Wolfstar Oneshots

Change the World

Words: 695

Description: A student asks McGonagall about the Marauders.

Story:

Minerva McGonagall was teaching Transfiguration that morning to her third year Gryffindor class. They were a rowdy bunch, reminding her briefly of the Weasley twins, and the Golden trio after them. They were all graduated and married, but Minerva still thought of them often.

She wasn't sure she was prepared for their little ones to come to Hogwarts.

Anyway, she heard some chatter behind her and was about the shush the students when she heard something that made her heart churn.

"Yeah I heard they turned the whole school blue!"

"How'd they manage that?"

"I dunno but they're legends around here. Prank masters! They made a map, I heard. Dunno where it's at, but it shows all the passageways!"

"And such a cool name too. The Marauders. We should come up with a name for ourselves."

And suddenly McGonagall was sent back thirty some years to four thirteen year old boys sitting in her very classroom, boisterous as ever, plotting pranks and making memories.

There was James Potter who was going to be an auror when he grew up. James Potter who wanted to save the world.

There was Sirius Black who had a perpetual mischievous twinkle to his eye. Sirius Black who only ever wanted to make people laugh.

Remus Lupin who strived to know everything he could, who wanted to prove that he was more than he was meant for. Remus Lupjn who wanted to break free of the judgements and make something of himself.

And little Peter Pettigrew who wanted to be as brave or funny or smart as his friends. Peter Pettigrew who just wanted to fit in.

McGonagall blinked and she was back in the present.

Her students were giving her inquiring looks. "Miss? Did you know the Marauders when they were in school? Do you know who they are?"

McGonagall pursed her lips and put aside her textbook. "I did know them, yes."

She allowed herself a small smile. "Troublemakers, the lot of them. Most detentions ever served still to this day. Not even Fred and George Weasley could take on their record."

The third year Gryffindors exchanged looks. "Now I don't mean that as a challenge. Gryffindor didn't win the House Cup a single of the seven years that lot was in school, mind. Lost so many House Points, they did."

"They were Gryffindors like us, weren't they? And you knew them?"

"I knew them all," she said, a wistful, faraway look in her eyes. "They were going to change the world."

"And did they?" One of the students asked.

McGonagall tried to blink the tears out of her eyes. She nodded. "Oh they changed everything. But they're long dead now."

It was apparent that the students hadn't been expected their idles to be dead. "W-who where they Professor?"

"You've heard their names many times I'm sure. Their names were Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter."

And of course they had heard the names. James Potter, the father of the famous Harry Potter. Sirius Black, the man that escaped Azkaban. Remus Lupin, werewolf and the greatest Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Hogwarts had ever seen. And Peter Pettigrew, the man that betrayed his best friends to the Dark Lord.

They were the Marauders? Prank legends at Hogwarts? Best of friends? Determined to do great things and end the war against the Death Eaters but all of them dying in the process, none to even make it to forty years old?

And they thought about how little Teddy Lupin was in school this year. A little first year Hufflepuff with teal hair. He was Remus Lupin's son. A Marauder's son was in Hogwarts at the same time as they were.

McGonagall could scarcely summon any more words through the lump in her throat. "Class dismissed," she announced. The students left quickly, chatting amongst themselves in excitement at what they'd learned.

As soon as the classroom was empty and quiet and Minerva was alone, she sank into her chair heavily, thoughts of four mischievous boys running around in her mind like ghosts.

+++

Please request: