RULES. CANONS.September 1977 is the beginning of the end for the Marauders and other seventh year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. After serving their time and stuffing their heads with all they can learn (and with the prospect of NEWTs looming in the near-distant future), most are thrilled with the prospect of post-Hogwarts freedom, beginning their careers, and in some cases, starting their families.
What is actually waiting for them beyond the walls of the castle, however, is not the bright future they were hoping for. In the past several years the Dark Lord has been steadily gaining a stronger following and, subsequently, his power and influence has vastly increased. Many recent graduates of the generation have chosen their side: the Death Eaters see promise and potential in the Dark Lord's quest for power and blood supremacy, while the Order of the Phoenix wants nothing more than to stop this movement in its tracks. Tensions are high even amongst those who have not explicitly chosen sides-- muggle-borns are uneasily fearful for their own safety, while pureblood supremacists become more domineeringly and boldly righteous in their actions. Everyone plays nice in the day, but when the Death Eaters start attacking families in the night, a slow panic starts to swell in the general public. They do not discriminate in who they harm; muggles, muggle-borns, half-bloods, and most
certainly the purebloods who support them are all targets for their violence. No outright proclamations have been made, no fingers yet pointed, but the anxiety and apprehension is palpable.
And, as it turns out, the castle walls are not impervious to this anxiousness. Strain between student relations is becoming apparent. Taunting and threats are being taken as serious matters, especially (though no one wants to admit it) when directed towards muggle-born students. The seventh years-- and maybe even some of the younger students-- are quickly beginning to realize that they are going to be expected to take sides. And some of them already have. Headmaster Dumbledore has approached the Head Boy and Head Girl with the prospect of the Order of the Phoenix, and while they aren't official members, it is their duty to find other potential members and, most importantly, who is on which side.
But Dumbledore isn't the only one recruiting at the school level, and there is no doubt in anyone's mind that a several students within the walls of Hogwarts have already pledged their allegiance to the Dark Lord. Students on both sides are starting to become suspicious and nervous, and everyone is starting to believe that perhaps they are not as safe as they thought, even under Dumbledore's watchful eye.