I am reading POA again, as part of preparing for the last book. While reading it (and the supplemental books available from Borders...) I began to wonder a bit about the Marauders. How were they, at such a young age, smart enough and powerful enough to make the marauder's map? How were they able to find all the hidden passages that other more powerful wizards before them weren't able to find (ie.. previous headmasters, caretakers, etc.)

Fred and George needed the map to help them find them. How would boys of a similiar age, parentage and skill make a map capable of such high level magic? How were they able to locate and open all the secret passages? Did they have help? We know they were talented. They were able to become animagi (seriously difficult) and keep it secret from DD (seriously seriously difficult!) SO, did they have help with that as well? Or are they really that good? If so, then shouldn't they have been able to better protect themselves from all the troubles that befell them later?

I am going to go out on a limb and guess they had some help. I don't know from where or whom. Maybe we'll find out in DH?Mods, if this should be in the speculations forum, I apologize. I stuck it here because I'm reading about them in POA.

its pretty good to learn about the map... but as a matter of fact lupin said in the POA that noone in the school other than himself and his three friends have wandered the hogwarts as much as they did.... this is as lupin transforms into the werewolf and his friends being an unregistered animagus wanders the school and hogsmede as much as they can unnoticed by any other person there..hence they have pretty good knowledge about the school surroundings which might have helped them in making the map...

about turning into an animagus,i too had questions in mind about how they made it that too in the 5th year itself....

In re the Animagus question:

I think there are two explanations for the Marauders being able to transform into animages(?) 5th year: 1) friends, 2) natural intelligence.

Starting with the easier one, James, despite all of his goofing around, became Head Boy in 7th year. I think it takes a very smart person to fill this position, probably top 5 in the class (using an arbitrary number). We also know that Remus was very smart, we see him in action a few times and it's evident. And for Sirius to be able to charm a motorcycle to fly, well, that takes more than just a quick swish and flick. The only one who probably lacked brains was Pettigrew, so it's no surprise he turned into a small Animagus (which might take less skill than a bigger one).
So, just on intelligence alone, from how smart we've seen the Marauders to be, I think they could pull off becoming Animages in 5th year. Remember, in 2nd year, the Trio brew a Polyjuice Potion, a very difficult task as it is only listed in "Moste Potente Potions". In 3rd year Harry is able to perform a completely corporeal Patronus. Heck, in 5th year Harry begins Occlumency, and then goes on to break into the MoM in order to fight Death Eaters! I don't think it's a stretch that if the Marauders knew how to perform the spell, they couldn't achieve it after some trying.

Second part, the knowledge. Actually, maybe this is the easier one. If you don't know the answer, ask someone. Harry and Ron are mildly intelligent, no where as smart as James and Sirius it seems, but they have Hermione. If James and Sirius didn't know the answer, they could have asked Remus, innocently enough, or Lily, who for the purpose of argument I assume they were at least 'friendly' with. If they didn't ask someone, James has this brilliant invisibility cloak. Just like Harry, he could use it to check the Restricted Section of the library for how the charm, spell, whatever is performed to become an Animagus.
I think what also goes along with this is, whenever we've seen people in HP put there mind to something (ie study in the library all day everyday), it can be achieved.

I think using Harry as an example, with friends to ask for help, an invisibility cloak for the Restrict Section, and natural intelligence, it's possibly for a few dedicated friends, and Wormtail, to become animagus by 5th year (at least in a world that doesn't exist, heh).

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions. I'm still convinced they had someone or something helping them. Harry isn't a good example. He often lucks into things or has people help him. You can get into pre-ordained destiny and all that bit, but "Moody" helped him in Goblet and Hermione actually brewed the poly-juice potion- not Ron or Harry. Harry would have been in reall trouble from PS/SS onward if it weren't for Hermione! Anyway- if the Marauders did all that on their own, they must have been some powerful kids! Maybe that's why it's such a secret what James (and Lily's) jobs is...?