A star and the Eclipse

FEBRUARY 15, 1961

— “Malcolm Potter was born on the day of an eclipse. His parents, Fleamont and Euphemia had not planned for another child so soon so Malcolm came as a surprise. The second son of the couple was named Malcolm Charlus Potter, after Fleamont’s brother and Euphemia’s great-great-uncle.

Malcolm was a peculiar child from the reports of the healers that tended to the child. Reports say that Malcolm Potter was visibly quieter than his brother, more docile and meek. The medi-witch that had cared for the babe upon his birth had tried to coax him to cry but the child only yawned and slept soundly. Euphemia saw nothing wrong and doted on her son as her eldest was held by her husband.

Although Malcolm Potter inherited the typical black and wild hair of his father's side of the family, the child inherited the grey eyes of Euphemia's mother . ”

— Excerpt from St. Mungo's records of newborns by Healer Louisa Jones
In the coming future, people will often mistake Malcolm as the son of Dorea and Charlus rather than his own parents

JULY 31, 1967

— “This was supposed to be my birthday. It’s not anymore. GrandMother found me singing happy birthday to a mirror. She asked who I was singing too… I just told her that I thought it was someone’s birthday today and I wanted to sing to them. She thinks I’m adorable.

It’s been six years since I was born into this new world, four since I got my memories back. I’m not used to calling James ‘brother. I’ve always known him to be my father but now it’s Fleamont. Still, having a family from childhood is not so bad.

Fleamont Father decided to take us to Diagon alley the other day. He told me I could buy as many toys as I wanted within a limit, which is pretty ironic.

James thinks I’m weird. I don’t know. He turned seven a while ago and his magic started to show. Mum and Dad are ecstatic.

James thinks I’m weird. Maybe because of the fact that my magic started to show when I was four. Mum loved me even more for being an early-bloomer. Dad is fascinated but has no favourites.”

— From the first thing Malcolm Potter wrote in a notebook. He would transfer all this information into a journal that only he could open when his aunt Dorea buys him one.

JANUARY 11, 1968

— “I met Aunt Dorea and Uncle Charlus again. I think they like me more than James.

Aunt Dorea looks a lot like Sirius. I think it’s ‘cause she’s a Black. She told me she has an older brother who is a lot of years older than her. But she’s brilliant! She told me stories about her house and the magic they had. Apparently, the metamorphmagus ability Tonks had back then was from her mum. Guess Teddy and Tonks are massive slaps to the face for House Black. I miss them.

She doesn’t talk much about her family aside from her older brother Arcturus, her cousin Cassiopeia, her parents, her uncle who is also named Arcturus, and Regulus. Sirius’ brother…

I don’t know why I named Ares after him. It just felt right to reunite them through names. I want to meet him some day!”

— Written by Malcolm Potter after he followed his Aunt Dorea Potter née Black like a duckling.

JULY 1, 1971

—”Jamie got his letter. Him and Marlene are leaving soon. Godric’s Hollow is gonna feel weird without them but I’ll get used to it. I keep visiting Aunt Dorea and Uncle Charlus in Potter Manor.

They say that Aunt Dorea isn’t healthy enough to have a kid. Blames the Black genes and all. Since they don’t plan on having a kid, they named James heir. I want to be heir be their son.

I can’t wait to go back to hogwarts! I might be able to meet Sirius on the train, and maybe Moony too! I’m gonna punch Pettigrew in the face once I see him.

And mum Lily! I’m gonna be able to meet all of them! I’m gonna punch Snape. Does she really have the same eyes as me? I bet she’ll be pretty! I wanna meet them all so badly now.

But there’s also Regulus. I don’t know much about him but I really want to be his friend. We’re the same age, I think. I wonder if I’ll be a Gryffindor again. I wanna be a gryffindor but then again, me and me, Malcolm and Harry are not the same. I think I’m gonna be Gryffindor again. I miss the common rooms and being in the quidditch team. I’m gonna be a seeker again definitely.”

— Prior to this, Malcolm and James were planning on what to do when they got to hogwarts. James had repeatedly promised his brother that he would write a letter to him every day.
The days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to a month.

JULY 1, 1972

— “I got my letter! Mum and Dad promised to go to Diagon alley on the 31st! Jamie is excited to introduce me to his friends! He talks about Sirius, Remus, and the rat Peter a lot. He wouldn’t shut up about Lily. 

‘Evans is so pretty!’ ‘Her eyes are as green as grass, her hair is as red as roses’ ‘She’s so good at charms! She even charmed me!’ It’s really gross.

But I’m really looking forward to seeing the castle again. It’s really hard pretending not to know everything they’ve been telling me about hogwarts. James was being mean by telling me that I had to pass a test to get into the house I wanted. Kept saying that he fought a dragon to prove that he was Gryffindor. Bloody prat.

I visited Aunt Dorea Again. She didn’t look too well, paler than usual. I pretended not to notice but made sure that she was comfy. I kept asking her about Hogwarts and if it would be okay for me to be a Slytherin. Uncle Charlus told me it would be okay if I was a Snake but James was kinda upset about that. Mum and Dad said that it would also be okay for me to be a Slytherin.

I wanna be a Gryffindor, but I wonder how it would feel to be a Slytherin.”

— Prior to writing this, Malcolm Potter received his acceptance letter from the deputy headmistress, Minerva McGonagall.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1972

— “I met him! I really met him!

I was so stupid! 

‘Potter, Malcolm Potter’ IDIOT!! I sounded like Draco.

But I finally got to meet RAB! He was so tiny and he’s supposed to only be a few months younger than me. He looks so cute with his fluffy looking black hair and silver eyes (mine are grey causes they don’t look as shiny as his). And he was brilliant! His magic felt amazing and he talked so cute! I ended up running away from James when we got on the train and I instantly went looking for him.

Regulus looks really pretty

I promised we’d be friends no matter what house we end up in and I intend to keep that promise. Doesn’t matter that he’s a Slytherin, Aunt Dorea said that there’s nothing wrong with that. SHE WAS RIGHT HE LOOKS REALLY CUTE!! He really does look like a cat.

I’m gonna be his best friend.”

— First day of Hogwarts, Malcolm Potter immediately wrote about his first meeting with Regulus Black and forgot to write about what house he was sorted into.

SEPTEMBER 5, 1972

— “I hate being a Gryffindor. People keep wanting me to be like James. 

‘Oh, you're James’ baby brother, I bet you’re exactly like him!’ ‘You’re that person’s brother! He looks so cool, let’s be friends!’ ‘You’re Malcolm! James’ did say you were adorable! I’m your big brother’s friend, let’s be friends!’ ‘Bet you’re as cool as your brother’

The only people who I’ve first met who haven't compared me to James are Lily and Lupin.”

SEPTEMBER 9, 1972

— “I met Luna’s mom! Pandora Ollivander, I didn’t know she was an Ollivander! Apparently Ollivander’s her great Uncle or something. I never knew that. Explains the weird stuff Olivander’s done, he’s a seer!

I was so lucky, I found Regulus with her. He looked scared to be my friend. Whoever told him that we couldn’t be friends I’m going to punch yell at them. I showed them where the kitchens are and we had lunch with the house elves.

No wonder why Kreacher liked him so much, he’s an absolute sweetheart.”

— excerpt of Malcolm’s lengthy entry of analysis between Pandora Ollivander and her daughter.

OCTOBER 30, 1972

— “I don’t know how it happened but I am now friends with Barty Crouch (The death eater who endangered me by putting my name in the goblet of fire), Evan Rosier (who was the reason why Moody lost an eye), Rabastan Lestrange (Bellatrix’s brother in-law and someone who helped torture Neville’s parents), and Dorcas Meadows (I don’t remember anything bad about her).

Somewhere, Hermione is yelling at me and Ron is looking very confused (I am to tho).

I have absolutely no idea what to do but these poor idiots look terrible, especially Barty. My god that guy has so many daddy-issues at eleven. I don’t know about Rabastan, I feel like I understand him. Don’t know why though.

In conclusion! My new friend group is two weird Ravenclaws, four Slytherins, and me.

I’ll survive”

— excerpt of the lengthy chapter Malcolm Potter wrote about his friends and what he thought about them. Multiple chapters regarding Barty Crouch jr. expressed his concern for the boy’s mental health and questioned if he was being abused.

DECEMBER 25, 1972

— “Reggie, Barty, and Evan didn’t go back home for yule. The others actually have decent families to celebrate with, not that mine are bad. I just feel like I should keep these three company.

I mean, James and Sirius also didn’t go home.

Mum and Dad sent me some gifts and the three of us opened it together in the astronomy tower. Aunt Dorea and Uncle Charlus also got me gifts. Mum’s was a bunch of pens, like coloured and all, then some notebooks. Thank Merlin Aunt Dorea taught me how to use that spell to make sure the journal only opens for me.

Reggie also got a gift from aunt Dorea! It’s this little snow globe that shows the constellation leo instead of some little village and some snow flying around.”

— yule of 1971 where Malcolm Potter refused to go home to keep his friends company.

AUGUST 23, 1973

— “LEO AND I GOT INTO THE QUIDDITCH TEAM!!

We’re both seekers so I think everyone was weirded out about how I was so happy for him. They’re absolute idiots if they think I’m gonna be upset about that. I actually have competition with Regulus on the team.

James kept telling me that I shouldn’t get too close to my friends bloody idiot, stupid, brainless james. There’s nothing wrong with them. I don’t get why he’s so upset that I’m friends with them. They’re really cool too.

Anyways, being a seeker is gonna be great! Too bad Barty hates quidditch.”

FEBRUARY 14, 1975

— “I’ve been feeling weird lately. My heart beats too fast. Sometimes I can’t breathe. Sometimes I get dizzy and can’t focus properly. Am I sick? Should I go to Madam Pomfrey? The others don’t understand why I’m like this.

I wrote to Aunt Dorea and it was like she was laughing through her reply.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Maybe death did something again. Damnit, am I gonna die again?”

— the letter from his Aunt Dorea was attached to this entry.

JUNE 25, 1975

— “I’m in love with my best friend.
I’m in love with Leo. My best friend.
Who is now apparently the love of my life.

Oh dear Hecate I’m in love with Regulus Black. Uncle Charlus is going to laugh at me for this. Oh my god

I’m in love with my best friend.”

— excerpt of a five page entry about Malcolm Potter pertaining to what he liked about Regulus Black ‘dubbed as Leo’ and why it’s wrong for him to have a crush on his best friend.

OCTOBER R31, 1975

— “I kissed Regulus Black.
I kiss my best friend.
I lost my first kiss to leo.
Oh my god what have I done?

I should have jumped off the damn astronomy tower after that. Oh my god, why did I kiss him in the astronomy tower?!”

— excerpt of a lengthy explanation of the events leading to Malcolm Potter and Regulus Black kissing.

 

There was an awful silence to it all as Malcolm stared at several journals that he has written after all these years. The first seven journals were from a much happier childhood compared to the six journals that weren't even filled. He couldn't write about anything without writing complete misery. He caresses the book that contained memories of his first year, the year in which he met his dear Leo.

A small smile graced his lips, chuckling under his breath as he tried to understand his own foolishness. He wishes he could stay in these memories. He wishes that the future he now lives in does not exist. But it does and so many of them are gone. He had failed and now he suffered the consequences. He places a hand over the book and for a moment he thinks nothing is wrong. He thinks that the world is fine. 

He falls asleep, pretending that his heart was alive and not buried under a field of flowers.