Harry Potter: The Vampire Prince

Wizards had many ways to travel, but the quickest method was Apparition. However, Nolan had yet to learn that skill. For someone who could fly, Apparition wasn't exactly essential. Besides, even if he mastered it, he wouldn't be able to use it to return to Hogwarts—an area of roughly one hundred miles around the school was charmed to block Apparition.

There was, however, a safer alternative: Floo Powder.

Nolan's current plan was to locate a shop with a fireplace connected to Hogwarts and use Floo Powder to return with the Philosopher's Stone.

Obscurus Books, a renowned publishing house, had just such a connection to Hogwarts. It was said that Professor Sinistra, who taught Astronomy, and Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff, had both published works through this publisher. To ensure quick communication with the firm, Hogwarts had linked the Astronomy preparation room's fireplace directly to Obscurus Books.

Today, Nolan's destination was the fireplace at Obscurus Books.

At precisely 3:27 in the afternoon, a black-haired, red-eyed boy clad in a hooded robe strolled through Diagon Alley. With a month left before the school term began, the alley was bustling with first-years and returning students shopping for supplies from the booklists that had already been sent out.

Nolan's sharp gaze picked out the red-haired Weasley twins, who were busily wrapping a massive rat as a gift. Judging by the glances they cast toward two dark-skinned twin girls selecting ice cream nearby, Nolan guessed they had a mischievous plan brewing. Afterward, the twins tried to introduce Nolan to their younger brother, Ron—a thin, freckled boy whose fiery red hair made him look like he was perpetually aflame.

Further along, Nolan encountered Hogwarts' resident beauty, Penelope Clearwater. The Ravenclaw upperclassman seemed delighted, proudly wearing her newly earned prefect badge. She eagerly inquired about Grand Duchess Felicia's well-being, a subject she apparently held in high regard. When Nolan gave her the address for Randall Gorge and mentioned that she could write to the Grand Duchess as a pen pal, Penelope was so thrilled she planted a kiss on his forehead before departing.

Diagon Alley was full of familiar faces for Nolan. The wizarding world was small, after all, with a limited population and less-than-stellar reproductive rates (though there were exceptions, such as the prolific Weasleys). This close-knit nature meant that nearly every wizarding family was interconnected in some way. Word had already spread that Slytherin had gained a remarkably clever new student last year, and his uniqueness had not gone unnoticed.

After greeting everyone who approached him, Nolan glanced at his pocket watch. It was 3:33 p.m. He turned into a narrow side street, a necessary shortcut to reach Obscurus Books. The alleyway, two streets west of Knockturn Alley, carried a faint but unmistakable hint of dark magic in the air.

The path was unusually deserted, a fact that put Nolan on edge. His expression grew cold as he continued walking, counting down the 300 meters to his destination.

Then, his silver-heeled boots came to an abrupt stop. Nolan pursed his lips, muttering softly, "Three of them... Looks like Dumbledore had good reason to involve the Grand Duchess. Our half-giant friend wouldn't have been able to handle three dark wizards."

With a sharp click, Nolan scraped the sole of his boot against the cobblestone to produce a deliberate sound. He turned on his heel, his crimson eyes wide and glowing with a dangerous, icy light.

The young vampire's left hand gripped the cloth-wrapped Philosopher's Stone tightly, while his right hand slid into his pocket, fingers curling around his unicorn-hair wand.

Nolan could feel the danger closing in.

Something was about to happen.

The next moment, the enemies appeared!

Two from the north, one from the west!

Nolan drew his wand without hesitation and fired a Barrier Charm, then kicked off the ground, dashing into the narrow gaps between the buildings. He sprinted swiftly, his long bangs blown aside by the wind, revealing his blood-red eyes. Like a shadowy panther prowling between the structures, he moved with grace and purpose.

"Catch him! Catch him! Take the Philosopher's Stone!" bellowed a middle-aged wizard in his forties, swinging his wand. "Stupefy!"

Nolan glanced back sharply, his wand aimed precisely. "Stupefy!"

The two scarlet beams collided mid-air, exploding in a fiery burst of sparks!

The middle-aged wizard fired three more spells in rapid succession. Nolan deflected the first two with a Barrier Charm and a Petrification Charm, but the third spell slipped into a blind spot between the other two. Unable to block it in time, Nolan clenched his left fist and punched directly at the incoming spell.

With a resounding bang, the spell shattered against his fist. He felt the searing heat of the magic burn his skin, a tingling numbness spreading up his forearm. But that was the extent of it.

As it turned out, a vampire's magical resistance was indeed extraordinary.

While the middle-aged wizard hurled his spells, the second attacker—a woman cloaked in green—moved in. She approached silently, her speed astonishing. Nolan couldn't see her face beneath the hood but could sense her inhuman nature.

Her movements were incredibly fluid. Running, leaping, she sprang into the air and loosed her weapon—a sleek, arm-length composite bow. In her right hand, she held three long arrows, which she nocked and fired all at once.

Nolan darted left, planting his right foot against a wall and vaulting upward with a triangle jump.

The hooded woman fired again, three more arrows streaking toward him in rapid succession.

Simultaneously, the middle-aged wizard launched two Petrification Charms.

None of it hit Nolan. His movements in mid-air were impossibly nimble. After three quick jumps, he reached the roof of a building four meters high. Landing smoothly, he turned and caught one of the arrows mid-flight with his bare hand. Without missing a beat, he flicked his wrist, sending the arrow hurtling back with incredible speed.

The hooded woman hesitated, diving into a roll to dodge.

The arrow Nolan had thrown embedded itself into the ground with a deafening crack, piercing straight into the narrow crevice between two cobblestones.

As another spell from the middle-aged wizard came hurtling toward him, Nolan raised a leg and kicked, shattering the spell into a cascade of sparks.

Then he turned his head—just in time to see the third attacker joining him on the rooftop, charging at full speed.

"Close combat, is it?" Nolan muttered softly, lowering his center of gravity as he sprinted forward.

He clenched his fist and struck out, his blow landing with a loud thud against the attacker's crossed arms.

The force sent the man staggering back two steps. Nolan moved to press the advantage, but a sudden gleam of steel stopped him short.

A magnificent sword had appeared in the attacker's hands, seemingly out of nowhere. Just a second ago, Nolan was certain the man had been unarmed.

What kind of magic is this? Nolan wondered briefly. But as the sword's blade lunged toward him, he didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his left wrist to block it directly.

The attacker froze, stunned. His blade, sharp enough to cut through steel like butter, had failed to slice through the wrist of what appeared to be a mere boy.

That moment of hesitation was all Nolan needed. Closing the gap, he drove a powerful punch into the man's abdomen.

The attacker was sent flying, skidding across the rooftop. Nolan raised his wand without pause. "Petrificus Totalus!"

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