Eclipsed

The night before the February full moon, a cold dread settled over Sirius. Remus had been gone since Lily's birthday, his whereabouts unknown, on a mysterious mission from Dumbledore that had set their entire friend group on edge. 

In the past, Remus had always returned to his parents, or to James and Sirius’ flat, the night before the moon. After the rough December and January moons, Sirius was nervous about this next one, especially since Remus would be exhausted, never a good thing when it came to the transformation. So, after a long day at St. Mungo’s, Sirius apparated to their cottage, taking in the change of scenery, the trees covered in snow, the house dark, save for the front window, where he could see Hope and Lyall sitting in the kitchen. 

He knocked on the door and waited a moment, before in swung open, revealing Hope, her tawny brown hair back in a low ponytail, the fringe parted in the center. 

"Sirius," she said, pulling him into a hug. “It’s good to see you, love.” 

She stepped aside, allowing him to enter. Lyall, stoic as ever, sat at the kitchen table, gaze fixed on the window, watching the snow pile up outside, eyes searching for something in the dark. 

A cold dread settled in Sirius's stomach. "Where is he?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Hope shook her head, her lips trembling. "He hasn't returned," she replied, her voice wavering.

Sirius felt a wave of panic wash over him. "When was he supposed to be back?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"He was due back last night," Lyall replied, eyes fixed outside. “No note or anything though saying otherwise.” 

A cold dread settled in his stomach. Sirius sat down, and Hope brought over a cup of steaming water, which Sirius thanked her for, and picked a tea satchel from her tin, dunking it inside. "Have you tried contacting Dumbledore?" he asked, stirring the bag around the mug with a spoon.

Lyall shook his head.

“Well, maybe he’s been delayed. I’ll wait until he’s back, just in case.” Hope smiled, and Lyall gave him a nice nod. 

As the hours passed, the tension in the room grew. They talked about Remus, about Sirius’ job at St. Mungos, about Lily and James’s engagement, the Potters, almost everything they could think of, until there was nothing left to talk about, and the dark had turned to pre-dawn, the stars disappearing slowly as the sky grew less dark. 

“Why don’t you lay down for a bit, Sirius,” Hope suggested, as Sirius’ head jerked him back awake for the third time. “We’ll wake you up if he comes in. 

Begrudgingly, Sirius agreed, and he went upstairs to Remus’ bed, sleeping for an hour or two before the sun coming through the windows woke him again. The morning dawned, and despite the sun twinkling off the freshly fallen snow, the mood was bleak. Sirius, in his borrowed sweats and t-shirt, padded down the stairs, into the kitchen, where Hope and Lyall sat, freshly showered but looking as exhausted as Sirius felt. 

"Morning, Sirius," Hope said, her voice soft, as he entered. "Did you sleep well?"

Sirius shook his head. "Not really," he admitted, his voice hoarse. "Any word from Remus?"

Hope's eyes filled with sadness. "None," she replied. 

As the morning wore on, with no sign of Remus, a sense of dread began to creep in, and the three wandered the house, trying to stay busy as they waited, but without success. 

It was Lyall who finally broke the silence.

“I’m going to write to Professor Dumbledore,” he said, his voice heavy with concern. "Inform him of the situation. Tell him that Remus hasn't returned."

Hope nodded, her eyes filling with tears, and she and Sirius watched as Lyall wrote the letter, attached it to the family owl, and sent it off to Scotland. 

The day dragged on, a torturous blend of waiting and worry, each tick of the clock a reminder of the approaching full moon. 

As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows over the house, Sirius made a decision. He would stay the night, just in case Remus returned. If he came home once the transformation was over, disoriented and frightened, and probably hurt, they would need someone to be there for him. Sirius made the decision to stay the night, just in case.

He spent the evening curled up on Remus’ bed again, a book open in his lap, his mind far away. The house was filled with an eerie silence, the ticking of the clock the only sound breaking the stillness.

As the night deepened, the full moon began to rise, casting an ethereal glow over the house. Sirius's heart pounded in his chest. He knew what was coming, and the fear of the unknown was almost paralyzing. He forced himself to stay awake, to be there for Remus, whatever happened.

Morning broke with a cold, unforgiving light, casting long shadows through the Remus’ bedroom. Sirius stirred, his body aching from the restless sleep. He checked the time, his heart sinking. The full moon had come and gone, and there was still no sign of Remus. A cold dread settled over him, a fear he couldn't shake.

He found Hope and Lyall in the kitchen, their faces etched with worry. "Still no sign of him?" Sirius asked.

Lyall shook his head. A heavy silence settled over them, and the three separated, all needing to get ready to go to work, after taking off the day before waiting for Remus to appear. 

As they were gathered in the kitchen, finishing their breakfast, an owl swooped down, dropping a small, sealed letter. Hope's hand trembled as she took it, her eyes wide with anticipation. She tore open the envelope, her gaze scanning the contents.

"It's from Remus," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of relief and confusion.

Sirius snatched the letter from her hands, his eyes scanning the words. It was brief, almost clinical: "Safe. Love you. - RJL".

Relief washed over Sirius, a wave of emotion that nearly overwhelmed him. Remus was alive, he was safe, that was all that mattered. Yet, a nagging sense of frustration lingered. The lack of communication, the secrecy surrounding Remus's mission, it was all infuriating.

Hope and Lyall were also relieved, but their worry hadn't completely dissipated. They knew Remus was strong, but they also knew the toll the full moon took on him.

"At least we know he's safe," Hope said, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

Lyall nodded, his expression grim. "But where?"

Sirius knew they were right to be worried. Remus was more than just physically strong; he was resilient. But even the strongest person has their limits, and since he hadn’t come home for the moon, there was no way for him to get the potions that Effie had sourced for him, and Sirius knew that each passing moon had been harder and harder on his body. 

A few hours later, Sirius found himself at St. Mungo’s, trying to bury his feelings under layers of work. The sterile smell of antiseptic and the constant hum of activity should have been comforting, but instead, they amplified his frustration.

“Morning, Sirius,” called Ben, the healer from the ward who had taken Sirius out for a drink after the first attack. “You look like you’ve had better mornings.”

Sirius forced a grin. “Just another day in paradise.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed with concern. “You sure? You’re looking a bit rough around the edges. Anything you want to talk about?”

Sirius shook his head, though the gesture was more reflex than conviction. “It’s nothing, Ben. Just a bit of a rough night.”

Ben’s gaze was knowing. “You know, sometimes it helps to unwind a bit. How about we grab a drink after work? Might clear your head.”

The suggestion was met with a mix of relief and trepidation. Tonight, the temptation was hard to resist. The weight of Remus’s absence and the frustration with Dumbledore’s decisions made the thought of a drink almost irresistible.

“Alright,” Sirius said finally, his voice subdued. “I suppose I could use a break.”

Ben smiled, clearly relieved. “Great. I’ll meet you outside after your shift.”

As Sirius went about his duties, the hours dragged interminably. His thoughts kept drifting back to Remus, to the full moon that had risen in his absence, and to the countless times they had faced danger together. The frustration and helplessness were becoming unbearable.

Finally, as the day drew to a close, Sirius joined Ben at a small, dimly lit pub on the edge of Diagon Alley. The warm, smoky air inside was a stark contrast to the winter cold outside, and the clinical chill of St. Mungo’s, but it was the warmth of the alcohol that Sirius sought.

“Cheers,” Ben said, raising his glass. Sirius clinked his own drink against Ben’s, the sharp bite of the alcohol a temporary relief from the gnawing anxiety.

They drank in silence for a while, the soft murmur of conversations around them a gentle backdrop. Sirius’s mind slowly began to ease, the alcohol dulling the edge of his worry. Yet, even as the warmth spread through him, a part of him remained unsettled.

The chill in the air did little to deter the festive spirit that enveloped Hogsmeade on Valentine’s Day. Red and pink decorations adorned shop windows, and couples strolled hand in hand, their breath forming little clouds in the frosty air. The village seemed to be basking in a gentle, romantic glow, with the promise of warmth and affection hidden beneath the surface.

Peter Pettigrew stood by the entrance of the Three Broomsticks, his heart pounding with anticipation. He had been eagerly counting down the days until he could see Elle again. The separation had been harder than he had imagined, with his busy internship at the apothecary and Elle’s demanding final year at Hogwarts keeping them apart.

Peter Pettigrew appeared in a quiet alleyway, his usual anxious demeanor softened by the excitement of reuniting with his girlfriend. He’d been counting down the days until he could see her again. The distance between them—his herbology internship and her final year at Hogwarts—had begun to strain their relationship, and he was eager to make up for lost time.

He glanced at his watch, then scanned the street for Elle. As if on cue, he spotted her walking towards him. Elle was a vision of bright cheerfulness, her blonde hair framing her face in gentle waves, and her Slytherin green scarf wrapped snugly around her neck. Her eyes lit up when she saw Peter, and she hurried over, her face flushed with excitement and a touch of the cold.

“Peter!” Elle called out, her voice a melodic blend of relief and happiness. She threw her arms around him, and Peter hugged her tightly, the warmth of her embrace making him forget the biting cold.

“Elle, you beautiful girl,” Peter said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. He pulled back slightly to look at her, his hands resting gently on her shoulders. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Elle replied, pulling back to look at him with a mixture of affection and relief. “How is your internship coming along?”

Peter smiled, though a hint of weariness lingered in his eyes. “It’s been intense. Lots of work, lot’s of reading… I can’t wait to finally get some time off, but I think I’ve got at least another year of it. Enough about that, though. How are you? Tell me, did Sprout get back to you on ordering those seeds? Because I can try and get them for you if she won’t.”

Elle’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she spoke about her final year at Hogwarts, detailing her classes and the upcoming exams. 

They spent a few moments reveling in each other’s presence before Peter led the way to a cozy new café, Madam Puddifoot’s, nestled among the shops. The interior was warm and inviting, with a crackling fireplace and soft, ambient music playing in the background. They settled into a corner booth, their hands still linked, meeting up with some of her friends who were joining them for lunch. Peter was introduced to Isabelle and Tobias Avery, siblings and longtime family friends of Elle’s, along with Charlotte Yaxley and Jules Rosier. They were all 6th and 7th years, and unlike their siblings, who Peter and his friends had dueled in the halls, this group seemed almost… harmless- they were nerdy, and like Elle, seemed a little naive, but Peter’s guard wasn’t completely down. 

He listened attentively, but as they spoke, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease. The conversation took a turn when Elle’s friends began discussing their families, and a few casual remarks about their parents and siblings—who had ties to known Death Eaters—slipped into the conversation. The conversation veered toward topics that made his stomach churn—talk of their families’ pureblood traditions and their values, which seemed to color even Elle’s outlook on some matters. 

“You know,” Elle said thoughtfully as they left the cafe, “my father always said that there’s something special about preserving our heritage. It’s important to remember where we come from.”

Peter’s heart sank a little. He had met Elle’s father in December, and the bigotry that had surfaced in their conversation had left him unsettled. Elle’s seemingly uncritical acceptance of these views made him worry. “Yeah, I guess. But it’s also important to think about the future, right? To challenge old beliefs that might not fit with the world we live in now.”

Elle looked at him, her expression thoughtful. “I suppose... It’s not always easy though, is it?” She took her question out to the group, and as they halfheartedly discussed it, Peter felt himself tuning it out, the unease lingering in his mind.

He did his best and at some point, convinced himself to brush it aside. He didn’t want to let his fears spoil their day. After all, they were together, and that was what mattered most, right?

After saying goodbye to her friends, they spent the afternoon wandering through the snowy streets, visiting the shops, and enjoying the festive decorations. Peter tried to focus on the joy of their reunion, making an effort to push aside his worries. They had lunch at a cozy, candle-lit bistro, where the atmosphere was intimate and warm. The food was delicious, and the conversation, though occasionally touched by the complexities of their differing views, remained light and affectionate.

As they walked back toward the Three Broomsticks for a drink, Elle took his hand, her touch soft and reassuring. “I’m really glad we could do this. It feels like we’re in our own little world right now.”

They settled into a quiet corner of the Three Broomsticks, where the fire crackled and the ambiance was relaxed. They laughed and shared stories, the warmth of the pub and the comfort of each other’s company easing Peter’s lingering doubts, if only temporarily.

Elle’s curfew drew nearer, as Hogwarts had begun cracking down on safety measures, and as they walked back toward the place where Peter would apparate back to his internship, the snow began to fall gently, creating a serene and magical end to their day.

Elle leaned into Peter as they said their goodbyes, her eyes soft and loving. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself? I don’t want you to get too caught up in work.”

“I promise,” Peter said, pressing a gentle kiss to her mouth. “And you take care of yourself too. I’ll see you soon.”

As Peter apparated away, he carried with him a mix of happiness and lingering unease. The day had been perfect in many ways, but the shadow of his worries about Elle’s beliefs remained. For now, though, he chose to hold on to the joy of their time together, hoping that in time, their differing views would find common ground.