HP North Star's Radiance

Prarese laughed. How could Granger be so cute?

She wrote: "Kitty, I appreciate your enthusiasm anyway, so I've decided to donate five Galleons to you. However, this is just my one-sided support, so please don't send me a bag of badges!"

“Before you do these,” Praris paused meaningfully, “interesting little activities, your friend Spoon would like to offer some sincere advice. What benefits do you think your advocacy activities can bring to those in power? Or, what are the disadvantages of not doing so?”

“I know that some things aren’t done because there’s a benefit to them. But I think you understand that enthusiasm alone isn’t enough. You can’t expect everyone to pay for your enthusiasm like I do.”

"To gain more support, you need to paint a picture of a lucrative future for them, or give them a compelling reason to do so. You understand, right? — Your sincere friend, Spoon"

Granger is very likely to become a promising, perhaps even historically significant, wizard-politician. Praris realized this when she discovered she was already involved in these matters at the age of fourteen.

Prarese once took the life of a house-elf for granted, because that was how she had lived in the monastery: receiving the monastery's protection and receiving no reward no matter how much she gave.

Helga Hufflepuff brought house-elves into the kitchens of Hogwarts, providing them with a safe environment and protecting them from abuse and insults.

However, these protections are limited by their time. Hogwarts protected them, but it could not transcend the limitations of its era to grant them rights commensurate with the sacrifices made—this was precisely Granger's goal.

Some protections, which are initially safe fortresses, often end up as cages that make people stop moving forward and become addictive.

However, it is undeniable that such protection is necessary. House-elves have a safe environment at Hogwarts, while house-elves outside do not receive such good treatment.

If house-elves are allowed to leave Hogwarts to pursue their freedom, they may not only fail to find paid work, but they may also end up being abused like other house-elves.

One question Granger had to consider was: what benefits would it bring to the wealthy and powerful to make house-elves live a better life, so that they would be willing to give up these useful "slaves"?

Or rather, what kind of situation she can create that forces these people to make certain compromises in order to protect their greater interests?

Prarese folded the letter and put it in the envelope. This was Granger's own political demand, and she had to fulfill it herself; Prarese's reminder was merely a suggestion.

Hermione received the letter and her expression changed to one of sudden realization. She paced back and forth excitedly, muttering to herself, "That's it, that's right. My thinking was too simplistic. But how do I do it?"

"Did someone send you five Galleons?"

Ron stared incredulously as five Galleons fell out of Hermione's envelope, but she didn't even glance at them, focusing instead on talking to herself over the letter.

Hearing Ron's words, Hermione remembered the five Galleons and nodded: "Yes, Ron, you are the treasurer of the association, put them away. These are donations from the members I recruited."

“You’re forcing me down the path of corruption!” Ron said incredulously. “Who’s the biggest sucker? I’ve never had this many Galleons in my entire life!”

Harry was amused by Ron: "It's that person, isn't it? The one who helped us find the Chamber of Secrets."

Ron looked somewhat displeased: "You're still in contact with him? I'm not saying he's bad, I'm saying he gave us some hints. But he's being secretive—"

“He didn’t hide anything!” Hermione interrupted him. “Of course I know who he is. He’s my friend. I’m sure of that!”

Ron was about to say something when Harry was drawn to Hedwig outside the window: "It's Hedwig, it must be Sirius's letter."

Harry hurriedly opened the window, and Hedwig fluttered her wings and landed on Harry's divination homework.

"What did Sirius say?" Hermione asked impatiently.

Harry—

I'm in London now, and I'm heading to Scotland soon.

There have been some noteworthy rumors lately. This is the latest and most noteworthy one concerning your scar.

I consulted a friend who is a recognized authority on spells—though I don’t want to say it, I also made a special trip to Dumbledore.

We have some ideas about your scar, but they're not ready yet. If your scar hurts again, please knock on Dumbledore's door.

Where did you get that dreamcatcher made of bird and snake feathers? It does have a tiny effect; its maker had some talent in mysticism, alchemy, and the study of magical creatures. Please hang it above your bed.

I arrived in Scotland soon.

Say hello to Hermione and Ron.

Don't let your guard down, Harry.

Sirius

Harry was shocked: "He's coming to the school to find me! But isn't he chasing Peter Pettigrew? I'm perfectly fine, yet he has to drop everything to come find me!"

Hermione said, "What are you talking about, Harry! Of course something's wrong, your scars are hurting! Believe me, nothing is more important to Sirius than you, not even his hatred for Peter Pettigrew!"

Harry kept Sirius's letter to himself. He felt a little guilty for causing Sirius trouble again, but also a little happy that someone cared about him so much.

*Blue carp: Black body, bluish-green fins.

Chapter 74 Legilimency

The human brain is like a girl's bedroom; they have a strong sense of possessiveness towards their territory. Even with the most trusted person, there's a drawer that won't be opened.

Prarese wasn't afraid of the professor seeing through her true nature; she wasn't ashamed of her own character. But she also didn't reveal all her past fetishes.

She wasn't afraid of the professor punishing her, nor was she afraid of him looking down on her; she was only afraid of his pity.

Driven by this idea, Occlumency became Prarese's first full-fledged study after his flight lessons.

Her opponent was none other than Professor Snape, a master of Legilimency and Occlumency.

They sat at opposite ends of the desk, seemingly exchanging casual glances, but beneath the surface, tensions were running high.

The knight's lance pierced the guard's soft shield, but the guard, using softness to overcome hardness, silently neutralized it. The soldiers' powerful invasion was misled by their commander, lost in the vast Milotaurian labyrinth constructed of worthless memories. Having obtained no valuable information, the invaders had no choice but to return the way they came, withdrawing from the battlefield.

Prareas winked at Professor Snape, who slowly uttered, "Not bad."

This is no easy feat; Prader's Occlumency technique was taught to him by Snape. Anyone who has been a teacher knows that it's obvious where students go wrong, how they go wrong, and how those absurd answers were calculated—it's all too clear-cut how teachers know the students they've personally taught.

But there's nothing to praise about that, Praris thought.

She had a natural advantage with the brain surgery. The shortcuts were obvious, and life in the convent had instilled in her a habit of suppressing and disguising herself. Not to mention her demanding mind, which constantly tested her willpower.

Given such favorable circumstances, if she still couldn't learn Occlumency, she would despise herself.

Before learning a skill, you often feel that you absolutely must learn it, but once you've actually learned it, you always feel like you can't use it and that you've wasted your time learning it.

Praris had a feeling that she knew a lot of magic, and that the moment she learned it would likely be the last time she used it in the past few years.

Professor Snape's theory of leaking secrets was very reasonable, making her feel that if she hadn't learned Occlumency, she would have harmed Professor Snape. But after learning it, Pralis couldn't help but wonder: Did anyone really use Legilimency at Hogwarts?

Don't say it, there really is.

That day, she had just finished her Divination class, and the Slytherin students were walking from one end of the corridor to the other.

At the end of the corridor, Prarese witnessed Professor Snape and Moody brush past each other. The professor avoided the gaze of Moody's Magic Eye, his movements just as he had taught Prarese to do—seemingly moving away unintentionally.

Praris silently withdrew his gaze.

Could it be that Moody used Legilimency on Professor Snape?

Before this, Prarese had been wondering why Professor Snape suddenly wanted her to learn Occlumency.

Everything happens for a reason, and Professor Snape wasn't the type to act on a whim. It wasn't her first year at Hogwarts, nor was it the first time she had displayed her unique abilities, yet Professor Snape suddenly offered to teach her Occlumency.

Even during the summer holidays, Professor Snape did not show any intention of teaching her this ability, but as soon as Moody appeared and came into contact with her, Professor Snape suddenly made up his mind.

Professor Snape's teaching plan resembled Professor McGonagall's, emphasizing a gradual and progressive approach in its curriculum. However, in teaching Occlumency, Professor Snape proactively provided her with a shortcut, allowing her to go ahead and discuss the details later.

This is completely unlike Professor Snape's style; he detests students who try to take shortcuts!

Praris stared blankly at the mural in the common room, his brows slowly furrowing.

"Moody's gone mad!" Milison slammed down angrily. "Teach us to resist the Imperius Curse by using it on us? Why doesn't he just use the Killing Curse on Potter to strengthen his resistance to the Dark Lord?!"

"Shh-"

Pansy almost couldn't catch her breath. She looked around to make sure no one had noticed Millison's outrageous remarks before she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Pansy said with exasperation, "What's wrong with you this year? If you really can't handle it, just put a lock on your mouth!"

Millison has been completely swayed by Mrs. Burst and Mad-Eye Moody; he dares to say anything now.

Praris was different. It wasn't that she couldn't accept Moody's teaching methods, but rather that she couldn't accept that Moody was the one who used the Imperius Curse on her.

Professor Snape taught her Occlumency using the same method, and she would have objected long ago if she hadn't accepted this training method.

She trusted Professor Snape's judgment and her own immediate reaction, so she didn't trust Moody as a person, but she just hadn't caught Moody's true colors yet.

Prarese also considered finding a reason to skip the class, but she quickly rejected the idea.

If she really didn't take this class, it would contradict her usual behavior and would very likely attract Moody's attention. She dared to confront Moody one-on-one in the foyer, but now she's suddenly backing down... It's hard not to be suspicious.

Prareas could only console herself by treating it as a practical exercise. The methods for resisting the Imperius Curse and Legilimency share certain commonalities; both test the recipient's willpower. Professor Snape might have gone easy on her during her training, but Moody wouldn't.

The only problem is that when Praris was being possessed by Moody, he could no longer avoid Moody's direct gaze without leaving a trace.

This might seem like a bit of an overreaction. Moody is an Auror; would he really target Praris?

But Praris doesn't underestimate any opponent. Before class, she urgently locked away some information that couldn't be revealed and then filled in some useless but reasonable memories.

If other people's thoughts are a lake, then hers are an ocean. Fortunately, she only needed to beautify the part closest to the beach to deceive Moody, this ill-intentioned "traveler."

During Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Moody used his wand to separate the desks on both sides, requiring the students to line up one by one to be subjected to his Imperius Curse.

The Slytherins were adept at assessing the situation. Seeing that Dumbledore had shown great leniency towards Moody's madness, they knew they had no choice but to endure his incomprehensible teaching methods.

But simply enduring is not Slytherin's style.

According to Stella, an "insider," the complaints that Slytherins have been sending privately to the Department of Education, a branch of the International Confederation of Wizards, have filled an entire desk.

Unfortunately, these complaint letters did not serve their purpose.

Who can blame them when Dumbledore is the president of the International Confederation of Wizards? Even though he never exercises this power, these complaints are still suppressed.

Returning our attention to the classroom, Moody first used the Imperius Curse on Daphne, who used her hands as wings, flapping them around in the middle of the classroom while making cooing noises.

Next up was Zabini, who did a tap dance.

Then came Pansy, who jumped from the ground and landed on the table, which was practically the limit of her jumping ability!

Draco was controlled and made to hop and jump around in the snow like a ferret, which shows that Moody is still resentful about Draco being untransformed.

None of these people were able to escape Moody's control until he himself broke the spell.

“Prince,” Moody gave her a malicious look, “your turn.”

Praris slowly walked out of the crowd and into the middle of the classroom.

Moody raised his wand, aimed it at Praris, and shouted in a gruff voice, "Out of body!"

She found it hard to describe the feeling; if she had to, it was like being under an excessive spell of happiness, making her feel euphoric. She couldn't feel the usual strain of controlling her mind, nor could she recall any of the hardships she had endured.

She felt as if she had returned to her mother's amniotic fluid, her whole being floating, experiencing a blissful, irrational state.

It turns out that living without using your brain is such a blissful thing!