Marauders era

The Marauders[8] were a group of four Gryffindors (classmates and roommates): Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter. The four attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1971-1978. They had a knack for rule-breaking and mischief-making. While at Hogwarts they also created the Marauder's Map, which continued to help future generations of mischief-makers.[1]

The Marauders would all go on to fight in the First Wizarding War and a few in the second. They were also participants in the original Order of the Phoenix, an organisation led by Albus Dumbledore in the struggle against the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

All of the Marauders died whilst protecting Harry Potter from Voldemort or his Death Eaters, including Peter Pettigrew. Peter did not kill Harry because of a life debt he owed him. As a result, Harry was able to escape and he and his friends were saved from further torture.

Hogwarts years

"Point me!"This article is about the group of students. You may be looking for the Marauder's Map. "There were four heroes as it were in the previous generation and one of them betrayed the others, and then there were the three. So I wanted Harry to be surrounded by... James and Sirius and Lupin, all of whom had died in a way for him. You know Lupin had laid down his life in Harry's battle, he didn't have to come back, he didn't have to fight. James had died trying to protect the family; Sirius very obviously had died fighting along with Harry." — Description of the Marauders[src] The Marauders[8] were a group of four Gryffindors (classmates and roommates): Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter. The four attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1971-1978. They had a knack for rule-breaking and mischief-making. While at Hogwarts they also created the Marauder's Map, which continued to help future generations of mischief-makers.[1]

The Marauders would all go on to fight in the First Wizarding War and a few in the second. They were also participants in the original Order of the Phoenix, an organisation led by Albus Dumbledore in the struggle against the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

All of the Marauders died whilst protecting Harry Potter from Voldemort or his Death Eaters, including Peter Pettigrew. Peter did not kill Harry because of a life debt he owed him. As a result, Harry was able to escape and he and his friends were saved from further torture.

History

Advertisement Hogwarts years "Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief Makers Are proud to present THE MARAUDER'S MAP" — The Marauder's Map[src] B3C18M1 Marauders The Marauders in their Animagus forms The Marauders' strong friendship began in their first year at Hogwarts. Sirius and James met on the train and had been inseparable ever since and the two met Remus and Peter afterwards. By their fifth year, all but Remus Lupin, who was a werewolf, had secretly become unregistered Animagi in order to assist Remus during his transformations. James Potter's Animagus form was a shining red stag (Prongs), Sirius Black's was a shaggy black dog (Padfoot), and Peter Pettigrew's was a fat grey rat (Wormtail).[1]

As 'Padfoot' and 'Prongs', Sirius and James were large enough to control Remus (Moony) during his monthly transformations into a werewolf. 'Wormtail' (Peter) was small and nimble enough to get past the Whomping Willow's defences, so the group could get to the Shrieking Shack. The Marauders were frequently out of their beds at night to explore Hogwarts' grounds and the village of Hogsmeade during Lupins' transformation.[1]

In the period between their fifth and seventh years at Hogwarts, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter created the Marauder's Map, a small, bewitched roll of parchment that displayed the castle grounds and inhabitants of Hogwarts — including all staff, ghosts and students — in great detail.[1] At an unspecified point, Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch confiscated the map and kept it in a drawer in his office labelled 'Classified and Highly Dangerous'. Fred and George Weasley stole the map in their first year, and later passed it on to Harry Potter in 1993.[7] Harry had been the sole owner of the map since then.

The Marauders were all members of Gryffindor House and greatly despised their Slytherin enemy, Severus Snape. It was discovered in Harry Potter's fifth year at Hogwarts that James and Sirius often bullied Snape (calling him 'Snivellus' and using humiliating spells on him), while Peter cheered them on.[2] Although he greatly disapproved of their bullying, Remus did not try to stop them, something he would later come to regret.

In their Hogwarts years, the Marauders were affiliated with Patricia Rakepick, a Gryffindor student four years above them who shared their interest in breaking rules. They also shared their dislike towards Snape. Rakepick knew about the Marauder's Map as well.

During their Hogwarts years they created the Marauder's puzzle, a riddle which was designed to test a Gryffindor student's worthiness to be in Gryffindor House. It first required the student to talk to Nearly-Headless Nick, who told them about a Gryffindor student who had nearly died whilst collecting bursting mushrooms, then collect some Salamander blood, then talk to Professor McGonagall about a student who had spilt a whole box of wartcap powder on themselves. All three ingredients were used in the brewing of a Fire Protection Potion, and when such a potion was poured onto the parchment that contained the clues, the parchment revealed that the student needed to place the parchment into the "fire of a Lion", which was the Gryffindor fireplace. When the parchment was tossed into the fireplace the puzzle would be complete, and the four Marauders would congratulate the student who had completed the puzzle, and praise them as true Gryffindors.

First Wizarding War

Lily and James Potter had their son Harry Potter in 1980, and Sirius was made godfather.[7]

The Marauders would all go on to become members of the original Order of the Phoenix against the Dark Lord, Voldemort, as adults. Peter Pettigrew, though belonging to the Order of the Phoenix, later turned on his friends in favour of Voldemort's protection. Recently forced into hiding, James and Lily Potter made Pettigrew the Secret Keeper of their location, at Sirius's suggestion. His theory in doing this was that Peter was the least expected choice, further protecting the secret.[7]

In a selfish act to save himself, however, Peter revealed the location of the Potters' cottage to Voldemort and betrayed his friends. Consequently, James and Lily were murdered at the hands of the Dark Lord in an attempt to protect their infant son, Harry, from being hurt. An incensed Sirius confronted Peter about his traitorous actions in a Muggle street, but the latter narrowly escaped by unleashing a curse all around him — killing a dozen Muggles in the process — and cut off his own finger. He then transformed into his rat form and fled into the sewers, framing Sirius as the traitor to the Potters and a killer. Sirius was taken to Azkaban with no trial, where he faced twelve years of imprisonment before his escape in 1993.[11]

Peter had successfully faked his own death and remained the victim to Sirius's falsely alleged crimes. In his rat form (under the name 'Scabbers') he came into the possession of Percy Weasley and later his younger brother Ron.[11]

Sirius's years in Azkaban were spent with the knowledge that he was innocent, and that the true traitor and killer was Peter Pettigrew. So strong was the belief that Sirius was guilty that the fourth Marauder, Remus, thought one of his oldest friends was a killer and the reason that the Potters' location had been revealed to Voldemort

James Potter headcanons:

Nice but in a lowkey condescending way. He has this way of acting like he's better than people without even meaning to. Knows and is friendly with almost everyone- but when he dislikes someone he can never do it halfheartedly; it's always with his full chest. If he dislikes you, you WILL know it. Lovebomber. Has this way of piling extreme amounts of affection onto anyone he gets into a relationship with, then gets bored and distant. Just neglectful without meaning to be. On the other hand, when he likes someone he OBSESSES. It's all he can think about, all he can talk about. lt's worse when he can't win their affection- a sort of game to him where he has to fight for their love and if he can't get it he loses. Hes an only child who's used to getting what he wants. Very athletic.

Sirius Black headcanons: Not nice and still condescending. Acts like he's better than everyone and he does it on purpose. Insecure, but tries to hide it by taking it out on others. The type to hate on someone's outfit before anyone can call him out on his. Nice to the select few people in his group, and even then it's a 50/50 chance depending on his mood. Really, it's only James who's earned his full respect, and only James he treats as though they're equals. Type of guy you catch at a party nonchalantly leaning against a wall with a smoke. Incredibly hot- like it's insane and a little inhuman. Black family genes go crazy.

Remus Lupin headcanons:

Also an asshole. Birds of a feather... Very sarcastic, quiet but NOT shy. Doesn't mind keeping to himself but you will catch him at every party. Gossiper. He knows EVERYTHING that goes on everywhere, and he will be talking about it. You just won't know he is. Brains and beauty. Mastermind behind all the best Marauders pranks- and his are the most evil. Best to not get on his bad side. Has smoked a pack of cigs in a day before and is not afraid to do it again. Master gaslighter. Everyone in his life has been gaslit at LEAST once.

Peter Pettigrew headcanons:

Childhood friends with James. Kind of the onlv reason he was able to fit into their group at first. Incredibly shy in the beginning when you first get to know him. Like the type to stutter over his words and blush every other sentence Insecure, and doesn't hide it well. He feels like an outsider with his own friends. Shit talker. Will spread things on your name just for the fun of it. Also an asshole but more low down with it. Will act nice to your face. He wants to be liked by everyone. A cutie patootie, not 'hot' like his friends but a far cry from ugly. Picked on the most by Sirius, but not an easy target. Can and will absolutely flame someone alive. Him and Sirius go neck to neck a lot because they're both so good at picking out EVERY insecurity you've ever felt in your life. Closest to Remus, the two often feel like outsiders in their own friend group, and their own lives.