Eclipsed

The lazy heat of July hung heavy in the air as James, Sirius, and Peter sat around a sticky pub table in Godric’s Hollow. School was out, replaced by the tentative uncertainty of their futures. James, ever the social butterfly, was buzzing with news from his recent visit with Lily's family.

"So there I am," James began, his voice animated, "trying my best to make a good impression on Tuney and her oaf of a fiance, Verdon, I think his name was? Lily had warned me they were… quite conservative muggles, but Merlin's beard, I wasn't prepared for that level of hostility!"

Sirius snorted, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Conservative? You mean stuck-up snobs, right?"

"Exactly," James muttered, shaking his head with exasperation. "Verdon wouldn't even shake my hand! Kept muttering something about 'freakishness' and 'unnatural'."

Peter piped up, "Maybe they were just nervous, James. Meeting Lily's charming boyfriend for the first time and all."

"Tell us, Prongs! What did the uptight muggles have to say?" Sirius prodded, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.

James sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "It was a disaster, Padfoot, pure and utter disaster. Lily insisted I meet them, said it was important. So, there I was, all smiles and charm, ready to make a good first impression-"

"And then?" Peter chimed in, his eyes wide with anticipation.

"Well," James continued, his voice dropping, "this bloke treated me like I was some kind of… delinquent? Kept asking me about my 'occupation' and whether I drove a car. As if I should be driving anything when I can hardly see two feet in front of my face!"

Sirius, at this point, was full-on snorting, tears welling. Peter, a little slower on the uptake, burst into laughter as well.

“I tried to explain about the Ministry, about studying law, and working in the Wizengamot, but he just mumbled something about me living off of unemployment benefits and Lily's charity," James continued. 

“As if the Potters need charity… Imagine that,” Peter choked out, his laughter subsiding as he let out a sympathetic chuckle. "Sounds like a right tosser, that Verdon."

Sirius, still wiping his eyes, placed his glass on the table. "Don't worry, Prongs! Lily will sort things out. Besides, who needs them anyway?"

"On top of everything else," James said, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness, "Vernon and Petunia kept making these backhanded comments about my "condition". Kept asking Lily if I could even take care of myself, if I was a 'burden' or something."

"And Lily?" Sirius prompted, his voice sharp with concern. "What did she say to that?"

James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She tried to stick up for me, I'll give her that. But… I don't know, Sirius. It felt like she was trying to walk a tightrope, you know? Defend me to them, while also explaining them away to me." James shrugged, unsure what else to say. "Lily probably just wants to keep the peace, I guess. Her family is just going to be…  difficult to get along with."

"Difficult?" Peter echoed, bewildered. 

Sirius, ever the firebrand, chimed in, "They sound like a bunch of right gits! Lily should have put them in their place. Told them to mind their own business.”

Peter sighed. While he agreed with Sirius in principle, he knew Lily wouldn't want to cause a scene, especially not with Petunia's wedding coming up soon. He decided to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Speaking of new beginnings," he said, a hint of forced cheer in his voice, "You and Sirius are planning to flat-share in London?"

A wave of relief washed over James' face as the subject shifted. "Yep!" he exclaimed, a hint of his earlier frustration evaporating. "We found a flat in a decent neighbourhood, not too far from Broomhaven or St. Mungo's. It’ll be perfect for Sirius' training year and my year of school, plus when I start working in the Ministry, the location will still be good." 

"As much as I love your parents, it'll be nice to have our own place," Sirius chuckled, nudging James playfully with his elbow. "Especially with the constant barrage of questions you've been getting about when you'll finally give them some grandchildren."

James shuddered dramatically, earning a snort of laughter from Peter. The mention of grandchildren always seemed to send James into a playful panic.

"We're aiming to move at the end of the month," Sirius continued, “right after the moon, before classes begin in August.” 

"Sounds like chaos," Peter said, shaking his head with a smile. "But hey, at least you'll have each other to keep you company.  Bainbridge’s will be providing room and board for the duration of the apprenticeship... Not exactly spacious, since I might have a roommate in the flat, but it'll do, especially since it’s free.” 

"Absolutely, Wormtail!" James replied enthusiastically, raising his glass in a toast. 

The conversation flowed easily then, filled with lighthearted plans for the future. James and Sirius regaled them with their grand (and slightly outrageous) visions for their flat, while Peter shared his hopes for impressing his apothecary mentor.

Suddenly, James reached out to the vaguely Sirius-shaped blur beside him, catching him on the arm. "Where's Moony, by the way?"

Sirius's grin faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. He cleared his throat a little too loudly. "Ah, Remus. Busy with some research, apparently. Dumbledore gave him some top-secret project, wouldn't you know it? Said Remus couldn't breathe a word about it, not even to his closest mates."

"Right." James frowned, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Research for Dumbledore? Sounds important. Though, keeping secrets… that's exactly like Moony."

Sirius shrugged, a touch too casually. "You know how it is. Tight lips and all that."

James squeezed Sirius’ arm. "Well, if Dumbledore thinks it's that important, then there's probably a good reason for the secrecy, right?"

Sirius nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, suppose so. Dumbledore's the one who knows best, I guess. Probably some dusty old tomes Remus needs to decipher, nothing too crazy."

James chuckled, the image of Remus poring over archaic texts bringing a smile to his face. "Knowing Moony, he's probably thrilled to be knee-deep in ancient magical theory.”

Sirius let out a relieved breath. "Right you are, Prongs. I just… I worry about him being alone though…  having an episode he can’t handle, or being in pain, without anyone to check up on him."

James chuckled. "He’s a smart bloke, he can handle himself, Sirius. He will ask for help when he needs it. Have some faith."

“Will he though?” Peter asked, quietly. 

They fell silent for a moment, the weight of the unknown hanging in the air.

Sirius shrugged, taking another sip of his drink. "He'll be back for the full, though, so we'll know for sure soon."

James smiled back, and Peter nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely." 

For Sirius, who knew all too well the darkness lurking in the world, the secrecy surrounding Remus's project felt more like a concealed trap than a simple research assignment. But for now, he would keep his concerns to himself. They had their own plans to focus on, a flat to decorate and a new career to begin. And besides, Dumbledore wouldn't put Remus in any unnecessary danger, would he? That was a question Sirius would have to leave unanswered, at least for now.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Potters' living room as James made his way down the stairs. Sirius, already by the door, bounced on the balls of his feet, eager to be on their way, but there was one thing left to do before heading over to the Lupins’ for the moon.

"Just popping in to see Dad before we head out, Padfoot," James announced, his voice carrying a hint of concern. Fleamont Potter, James's father, had been in and out of St. Mungo's for the past few months, a worry that gnawed at James despite his usual bravado.

Sirius gave him a quick nod. "Right on, Prongs. We should probably be getting a move on if we want to reach Remus's folks early enough though.” 

James navigated the familiar hallway, his heightened senses picking up the faint scent of lavender polish and freshly baked bread – a sure sign his mother was bustling about the kitchen. He reached the heavy oak door to his father's study and knocked softly.

"Come in, James," came his father's gruff but warm voice. 

James pushed the door open, the scent of aged leather and pipe tobacco filling his nostrils. He couldn't see the worry lines etched deeper on his father's face, the slight tremor in his usually steady hand, but he felt them in the air, a tangible presence.

"Morning, Dad," James said, his voice gentle. "Just checking in before we head out to see Remus. How are you feeling today?"

There was a moment of silence, then a sigh from Fleamont. "A bit stiff, truth be told. But I can’t complain, Beta.” 

James pulled up a chair beside his father, the familiar creaking as he sat a comforting sound. "That's good to hear. Maybe we can convince Mum to make your favourite aloo gobi for a change, wouldn’t that be good?"

Flemont chuckled, a dry rasp that held a hint of his old spirit. "That woman and her cooking, James. Always knows how to cheer me up, your mum." He reached out a hand, his touch warm and calloused. "You tell the Lupins we say hello, alright?"

James squeezed his father's hand reassuringly. "I will, Dad. Love you.” With a final squeeze of his father's arm, James stood up, and headed back to the living room, where Sirius called him over to the Floo. 

"Ready, Prongs?" Sirius asked.

James took a deep breath, the weight of his unspoken concern for both Remus and his father settling on his shoulders. "Ready as I'll ever be," he replied. After Sirius went through, he reached for a handful of Floo powder, and confidently called out. 

“Lupin Residence, just-outside-Tremadog, Wales” 

James whooshed through the Floo and into Sirius’ arms as he stumbled out.

Hope Lupin, Remus' mother, a woman whose gentle eyes mirrored her son's, greeted them as they came through the fireplace. "James! Sirius! So glad you both could make it."

Lyall, a man of few words, followed close behind. His usual stoicism cracked a bit as he offered a curt nod of greeting. "Good to see you, lads. Fleamont doing alright, James?" Lyall asked, his voice gruff but laced with concern. News of Fleamont Potter's health had reached them, the tight bond between the families extended beyond their sons.

James offered a reassuring smile, though his heart ached slightly. "He's… hanging in there, Mr. Lupin. Thanks for asking."

Small talk filled the room for a while, punctuated by strained silences. Hope kept offering them tea and biscuits, her eyes flitting nervously towards the stairs that led to Remus's room. James knew the full moon loomed large, casting its long shadow over their normally cheerful gatherings.

"Well then," Sirius said quickly, clearing his throat. "Shall we see how Remus is faring then?"

Hope offered a weak smile. "He's resting upstairs. He arrived only yesterday, quite exhausted from his… trip, I think."

James noted the way Hope skirted around the details of Remus's mission, making it obvious that she and Lyall didn’t know where their son had been, and that they didn’t like it. Sirius, oblivious or willfully ignoring the unspoken tension, bounded towards the stairs, his heavy footsteps echoing on the wooden planks.

“I think I’ll stay down here with these delicious biscuits, Hope. Sirius, why don’t you go on up?”

As Sirius climbed the creaky stairs, the rhythmic thud of his boots was the only sound in the quiet house, outside the chatter downstairs. Reaching the landing, Sirius paused before knocking on the worn wooden door to Remus's room. 

The small room on the second floor was a haven for Remus’ scholarly pursuits; bookshelves crammed with well-worn volumes lined the walls, and diagrams of various magical creatures hung beside photos of Remus’ family and the marauders. When there was no answer, Sirius pushed open the door to find Remus curled up in his bed, a damp cloth resting on his forehead and a mountain of blankets on top of him. Remus, usually pale, looked positively flushed, a sheen of sweat clinging to his skin.

"Remus?" Sirius called softly, approaching the bed. “Darling?” 

Remus stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Sirius," he croaked, his voice raspy. "Glad you're here. Thought you forgot about me."

A pang of guilt stabbed at Sirius. He knew Remus's words were laced with more than just the usual pre-transformation anxiety. "Forgot you?" he scoffed, kicking off his boots and climbing onto Remus’ bed. "As if. Just got here actually. Couldn’t stay away a moment longer.” He ran a hand through Remus’ sweaty hair. “Hope said you weren't feeling too good."

“I… I feel bad.” Remus said simply, his head lolling to the side and his face nestled against Sirius' shoulder.

The heat of Remus's body against his chilled skin was alarming. This wasn't the usual pre-transformation kind of heat; this was a fever that burned with an unsettling intensity.

"Merlin's beard, Moony," Sirius muttered, his concern turning into alarm. "You're burning up." He tried to pull back slightly, his instincts screaming at him to cool Remus down.

Remus, however, tightened his grip on Sirius's shirt, a whimper escaping his usually strong voice. "Don't," he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "Just… hold me."

Sirius's heart ached. He understood the desperation in Remus's voice, the fear of vulnerability that came with being sick. He relented, keeping his hold secure but trying to gently shift the layers of blankets that seemed to be suffocating Remus.

"Have you taken your usual potions, Moony?" Sirius asked, his voice laced with concern. "Those usually help with the fever spikes."

Remus's grip faltered, and he shook his head, a tear rolling down his flushed cheek. "Can't," he rasped. "Now that I've graduated, Hogwarts won't send them anymore- it's just the policy. And they… they're too expensive for us to buy."

A wave of guilt washed over Sirius. He knew the Lupins weren’t very well off, but Sirius had never known the feeling of not being able to afford things he needed, or imagined it as a reality for anyone. 

Sirius held Remus tighter, ignoring the heat and sweat coming off of him. 

“We’ll have them for you next time darling, don’t worry. You’ll be okay.” He felt a tremor rack Remus's body, and Sirius’ concerns over the fever escalated. 

"It's not just feeling sick," Remus continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm exhausted. The research… the traveling… it was so much stress to make it home today- I can’t do it like this every moon. I just can’t.” 

"Hey," Sirius soothed, stroking Remus's hair with a gentle hand. "We can figure out the research thing -Dumbledore will understand if you tell him you need more than a day around the moons."

Remus gave a weak shake of his head. "No, I can't. This is important. This could be the key to…" his voice trailed off, his eyes going blank as a wave of exhaustion hit.

Sirius felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him. 

"Remus, love," Sirius said, his voice firm but filled with love. "You're no good to anyone, Dumbledore included, if you’re pushing yourself so hard you don’t make it through the moon. Do you hear me?” 

Remus nodded and pressed his body closer to Sirius’, the heat radiating off of his body impossible to ignore. Sirius knew he had to act fast. The heat radiating from Remus was like a furnace, and the tremor in his body spoke of a transformation pushing forward at an alarming pace.

"Moony, listen to me," he said firmly, his voice laced with a gentle urgency. "I know you feel cold, but you're actually getting too hot. This fever is getting out of control, and we need to bring it down."

Remus, however, was lost in a feverish haze. The world felt like it was spinning, and all he craved was the comfort of the warm cocoon of blankets. "N-no," he mumbled, clinging to the sheets like a lifeline. "C-cold…"

Sirius's heart ached, caught between his desire to comfort Remus and his need to cool him down. "I know, love," he soothed, gently prying his fingers from the blankets. "But this is for the best. Trust me."

Remus whimpered, his pleas turning into incoherent babbles. The sound tugged at Sirius's heartstrings, but he couldn't back down. He knew the dangers of a high fever during transformation. It could weaken Remus further, making the change even more violent and unpredictable.

The gentle coaxing turned into a low-grade argument, Remus's protests growing louder and more desperate. The sound of their struggle reached the ears of Hope and Lyall, who rushed upstairs, concern etched on their faces, as well as James, who’d followed closely behind with a hand on Hope’s shoulder. 

The moment they saw the scene, Hope's maternal instincts kicked in. "What's going on?" she cried, leaving James at the door and hurrying towards the bed, attempting to help Sirius detangle Remus from the blankets.

Sirius turned to them with a relieved smile. "It's okay, Mrs. Lupin. I’m just trying to cool Remus down. His fever's spiking, and…"

He didn't need to finish the sentence. Lyall, a man of action, understood immediately. His years of living with Remus's condition had given him a practical understanding of the transformation process.

"Alright, Sirius," Lyall said, his voice firm. "Help me get him to the shower."

Together, they wrestled the blankets off Remus, ignoring his increasingly frantic pleas. They carried him, his limbs flailing weakly, towards the small bathroom at the end of the hallway.

Once they were out of the way, James made his way into the bedroom, where he heard Hope shuffling things around, his hand brushing against a chair as he approached the bed.

"Can I help with anything?" he offered, his voice gentle.

Hope startled slightly, then smiled warmly. "Oh, James, that's alright. You shouldn't trouble yourself."

"Nonsense," James insisted. "Have you stripped the sheets off the bed? I can at least help with that."

"Well, alright then," she answered, and pointed him towards the bed as she took off in search of clean ones. He took the sweaty sheets off the mattress, dropping them into the hamper when directed to as Hope brought new ones to fit on the bed, their conversation a quiet counterpoint to the sounds of struggle coming from the bathroom.

James used this opportunity to assure Hope. "Sirius takes really good care of Remus, you know," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "He spends ages researching things, trying to find ways to make these full moons easier on him. You know, he’s on the accelerated track at St. Mungo’s.” 

Hope's eyes misted over. "I know, James," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "We're so grateful for him… for both of you. You're like… like family to Remus."

A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment, broken only by the sounds of running water and muffled shouts from the bathroom. 

The bathroom door swung open, revealing a damp and shivering Remus supported by Lyall and Sirius. The cold shower had done its job; Remus's skin, though still flushed, no longer burned with the terrifying heat of earlier. His eyes, however, were glazed over, his body limp with exhaustion.

"Hey, Moony," James said softly, his voice laced with relief.

Remus offered a weak smile, his lips barely parting. "James," he rasped, his voice hoarse.

Hope bustled over, concern etched on her face. "Alright, my love," she said, her voice tender. "Let's get you settled in." She helped Sirius and Lyall maneuver Remus back onto the bed, his limbs heavy with exhaustion.

Remus mumbled something unintelligible, his head lolling against Sirius's shoulder. Hope appeared by their side, a pair of little white pills in the palm of her hand. 

"Here you go, cariad," she said softly, helping him sit up slightly. "Paracetamol, to help with the aches."

Remus blinked slowly, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. He managed a weak nod and mumbled a thank you before swallowing the medication with a grimace. 

Sirius, ever the curious one, leaned closer. "Paracetamol, huh? Never heard of it. Does it work on werewolves too?"

Hope smiled faintly. "Seems so- muggle medicines don’t have any anti-werewolf ingredients, at least. When we don’t have any of those potions, they do work, but not as long as the magical medicines do."

"Alright then," Lyall said, his voice gruff but laced with concern. "Best get some rest, Remus. We'll check on you in a bit."

Remus didn't respond, his eyelids already fluttering closed. With a final gentle squeeze of his hand, Sirius, James, and Lyall ushered themselves out of the room, leaving Hope to sit beside her son for a moment longer.

Outside his bedroom, the tension in the air had eased somewhat, replaced by a weary acceptance of the situation. 

"The door in the kitchen," he said, his voice low, "leads to the cellar. We've reinforced the walls and soundproofed it as much as we can," Lyall explained, his voice echoing in the small hallway. "It's not ideal, but it's the best we can do under the circumstances."

Sirius nodded grimly. Having Remus transform alone, locked in a cellar, was far from ideal, but under the current circumstances, it was their only option. The Lupins couldn’t know about Marauders being animagi, but being here for before and after the shift was second best. 

“Well, lads. Make yourselves comfortable.” Lyall gestured towards the living room. “We’ve a couple hours yet.” Lyall gave them a small smile, and headed for his office, a small room sequestered off the living area. 

As they made their way back towards the main sitting room, James, his hand resting on Sirius's arm, felt the turmoil brewing within his friend.

"It's not fair," Sirius muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "He shouldn't have to go through this alone."

James squeezed his arm in a silent show of solidarity. “He’ll be okay. He’ll have you afterwards to clean him up, which is better than nothing.” 

Sirius sat on the extremely cozy couch with a sigh. “I’m no Pomfrey though. Hope I can manage it. Last time it was just me, he couldn’t move for five days afterwards.” 

James shook his head. “And if you hadn’t been here it might’ve been longer, do you realize?” 

Sirius shrugged, then paused, realizing James might’ve not caught it. “I shrugged, Prongs. I don’t know if that’s true or not.” 

“Neither do I,” James replied cheekily. “But why doubt yourself. Fake it till you make it, Padfoot, and Moony will be okay.”

The air in the Lupin's living room hung heavy with unspoken worry. James and Sirius settled onto two well-worn armchairs, their usual banter replaced by a tense silence. 

"Fancy a game of Exploding Snap, Prongs?" Sirius suddenly asked, his voice strained. It was a feeble attempt, James knew, but he appreciated the effort.

James chuckled, the sound lacking its usual warmth. "Sure, Padfoot. Why not? Though, I wouldn't want you to accuse me of cheating again just because I can 'hear' the exploding ones coming."

“No promises… cheater.” 

They settled in for a game, the sound of exploding cards a flimsy shield against the silence that threatened to engulf them. James, despite focusing on the game, couldn't help but let his thoughts drift to Remus. He envisioned him alone in the darkness of the cellar, battling the transformation, and a wave of helplessness washed over him.

The afternoon stretched on, punctuated by strained conversation and the occasional nervous glance towards the ceiling. As the shadows began to lengthen, casting the room in a twilight gloom, the silence grew heavy once more.

Then came the sound of footsteps on the stairs – heavy, deliberate steps that signaled Lyall's return. Moments later, he and Remus appeared at the top of the stairs, his face pale and drawn. Lyall, with a strong arm around his waist, helped him navigate the steps.

 Remus slumped onto a seat at the small round kitchen table, the rest of them following suit. 

Hope placed a steaming plate of soup in front of him. "Here, cariad," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "You need some strength in you before…"

Remus managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Mam… dunno how much I can stomach though."

The following hour was a blur of forced cheer. James kept the conversation flowing, recounting a particularly amusing anecdote from his latest trip to Hogsmeade. Sirius chimed in with his own embellishments, their laughter a fragile counterpoint to the tension that still lingered in the air.

Remus, though weak, made a valiant effort to participate. He picked at his food, offering a few wry comments that elicited genuine smiles. However, as the evening darkened, the restlessness in his eyes became more pronounced, and they moved the group from the kitchen to the living room, where they sat and chatted quietly while Remus napped, his head cradled in Sirius’ lap. 

Finally, with the clock nearing midnight, Lyall and Sirius exchanged a somber look. 

“It’s almost time,” Lyall said dryly. "Let's go, lads." 

James knew what was coming. He rose from his seat, his hand outstretched. James knew it was time for him to leave. He wouldn't be any help down in the cellar, or in the morning.

"Alright, Remus," he said, his voice filled with forced cheer. "Time for me to head out. I'll come visit you soon, alright?"

James turned, his heart heavy as Hope guided his shoulders towards the fireplace, reminding him to watch his head, and nudging the container of Floo powder against his hand. 

“Thank you for coming, James. That was really good of you both to come. Remus– I know it means a lot to him.” 

“Anything for Remus, Mrs. L. See you soon.” 

He pinched the powder in his hand, and clearly enunciated his destination. 

“Potter Manor, Godric’s Hollow, England.”