Eclipsed

With plenty of encouragement from his friends, James reluctantly scheduled a meeting with Madam Pomfrey to discuss the future of his Quidditch career at Hogwarts. Despite his reluctance to accept it, he knew it was time to face the reality of his situation, taking a cue from Remus, and develop a plan for the remainder of his career as an athlete.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, James found himself seated in a plush chair in Madam Pomfrey's office, surrounded by a group of professors, which included Madam Hooch, Professor McGonagall, and Felicity. As introductions were made, James couldn't shake the nervous flutter in his chest.

“So good to meet you,” Felicity said, holding out a hand to Madam Hooch. “I’ve heard so many great things about you all.” 

“The same for you, Ms. Song. We’re so glad you were able to come in today,” Hooch replied, settling into her own chair around the desk. 

McGonagall, though, was ready to cut straight to the point. “While I would love to keep catching up, I think there’s a reason we’ve all been called into this meeting, right, Mr. Potter?” 

Fidgeting with his hair, James cleared his throat, attempting to ease the tension with a small smile. "It's not really a big deal," he began, addressing the group. "But I thought, well to be honest it was Remus' idea, but anyways, we thought it might be a good idea for me to talk to you all about my vision and my Quidditch playing." McGonagall and Pomfrey shared a smile; Remus had been chosen as a prefect for a reason after all. 

Turning to Madam Pomfrey for encouragement, he continued. "Since my last check-in with Madame Pomfrey, we discovered that my vision has worsened a bit." With a nod from the healer, James faced the others once more. "After the last Quidditch match, I sort of… scared myself, I guess. I realized that I don’t think I will be able to accept when I need to stop playing until something bad happens, either to myself or someone else.”

McGonagall observed him closely, while Madam Hooch and Felicity offered sympathetic nods.  “I would hate for something awful to be the end of my Quidditch playing," James explained, "mostly because I love it so much, and don't want it to come to an end in a way that's like... bitter, I guess?" James shrugged. "I think it's probably best if I set an end date, so I can be prepared for it when it happens."

"James, I appreciate you bringing this to our attention," Pomfrey said, her tone gentle yet firm. "This is a very mature suggestion, and I am proud of you for coming to it without any sort of adult intervention."

James blushed. “Remus is technically an old man in a young body,” he said, deflecting the compliment, and Pomfrey chuckled. "I just want to make sure I'm not putting myself or anyone else in danger by continuing to play."

Madam Hooch chimed in, agreeing with Pomfrey’s sentiments. "You're making a wise choice, Mr. Potter," she said, her eyes kind. "Safety should always come first, whenever possible, and there are plenty of ways to stay involved with the team, even if you're not playing." Felicity nodded, and she and James shared a smile. 

McGonagall, efficient and on-task as always, stood, and walked behind Pomfrey to review a stack of parchment on the desk, scanning through the data over the healer's shoulder, analyzing the information with the speed only a scholar would have. 

"Based on the statistics of magical individuals with choroideremia, especially those diagnosed around the same age as you were," Pomfrey began, her eyes still studying the parchment in front of her, "it does seem like the right time to consider stopping Quidditch would be by…. the end of your sixth year, right Minerva? Just based on the way things are going, that would probably be the least amount of peripheral vision you could have while safely playing, even with accommodations." McGonagall nodded in agreement, and James's heart sank hearing the words out loud. 

"I understand," he replied, his tone resigned yet accepting. 

"And remember, James,” Felicity interjected, “this isn't set in stone," she said, her tone gentle. "If circumstances change or if you feel differently at any point, we can always reassess."

"I’m sure we could even think of some further accommodations to ensure your safety while still allowing you to continue playing until the end of your sixth year and involved with the team until you graduate,” Hooch added, “depending on what Madam Pomfrey and your other healers have to say."

James perked up a little bit at hearing this, eager to explore any options that would allow him to stay involved with the sport and the team he loved. "What would that look like?" he asked, curiosity lacing his words.

Hooch shrugged, but Felicity jumped in immediately, her expression earnest. "Well, for starters, as things progress, we could talk to your captain, and see how we can modify your plays to minimize being in the thick of the action," she suggested. "You could focus more on strategic play and coordination between the two other chasers, rather than scoring."

Madam Hooch nodded in agreement, her gaze thoughtful. “Yes, and we will continue modifying the charms on your goggles and helmet until we’ve reached the limit that the league accepts, again, depending on what the healers, and your parents, of course, have to say.” 

"I'd be willing to try anything that lets me keep playing," James replied, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "I feel a bit better knowing we have a plan in place," he said. "Thank you, everyone." 

After a round of goodbyes, James set out for the tower, ready to be alone for a bit. While James knew planning out an end to his Quidditch career was probably the safest and smartest thing to do, it didn’t make it any easier. James’ mind wandered as he walked, but he was broken out of his spiraling thoughts by a young voice crying out down the corridor. 

Instead of turning left to Gryffindor tower, he went to the right, down a seldomly used corridor. He continued down the hall until he found the source of the noise: a small group of Fifth and Sixth year Slytherin boys standing around two small girls wearing Gryffindor robes, who were holding hands and crying as the older boys cornered them further. 

"Excuse me, is everything alright in here?" James's voice cut through the tension, his tone firm and friendly all at once. As he entered the room, the Slytherins fell silent, their smirks fading slightly as they registered who had walked in. James scanned the menacing group as they  seemed to split down the middle, his gaze settling on the two distressed Gryffindor girls huddled against the wall.

"Hi girls, were these mean-ole Slytherins here bothering you?" James said in a lighthearted tone, directing his attention to the two young Gryffindors, who giggled a little bit, and seemed visibly relieved by James's intervention. Both girls, however, nodded vehemently in response 

"We were just being friendly, weren’t we, Ambrose?" Mulciber said defensively, his tone dripping with insincerity as a nasty smile crept onto his face. 

“Absolutely right, Ed,” Nott replied, equally saccharine as his friend. “Just giving the little mudbloods a warm welcome, isn’t that right, girls?” 

James's expression hardened at the Slytherins’ remarks, his mood darkening as he stepped forward. "I think that's probably enough of a welcome," he stated, "but I can ask McGonagall if she agrees once we get back to our common room if you'd prefer." The Slytherins looked amongst each other, and without a word, wands were lowered and Mulciber's lips curled into a cruel smile.

"After you then, Potter," he said, with a mocking nod off the head.

Turning to the girls, James extended a hand in invitation. "Are you two ready to head out?"

Relieved and grateful, the girls nodded eagerly as they followed him out of the room, leaving the smirking Slytherins behind. 

As they made their way down the corridor, one of the girls spoke up, her voice trembling slightly with residual fear. "We got lost," she explained, her words tinged with embarrassment.

“It happens to everyone,” James replied with a smile, and the girls beamed back at him. “I've been saying we need a better Hogwarts map, wouldn't you agree?" The girls smiled, blushing at the attention. "Our common room is just this way!” Their smiles quickly faded, though, upon seeing Snape turning the corner, nearly crashing into them. James' anger returned tenfold.

"Ahh, Snivellus, you’re a little late to the party! Shame, you missed the part where your friends tried to attack two little girls- I guess besides slimy and greasy we could've also added perv to the list of descriptors that come up when the aurors come asking about you,” James taunted, his voice laced with sarcasm. The girls cowered behind him, afraid of the inevitable fight. 

Snape's face contorted with rage, his hand instinctively reaching for his wand as he prepared to retaliate against James's cutting words, and James followed suit. However, before either one of  them could make any real moves, Lily Evans strode past them, as if on cue, her silver prefect badge glinting as she made her way back to the Gryffindor common room.

“What’s this then?” she said, glancing between James and Snape, and the two girls hiding behind him. “Dueling in the corridors, really?” 

Caught off guard by Lily's unexpected appearance, Snape froze, his wand hand lowering slowly as his childhood friend approached.   

Lily’s eyes flickered between Snape and James, a conflicted expression crossing her features as she hesitated. After a moment's pause, she reluctantly nodded, her voice firm but tinged with disappointment. “Go on, Severus. We’ll talk about this later.”

Snape shot one last venomous glare at James before skulking away, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. Once he was out of sight, Lily turned to face James, emotions clear on her face. 

“What was that all about, Potter?” she demanded sharply, as she crossed her arms over her chest. 

James bristled, his own frustration bubbling to the surface. “What was it about? Lily, those Slytherins were harassing these girls! I couldn’t just stand by and let them get away with it!”

Lily suddenly took notice of the two little girls peeking out from behind him, their eyes wide with trepidation.

“Are you two alright?” Lily asked gently, crouching down to their level.

The smaller of the two nodded, her voice barely above a whisper as she explained what had happened to Lily. Once she was finished, she turned back to James “Thank you for helping us,” she said, giving James a quick hug before being tugged by her friend in the correct direction of their common room, blushing. 

Lily’s expression softened slightly, but her eyes remained guarded. “I understand , but you don’t have to provoke Snape like that. You know how he is.”

“Yeah, well, maybe he should learn to keep his friends in check,” James retorted bitterly. 

Lily softened. “I know, James. And I’m grateful that you were there to help them, really. But you can’t take out your feelings about his friends onto him. He wasn’t even there!” 

James sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I just wish you’d understand that he’s bad news, Evans. Being complacent is just as bad- you just don’t want to admit it!” 

“And you and your friends are so much better? Can’t you see how this stupid grudge between you and the Slytherins is only making things worse?” she asked, and James' face flushed with anger.

"Not you calling blatant discrimination a 'stupid grudge,' Evans." James shook his head as Lily stared back at him defiantly. "So that's it, then? You're just going to brush this off like it's nothing? These girls were terrified, Lily. Terrified! Of your friend. And all you can do is stand there and lecture me about some 'stupid grudge'?"

Lily remained stubborn, her arms crossed. "It's not just about a grudge, James," she replied, her voice tinged with irritation. "It's about the way you handle things. You act like some kind of hero, but all you do is cause trouble. Pulling pranks and embarrassing people – is that really making a difference?"

James's frustration boiled over, his voice rising in intensity. "I’m not trying to be a hero, Evans, I’m just trying to stand up for what's right- to stand up for people who can't, or won't, stand up for themselves! I'm sorry, but not all of us can just sit back and watch while bad shit happens right in front of us!"

Lily's eyes flashed with defiance, her tone sharp as she shot back, "And I suppose you think humiliating Snape is your idea of justice?"

James gritted his teeth, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Snape's a bully, Lily! His friends are bullies! He's not some innocent victim, no matter how much you want to believe it. They don’t believe in rights for Muggleborn people, like you! They are actively trying to push you out of our society!” Lily watched him, stone faced, as he continued his rant. “And as much as you think Snape is your friend, I don’t see him standing up for you when those Pureblood, Death-Eater, tossers talk shit about you or your friends. He doesn’t care if you can live happily, or even safely, here or in the Wizarding world. And if you can't see that, then maybe you don't know him as well as you think you do."

The tension between them was thick; neither one of them was willing to back down, but James’ day had been long enough. 

“You know what, Evans, fuck off! Give me detention for all I care.” he started to walk away. “Some of us care about doing the right thing, not just following the rules.”

As he walked away, each step felt heavy, the air thick with the echoes of their argument.He knew that he would need time to cool off, not just from the argument, but from the entire day. He’d almost forgotten to be sad about Quidditch, with how angry he was at the Slytherins for being total creeps, and at Lily for letting them off so easily. 

As he reached the common room, James sank into one of the plush armchairs, his thoughts swirling with a mix of frustration and loss. With a heavy sigh, James settled in for the evening, knowing that all he could do was hope that time would make all these heavy feelings pass.