next," Dumbledore recalled as he came to a halt, turning back around as Daphne continued to sit on her knees.

"You may recall... prior to the start of the term I expressed some concerns... about your appointment of Professor..." Snape was cut off as soon as Dumbledore realized where he was heading.

"Not a single Professor inside this castle would help Sirius Black enter it, not even him. He wouldn't endanger his niece like that," He spoke lowly but Daphne could still hear him, "I'm quite convinced the castle is safe. And I'm more than willing to send these students to their houses."

"What about Potter and Black? Should they be warned?" Snape retorted and that pricked Daphne's ears up, now becoming more eager to know.

"Perhaps, but for now, let them rest. We'll talk to Daphne later, let them sleep. For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own," Dumbledore looked back and Daphne had quickly moved to appear as asleep as possible, "Let's swim together in the deepest ocean or glide over the highest cloud..."