Part 1: The Band

Once in a lifetime, a band comes along that truly captures the imagination of a generation. Other times, a band hangs around for a few weeks and then disappears without anyone caring. The following story, is about one of those bands...

'I've had the greatest idea in the world!' yelled James, running into the Gryffindor common room.

Sirius and Remus were seated by the fire, playing chess. Peter sat nearby, remaining quiet and trying to not get kicked out of the group.

'Really?' asked Remus. 'Because your last greatest idea in the world resulted in 2 months detention and Peter almost drowning.'

'This idea is slightly better,' reassured James. 'And involves fewer mermaid kidnappings.'

'Alright, go ahead.'

'Two words: Hogwarts Battle of the Bands.' James ticked off the words on his fingers as he spoke. "Battle of the bands" apparently counting as one word.

'James, I saw the posters up all over the school,' said Remus. 'We don't know how to play music.'

'Not an issue,' said James. 'Music is only one element of a successful band, and since we have all the other aspects covered, no one will notice we can't play.'

'This plan would work a lot better if we kidnapped a mermaid,' added Sirius.

'Agreed. But first, let's name the band.' James got out some parchment and began making notes. 'All in favour of Awesome James, plus others?'

'What? No, we haven't even agreed to this,' spluttered Remus.

'Alright, what about Mr James and the Potts?'

'No.'

'Handsome J and the Boggart Bunch?'

'No.'

'The James Potter Band featuring James Potter?'

'No.'

'You're right, that'd be terrible if I went solo and left you guys behind. You'd have to call yourselves The James Potter Band featuring James Potter minus James Potter.'

'Need I remind you,' began Remus, 'that we already have a name? Or are you forgetting The Marauders?'

'We can't call ourselves The Marauders,' said Sirius, not looking up from a chess game he was badly losing. 'That'd give away our secret identity. Same reason we had to send back those name tags you ordered. Remember? They were meant to say "Remus Lupin" but due to an unfortunate spelling error said "WEREWOLF! HIDE YOUR CHILDREN!"'

'Someday I will murder you all and bathe in your blood,' said Peter, to no one in particular.

'That's it!' yelled James. 'We can't call ourselves The Marauders, but we can call ourselves The Four-auders. Get it, because there are four of us? It's like maths or something.'

'The Four-auders?' asked Lupin.

'Absolutely. I'm going to tattoo it on my chest right now.' James picked up a quill and fled from the room.

'The Four-auders?' Lupin asked again. 'It will never catch on.'

And so the group would forever be known as The Four-auders. But before they could begin their journey to stardom, the group had a little something to learn about themselves first. Next time, we take a close look at the team dynamic, as the boys take their first step from being nobodies, to being nobodies who play instruments.