Eclipsed

The following afternoon, a wave of green flame erupted in the fireplace, spitting Sirius out in a shower of soot. He coughed, wiping the black dust from his face with the back of his hand. James, who had been listening to a book recommended by Lily, perked up immediately.

"Padfoot?" he called out, setting the book down.

"The one and only," came a slightly muffled reply. "And he’s starving." Sirius emerged from the fireplace, his robes dusty and his hair askew. Though undeniably tired, the exhaustion in his eyes was overshadowed by a spark of victory. “Is there food?” 

“Yeah, Mum cooked last night. She finally caved and made that aloo gobi dad likes.” 

“Food first, talk later.” James nodded, and followed Sirius to the kitchen. James took a seat as Sirius took the plate out of the fridge and warming it up with a flick of his wand. 

"Thank Merlin for Mum’s cooking," he said, collapsing into a chair with a sigh, taking in the delicious smelling food in front of him. "Merlin's beard, I'm beat." 

"How'd it go?" James asked, hearing Sirius pick up the fork and begin eating.

"Moony's alright, that's the main thing," he replied, partially still chewing. 

James felt a wave of relief wash over him. He might not have been there, but knowing Remus had made it through the night brought a measure of peace. "Good, that’s good to hear."

Sirius took a large bite of his food before he continued. "Mmm, this is delicious– so I transformed into Padfoot," he explained, his mouth full. "Figured laying by the door might not be the most comfortable, but at least Moony could probably smell me there. Might've helped a bit, you know?"

James nodded. “Yeah, maybe.” Remus being able to smell him – although that sounded far-fetched, the thought brought a flicker of comfort to James. 

"Did he still hurt himself badly though?" James asked, his voice laced with worry. Transformations, especially solo ones, were notoriously risky.

Sirius took a swig of water before answering. "Well," he began, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, "he did dislocate the same hip he's been having trouble with for a while. That was a bit concerning, it took us a while to get it back in place."

James winced in sympathy. The dislocated hip was becoming a recurring problem for Remus, a constant reminder of the toll the transformations took on his body.

"But we managed," Sirius continued, a touch of pride in his voice. "He's resting now, should be okay in a day or two."

“That’s good.” 

“Listen, Prongs,” Sirius began, putting down the fork. “We can’t let him transform there again. We have to figure something out for next month.”

“I agree,” James replied, already starting to think of places they could go. “We’ll just have to make some excuse to the Lupins as to where we’re taking him. 

“Well, he’s an adult now,” Sirius said with a halfhearted shrug. “We technically don’t have to tell them anything. Not like they were very helpful yesterday when a fever nearly boiled his brains out.” 

“Pads…”  

“They could’ve done better than that, James, truly. If they’d only asked me… or anyone…” 

Sirius pushed away his half-eaten plate and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes.

"Think I'll head up for a nap," he mumbled. "I’m fuckin’ spent."

James rose from his chair. "Of course, Padfoot. Get some rest. I’ll wake you up for dinner."

The creak of the floorboards above signaled Sirius’s departure, leaving James alone with the quiet hum of the afternoon. He was about to head back upstairs when a familiar voice drifted in from the hallway.

“James? What are you doing in here?” It was Effie, her voice warm and laced with curiosity. 

James straightened in his chair. “Hi, Mum. Just… finishing up some lunch.” He gestured vaguely at Sirius' half-eaten plate in front of him.

Effie’s brow furrowed slightly. “Is everything alright?”

James knew he couldn't hide his worry entirely. He forced a smile. “Sirius just got back from the Lupins, and I was just thinking about Remus, actually. He wasn’t feeling well at all yesterday.”

Effie’s concern deepened. “Oh dear, that’s terrible. What’s wrong with him?”

James hesitated. He couldn't reveal the truth, but he needed to explain Remus's condition in a way that wouldn't arouse suspicion. "It's a bit of a chronic thing," he said carefully. "He gets these… flare-ups every so often. Makes him weak, feverish. He gets dizzy out of nowhere and uh… falls down, you know, that’s why he’s got all those scars. Just keeps bangin’ his head, you know?"

Effie's hand flew to her mouth. "Poor boy.” 

James felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to help Remus without breaking their secret. "He takes some potions to manage it," he admitted. “But you see, since he graduated, Hogwarts no longer provides him with the necessary potions to keep it under control, and his family, they…"

He trailed off, unsure how to articulate the financial strain this put on the Lupins without outing them blatantly. However, his mother, being the perceptive woman she was, seemed to understand.

"They're struggling, aren't they?" she asked gently, her voice laced with sympathy. 

“Yeah, they are.” 

Effie's eyes softened further. "Alright, James," she said, her voice firm but reassuring. "Tell me what kind of potions he needs."

James, relieved that she was willing to help without prying further, explained the types of fever reducers and pain potions that Remus usually took.

Effie listened intently, nodding along. "I have some contacts who still work at St. Mungo's," she said thoughtfully. "I'll see if there's a way to get Remus a low-cost supply, perhaps through a donation program or something of the sort."

A wave of gratitude washed over James. He couldn't express how much his mother's help meant. It was a small step, but it felt like a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

"That would be amazing, Mum," James said, a genuine smile breaking out on his face. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means."

"Don't you worry, James," Effie answered casually. "We'll get Remus what he needs. He’s such a sweet boy. Now, how about I heat up that plate for you again?"

The late summer sun beat down on a bustling London street, the cacophony of car horns and distant shouts filling the air. James, his hand gripping Sirius's arm, headed down the bustling sidewalk of his new, unfamiliar street. The first of August had arrived, and with it, their move into their new flat in the city. Sirius fidgeted, his usual energy dampened by the sheer volume of non-magical mortals milling about.

"Merlin's beard," Sirius muttered under his breath. "I feel like a fish out of water here, Prongs. All these muggles… it's like a different world."

James chuckled, the sound lost in the general din. He squeezed his friend's arm reassuringly. 

"Relax, Padfoot. We'll manage.” Today, they were simply two young men moving into a new flat, not a pair of skilled young wizards about to begin a new chapter. 

Soon, they reached their destination – a quaint brick building on a quiet street. Relief washed over James as he felt Sirius guide him towards the entrance.

The door creaked open to reveal a small group of people, their faces a mix of excitement and concern. Remus, his form stiff with his ever-present hip issue, sat on a recently resized couch. Lily, a warm smile on her face, stood in the kitchen hall, a box of mismatched mugs nestled in her arms. Peter sat next to Remus, sorting through a precariously filled box of books.

"There you are, you two!" Mary Macdonald called out, her voice bubbly and bright. Marlene McKinnon, her light eyes twinkling, stood beside her. They’d been put on unpacking duty as well, and were taking care of plates and glasses in the kitchen. “I thought you’d gone off and left all the work to us!”

As soon as they arrived, Sirius left James and rushed towards the living room. "Alright, careful with those books, Pete!" Sirius's voice carried, laced with a hint of panic. "Don't want to flatten Moony with them, although I’m sure that’s a dream of his, the kinky bastard!"

A muffled groan followed, then Remus's voice, heavy with mock indignation. "Honestly, Padfoot, you act like I'm made of glass."

James chuckled, the sound lost in the general chaos. He stood in the doorway of the flat, then felt a hand on his shoulder, a familiar touch that sent a wave of warmth through him.

"James," Lily's voice said softly. "You alright?"

James shook his head, turning towards her.  "Just taking it all in, Lils. Can't believe we actually have a place of our own."

Lily squeezed his hand. "It’s exciting, isn’t it. This feels perfect for you and Sirius, a little bachelor pad."

James winced at the term. 

"Don’t make that face," Lily teased, seeing the expression on his face, “that’s exactly what it is. And besides, we're just down the street. You can't escape that easily."

James grinned, a familiar comfort settling in his chest. Lily and the girls were living in a flat a couple blocks away, perfect for them all to continue their studies as well. 

Suddenly, Mary Macdonald's voice, crisp and clear, cut through the chatter. "Alright, everyone, let's get organized here! We need to have this place unpacked before it gets too late- I’ve got work tomorrow, unlike you all, apparently."

As the afternoon wore on, the flat transformed from a chaotic jumble to a space that felt lived-in. Pictures were hung on the walls, furniture arranged, and Remus, with surprising skill, managed to fix a leaky faucet. 

As the evening settled in, the friends found themselves sprawled around the small living room, a couple pizza boxes floating around between them. Twilight began to paint the sky with hues of orange and purple, and a sense of accomplishment settled over the group. The flat was far from perfect, but it was theirs. James, his hand resting on Lily’s thigh, felt a sense of contentment wash over him.

"Thanks for everything, guys," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Couldn't have done it without you."

"To new beginnings!" Sirius declared, raising his mug in a toast. 

James clinked his mug against Sirius', and everyone else's, a smile spreading across his face. 

"To new beginnings," they all echoed, and really believed it.

The last of the goodbyes had been said, the departing footsteps fading down the creaky staircase. Peter, his pockets bulging with an suspiciously large number of garlic knots "liberated" from the pizzeria just down the block, had been the last to leave, his clumsy farewell punctuated by a final, muffled crash from the hallway.

Silence settled over the flat, a welcome change from the earlier joyful chaos. James, perched on the edge of a lumpy sofa that had seen better days, stretched his legs out in front of him, a contented sigh escaping his lips.

"Alright, Sirius," he said, a playful smile in his voice. "Time to give me the grand tour."

Sirius, who had been perched on the floor near James, his wand tracing an invisible map in the air, chuckled. "Very well," he teased. "Prepare to be amazed by the wonders of our humble abode."

Sirius, ever the natural leader, spent the next half-hour guiding James around the flat. He described the layout in vivid detail – the creaky floorboard by the window, the narrow hallway leading to the bedrooms, the surprisingly spacious kitchen tucked away in the back. James, just as Felicity would’ve wanted him to, traced the outlines of furniture and the door frames, counted the length of the hallway, and memorized the contours of their new home.

As they finished their tour, James sank down onto the threadbare sofa in the living room, a sigh escaping his lips. "So, Moony," he said, "how's the research going?"

Remus, who had been perched on an armchair by the window, watching the city lights begin to twinkle to life, turned his head towards them.

"Actually, it's going quite well, James," he finally replied. "Dumbledore seems pleased with the progress."

"That's brilliant, love!" Sirius exclaimed, a note of genuine excitement in his voice. "We knew you'd be incredible."

Remus chuckled, a warm sound that filled the room. "There's still a long way to go," he cautioned. "But at least we're moving in the right direction." He paused for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "There's… actually something new," he said hesitantly.

"New?" Sirius echoed, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Remus continued. "Dumbledore wants me to expand the scope of the research. He wants me to travel to Europe, to collect some rare texts that are unavailable in the UK."

A wave of excitement washed over James. The idea of Remus traveling the continent, experiencing new cultures and broadening his horizons, filled him with joy. He could practically hear the gears turning in Sirius's mind, however.

"Europe, huh?" Sirius interjected, his voice laced with a hint of concern. "That's… quite a journey, love. Are you… up for it?"

Remus reached out and squeezed Sirius's hand gently. "I know, Padfoot," he said, his voice filled with understanding. "But I spoke to Dumbledore about it. He's arranged for me to stay with safe houses, people he trusts, during the full moons. Places where I can transform without… well, without causing any problems for myself or anyone else."

Sirius's face remained unreadable. A knot of worry tightened in James's stomach. He knew Sirius wasn't thrilled about Remus being away for extended periods, let alone facing the full moon alone in unfamiliar territory. Yet, there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes, an acknowledgment of Remus' independence, his autonomy.

"That's… good, I suppose," Sirius finally said, forcing a smile.

James, sensing the undercurrent of tension, cleared his throat. "Maybe we can all plan a little European trip sometime, meet you out there, eh?" he suggested, his voice filled with forced cheer. "Once things settle down a bit, of course."

“Of course,” Sirius echoed quietly. “It’s getting late. I think I’ll head to bed soon.” Remus heaved himself off the chair, and James stood as well. “James, you need a hand to your room?” 

“I think I’ll be okay, Pads. Thanks though.” James headed towards his room. “Just leave the hall light on for me tonight- so I at least I don’t slam into anything… and if there’s any boxes left on the ground would you mind just getting them out of the way?” 

“Sure thing, Prongs. Good night.” 

James got himself into pajamas, to the bathroom to brush his teeth, and back to bed. He then fell asleep, to his extreme displeasure, to the poorly muffled argument beginning to brew in the bedroom next door.