When one first examined the marauders, one may think that they center, focus, revolve around James.
James Potter, a brilliant, charming, graceless confusion of boy limbs and grin, so perfectly good at so much. He was the solid rock between the startling mercurial Sirius, the wavering strength of Remus, and the uncertainties in Peter. He was the wall that bound them together, against which they could gratefully rest, and most of all, that which sturdily boosted them, together, on their climb to greatness.
Without this boy, without James, one might think, these four boys would have been nothing.
But then one reconsiders, after lengthy thought, and realizes the truth – James was the anchor, but they could not have floated to such great heights without a vehicle. Yes, Sirius Black was their ark, the powerful ever-underestimated boy-being who poured his life and joy into the friendship that was all he had. Love was the greatest strength, and though he was fragile of mind at times, the crazed loyalty and worship he had for James Potter was ten times that of Lily's. It was such a love for all his friends that made Sirius the finest, sharpest point in the constellation of these four shining boys. He cut down all opposition that dared threaten them, allowing Remus to live, Peter to survive, and James to thrive.
Oh, without beautiful, free Sirius, these boys would have amounted to nothing.
But, then… when one takes into account all that happened, one must reanalyze Black and his love and loyalty. These words he spat upon may have made the power and length of the glorious friendship, and his lovely laughter may have marked the end, but one can see now that the beginnings were with the other.
Remus Lupin was the central figure to this brotherhood. Everything began with him, disguised at first by the light and joy of the two outstanding others. He is there, in his sadness and trouble, bravest of them all in a way, for his fear to live. It is clear now, that this one was the companion that reined the others in – a heart to their system that gave them a goal and a thing to care for. He did not anchor them as James did with his might, nor raise them up as the verve of Black did. He simply grounded them. Drew them back to the earth that their hearts and minds so often broke free from. He kept them human, ironically, as they tried and tried to do the same for him.
It is so clear, when one knows all the details, that without the quiet deep river that is Remus, these boys would have been swept on the wrong course with their own unleashed brilliance.
"Oh!, then what went wrong?" one cries. It was beautiful, perfect and beautiful and strong and how, how, how and why.
They were farsighted wonderings in the end. Truthful words, to be sure, but sometimes even truths do not stretch far enough to explain a failing friendship; the collapse of a legend.
One weak piece breaks the best machines. Only those who did not truly know him saw little Peter as weak.
To his dearest friends he was a thing to love and trust without explanation. A thing to protect, and watch over as the brothers they were for each other. And sometimes distance means maturity so, in those stressful wartimes, when each must strive to pull his own weight, they were proud of the boy that no longer seemed to need all their attention.
Furthermore, they were all tired by the end. Such unquestioning love is exhausting. They became inattentive while trusting and loving all the same.
So. They loved each other to death, and
They loved Peter to their own deaths.
