The Marauders finished their education in frightening times, but it was nothing compared the last year of the first war. The Dark Lord Voldemort had been biding his time, collecting followers and making small plays for power. The Daily Prophet had glossed over the impending threat while initiated Death Eaters hid their mark like members of a secret cult. The murders committed were attributed to blanket fanaticism. Regulus Black's death went unnoticed by the masses. Dumbledore's followers seemed to be the only ones to see the coming of darker times.
Then Sybil Trelawney made the prophecy and a real threat was posed to Tom Riddle's rise to power. Lily and James Potter gave birth to a son on the last day of the seventh month and Voldemort saw the divination coming true. For the first time since his slow rise to power, Voldemort showed his strength. On August 3rd, 1980, Voldemort's followers slaughtered sixteen civilians on the streets of Hogsmeade. Among the losses were two Death Eaters, Wilkes and Rosier. Despite their deaths, Voldemort's ranks remained strong.
Now the final year of the war is here. The Last 333 Days of the war will be the most terrifying days anyone has ever lived through.