Eclipsed

December had settled over Hogwarts, wrapping the castle in a blanket of frost and twinkling lights. The anticipation of the upcoming holidays hung in the air, filling the halls with a sense of excitement and wonder. And amidst the festive atmosphere, Professor Slughorn's annual Christmas party was the talk of the school.

For the first time, James found himself among the few Gryffindors invited to the prestigious event. It was a stark contrast to previous years, where the Marauders' poor behavior inside and outside the classroom had often landed them on Slughorn's list of troublemakers. But with Sirius preoccupied in the hospital wing and nosing around Regulus’ personal business, James focused on his duties as Quidditch captain, Remus buried in his studies, and Peter splitting his free time between Clarissa, his girlfriend, and chess club, their mischief-making had significantly decreased.

When the invitation arrived, James was honestly not planning to go; an evening surrounded  by teacher’s pets and the biggest schmoozers in the Wizarding World didn’t sound like his idea of a good time. However, when Lily asked him if he’d received the invitation, and asked him to join Marlene and her at the party, James found himself readily agreeing to accompany the girls. After allowing himself to be mercilessly teased by his friends for attending the swottiest event of the year, James wrote home for his mum to send his formal robes, and began to mentally prepare himself for an evening of hearing about Slughorn’s greatest hits. 

The night of the party arrived, and James found himself standing outside Slughorn's office with the girls, dressed in the robes his mother had sent him. They were her favorites of his, and more reminiscent of a traditional Indian achkan than traditional robes or a muggle suit. They had a higher neckline, were made from a deep blue velvet, and rich gold thread wove an intricate pattern across the garment, complimented by four gold clasps holding it together across his chest. Marlene’s outfit was more in vogue for witches at the time, a long silver cloak over a shorter, fitted lilac dress, with matching kitten heels and a hair brooch, enchanted to shimmer all night long. And then there was Lily, who James could hardly keep his eyes off of, who’d decided to make a statement and dress completely muggle for the evening, in a long green halter dress that sparkled on the top, and her hair swept up off her face and piled up on the top of her head, the front pieces pulled out and curled nicely, framing her face. 

When Slughorn finally opened the door, he greeted them with a booming laugh and a twinkle in his eye. "Ah, Mr. Potter, Miss McKinnon, Miss Evans! So glad you could join us. Please, come in, come in!"

As they entered the lavishly decorated room, James couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the sight of so many esteemed witches and wizards, many of whom he recognized from the Potters’ annual New Year’s Eve Party, or other events he’d attended with his parents. The air was filled with the buzz of conversation, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the tinkling of glasses.

After their first round of drinks, Marlene set her sights on a well-known, young Quidditch player, and wasted no time in disappearing into the throng of guests in search of him. James couldn't help but feel a pang of awkwardness as he watched her go, but reminded himself that there was a reason for their breakup, and that she was free to flirt with whoever she wanted to in front of him.

Turning his attention back to Lily, James offered her a smile. "So, what do you think of the party so far?"

“I think you forget that this isn’t my first Slug Club invitation,” Lily replied, her green eyes sparkling with amusement. "But it's certainly... lively. And quite different from any Christmas party I’d been to before."

James chuckled. "I suppose Hogwarts parties aren't quite like the ones in the Muggle world."

Lily shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "No, they're definitely a unique experience," she replied, before her expression softened. "My dad died when I was young," she admitted quietly. "He had cancer, which is a... well, a serious muggle disease, and since only Mum was working, Petunia and I were too young to work, we didn't have much money. So these kinds of parties..." She trailed off, her expression wistful.

James felt a pang in his chest. He’d known Lily’s family wasn’t as well off as his own, but he had never known that her father had passed away. After the scare with his own father only a couple months ago, James felt extra sensitive hearing about Lily’s loss.

"I'm so sorry, Lily," he said gently, "I had no idea."

Lily offered him a small smile in response. "It's okay, James. It's just... different, being here. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong- not just because I’m muggleborn, but also because where I come from…” she chuckled. “Well, let’s just say you’d never find a celebrity, no matter how B-list they are, in Cokeworth!” 

James shook his head. "You belong here just as much as anyone else, Lily. You're brilliant, and kind, and you've worked so hard to get where you are. Besides, who needs a B-list celebrity in Cokeworth when they’ve got the brightest witch of her age just down the road?”"

Lily's smile widened, a hint of color rising in her cheeks. "Thank you, James. That’s… that’s rather sweet of you to say.” 

They stood there for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, before a friend of James’ father recognized him from across the room, and the two teens were pulled into conversation with the man. Like Fleamont, he was a successful potioneer who’d been thrilled to be introduced to Lily, and wanted to hear her thoughts on the latest innovations in cauldron bottoms. The pair listened with interest as others joined in the conversation, and discussed everything from magical theory to the latest Quidditch match, his enthusiasm for the subjects shining through.

As James and Lily continued their conversations, the magic of the evening was abruptly shattered by the unwelcome arrival of Severus Snape. He swept into the room with an air of arrogance, his dark eyes scanning the crowd with a sneer.

Lily's expression darkened with discomfort as Snape's gaze fell upon her. James could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. He could practically feel her unease radiating off her in waves.

"Lily, are you okay?" James asked quietly, his voice laced with concern. He followed her gaze until he saw who she was watching, and his own nose wrinkled in disgust.

Lily shook her head, her green eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I can't stand being around him, James. Not after last year… with what he called me, and what happened with Remus… I just… "

Without hesitation, James made up his mind. "What do you say, let's get out of here?”

Lily nodded gratefully, her relief evident in her expression. They cut through the crowd and quickly made their excuses to Marlene, who was engrossed in conversation with a charming young man, and she waved them off with a smile, urging them to enjoy the rest of the evening.

As they made their way out of the party, James could feel the tension in the air, the memory of Snape's past actions casting a shadow over their departure.

Lily turned to James with a hint of concern in her eyes. "I'm really sorry for making you leave the party," she said softly. "I know it's a big deal for a lot of people."

James waved off her concern with a casual shrug, a small smile playing at his lips. "Honestly, Lily, I don't mind. I don't care too much for Slughorn, and I don’t even celebrate Christmas."

Lily's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

James nodded. "Yeah, my family is Hindu, actually.” 

Lily's curiosity was piqued, and she gave James an encouraging look. "I didn't know that. I’ve never met someone who was Hindu before!” She tilted her head, reminding James of Padfoot playing with Moony in the shack. “Do you have a favorite holiday, of yours?” 

James's smile widened, and he launched into a simple explanation as they continued their walk through the dimly lit corridors. "I think mine would have to be Diwali, the Festival of Lights. I like it because… well, it’s about the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. We light oil lamps, set off fireworks, and share sweets." James looked over at her. “I think that’s pretty relevant now, remembering that light, and goodness, always win.” 

Lily smiled, her eyes gleaming. "That sounds beautiful.” 

James nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty special. I’m lucky, my parents always made sure I understood and appreciated our heritage, even though we're part of the magical world too. Some magical families don’t embrace their cultural heritage outside magic as much, but since mine is quite new to England, we’ve held onto ours pretty closely."

As they continued to talk, their conversation flowed effortlessly from one topic to another. They discussed their favorite spells, shared stories about their childhoods, and even debated the merits of various magical creatures. 

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. They both paused, surprised to find themselves there so quickly.

"I guess time flies when you're having a good time," Lily said with a smile.

"Yeah, it does," he replied, before becoming suddenly shy, feeling his hand floating up to his head, patting down his hair instinctively. 

Lily looked at James, her expression sincere. "Thank you, James. For everything tonight. It means a lot."

James smiled warmly. "Anytime, Lily. I… I had a great time with you."

With a final smile, they gave the password to the Fat Lady and stepped into the common room. 

As James entered the common room, he found Peter sitting on one of the plush sofas, chatting animatedly with his girlfriend, Clarissa, a cute fifth-year Gryffindor. Peter's face lit up when he saw James. Lily gave them a wave, then headed up the girls’ staircase.  

"Hey, Prongs! How was Slughorn's party?" Peter called out, motioning James over. "Come sit with us for a bit!"

James smiled but shook his head. He was still on cloud nine from his evening with Lily and wanted to savor the feeling. "Thanks, Worms, but I think I'll head up to bed. The party was great, though, thanks."

Peter looked a bit nervous, and pushed again. "Alright, if you're sure. You missed a good game of Exploding Snap earlier."

James chuckled. "I'll catch the next one."

As James started to make his way towards the staircase, Peter suddenly called after him. "Hey, Prongs, maybe you shouldn't go up just yet."

James paused, turning back to Peter with a slight frown. "Why not?"

Peter glanced at Clarissa, who seemed equally puzzled by their exchange, then back at James. "Well, I was just thinking... you know, Sirius and Remus are probably working on the map. Maybe we should give them some space? We could play a game or something down here for a bit."

James narrowed his eyes, feeling a twinge of suspicion. Peter rarely suggested things like this without a good reason. "Why would they need space? It's our dorm, too."

Peter shifted uncomfortably, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. "I just thought they might appreciate the quiet. Besides, it's been a while since we just hung out and plus, you and Clarissa could get to know each other a bit better. Could be fun, right?"

James considered this for a moment but ultimately shook his head. "I think I'll still head up. We’ll hang out another time, Clarissa, alright? If they're working on the map, I'll just join in and help. No big deal."

Peter's shoulders slumped, but he nodded. "Alright, if you're sure."

"Goodnight, you two," James said, giving them a friendly nod before heading up the staircase.

As he climbed the stairs, James couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Peter's insistence on staying downstairs was unusual, and James was possibly more curious now over what could be going on inside. He reached the top of the stairs and quietly opened the door to the dormitory.

James pushed open the dormitory door and stepped inside, immediately noticing the mess. Map supplies were strewn all over the floor—parchment, ink bottles, and quills in disarray. For a moment, he was annoyed, since he’d asked them all to keep the floor clear whenever possible, for his sake. However, it wasn't the mess that shocked him, in the end, but the sight when he looked up from the floor.

In the corner of the room, on Remus's bed, were Sirius and Remus, shirts unbuttoned, belts undone, mouths connected… kissing? For a moment, James's brain short-circuited, and he let out an involuntary yelp.

Remus jumped at the sound, banging his head on the bedpost with a loud thud. "Ow!" He rubbed the back of his head, wincing, before catching sight of James and freezing.

Sirius turned to James, eyes wide with a mixture of guilt and panic. "Prongs! You're back early."

James stood frozen, mouth agape, his eyes darting between his two friends. "I—uh—wasn't expecting—"

Remus sighed, still rubbing his head. "Well, this isn't exactly how we planned to tell you."

James blinked, trying to process the scene in front of him. "Tell me what? That you two are… snogging? Are you like, actually a thing or is this…?"

Sirius glanced at Remus, then back at James, clearly nervous. "Yeah, mate. We're together. We were going to tell you, but we wanted to figure out the right time."

James took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "So, this whole time that Peter was trying to keep me downstairs...?"

Remus nodded, looking embarrassed. "We… asked for some alone time, since we thought you'd be out all night. Sorry, James."

James stared at them for a moment longer before bursting into laughter. "You guys could have just told me! I'm your friend, not some medieval prude!"

Sirius looked visibly relieved but still cautious. "So, you're not mad?"

James shook his head. "Of course I'm not mad. I’m mad that you told Peter and didn’t tell me, but I don't care that you're, I guess I don’t know what you want to call it. I care that you two are happy."

“In our defense, Remus told Peter when he was high,” Sirius quickly interjected, but Remus only sighed in relief, a small smile forming on his lips. 

"We are. Thanks, James."

James grinned, looking around at the chaotic mess of map supplies. "So, do we finish the map now, or do you two need some more private time?"

Sirius laughed, though there was still a hint of nervousness in his eyes. He took a deep breath, clearly steeling himself for what he was about to say next.

"Prongs," Sirius began, his tone more sincere, "there's something else we need to tell you about the map."

James looked up, curious. "What is it?"

Remus hopped off the bed, grabbing the map and bringing it over to James and Sirius. "We really were working on the map- we wanted to add something new, for you. Not only have we improved the tracking charms on the people, but we've added an enchantment that can give audible directions, or alert when someone is coming. We wanted to make sure the map can still be for all of us, even if...well, when your vision gets worse."

James's eyes widened, and he felt a lump forming in his throat. "You did that for me?"

Sirius nodded, a soft smile on his face. "Of course we did. You're my brother, James. We wanted to make sure you could still use the map, no matter what."

James blinked rapidly, trying to hold back his emotions. He looked at the map, then back at his friends, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. Without a word, he stepped forward and pulled both of them into a tight hug.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Sirius and Remus hugged him back just as tightly, their own eyes shining with emotion. "We do, Prongs," Sirius said softly. "We really do."

After a moment, they pulled back, and James wiped his eyes, a broad smile spreading across his face. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

Remus smiled warmly. "You don't have to find out. We're here, always."

James looked down at the map, his heart swelling with gratitude and love for his friends. "Alright, let's test this thing out. How does it work?"

Sirius grinned, taking the map from Remus and tapping it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The map sprang to life, the intricate lines and names appearing on the parchment. Sirius pointed his wand at a specific spot. "Show us the way to the kitchens."

“Now, tap the map with your wands, and pull it to your ear, just like with that spell you showed us, James.” 

The three boys did, then a soft, clear voice rang in quietly in their ears, giving precise directions. "Four steps to your right towards the door, take a right once in the staircase, then down twelve steps into the common room..."

James laughed, the sound mingling with his friends' laughter, filling the room with warmth. "This is brilliant! You guys are amazing."

Remus shrugged modestly. "It was a team effort. We put our heads together to make it happen."

James nodded, his eyes shining with gratitude. "Well, I couldn't ask for better friends. Now, what do you say we go on a kitchen run to celebrate?"

Sirius's grin widened. "Now you're talking, Prongs!"

James couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky. For someone who didn’t celebrate Christmas… This had to be the best Christmas ever.