DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own Cute is What We Aim For. Cue shocked looks and theatrical gasps. Shocking, I know.
A/N: Okay, this is my first fanfic. Exciting stuff. This is just an intro chapter, basically wanted to get introductions out of the way- character traits will pop up and be developed in later chapters but I felt that all this information can't just be worked into a chapter. Nor can some of this stuff be inferred. So, I hope you like it. OH and, all lyrics are from Cute is What We Aim For's Moan, (yes, they ARE in order) and I just realised how well it matches the Marauders. Enough from me, read on. Oh, and reviews would be lovely. :
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"Swoon, this is the same old blood rush with a new touch,"- Cute is What We Aim For
If you had attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry between the years of 1971 and 1978, you would know that the name 'Sirius Black' was synonymous to all of the following: 'bloody sexy', 'shaggable', 'good-looking' and 'drop dead gorgeous'.
Perhaps you would also know, then, that the name 'Sirius Black' was also commonly associated with the words: 'dangerous', 'volatile', 'moody', 'arrogant' and 'bloody idiotic prat'. The last two most commonly emanating from the mouth of the lovely redhead Lily Evans.
For Sirius Black was perhaps all these descriptions at once; he was certainly a good-looking boy with a habit of mouthing off and often landing himself in detention with the reputation of the villainous hero or loveable bully. Sirius Black was a walking oxymoron (although Lily Evans would often do away with the prefix 'oxy') who sauntered through the halls of Hogwarts with his minions causing girls to blush and stomachs to turn acrobats all around as he flashed his famous toothy grin and flipped his hair nonchalantly out of his face.
Renowned Gryffindor beater who was good at everything without even trying, Sirius had accrued quite a following of admirers and was generally beloved by the Hogwarts community, teachers included.
But of course, with an abundance of admirers and a Cassanova-esque status came an abundance of angry, jealous ex-girlfriends and a heart-breaker status. Rumour had it that Sirius Black dated any girl within three years of his age and shagged anything with tits.
This was, of course, not entirely true, but on his part Sirius did nothing to deny or affirm the rumour. It added to his aura of mystery and intrigue, he said laughingly. If there was one thing that someone could say for certain about Sirius Black, it was that he certainly was loyal to those whom he was close to, but he was definitely the wrong person to cross.
Breaking rules and hearts just because he could, defending his friends but torturing his enemies, Sirius was a force to be reckoned with. Reckless, moody and at times completely and utterly tactless, Sirius Black was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's very own rebel without a cause.
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"I am safe, quaint and eloquent,"- Cute is What we Aim For
Sometimes people get put into boxes that are hard to get out of. Metaphorical boxes, of course, for literal boxes can easily be broken out of using- well, that's another story entirely. But yes, people get put into boxes and labelled with some strange stereotype or another, and then are left to rot while the general community observes them with interest, watching them try to break out of the box but failing miserably.
Remus Lupin was one of these people.
You see, from the time he scored 112 on his Transfiguration yearly in second year, sandy-haired Remus Lupin was put into a grey box with the words 'Hot Nerd' stamped across his forehead in what appeared to be permanent red ink.
True, he was a good-looking boy with probing amber eyes and long-ish sandy hair that curled just right, but Remus hated this title. It meant that people were constantly coming to him to ask for help, and occasionally, answers, for their latest essay or asking if he could please tutor them, because they were miserably failing one subject or another.
No matter how hard Remus rubbed at the bright red stain on his forehead, it neither faded nor shrank- contrarily, it did the exact opposite and as years passed, Remus became the highly intelligent, eligible young boy who the girls showed great interest in but never actually chased.
The class brain and known mastermind behind many a large-scale prank, Remus was regarded as witty with a dry sense of humour, but many a girl was slightly intimidated by the idea of being in a relationship with a guy so clever and secretive. And so, he took on the role of best guy friend, albeit grudgingly and with many a frustrated sigh. A handful of ex-girlfriends and girls in general came to him for advice or help; many a time it was he who reported abusive boyfriends or played the chivalrous Gryffindor.
But he was rarely anything more than a best friend- to the general female population of Hogwarts, Remus Lupin was seen as a pillar of society who knew big words, had eclectic taste in clothes and music and was perfectly safe. Meaning they acted as though he was a eunuch when they were around him, not realising that on more than one occasion he wanted to be a little more than just friends.
But, alas, whoever said that chivalry was dead had obviously not met Remus Lupin.
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"But my bottom lip, along with the top one too is chapped and it's all thanks to you,"- Cute is What we Aim For
James Potter, cause of many hopeless crushes and late-night gossip sessions. James Potter, owner of many a lipstick stained Oxford school shirt and tie. James Potter, desirer (in the eyes of many, stalker) of Lily Evans.
Gryffindor's golden boy since shooting the awe-inspiring goal that won Gryffindor the Quidditch cup in his third year, James appeared to have everything- a family who cared for him (respected also by the Slytherins, for although his family were considered as toeing the line between respectable pure blood and muggle-lovers, he was a seventh-generation pureblood nonetheless), a large following of girls lusting after him, careless, boyish good looks and a vast array of unusual and effective hexes. Not to mention he excelled at everything he did with very little effort, often attaining an 'O' on exams and essays after 'studying' (or, really, glancing briefly at Remus' notes) for a grand total of twenty minutes before the actual assessment.
Yes, James Potter had it all. Well, in everyone else's eyes, at the very least. You see, moving from girlfriend to girlfriend to girlfriend (to girlfriend to girlfriend to girlfriend to girlfriend...) within the span of a few weeks didn't satisfy James Potter. There was only one girl he wanted, and he wanted her for keeps. But, of course, as Murphy's marvellous law dictates, this girl wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.
Sometimes James felt that his relationship with this particular girl, none other than the elegant Lily Evans, was a clichéd one of the love/hate nature, and perhaps he was right. Encounters between the two often saw anyone within a ten-metre radius stop whatever they were doing with interest in the hopes of picking up a few new hexes and insults. Not to mention it was free and frequent entertainment.
James Potter was the kind of boy who, once his eye was set on the prize, would not give up until the prize was his. He was the kind of boy who laughed with Sirius Black as they walked down the corridor smiling at friends and admirers but randomly hexing Slytherins or those who had crossed him somehow. James was the kind of person who tried to tell people that it was Remus, not he, who had come up with the brilliant notion to attach all the Slytherins to their table in the Great Hall by the seat of their pants, but still got all the credit and admiration nonetheless.
James Potter was the kind of person who, when he grinned recklessly at you and ran his hand through his already messy hair, could make you forget about all his faults and suddenly want to be his friend.
You couldn't help it; James Potter was just the kind of person who was born to be liked.
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"We all wet out lips to prepare for the kiss but it never came,"-Cute is What We Aim For
Peter Pettigrew learnt about discrimination from an early age when he wasn't allowed on the teacups at his local district fair because he was a few centimetres below the height limit. No one's idea of good looking but nothing that would hurt the eyes terribly to look at, Peter Pettigrew, just like his good friend Remus Lupin had been put into a box and labelled.
However, Peter's box was a bright yellow with red dots, for people saw him as odd and a bit of a laughing stock, and the vivid stamp across his forehead read, 'Tagalong'.
Because although he was, really, an interesting person of above average intelligence who liked Quidditch and girls just as much as the next bloke, he had an awfully embarrassing mother, and, as we have touched on earlier, was not necessarily the best looking bloke.
You see, where Remus' parents sent him 'disappointed' letters after finding about his latest detention and James' parents cut off his pocket money (much to Sirius' amusement) and SIrius' parents were far too indifferent to even care, Peter's parents sent him Howlers. Or, more correctly, Peter's mother sent him Howlers.
More often than not, the flaming red envelope would burst open to the shrieks and reprimandings of his mother with his father coughing uncomfortably in the background and agreeing sheepishly when prompted to do so.
Obviously making the general school population see him as a cotton wool kid, the kind of boy who wouldn't be allowed to date until he was thirty.
And back to the issue of vanity and appearance. Peter was, as has been said, a fairly pleasant looking boy with smiling blue eyes, blonde hair and horrendously pale skin. Although he had few admirers calling him good looking or swooning left right and centre, it could accurately be said that Peter Pettigrew was cute. But cute as in little boy cute, not cute as in fifteen year old heartthrob cute.
Which is never a good thing.
On top of that, while Peter was not particularly porky, he was a little shorter than his three friends and slightly podgy. Instead of sarcasm like James and Sirius or dry wit like Remus, Peter tended to make jokes that one could regard as politically incorrect which made people hold their laughter in for fear of being called a bigot. Peter was scraping 'E's in all his subjects, which no one could regard as poor, but because he hung out with such intelligent and renowned friends, this was a lowly feat.
Introverted and painfully shy, many wondered why Peter hung out with the exclusive club of heartthrobs when he was so different, and many treated him as though he didn't exist or regarded him as an oddity.
Peter may have learnt discrimination at an early age, but he truly felt discrimination during his years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where many saw him as a social retard and few saw him as a friend.
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There is one reason why clichés are called so, and it is because they are simply overused. There is one reason why clichés are so overused, and it is because they are nothing short of the truth. So you will forgive me in saying that the four boys only became friends because opposites attract.
One boy shy, the other talkative and witty, the third boy noisy and nurtured, the fourth a poor little rich boy. Separated, the four boys were misfits, social outcasts who may have been loved and wanted by many who were not brave enough to take them in. The boys who would have many admirers but no friends.
But together, the four boys were a fairly odd combination and a foursome to be loved, looked up to, and, in some cases, feared.
Together the four boys were the bane of many a teachers existence; together the four boys were the Marauders.
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A/N: Just a reminder. eviewray. For those of you who are not yet acquainted with the language of pig Latin, that's review. So review. Now!