Who is she?
"You're looking for Tom?" The boys seemed to all share a silent conversation, before James took a step closer.
"What do you want with him? And how'd you get here, we thought the transfer student was starting next semester" He sounded suspicious of her, clearly on high guard if she was a threat or not.
“Don't tell me you need him as some sort of ransom" James muttered quietly, Sirius, already on edge, was having a hard time keeping a lid on his anger, he stepped closer, towering over her slightly as he shot her a hard glare.
"Answer his damn question now" he demanded.
“Tom is not the one I search for, I thought so too, however his magic is unfamiliar and it doesn’t feel like family.”
This seemed to surprise them even more, which only heightened the tension as they were more on edge than before.
"If Tom isn't the one you're here for, who is it that you want?" Remus asked in a cautious tone, hoping that your answers will calm the angry Sirius.
“I don’t know. His fake mother hide him so well that we believed him to be dead until a few months ago.”
That seemed to be good enough for the other boys, however Sirius still didn't look convinced and he still seemed a little angered.
"If we choose to help you, how do we know we can trust you? How do we know you're really here to look for this person and not for some other reason?" James asked, his tone was cautious as he spoke.
“I swear on my magic that I am only here to search for this person and no other reason. I swear it, so mote it be.” Before successfully casting a Lumos.
This seemed to be enough for the others, and their shoulders eased slightly. Remus shot an angry glare towards Sirius, causing for him to back off from her slightly, and they all just sort of stared at her.
"Fine" James said, his eyes still trained on her carefully. "We'll help you out, but first, what's your name?
“Can I trust you to keep my real name secret?”
The boys exchanged glances again, before James spoke up again with a small smile and a nod.
"Of course, we can keep a secret, you can trust that. Our lips are sealed"
“I meant your minds. Some wizards can enter your minds to search for information. And don’t look at headmaster Dumbledore’s eyes, if you don’t have enough mind protection.”
The boys were all a confused, but listened intently as she spoke.
"Why? What does he-" James tried to ask as Remus cut him off with a warning glare.
“Didn’t you guess how he has so much information?” Said Melania
Once again, they all shared a glance, Remus slowly started to talk as he seemed to understand her point a bit more.
"So you're saying... Dumbledore's legilimency is the reason for all that information he seems to know everything...?" His tone was disbelieving and he slowly nodded with a glance to the other boys, who's surprise turned into understanding.
“Yes… it is illegal and can be painful for the other. However, as the wizard world still sees him as the Hero he once was, he will not be punished.”
"Well damn, that makes a whole lot of sense" Sirius mumbled quietly, and James nodded in agreement. Remus rubbed the back of his neck, shifting a little awkwardly, they seemed surprised you knew so much.
"How on Earth did you find all of this out?" He asked, the same curiosity that peaked the entire marauder's interest filling his voice.
“I am a natural Legitimems and Occlumens so I felt it when he tried to enter my mind.”Half lied Melania.
The Marauders eyes grew wide as she spoke, the curiosity now at maximum capacity for the boys. James and Peter shared a glance, before Peter spoke quietly.
"Sorry, but what's a legitimems?" His curiosity clearly getting the better of him as he asked.
“Oh, it’s the term to design people who can enter people’s mind, as I am a natural, it means it isn’t by choice that I enter minds but that I have a facility at doing so. And a occlumens is someone who can block a legitimens.”
This only seemed to excite the boys more.
“Damn you're a natural for all of this? You must really have some interesting skills" Sirius said with excitement, but Remus' curious gaze stayed focused on her.
"Right, I think we're getting a little off topic here" He mumbled before turning to look at her again.
“Right. My real name is Melania Slytherin. However I am known by the teachers as Mary Astra.”
The marauders shared a stunned look, seemingly surprised that she was a member of a family they knew.
"Sly-" James tried to speak, but choked on his own words a little, his mouth hanging open slightly as he stared at her. Remus regained composure first, raising a brow and looking down at her with an intense gaze.