HP North Star's Radiance

She stood calmly before the crowd, looked at Albert, the current head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and said softly, "Mr. Albert, I would like to ask you a question."

"Miss Praris, please."

Praris said, "I heard that during the war, you wrote letters of complaint for a long time in the name of justice, but what you got in return was the change of the law one article at a time, is that right?"

That is indeed a bit presumptuous.

Albert's face turned pale and then flushed, but he finally said honestly, "It is true, but—"

“Thank you.” Praris interrupted him. “Miss Stewart, I’d also like to ask you, you previously worked in lawmaking and amendment, and achieved a well-deserved reputation, didn’t you?”

Stella said, "Yes."

"This shows that, regardless of whether the outcome is good or bad, the law is not a coffin buried in the ground, nailing life and the possibility of future progress inside it." Praris said, looking at the two officials present who had worked in this field. "It is evolving, progressive, and adaptable to the changing times."

“I admit that my initial choice was to conceal it. I knew better than anyone the potential disaster this knowledge could bring, and letting it disappear silently was the best option.” Praris looked at Alexander and said meaningfully, “But reality taught me that secrets cannot remain secrets forever. My views changed as a result.”

“Miss Granger, you work in the Department of Magical Creatures Control, don’t you?” Praris asked softly.

Hermione, who was taking notes at lightning speed, nodded.

"I understand that there are corresponding management and control regulations for dangerous or rare magical animals, such as the corresponding licenses, right?"

Hermione was pleased to be able to help Praris and chimed in, “Yes, like the takin, the harpy bird, and the swallowtail dog.”

“Miss Stewart, you used to work at the International Department of Magical Cooperation. You also had specific trade restrictions on the same magical creatures, didn’t you?”

"good."

After asking his questions, Praris looked at Alexander and said politely, "You are a senior healer and have also done extensive research in potion making. In our potion making process, we need many rare magical animal products, such as the venom of the Loba beetle. However, we do not exterminate the Loba beetle, nor do we completely ban its use, but rather we impose strict restrictions on it—this is how civilization deals with the contradiction between 'danger' and 'need'."

"In the present and future, we will see the emergence of more and more potion talents and the birth of more and more valuable but dangerous potion research. What is the difference between how we view new potions today and how we viewed magical creatures in the past? Faced with valuable but dangerous potions and potion research, what we need to do is not to kill them outright, but simply lack a corresponding regulatory framework."

"The advanced experience of the Department of Magical Creatures Management and Control and the Department of International Magical Cooperation has already given us the answer, proving that prevention is worse than cure, and regulation is better than prohibition. Why, then, do we hesitate and turn back the clock in the field of potions? If we are so afraid of getting hurt, we might as well not study magic at all. Isn't magic dangerous?"

In just a few words, several departments became the basis for evidence, Alexander, who had just reported her, was portrayed as a conservative, closed-minded, and outdated figure who was turning back the clock, while Praris became a rising star offering advice and suggestions.

Praris pressed his advantage: "I believe that all of you seniors of Wissengamo have already seen the proposal I submitted, which was specifically formulated for this matter."

She looked at Alexander and smiled, saying, "Mr. Shafik, I understand your feelings. Your refusal to sign proves my point: we lack a standardized mechanism for evaluating high-risk, cutting-edge research. You can use your signature to stop me from conducting research around you, but can you really stop me from conducting research at home in my bed?"

From the darkness came the sound of a wizard unable to suppress his laughter.

“Ahem! I’d like to say a few words.” A long-bearded wizard cleared his throat and began, “Prince, I’ve heard of your name before, and I’m sure you’re familiar with me too—I am Damocles Belby.”

Damocles was the inventor of the wolfsbane potion, and Praris made his fortune by improving it. Upon hearing his words, Praris immediately composed himself and became much more serious.

“You think…we need a potion regulatory system.” Damocles spoke slowly, but his words were very clear. “As you said, what should the Ministry of Magic do when faced with a wizard who is hiding and doing research? As far as I know, no one knew I was researching wolfsbane potion before I announced my results to the public.”

“It’s a win-win situation,” Praris replied calmly. “If someone were to research potions, what do you think they would need?”

"Materials for inspiration, experience, and research."

“That’s right, but it’s missing the most important thing—” Prare said frankly, “money. When I was a student, I had no money to do research and couldn’t get some rare materials. It was my professor and the owner of Slag Giggs Pharmacy who helped me.”

"Therefore, I believe that such a mechanism can be built into the regulatory system: if cutting-edge dangerous research passes the assessment and is valuable, it can receive subsidies of varying degrees; and if the research is successfully put into the market or used in St. Mungo's, the Ministry of Magic can receive a certain percentage of the profits."

"Shouldn't those who conduct dangerous research illegally under regulation, where there's profit to be made, without expecting any money, at least offer an explanation?"

“What if a wizard doesn’t lack money?” Damocles asked again.

Praris smiled and said, "Do you lack regulations on magical creature products?"

—The Ministry of Magic, which has no shortage of resources, should knock on its door.

“I’m fine now,” Damocles said.

Damocles was out of trouble, but the other members of Wizengamot began to whisper among themselves.

Stella, Kingsley, and Albert were also whispering about something, but the three quickly separated to wait for Wizengamo to resolve their differences.

Soon, the whispers subsided.

Stella asked softly, "Albert?"

When his name was called, Albert slowly said, "Those who agree that the charges are unfounded, please raise your hands."

Albert didn't raise his hand at first, presumably because he still had some PTSD about changing the law, but after a moment's hesitation, he raised his hand anyway.

Behind him, the Wizengamots all raised their hands in unison, and at a glance, at least 80% of them did.

“Okay, good,” Albert said. “It seems the accusations are unfounded. Now, those who support the preliminary adoption of the ‘Ethics and Classification Framework for Potions Research’, please raise your hands.”

This time, almost everyone raised their hand.

"The proposal has been preliminarily approved and will be forwarded to the International Office of Magical Law."

Alexander sat heavily in his chair, his face pale—he couldn't understand why he had failed.

Praris shook his head inwardly. What Alexander would never know was that his defeat was destined from the very beginning.

She looked earnestly at the older therapist and said, "Mr. Shafik, if regulatory laws are enacted, I'm willing to be the first person to be regulated."

"Are you pitying me?"

"No, I admire your courage."

Accusing a colleague is no small matter, especially a prestigious, promising, and well-connected one, particularly since Pralis's patient was Dumbledore. Despite the foolish courage involved, Pralis still gave him a final act of decency.

One by one, the wizards descended from their seats. Many came over to shake hands with Prasris, smiling and saying that she was young and promising, with extraordinary talent, and hoped that she could awaken Dumbledore soon... Damocles, on the other hand, left without saying a word.

Praris greeted each person with a polite smile.

Some people even comforted her, saying that Damocles is just stubborn and talented people are often eccentric, but you are outstanding, even your personality is quite good!

The last person to greet her was Stella. The vice minister skillfully put her arm around Praris and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Praris."

Praris deliberately said, "You were really fierce just now!"

“We should keep public and private matters separate,” Stella said knowingly.

Their perfectly synchronized performance dispelled the wizards' doubts about the supposed infighting among important Slytherin figures.

Praliss stepped out of the dark room and found that the people waiting for her outside had multiplied! From Draco alone, they had become Draco, Severus, Harry, and Ron, the four of them standing in two lines, not speaking to each other.

"How was it? / How was it!"

Draco and Harry spoke in unison, then gave each other a strange look, their expressions a mixture of embarrassment and displeasure.

Praris chuckled inwardly, but still replied aloud, "The charges are unfounded; the proposal is preliminarily approved."

Ron patted his chest: "Great, Hermione was right, you can always do it."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hermione came out and praised Prareas's abilities repeatedly.

Praris was alright, and the three of them were relieved and left together.

Now only Draco and Snape remain.

Draco frantically glanced at Praris and said, "Mr. Snape is very worried about you."

"Hmm?" Praris said with a smile, "Everyone's here now. I know a restaurant where my mom, Sylvia, used to take me on weekends when I was little. Shall we go together?"

Draco had a look on his face that said, "You're finished."

Snape looked at Prareas, paused for a moment, and said, "Where?"

Draco made a sound of "Huh?".

“It’s not far from here,” Praris said.

Sylvia may have missed Winnie back then, and she would occasionally take Praris to a restaurant near the Ministry of Magic, perhaps hoping to run into an old friend who worked there.

Bonus: Prarese and Snape

This is a Muggle restaurant, and all three of them used magic to avoid violating the Secrets Act.

Whether it was the Muggle restaurant or the requirement of the Secrets Act, Draco offered no objections whatsoever. He did exactly what Praris did.

Seeing this, Snape glanced at Draco casually.

Praris opened the menu, ordered a kids' meal for himself, then a bunch of other dishes, and turned to Draco, asking, "Anything else you'd like?"

“That’s all,” Draco said. “Nothing needs to be changed.”

Praris nodded, then said, "So, carrot cake, bread pudding, muffin..."

With each additional item she mentioned, Draco's expression grew increasingly strange—why did Praris order so many desserts?

After ordering, she handed the menu to Snape, who simply passed it to the waiter without adding anything.

“Sir,” Draco said with a smile, “you still care so much about Praris. No professor is as competent as you… Why don’t you continue as principal? You deserve it.”

After the war, Snape voluntarily resigned as headmaster of Hogwarts, and Professor McGonagall succeeded him. He himself became the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts—now no one could stop him, not even Voldemort's curse.

“Ah, Draco,” Snape smiled faintly. “You always have a point, but it’s not an easy job. Lucius said you’re planning to study alchemy, isn’t that right?”

Draco laughed and said, "That's right. Next time I visit the manor, I'll definitely show you my little gadgets."

“No need for that.” Prareus pulled out his necklace from his collar, took it off, and showed it to Snape. “Look, what beautiful craftsmanship.”

Snape raised an eyebrow slightly, unusually refraining from praising Draco: "Not bad."

“Only Dumbledore knows about Nicolas Flamel’s legacy,” he added calmly. “When he wakes up, don’t forget to ask for his reward.”

“I can’t forget it,” Praris said.

The waiters started serving the food, and Prarese asked them to put all the desserts on Snape's side.

Draco felt an increasingly strange feeling.

Snape did dine at Malfoy Manor, though very, very rarely, and when he did, he only drank some wine.

Lucius's assessment of this was: "Severus has always been like this."

But today Snape not only accepted the invitation, he also let Prares order half a table of snacks for him, and he actually ate them!

“Oh, right.” Prares seemed to remember something and said to Draco in a flat tone, “I don’t know if Lucius told you that Mr. Snape is my relative—I only found out later.”

"Huh?" Draco's mouth dropped open, his face full of surprise.

In British wizarding circles, it's not a big deal who's related to whom; Draco is even related to Sirius Black, that mad dog! But Prader and Snape's relationship is clearly much closer than that of ordinary relatives.

She calmly said, "Isn't that surprising? I didn't expect it at first either."

Snape put down his fork, picked up a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, and said calmly, "This is nothing to boast about. Draco, you know what you're doing."