Chapter 1
Out of all four marauders, only two really could say they loved their families. It was no secret really who these two were, and who they weren't. Remus and Sirius, they didn't have the best families. Sirius' family situation was no surprise to anyone; everyone knew what the Black family was like, but the Lupins were a little more surprising. Especially when it was revealed that Lyall was the reason for his son's lycanthropy. This led to many different things, the first being that Sirius spent more time at Hogwarts and James' home than his own. And the second being the day Remus ran away and fled to the Potter house. Monty had settled down in his chair, reading a newspaper. Effie had been knitting a sweater for Sirius but had long since retired for the night and Sirius and James were probably asleep by then, having gone to bed hours ago. It was at that moment the fireplace lit up and a tall, lanky boy around Sirius and James' age appeared in the living room. Monty gave a startled look but was not too surprised. He had too much experience with boys randomly appearing in his house than anyone should ever have. He immediately recognized the boy too; Remus Lupin. It was already almost the middle of the night, so after little discussion which was mostly just Remus sobbing into Monty's shoulder and explaining a little bit of why he was there, Monty transfigured a book from his study into a bed and had it moved into the guest room. He would've put it in James and Sirius' room, but knowing his current wards, they would be too excited to see Remus in the morning and would wake the younger boy. Remus didn't argue, though he would've been much more comfortable with his friends and brothers. Monty noticed this.
"Remus, be honest with me, do you want to stay in here or would you be comfortable with the other two. You can tell me" Monty waited.
"I would be more comfortable with James and Sirius, sir" Remus admitted, Monty nodded and led the boy to the next room over, James and Sirius' room. He transfigured a different book into a bed and placed it next to James' bed.
"Goodnight, my boy. If you want, I can wake you up when I wake these two or let you sleep in" Monty suggested. Remus didn't really have to think about it. He didn't want to be pulled from sleep by his rambunctious friends, so the only option was to get up with them and deal with their questions at least semi-awake. He voiced this to Monty, and the man left him alone promising to wake him with Sirius and James. Monty turned the lights off with a flick of his wand, leaving the room, and the three boys, shrouded in darkness.
Next day
"MOONY!!" Sirius' shrill shout was the only thing that could really wake Remus in alarm. James was cackling with laughter at the look on Remus' face when he jumped up, he was completely doubled over like Remus' panic was the funniest thing in the world at that moment.
"Really Sirius? Merlin's beard, why do you have to be so annoying?" Remus grumbled, climbing out of bed and grabbing some clothes from his trunk, that he really didn't remember bringing with him the night before but he didn't think too much of it. He knew Monty and Effie had their ways of getting anything and everything for the boys.
"I'm not annoying! James, am I annoying?" Sirius turned to the taller boy, feigning disgust. Before James had a chance to reply or stop laughing long enough to respond, Remus cut in.
"Very. Now if you'll excuse me, I claim the bathroom first" Remus turned and left. He had no idea where the bathroom was but it was better to wander around lost than be in the same room as James and Sirius for one more second. Luckily, at that moment, Effie came upstairs.
"Oh, your already awake. And I'm guessing the other two are as well. That's all fine, breakfast is ready. The bathroom is over there so go change and get washed up" And with that, she kept walking down the hall past Remus.
"Thank you, ma'am" He bowed his head in appreciation and rushed for the bathroom before James or Sirius could come out and beat him to it. Somehow, in the two minutes it took him to change, Effie was back downstairs setting out plates and cups. Remus found it intriguing how she didn't once use magic, perhaps she preferred doing things by hand.
"Can I help?" He knew he surprised her. She hadn't heard Remus come downstairs at all. Normally Sirius and James made a lot more noise in the morning.
"No, dear. I pretty much have everything down. If you want to, you can grab the forks and stuff, their over there in that drawer. Be careful" She warned. Remus hastily ran to the drawer, eager to be of use. He didn't even wonder why she told him to be careful, it was just forks. But he understood why, a moment later when somehow in his haste, he accidentally triggered something and got blasted in the face. He brought an arm up to cover his face, feeling the burn on his arm that resulted. Effie heard the somewhat loud bang and turned around.
"Oh, Remus! Are you alright? Come, sit down" She guided him into a chair, and gently grabbed his arm. Effie rolled his sleeve up so she could better see the damage to his arm. Monty came running in, he had heard the commotion from his study.
"How did this happen?" Monty rushed to Remus' side. The boy didn't understand why they were so worried. It was just a burn, and he had suffered worse at his own hands when the full moon hit.
"Those boys put another charm on the silverware drawer! I told them not to do that, someone could get hurt and now it has happened" Effie suddenly looked very cross. Remus felt a pang of guilt in his chest, he got his best friends in trouble.
"It wasn't their fault. You told me to be careful and I didn't listen" Remus pointed out. Effie turned to look at him. She had a look of pity or sympathy in her eyes, he couldn't fully tell.
"Its not your fault Remus. Sure, I did tell you to slow down but I don't blame you. I have told James and Sirius multiple times before to stop with the pranks and they never listen. Well, now they have taken it too far and I intend to do something about it" Effie declared. Monty admired her confidence at the moment, but that wasn't what she needed to be focused on.
"That's nice and all, dear. But at the moment, Remus needs you to fix up his arm" Monty reminded her. Effie nodded and grabbed something from her pantry, spreading it on Remus' arm and then wrapping it.
"There! That should take care of the sting. There's not much I can do about the pinkness, but that should fade in a day or two. Now, for your brothers" Effie was ready to march upstairs and give the other two boys the lecture of their lives. Her mind was preoccupied, so much that she didn't even realize what she had said until it was too late. Remus was looking at her with wide, teary eyes.
"Brothers?" He whispered. Effie wrapped him in her arms, probably squishing him too hard. Monty let her, if he noticed Remus struggling to breathe he would interfere.
"Of course they are your brothers! Monty and I have always seen you and Sirius as our sons, Peter too. James is not our only son anymore, you two are just as much a part of the family as he is. I know you just got here last night but that will never change the fact that we've seen you as our son long before this" Effie held Remus at arms length. He had a bright grin on his face, he finally had a family that cared about him and he wouldn't lose them. Effie and Monty would never make him leave if he didn't want to. James and Sirius came down, looking completely awake.
"Congratulations, you have a new brother!" Effie declared again. James and Sirius crowded around Remus, cheering.
"Now, lets talk about the charm you put on the silverware drawer that hurt your brother" Effie crossed her arms. James and Sirius took one look at each other, and at their mum before bolting. Monty and Remus stayed behind in the kitchen laughing while Effie attempted to track down James and Sirius.