Does it really need to be said, I do not own the books.

How they became the Marauders;

There were only four Gryffindor boys that year. Two of them had already met on the train and had become fast friends. However the other boys that had been in Sirius and James compartment during the train ride over had all been sorted into other houses. They didn't meet there two new roommates until after the feast in their dorm that night.

The two friends didn't think much of either boy, neither seemed like the kind they could have any fun with, so only the basic information was exchanged before they began ignoring each other.

Then the first weekend of the school arrived, and all four boys once again found themselves in each other's presence, in McGonagall's office.

James and Sirius were in there for being caught out of bed. It was the first time James had shown Sirius his cloak, and the two were inexperienced their first night using it, so it was of course the other's fault they got caught.

The argument was quickly cut off as McGonagall escorted another boy in, Peter Pettigrew. Only after their Head of House left one more time did they demand to know why the shy little kid was in here, and he admitted he was trying to sneak down to visit a friend of his who had been sorted into Hufflepuff. They had agreed to meet up, but Peter had been caught along the way.

The last boy was brought in there by Filch. McGonagall hot on both heels. It was there last dorm mate, Remus Lupin. They didn't get a chance to ask what that quite boy had been doing, because McGonagall then spent a solid hour tearing into the four of them about how Gryffindor was better than this. She took a huge chunk out of their house points, and then escorted them all back to their dorm, making sure they knew where to met her for detention the next night.

Peter and Remus, both shamefaced, made to tear up to their room without a backward glance, but were stopped by Sirius saying "Hang on, we're back in our dormitory now, so I'd like to know how you," he nodded at Remus, "got caught out of bed."

"Yeah," James jumped in, his eyes shining with bright curiosity, "you've hardly spoken a word all week."

Remus hesitated, looking longingly towards his bed before sighing and saying, "I, ah, I kicked Filch's cat."

All three boys made choking noises before, as one, taking a step closer and Peter demanding, "Why? I mean, don't blame you one bit, but-"

"She was following me while I was headed towards the grounds yesterday, just to get out of the castle. I saw her tonight, and she hissed at me, and I just kind of-" he made a swinging motion with his leg, "guess I kind of got myself caught really."

"Why were you out on the grounds?" Sirius asked, nearly bouncing in place in anticipation. Clearly he and James had read both these boys all wrong. They were both sneaking about and trying to do something they weren't supposed to. This could be fun.

Remus' face went bright red for a moment as he shrugged and said, "Just exploring a bit is all. I get bored sitting around upstairs."

James and Sirius paused to give each other loaded looks, before nodding as one, then James turned to them and said, "Boys, we've got just the idea."

Okay so this one always bothers me. Whenever I read fics about Peter hanging around with the Marauders, it either doesn't involve Peter at all or makes Pete a sniveling coward and pathetic looking. Excuse me but does that sound like a Gryffindor to you? Yes I know that their basis for this is how Sirius describe him in the third book, but that was Twelve years of bitter memories warping what was once a best friend. No, I'm sorry, but this is my take on how Peter Pettigrew became a Marauder. Oh and Remus, in case the meaning wasn't clear in this, was looking at the Shrieking Shack.