Eclipsed

The summer passed in a blur; the Marauders were scattered and the wizarding world grew increasingly dangerous around them. The Daily Prophet and the radio reported more and more attacks on Muggleborns, Muggles, and those who supported them, and as much as Fleamont and Effie tried to shield the boys from hearing about the worst of it, there was really no escape. The news was grim, a constant reminder that the world outside Hogwarts was changing for the worse.

James spent the summer in a relatively quiet manner. After a letter home from Pomfrey and a long conversation with his parents, he had finally started wearing a pair of dark-tinted glasses, essentially prescription sunglasses, nearly all the time, which helped manage his eye sensitivity and significantly reduced the headaches he’d been having frequently towards the end of the school year. The change was a relief, allowing him to enjoy his summer without the constant, irritating pain he had grown used to. Despite the instant improvement, James had already decided he wouldn't wear them at school; he didn’t want to draw attention to himself in that way.

Beneath the cool, collected surface he tried to project, James was dealing with his own anxieties. He had been named Quidditch Captain for the upcoming school year, a position that excited and terrified him equally. The pressure to lead the team to victory weighed heavily on him, and the thought of his vision impacting their ability to finally win the house cup only added to his worries. He spent hours and hours flying around the yard, perfecting his technique and improving his agility and speed in the air, not to mention the time he dedicated to reading about the different positions on the field, studied different strategies to win games, and took copious notes on how to best coach a team to victory. 

For Sirius, the summer meant confronting his own personal demons. He was, as promised, having regular sessions with a mind healer, trying to overcome the brief but intense stint of semi-alcoholism that had followed the traumatic events of the previous school year and caused the horrible incident with Snape. The sessions seemed to be helping, though, and James was relieved to see that Sirius was starting to find some peace, and go back to the boy James recognized as his brother and best friend. 

Remus, as always, was a steady presence in James’s thoughts. They exchanged letters frequently, but it wasn’t the same as having him nearby. At various points throughout the summer, James would receive letters, much like this one: 

Dear Prongs,

Moon was fine, although I missed you all for sure, as evidenced by the week I’ve been stuck laying in bed. 

Things are getting better, slowly but surely between Sirius and I. We’ve started writing to each other again. It's a bit awkward, but it feels good. I think we'll be alright. How are you holding up? I heard from Sirius that you’ve been wearing your new glasses around the house, but don’t plan to take them with you to school. Don’t be stubborn about the glasses, Prongs. If they help, wear them.

I miss you, mate. Can’t wait to see you and the others again. 

Hope you’re taking care of yourself. Say hello to your family, give Effie a big hug from me! 

Best, 

Moony

He would quickly pen a reply, filling Remus in on the mundane details of his summer and reassuring him that he was taking care of himself and Sirius, sending love to Remus’ mum as well. Knowing that Remus and Sirius were on better terms was a relief. Managing his own feelings and playing peacekeeper had been supremely stressful, and James was grateful to hear that era would be ending. James smiled at Remus’s words, feeling a warmth in his chest.

Despite trying to stay busy, James missed his friends terribly. Peter too was largely absent; with McGonagall and Professor Sprout's letters of recommendation, he had secured an internship with an apothecary to see if he liked the work, which kept him busy and away from their usual summer mischief. James admired Peter’s dedication but couldn’t help feeling a bit lonely without his friend's company. 

As the summer drew to a close, James found himself growing increasingly anxious to return to Hogwarts. The prospect of seeing his friends again was exciting, but there was also an undercurrent of worry about the state of the world and what it would mean for their final years at school, as well as dreading having to face Marlene again, not only in the dormitory and in class, but on the pitch as well.

The night before he was set to leave, James packed his trunk carefully, making sure to check his list and check it again, sure that he hadn’t left anything behind.

He glanced at his new, dark glasses on the bedside table, feeling a pang of reluctance. They had made his summer bearable, but he was still hesitant about wearing them at school. With a sigh, he decided to pack them anyway, just in case.

On the morning of their departure, Effie  and Fleamont saw them off at the train station, as they always did. Although she graced her son with a sharp look at the sight of him not wearing the healer-recommended glasses, Effie swooped in and gave James a tight hug. "Take care of yourself, Jamie. And remember, we’re always here if you need anything."

James nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. "I will, Mum. I promise."

Sirius, standing beside him, gave Mrs. Potter a reassuring smile. "I'll look after him, Mrs. P. Don't worry."

As they boarded the train, James looked back, feeling a bit morbid. He wondered, with a pang of anxiety, if the next time he saw them, he would even be able to really see them. Trying not to be so moody when the year had hardly begun, James quickly pasted a smile on his face and waved before turning and stepping onto the train fully, and looking for their usual compartment.

James, Sirius, and Peter had settled into their train compartment, the familiar sounds and sights of the Hogwarts Express whirring by. James stretched out on one of the seats, adjusting his glasses slightly. He found himself missing the relief provided by the dark glasses he’d worn all summer, but he didn’t want them to draw any more attention to him beyond the reputation he already had for his abysmally poor vision. 

Peter was animatedly describing his summer internship at the apothecary. He had been given the opportunity to see if the work suited him, and while it seemed tedious to James and Sirius, they both listened with polite interest as he raved on.

"...and then I had to sort through all these dried herbs, making sure they were labeled correctly," Peter was saying. "It’s really meticulous work, but I learned a lot about potion ingredients and their properties."

James stifled a yawn, not wanting to seem rude. "Sounds like you had your hands full, Wormtail."

Sirius nodded in agreement. "Yeah, must’ve been a right pain, but it’s good you learned something. Useful stuff, I suppose."

Peter beamed, clearly pleased that his friends were taking an interest. "Yeah, and the owner said I could come back next summer if I wanted to."

Before James could respond, the compartment door slid open, and Remus stepped in, fresh from the prefect meeting. He looked noticeably a bit pale and thin, which wasn’t super reassuring, but his eyes seemed brighter than they had at the end of last term, which was a good sign. 

"Hey, Moony!" James greeted, relief washing over him as he saw Sirius and Remus exchange pleasant nods. "How was the meeting?"

"Long and boring, as usual," Remus replied with a wry smile. He dropped onto the seat beside Peter, looking around at his friends with a relaxed expression. "But I survived. How were your summers?"

"It was alright," Sirius said casually. "Godric’s Hollow beats London any day, so it was definitely the best summer I’ve ever had.” He shook his head. “At the very least I made it out without a haircut. How about you?"

Remus chuckled softly. "It was alright. My mum introduced me to yoga, I became a vegetarian… that’s about it."

James and Sirius exchanged curious glances but said nothing.

Peter looked confused. "Yoga? What’s that?"

“It’s like… stretches and breathing and such… my mum does it too, Remus.” James answered. 

“Yeah, it’s good for the joints,” Remus added, “and mine are becoming quite bad, so my mum and Pomfrey have been trying to push me to do more ‘healthy’ activities than lying around in bed reading.” 

“Is that why you’ve become a vegetarian too?” Peter asked, again, and Remus shook his head. 

“No, that’s just me. It makes me feel less... wolf-like."

James leaned back, grinning widely. "Well, if it works for you, mate, that’s all that matters. Welcome to the club!" James was one of Hogwarts few vegetarians, and had advocated heavily for more vegetarian options during his first year. 

“Not another one of you lettuce-lovers!" Sirius loudly complained. "I love your mum’s cooking, Prongs, really, I do, but I can’t wait for the feast and have some of that godly roast chicken the elves make…” Sirius trailed off, feigning a moan as he dropped into James’ lap. 

“Keep it in your pants, mate!” James said as he shoved him off and onto the floor. “Nobody wants to hear that!” 

While Remus blushed bright red, and Sirius crawled back up onto the bench, James couldn’t help but smile. Remus seemed healthier, Sirius was making progress, and Peter was finding his path. Even with his own anxieties about his vision and the responsibilities of being Quidditch Captain, he felt ready to take on sixth year, whatever it might bring. 

The Great Hall buzzed with excitement and chatter as students settled in for another school year. The house tables were filled with familiar faces, as well as a few new ones, all eagerly awaiting the start-of-term feast after the sorting was complete. 

James glanced around, taking in the enchanted ceiling mimicking the clear night sky above. It felt good to be back. Despite the troubles brewing in the outside world, Hogwarts had always provided a sense of security and home, and he believed that this year wouldn’t be any different. With the exemption of Lily and Marlene, who were both pointedly ignoring him, it was good to be back with his classmates, and  he proudly wore the Quidditch Captain badge pinned to his robes, graciously accepting the congratulations from his teammates. 

As the students settled down, Professor Dumbledore stood at his seat at the teachers’ table, his presence commanding immediate silence. With a gentle wave of his hand, the hall fell completely silent, all eyes fixed on the Headmaster.

"Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the vast hall. "Before we enjoy this magnificent feast, I have a few words to say."

Dumbledore's tone was more serious than usual, and the Marauders looked at each other curiously before turning their attention back to the front.

Dumbledore continued, his expression grave. "As many of you are aware, our world is facing a growing threat. Dark forces are at work, attempting to sow division, fear, and hatred among us. We must stand united against these forces. It is essential that we resist the lure of easy answers and quick solutions offered by those who seek to divide us."

The hall was deathly quiet, the students hanging on every word. James felt a knot form in his stomach. He knew Dumbledore was referring to the increase in harassment and attacks of Muggle-borns and Muggles. The newspapers and the radio had been filled with stories of these atrocities all summer.

"We must work to build a society free of discrimination," Dumbledore continued, his blue eyes scanning the room. "A society where everyone, regardless of their blood status, background, or beliefs, is treated with respect and dignity. This is not an easy task, and it will require courage, perseverance, and above all, unity."

"We have faced dark times before, and we have prevailed by standing together," Dumbledore said, his voice rising with conviction. "Let us remember that we are stronger when we are united. Let us reach out to those who are different from us, learn from them, and stand with them. Together, we can overcome the darkness and build a brighter future."

A small smattering of applause passed through the hall, although the Slytherin table was oddly silent, and from what James could tell, some of the upper-years were carefully blank-faced.  

"Now," Dumbledore concluded, a twinkle returning to his eye, "let us enjoy this feast and the company of our friends. Welcome back to Hogwarts."

With that, the golden plates in front of them filled with a sumptuous array of food, and the hall erupted in excited chatter. James turned to his friends, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

"That was quite the speech," Remus said quietly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Yeah," James agreed. "He’s right. It’ll be up to us to make sure those Death Eaters don’t come out on top."

Sirius nodded, his usual playful demeanor replaced with a rare stoicism. "Absolutely. We’re gonna have to fight for what's right."

Peter nodded, albeit a bit nervously. "And look out for each other, right?"

James smiled back at him supportively. "Exactly."

As they began to eat, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, but the weight of Dumbledore's words lingered in their minds. 

After the feast, as the students made their way to their respective common rooms, James couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that Dumbledore’s speech had stirred. He wondered about the future and the role he would play in the fight against the rising darkness.Sitting in the common room with some of the other upper-year Gryffindors after the feast, James listened as his friends shared stories about their summers, and their lives, while passing around a bottle (which Sirius took only one careful sip from, under Remus and James’ scrutiny). Archie Johnson and Mary told them all about their experiences of discrimination in the Muggle world, facing prejudice for being both Black and muggle-born. Lily expressed her anxiety about returning to school as a muggle born witch, especially with her secondhand robes and books, and a new place on Snape’s hitlist. James watched as Remus, pale and thin, stayed silent but alert through the conversation, though he knew Remus could relate to their feelings of otherness on a deeper level. In that moment, James realized the extent of his privilege—born into a world that cared little about the color of his skin and where he was born into the right class.

Later that night, lying in bed and staring at the canopy above, James vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to keep their world safe for Remus, Mary, Archie, and Lily. It was the least he could do.Would he be able to make a difference though? Would there be enough people to stand against the growing radical conservatism? James’ thoughts spiraled for a while until Sirius crawled between the curtains of his bed, and the sound of the other boy’s breathing guided him to sleep.