Disclaimer: I am NOT JK Rowling. I am not the copyright or trademark owner of ANYTHING to do with the Harry Potter Books (Bought to us through Scholastic) or the Movies (thanks to Warner Brothers). I am borrowing Ms. Rowlings genius for my own amusement and (I hope) yours.
AN: Hi everyone. This idea kind of popped into my head remembering another story I had read about Fred and George finding out who the Marauders are. This story is set between the end of GOF and the beginning of the OOTP, about a week before Harry is attacked and removed to Grimauld Place.
Meeting Their Heroes.
Fred and George Weasley sat facing each other on the twin beds in their room at Number 12 Grimauld Place. It had been a week since their whole family (Except Bill, who was living in a small flat near Diagon Alley since he had come home from Curse Breaking in Egypt to work a desk job for Gringotts instead, Charlie, who was still in Romania working with Dragons and trying to make allies with foreign wizards) and Percy, who has walked out on them, the prat) and they had quickly grown board.
-Flash Back-
Fred & Georges first year of Hogwarts, The evening they had rescued the Marauders Map.
Fred and George were sitting huddled together in a quite corner of the common room (which was unusual as it would be in their 6th year, while they were trying to get their winnings or money back of Bagman) staring at the blank piece of parchment Fred had nicked (Under George's Dungbomb diversion) from the "Conviscated and highly dangerous" draw in Filchs' office. "I wonder what it is" Mused Fred "I dunno Forge" George replied "Its obviously gonna be a big help to pranksters, else Filch wouldn't have nicked it" "True, Gred, Very true" Fred said thoughtfully "Shall we try asking it?" "Great idea!" George cried, amazed they had only just thought of it and whipped out his wand, touched it to the Parchment and said "What the hell are you and how did Filch get hold of you". Immediately green ink flowed across the parchment and formed the words 'The Marauders advice you to show more respect to their most brilliant idea ever if you want answers' "WOW!" Fred whispered in awe while George, red in the face, rephrased his question "Could The Marauders please tell me what this piece of parchment is?" He asked quietly. Again, the green ink flowed across the parchment and said 'The Marauders Map. And Who are you?' "Fred and George Weasley. Who are the marauders and how do you use this map?" 'The Marauders are Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. If Messers Weasley are trouble makers (which we suspect, since they retrieved our map, which we LET Filch conviscate) we suggest they Solemnly Swear what the authorities call what they will use this map to get up to and DON"T FORGET TO TELL THE MAP WHEN YOU ARE DONE, or anyone can read it!'. Fred and George cracked identical grins: There was only one authority they could think of off the top of their heads and there was no doubt what their mother called their pranks. Fred touched his wand to the parchment near Georges and they intoned together "I Solemnly Swear I am up to No Good" Immediately, what looked like a flat fountain of green ink appeared in the middle of the parchment and formed lines which crisscrossed all over the surface and formed the most exquisitely detailed map of Hogwarts! It even had labelled moving figures! Fred and George were speechless and just started at the living, moving map for ten minutes until curfew, when Fred remembered the last bit of advice and said, grinning "Mischief Managed". The Map immediately went blank.
-The Next Evening-
The Twins sat again in the corner, wondering who on earth The Marauders could be. They had a newer piece of parchment, cleverly charmed and neatly headed with the words "Our Goals" It had many things on it, including "Befriend Peeves" and "Prank Filch". However, they decided together and added a new one into the number one spot "Find the Marauders". And over the next several weeks, they asked several teachers. McGonogall, Hagrid and Flitwick seemed very sad, and refused to tell them anything. Snape had looked coldly furious when they had approached him and hissed "Where did you hear that name" before they had fled. So they had given up asking questions. Bill and Charlie could only say that they were a gang of trouble makers who had left the school about ten years before, and they were scared to ask their parents.
-End Flashback-
Fred and George snapped out of their reverie with identical smirks "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Fred inquired "Time to go back to number 1?" George replied "Yup. With so many new adults around, ONE of them must have heard of The Marauders!"
Eager, they went straight downstairs and as the meeting let out, they asked several of the older order members (like Kingsley Shacklebolt and Dedalus Diggle) who didn't know. They completely missed the look of mischief that appeared in Remus' eyes as he signalled Sirius (with a Sign Language the Marauders had invented long ago) not to tell them ANTHING just yet. Sirius grinned in response; he was going to enjoy pranking these two!