The eagerly-awaited Hogwarts Legacy will let Potterheads explore Hogwarts as a student in the 1800s, much earlier than the events of the original series. However, fans have already made it known that they enjoy timelines that precede Harry Potter's adventures, as evidenced by the popularity of one group in particular: The Marauders.
Despite having far less time in the series than many other secondary characters, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, have become some of the most sought-out characters for fanfics and fandom discussions, with countless memes also being made about the iconic group of Gryffindors.
Wild Plans
The Marauders were known to be troublemakers, never beyond seeking a quick adventure or rowdy prank to pass time.
Beyond cheap teenage thrills, they were also known to explore Hogwarts' vast grounds even in their animal forms and created the Marauder's Map to make it easier to manage their mischief. This meme shared by Redditor PeevesPoltergeist showcases the kind of trouble they'd get into as Animagi.
Close-Knit
Despite the unpopular opinions about James Potter, there is no doubt that he was a loyal friend who loved all the Marauders fervently.
His friendship with Sirius, in particular, was especially strong after meeting one another aboard the Hogwarts Express first. The two quickly became as close-knit as Chandler and Joey from Friends, as portrayed by @gingerhoax, along with some other accurate crossover memes about the group of Gryffindors.
Integrating Lily
There are many things only book fans will know about Lily and James Potter and Lily's integration into the Marauders' group is one of them, referenced by this Star Wars and Phineas and Ferb crossover meme shared by this Reddit user.
Although they started off on the wrong foot, Lily and James grew closer with the passing years at Hogwarts, and she soon became an integral part of the Marauders' lives once she and James got together.
James The Leader
Although each member of the Marauders brought their specific skills and distinct qualities to the group, there is no doubt that James was typically the leader of their shenanigans, with Sirius close behind as his second in command.
This Penguins of Madagascar crossover meme from @hald_bloodmemes not only highlights James' role as the group's patriarch but also accurately shows each Marauder's role in the group's dynamic.
Fans Improvising
With the prominence given to the Marauders in the Harry Potter fandom (including the now renowned All The Young Dudes fanfic) it's hard to remember that not much of the series is actually devoted to their time together at Hogwarts, as noted by Redditor PetevonPete.
Yet the group members still contribute to some of the most popular Harry Potter ships, proving that fans adored their brief cameos in the series as a group of loyal and adventure-seeking students.
Package Deal
Despite their faults and wrongdoings against others, the Marauders as a group were very wholesome and loving toward one another.
They were an excellent example of found family, and no doubt served as a package deal wherever they went thanks to how close they all were to each other. This aspect of their friendship is perfectly encapsulated in this Friends crossover meme from @remus_nymphadora.
Prankster Blueprint
Fred and George Weasley were the notorious Hogwarts pranksters and jokesters during Harry's time, with many hilarious quotes to prove it.
But before them, there were the Marauders who formed the prankster blueprint for the Weasley twins to look up to, as shown by Redditor ialsabeen. They even made the map which Fred and George reveal helped them with their many pranks and sneakarounds.
Bullying Snape
Through flashbacks, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix further revealed that Harry's father and his friends were not always the admirable men he thought them to be.
In fact, the foursome were actually bullies during their time at Hogwarts and frequently targeted Severus Snape, as shown by Redditor CHERRY-SLURPY's post. While the fandom still debates who was worse, James or Severus, there is no doubt that their constant bullying was a dishonorable yet important fact of the Marauders.
Growth
Just as with Snape's death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it's important for fans to recognize that the Marauders too were more than just their horrible actions, as emphasized by Redditor frozentales.
While the Marauders did indeed bully Severus and had a few less favorable traits in their teen years, they also grew to be much more than those mistakes. With the exception of Peter Pettigrew, the Marauders grew to be honorable men who fought on the right side of the war and died as brave wizards loved and adored by many.