Eclipsed

The Hogwarts Express arrived in Hogsmeade, and the students disembarked into the cool evening air, their excitement palpable. James, with Sirius' guidance, managed the steps down from the train and onto the platform with ease. They made their way to the carriages, and bickered lightheartedly all the way to the school with the girls, everyone relieved with the tension between Lily and the Marauders seemingly having disappeared.

As they approached the Great Hall, the familiar scent of the feast wafted towards them, making Sirius' stomach growl in anticipation. But as they settled at the Gryffindor table, Sirius couldn't help but scan the room, his eyes darting to the Slytherin table. He felt a knot of worry tighten in his chest when he didn't see Regulus among the other Slytherins.

"Where's Regulus?" Sirius muttered under his breath, a frown creasing his forehead.

James, sensing his friend's unease, leaned in closer. "What's wrong, mate?"

Sirius shook his head slightly, trying to mask his concern. "Regulus isn't here. I knew there was something wrong last term, remember I kept seeing him in the hospital wing? I bet something’s happened.” 

James placed a reassuring hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Maybe he's just running late, or checking in with Pomfrey first. Moony sometimes does that, remember? You can just keep an eye out for him."

As the feast progressed, Sirius' anxiety grew. The usual chatter and laughter around the Gryffindor table felt distant and muted to him. His eyes kept darting to the Slytherin table, hoping to see his brother walk in, but Regulus never appeared.

By the time the feast was over, Sirius' worry had reached a boiling point. As the students began to file out of the Great Hall, he turned to James, Remus, and Peter.

"I need to talk to Slughorn."

Although they tried to talk him out of it, Sirius led them towards the dungeons, where Slughorn's office was located. They waited for him to make his way back from the feast, the minutes stretching into what felt like hours, until finally, Slughorn's jovial face appeared down the hall.

"Ah, Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin, and Mr. Pettigrew! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Slughorn beamed, but his expression shifted to one of concern when he saw Sirius' serious demeanor.

“Where is Regulus?” Sirius demanded, and Slughorn's face softened with understanding. 

"Ah, Regulus. I'm afraid I haven't heard anything specific. We were notified that he would not be returning this semester, but the details were kept private by the family, you understand."

Sirius clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up. "But what if something's happened to him? He wasn't well when the term ended. You must've noticed"

Slughorn sighed. "I understand your concern, Mr. Black. Perhaps you should write to your family directly.”

Sirius scowled, knowing that Slughorn was well aware of his disownment. 

 "Thank you, Professor," he replied insincerely, and stomped away, his friends following. 

As they started back towards the common room, Remus threw an arm across his shoulder. 

“Don’t worry, Pads, I know he’ll turn up eventually.” 

Sirius clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up. "But what if something's happened to him?” 

Remus sighed, and James nodded in agreement at the sentiment. “We will just have to wait and see,” he answered, and Sirius replied with a huff. 

An ominous beginning to the school year indeed. 

The start of the school year, while exciting for many, quickly became a challenging period for James. The buzz of gossip and the constant whispers followed him like a shadow. His once-easy confidence was eroded by the judgmental glances he felt directed his way and hushed conversations that seemed to occur every time he entered a room. His glasses and the cane he used when he was alone made him stand out, and not in a good way. 

"How can he manage being Head Boy when he can't even see properly?"

"Do you think he got the position out of pity?"

"I heard he can't even read his own notes without help. How's he supposed to know the rules, let alone enforce them?"

He tried to ignore it, to focus on the tasks at hand, but the doubt was a constant, gnawing presence.

During prefect meetings, he sensed skepticism even among those who supposedly supported him. Some of the younger prefects hesitated to approach him with issues, opting to go to Lily instead. James couldn't blame them entirely—he knew he was still finding his footing—but it hurt all the same.

"Don't mind them, James," Remus said softly, his tone soothing. "People can be real gits sometimes."

James managed a small smile. "Thanks, Moony."

The comments, the doubt, the pitying looks—they all weighed heavily on James. Even his friends, though supportive, couldn't shield him from the harsh reality of people's judgments. The head office, once a place of pride, now felt like a reminder of every skeptical remark and whispered doubt.

As the days turned into weeks, James found himself increasingly stepping back, letting Lily take the lead in their shared responsibilities as Head Boy and Head Girl. It wasn't a conscious decision at first. It just seemed easier to let Lily be in charge of the interactions, the discussions, the leadership. She was confident, competent, and, most importantly, respected by their peers.

During their prefect meetings, James often found himself listening more than speaking. He'd contribute when directly asked, but for the most part, he let Lily steer the conversations and make the important decisions. It was a stark contrast to the James Potter of previous years, who would have been at the forefront of every conversation and trying to make every decision himself, eager to take charge.

In classes, it was no different. When paired with Lily or Remus for projects or group discussions, James would offer suggestions but rarely pushed for his ideas to be the focus. He let his friends present their work, Lily’s clear, authoritative voice, or Remus’ confident, calm one, carry the weight of their shared efforts. James’ once booming confidence was now a hesitant whisper, barely audible amidst the noise of their classmates.

His friends, caught up in their own lives and struggles, failed to notice James’ transition. Sirius was lost in his quest for answers about Regulus, Peter was blissfully preoccupied with Clarissa, and Remus was consistently distracted these days, although James figured he was more stressed about school ending than anyone else. 

Surprisingly, nobody commented on his shift in behavior. His friends, caught up in their own lives and struggles, failed to notice James’ transition into this new, softer self. Sirius was lost in his quest for answers about Regulus, Peter was blissfully preoccupied with Clarissa, and Remus was consistently distracted these days, although James couldn’t figure out why. Perhaps they sensed that James was finding his way, or maybe they were simply too absorbed in their own lives to notice. Either way, James appreciated the lack of scrutiny, and was relieved that he could fade into the background, out of the prying eyes of his schoolmates. 

By the end of the month, and the first full moon of the school year, James had successfully made it through the novelty phase, and most of his classmates had gotten over their curiosity regarding James’ continued existence, and he could mostly live on somewhat privately. He’d grown accustomed to using his accommodations, to walking to classes glued to Remus’ or Lily’s side, and to asking for what he needed from his teachers, whether it be a copy of what was on the blackboard or a reasonable assignment change when the requirements of the ones he received were entirely too visual for him to complete. 

All that being said, the only thing he hadn’t accounted for yet was his animagus transformation, and what to do about spending the moon with Remus and the others. He had been nervous about many things since losing his vision, but this was different. The fear of disappointment loomed large—what if his stag form had lost most of its vision as well? What if he would be more harmful than helpful during the full moon nights? 

Sirius and Remus had been patient with him, understanding his hesitation. They never pushed him, but he could see the worry in their eyes. He remembered the first moon he missed; Sirius had returned more beat up than usual, and Remus had been in rougher shape too, having fought Padfoot all night. The memory of Remus after the summer, looking exhausted and thin again, spurred him on. He couldn't let his fears hold him back.

The night before the full moon, James sat in the Gryffindor common room with Sirius, Peter, and Remus, who was dozing on the couch, head resting on Sirius’ thigh, his long body laid out and feet hanging off the end. The fire crackled, casting warm light across their faces. They were discussing their plans, but James was quieter than usual.

"You alright, Prongs?" Sirius asked, nudging him gently. "You've been awfully quiet."

James took a deep breath, looking towards Sirius’ voice. "I'm just...nervous about tomorrow.”

Sirius looked down at Remus thoughtfully, brushing a hand over his hair. “Well, James, we’ll never know until you try, right?” 

Peter nodded in agreement. "If you said that Prongs’ vision was better than yours before… everything, then I don’t see why it wouldn’t be the same now.”

James felt a sudden spark of determination. "Alright," he said, his voice firmer. "Let's do this."

The next evening, as the moon began to rise, they made their way to the Shrieking Shack. James' heart pounded in his chest, but he tried to focus on the task ahead. They transformed, and James felt the familiar, exhilarating rush as his body shifted. He braced himself, eyes tightly shut, as the magic enveloped him. When he finally opened his eyes, he was met with a surreal mixture of relief and disappointment.

The world was different. His vision was different – much clearer than in his human form, but still not perfect. He could see shapes and movements, and many more details than he usually could. It wasn’t the perfect clarity he had before the accident,, but it was enough. Relief and joy washed over him. He was still a part of this, still able to help his friends.

The stag, massive and majestic, stood next to Padfoot, Wormtail, and Moony. He took a tentative step, feeling the ground beneath his hooves, and then another. The sense of freedom that came with the transformation was still there, and for a moment, James allowed himself to revel in it.

He let out a triumphant bellow, and Padfoot barked in response, his tail wagging furiously. Moony, sensing the presence of his friends, growled softly. James approached cautiously, his heart pounding. He nudged Moony gently with his antlers, and the werewolf responded with a softer growl, recognizing his friend.

Padfoot barked encouragingly, and Wormtail scurried around their feet, his tiny form darting in and out of the shadows, and Prongs leaned over, letting Wormtail scurry up into his antlers. For the first time since the accident, James felt truly alive. He guided Moony, keeping him on track, while Padfoot and Wormtail flanked them. They moved as a unit, each contributing to the whole. It was exhilarating and empowering.

By the end of the night, as the dawn broke and they reverted to their human forms, James felt a sense of accomplishment. He wasn’t perfect, but he was still able to be there for Remus. That was what mattered most.

"I knew you could do it," Sirius said quietly as they left the shack, arm in arm, after making sure Remus was ready for Pomfrey’s arrival. "You were amazing, Prongs."

James smiled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "Thanks, Pads. I needed that."

“And we needed you.”

In the morning, Sirius and Peter headed off to their Potions class, leaving James to stay with Remus in the hospital wing. 

James sat in a chair beside Remus's bed, thumbing through a book. With the help of his headphones, James was making it through a thick textbook entitled A Brief History of Magical Law. Remus was sleeping soundly, and the room was quiet except for the soft rustle of pages and the occasional murmur from Madam Pomfrey.

James looked up from his book as the door to the hospital wing creaked open. He squinted to see who it was and recognized the familiar blur of red hair. Lily Evans walked in, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on James. She smiled and made her way over to them.

Hey, James," she said softly, glancing at Remus. "How's he doing?"

"Hey, Lily," James replied, keeping his voice low. "He's alright. Just needs some rest. How are you?"

She pulled up a chair and sat down next to him. "I'm good. Nothing new to report.” They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching Remus sleep. Then Lily turned to James, her eyes serious. "Can I ask you something, James?"

"Sure," he replied, curious.

"How are you holding up? With everything that's happened since last year, I mean."

James paused, considering his response before closing his book. "It's been... a lot. I'm still adjusting. Some days are better than others. But I've got good friends and support. And you know, being co-Heads with you, and everything you’ve done for me, that's been a huge help too."

Lily smiled, her eyes softening. "I'm glad to hear that. You know, I think you're doing a fantastic job, despite everything."

"Thanks, Lily," James said, feeling a warmth spread through him.

They continued talking, their conversation flowing easily. James found himself laughing more than he had in a while. It was a relief to talk about normal things, to feel normal again.

After a while, Lily looked at him with a hint of nervousness. "James, there's something I've been thinking about."

"Yeah? What's that?" James asked.

"I was wondering if... well, if you'd like to go to Hogsmeade with me next weekend. You know, like a date."

James blinked, momentarily stunned. "A date?" Since his accident, he’d hardly had the time to think about girls, or dating, especially not dating Lily, who he thought for sure he’d blown his chance with years ago. 

Lily laughed, her cheeks turning a bit pink. "Yes, a date. If you're interested, of course."

James felt a surge of excitement and had to stop himself from smiling too widely and freaking her out. "I'd love to, Lily. Sounds… brilliant."

"Great," she said, her smile wide. "It's a date then."

As they talked a bit more, making plans for their date, James felt a sense of hope and anticipation bubbling up inside him. While they sat there, chatting quietly, he realized that even though he felt like everything in his life was changing in unexpected, and sometimes, unwelcome ways, there were good things to look forward to. And this date with Lily was definitely one of them.

As the morning wore on, Remus began to stir. James and Lily's conversation quieted, and they both turned their attention to their friend. Remus opened his eyes, blinking groggily.

"Morning, Moony," James said softly. "How're you feeling?"

"Like I've been hit by the Knight Bus," Remus replied with a wince.

Lily stood up, smoothing her skirt. "I'll let you two catch up. See you later, James, feel better, Remus."

James watched her go, feeling a strange mix of emotions. He turned back to Remus, who was watching him with a knowing look.

“So did I hear something about a date?” 

"You fucker, how long have you been awake for?” 

Remus looked over at him innocently. “Long enough. How does it feel?” 

James grinned. "I'll tell you later. Get some rest, Moony."

As Remus drifted back to sleep, James felt a sense of contentment settle over him. He had faced his fears, supported his friends, and now had a date with Lily to look forward to. For the first time in a long while, things were starting to look up.