HP North Star's Radiance

If being controlled by the Soul-Stealing Curse is such a comfortable thing, then it's normal that many people can't break free from it.

Praris enjoyed this fleeting happiness, but she had to break free from this illusory bliss.

Professor Snape's training raised her willpower threshold, and Moody probably never imagined that the gap between her and her peers would be so large. Therefore, Prader's escape from Moody's control was not as difficult as resisting Professor Snape's intrusion.

Praris controlled his facial expression, trying his best to look ethereal.

She heard Moody give her the instruction: Imitate a cat... Imitate a cat...

That's putting her through so much trouble!

Praris obediently crouched down, licked the back of her hand like a cat, and then wiped her head and face with it. Next, she slowly lay down, propped herself up like a cat, and looked around warily.

Only when she felt Moody's power disappear from her body did she stand up with a look of surprise, just like the other students.

Praris turned to Millison and whispered, "What just happened! That was terrifying!"

After saying that, she seemed unable to control herself and brought the back of her hand to her mouth. Realizing what she had done, she was startled by her own actions.

Even after leaving the classroom, Prarese continued to act out the aftereffects of being controlled. She maintained this state, gradually reducing the frequency of her movements, until she sat down at the long table in the auditorium.

Praris blinked, his face cold, head bowed, mechanically sawing the steak.

Her gaze was still on the steak, but her thoughts had already drifted several feet away.

Moody used Legilimency on her the instant her soul was taken away.

Under Praris's deliberate control, Moody could only see himself attending classes in the classroom, studying in the library after class, learning potions from Snape when he didn't have classes, studying with classmates and upperclassmen during final week, and writing papers in the Leaky Cauldron during holidays, interspersed with some Hogwarts student entertainment activities, such as the Duel Club, Quidditch matches, and listening to Slytherin classmates make mean boy and mean girl remarks.

What an incredibly fulfilling Slytherin academic life!

The background noise is her inner monologue, screaming "Ahhhhh!" She is terrified by the horror of the Imperius Curse, wondering if she will remain a cat forever and never be able to change back.

Soon, Praris turned her head and whispered in Milison's ear with a look of fear on her face, lightly interrupting Moody's intrusion.

Prarese's suspicion of Moody was no longer based on Professor Snape, but on her own rational judgment.

Before this, learning Occlumency was more of a precaution for her. But everything changed after Moody actually used Legilimency on her.

Prareas couldn't help but wonder what Moody was trying to get out of her and Professor Snape.

If Moody were solely targeting Death Eaters, he should have gone after students who were clearly their children, like Draco. If Moody believed Snape had deceived Dumbledore, gaining his trust through lies to enter Hogwarts, then a cunning "liar" like Snape wouldn't have given himself away in her memory.

Rather than targeting the Death Eaters, Moody seemed to be targeting Professor Snape, yet he couldn't find his problems. So he tried to uncover the professor's issues through his memories.

Prarese raised her knife, the blade reflecting her narrow, dark eyes.

This could also be explained; perhaps he had been an Auror for so long that he became paranoid and thus began to use Legilimency on most people he suspected.

However, based on some previous details, Prareas vaguely felt that the professor wasn't truly on the side of the mysterious man. And Dumbledore wasn't someone who couldn't see through the stances of those around him.

An Auror... a seasoned Auror used a Transfiguration Charm on a student, attacked an innocent student, and used Legilimency on a student, simply because her actions provoked him—?

“I didn’t realize you were so narcissistic,” Draco said, drawing out the last word. “You even feel sorry for yourself while eating.”

Praris gave him a deep look: "Draco, Millie doesn't care what I look at while I eat."

Theodore Nott couldn't help but chuckle, seemingly enjoying watching Draco's antics—after all, they were childhood friends.

Praris turned to him: "Nott, what funny thing did you hear? Why don't you share it?"

Pansy frowned, glanced at Praris, then at Draco and Theodore.

Nott said casually, "It's nothing, just something I was thinking about in Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

"Thinking about that? It's not a big deal if you can't resist the Imperius Curse," Draco said sarcastically. "Isn't that what Moody said? Who knows, maybe we're the ones who used the Imperius Curse."

Several Slytherins around him sneered in displeasure, clearly unhappy with Moody's attitude.

Chapter 75 Lakeside Chat

As they left the auditorium, Pansy tossed a sentence to Milison, then grabbed Praris's sleeve and ran off.

"Millie, I have something to say to Pray."

On the lawn by the Black Lake, Praris lay down comfortably, while Pansy sat with her arms propped up behind her back.

"Is it what I think?" Pansy asked.

Praris blinked. "I guess so."

“When did this happen?” Pansy asked.

Praris said slowly, "Are you referring to when I discovered it, or when he had the idea?"

"Is there a big difference?" Pansy asked.

Praris pondered for a moment: "Perhaps there are times when I feel I should discover them."

“I want to know everything!” Pansy said.

Praris chuckled: "Does it make sense?"

“I liked him, though it was hardly love, but he’s still an important friend to me.” Pansy turned to look down at Praris. “But compared to him, you’re the one who truly understands my feelings and knows what I’m thinking—a friend who’s almost like family. I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”

Praris shifted his gaze to Pansy, giving her a deep look: "You think he can hurt me? With his—IQ?"

Pansy couldn't help but laugh, but she quickly regained her composure and said seriously, "Not necessarily, it depends on whether you like him or not."

“I don’t know, I don’t understand love.” Praris looked up at the ever-changing clouds in the sky. “But I know we won’t be together.”

"Why?" Pansy lay down, propping herself up on her elbows. "Is there a reason?"

Praris gave a mischievous look: "You really want to know? You'll regret it."

Pansy quickly waved her hand: "Then I don't want to know, don't tell me!"

Praris quickly sat up, pinning Pansy down and preventing her from escaping.

Prareas leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Miss Parkinson, it's too late—"

Prarese whispered something in her ear, and as soon as she finished speaking, Pansy was completely stunned and stared at her in astonishment.

Praris whispered in her ear, "I'm mixed race."

Pansy stared blankly at the air in front of her, as if she had been petrified, her mind racing.

Suddenly, she stood up in disbelief, looked at Praris lying on the ground after she had overturned him, and shouted, "What did you say!"

Prarese chuckled, seemingly finding Pansy's reaction adorable.

Pansy hurriedly sat down, leaned closer to her, and whispered, "How is that possible? I mean, you've known so much about the magical world since first grade. No, even half-bloods can know about the magical world. But you have such high magical talent... no, Granger too..."

Pansy felt her head buzzing. She couldn't help but ask herself, why had no one ever questioned Praris's identity?!

Wait a minute, it seems Daphne had a suspicion back in first grade, but she quickly dismissed the idea.

After that, Prass's performance made people remember only her intelligence, erudition, and strength, and she was regarded as one of the representative students of Slytherin. No one even thought about whether she was pure-blooded anymore.

"How could you tell me this?!" Pansy said, exasperated. "What if I tell someone else?!"

Praris crossed his arms as a pillow, yawned lazily, and said, "It won't matter. Besides, the fact that you asked this question means you're destined not to say it."

“Praris!” Pansy gritted her teeth in anger. “We said those things, how could you—how could you not be angry at all?!”

“That’s nothing, I don’t care. This is the kind of thinking you’ve been taught since childhood, not something you actively learned.” Praris waved his hand. “Would you distance yourself from me because of this?”

Pansy covered her head with her hands: "Of course not! Oh! Does Professor Snape know about this? Merlin, how can you keep such a secret?"

“Of course,” Praris said. “What can be hidden from him?”

Praris took Pansy's hand and helped her lie down beside him. "Pansy, don't worry. Even if all the Slytherins know I'm half-blood now, it won't change anything. What I've learned, my wisdom, my strength—none of it will leave me. I have no shame whatsoever for who I am."

Pansy took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said to Praris, "You'll forget everything, won't you? Let me forget about this!"

"Are you sure?" Praris raised an eyebrow. "What if you ask me about Draco again?"

Pansy yelled a few times, "I hate you, you bad girl! Okay, I'll try to forget about it."

"Hahahaha!" Praris couldn't help but laugh.

They lay on the lawn for a long time, and then Pansy suddenly said, "Draco doesn't know about this, but he likes you. Theodore knows about it too, right?"

“Perhaps,” Praris said almost coldly. “For the sake of our friendship, and to keep him from being upset, I’d better keep up the act and pretend I don’t know anything about it.”

“I thought we Slytherins were all ruthless,” Pansy said. “How could you give up so easily?”

Praris laughed: "Then why did you give up on Jacob so easily?"

“It’s not easy; I’ve thought about it for a long time,” Pansy said in a hoarse voice. “Can’t one of us have genuine feelings for the other?”

“Don’t be sad. I think it’s because I didn’t like him that much. He’s just a childish big boy.” Prarees paused, then turned to look at her. “Then I’ll just have to wish you happiness, Miss Parkinson.”

Pansy rolled over and threw herself into her arms: "I don't want to."

Pansy didn't believe Prareas at all. If Prareas disliked Draco, why did she specifically seek out Stella to strategize for the Quidditch team last year? If Prareas disliked Draco, why did she stand up for him and duel Moody?

Praris patted her back and whispered, “Pansy, this is a good thing. I knew there was no future, so I didn’t have any unrealistic fantasies. The gods have allowed me to escape from an unknown love, to have a cold freedom in the heights of nothingness.”

The Triwizard Tournament is fast approaching, and the Slytherins are all disappointed that Prareth is not yet seventeen.

Miles was already fantasizing: "If only she were seventeen. I mean, she could fight an Auror and win the Triwizard Tournament, right?"

Praris looked puzzled: "Huh? I'm in the Triwizard Tournament?"

She gave a wry smile and shook her head: "What am I in your eyes now? I'm only fourteen years old, only in fourth grade. Seriously, stop exaggerating. If Moody really considered me an opponent, you should have been thinking about what to engrave on my tombstone a long time ago."

This rumor even reached Professor Snape's ears, resulting in a severe lecture and beating for her. The professor feared that she might have adopted the arrogance of some savior, thinking she could do anything and disregarding her own life.

Prarese took the opportunity to discuss Moody's problem with the professor, rambling on about her current analysis, but the professor did not give any further response.

Snape said coldly, “Miss, your information is useful. But you should know that these are issues for adults to deal with.”

Praders verbally agreed, but she didn't really take it seriously. Professor Snape, preoccupied with his responsibility and considering himself her "guardian," felt she deserved the happy life a child should have.

But Professor, it was too late. Her childhood had already ended abruptly long before she even realized it existed.

People always move forward. Her heart has reached the present moment, and no matter how much she looks back, she can no longer have the feelings that belong to a child.

Childhood is long gone, but she can still experience youth.

Thus, she unusually rebelled against the professor's demands. Aside from attending classes and practicing Winnie's spell pack, Praris secretly observed Moody, trying to figure out what he really wanted from the professor.

It's like a cat-and-mouse game, and she's a very restrained cat, afraid of damaging her owner's furniture.

She had to investigate the root of Moody's unease without letting him know that she already knew something was wrong with him; she had to figure out Moody's target without letting him extract anything of value from her; Moody could extract from her at any time, but she could only defend herself passively.