Summer at Potter Manor
Chapter 1: Summer at Potter Manor
"Boys! Calm down," Euphemia Potter called as Sirius and James ran into the entrance hall, their laughter echoing off the high ceilings.
"Wait—! Is this actually how you're going to start the story? I thought it would have more flair at least," interrupted a red-headed man dressed in white.
"Well, if you would let me start, I could get to the 'flair' you request," replied a mousy brown-haired man also dressed in white, rolling his eyes at the redhead.
"Just hurry up with the story, Moony, or I will!" demanded another man with messy black hair, who was also dressed in white.
"Hurry up, Moony! You're keeping the boy waiting," added a man with long black hair and tattoos, though he, too, was dressed in white, which seemed out of place for his rock star appearance.
"Fine, fine. So as I was saying..."
"Sorry, Mum," James muttered with a sheepish grin as Sirius ruffled his already messy hair. "Hey!" he exclaimed, darting away and up the grand staircase with Sirius hot on his heels. "Yeah, sorry, Mum!" Sirius called back, laughing.
"Sorry about them, Mrs. Potter," I, Remus, apologized as I stepped into what they called a house but was more like a French Château. (A French Château can be described as:
a feudal castle or fortress in France,
a large country house: MANSION,
a French vineyard estate.)
"Don't worry about it, Remus, and call me Euphemia. No need to be so formal all the time," she said kindly, helping me with the bags while Peter managed his own. James and Sirius had already vanished, likely to bother James's father, Fleamont.
"Sorry to interrupt, but wasn't Fleamont Potter the inventor of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion?" the redhead questioned.
"Shut up, Fredrick," said a golden-haired boy, looking to be about the same age as the redhead.
"Oh, shut it, luv, but fine, get on with the story," Fredrick replied, resting his head in the golden-haired boy's lap.
"Good, now stop talking," the mousy-haired man said, settling back into his narrative.
"Same rooms as usual, Mrs.—Euphemia?" I asked, hearing the distant voices of Sirius and James from James's room. Being a werewolf, my hearing was annoyingly acute.
"Just like usual, Remus," she confirmed with a smile, snapping her fingers. A house-elf named Gully appeared.
"Gully, would you mind helping Remus take these bags up to their rooms?" Euphemia requested.
"Of course, Mrs. Potter," Gully responded, taking some of the bags.
"How are you, Gully?" I asked as we made our way up the grand staircase, turning right into a hallway lined with family portraits, some featuring the Marauders and me. It always warmed my heart to see myself included.
"I am well, thank you for asking, young Remus," Gully said, and I jumped slightly, forgetting I'd asked. He chuckled softly as we reached the four doors: mine and Sirius's rooms on the left, and across from us, James's and Peter's. The sounds of James and Sirius play-fighting were unmistakable.
Gully and I exchanged weary sighs. "This will be a fun summer," I muttered, stepping into James's chaotic yet vibrant room.
James's room was a whirlwind of Gryffindor banners, Quidditch posters, and even a Muggle band poster for The Who. His four-poster bed was piled with pillows and a plush comforter, chocolate frog wrappers, and magazines scattered everywhere. Shelves groaned under the weight of books ranging from Quidditch strategies to Muggle comic books like Spiderman. Half-finished summer assignments and Quidditch plays cluttered the desk. It was a perfect reflection of James's lively personality.
"Moony! How dare you! It was not chaotic, it was unique!" James yelled, feigning shock as he slapped my shoulder.
"Oi!" I retaliated, playfully slapping him back. "Stop it, James!"
"Is this normal?" Fredrick asked a red-haired girl nearby.
"Yes. Even though they are adults, my husband still acts like a child around his friends," she replied with a fond smile.
"Ahh, so you're Lily?" Fredrick asked.
"Yep, Weasley?"
"My Weasley," the golden-haired boy said, running his hand through Fredrick's hair.
"Sirius, while they're fighting, can you continue the story?" Lily asked the man with long black hair and tattoos.
"Fine," Sirius said with a sigh.