Chapter 354: Vampires II
Chapter 354: Vampires II
"How many Animagi are there in the world?" Granwhite asked nonchalantly, "I'd be exhausted if I had to be as vigilant as you all the time."
"Nevertheless, be cautious!"
Niel peered out the window, looking left and right, but found nothing unusual.
As he turned back, he urged the group, "Let's get our things and leave this place."
"Why?" Carrel exclaimed in protest, jumping up from the bed. "I was about to sleep! And this place is so far from Hogwarts!"
"It's not that far—for a wizard like Dumbledore, it's still not far enough."
Niel spoke while urging the others to hurry. Carrel reluctantly began to move.
They didn't check out at the front desk but quickly left the hotel.
Vold had the urge to take action several times but ultimately restrained himself.
From the current situation, it seemed that the group was comprised of vampires who also possessed a systematic understanding of magic.
Vold was unsure of their magical abilities, and even an ambush would be too risky.
While vampires were considered a 'minority' with certain rights, witches and wizards remained highly vigilant towards them.
From his first to third year, Vold had already had three different professors for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and each of their chosen textbooks included sections related to vampires.
Werewolves posed the greatest threat only during their transformation on the night of the full moon; otherwise, they were similar to ordinary people, and the higher their moral character, the more miserable their lives tended to be.
Vampires, on the other hand, were different. They possessed remarkable endurance, regenerative abilities, incredible speed, and immense strength. They could transform into bats at will, and even after transformation, they retained their sanity, making them natural-born Animagi.
When individuals with magical abilities were turned into vampires, they could still learn and use magic. However, they were unable to learn white magic, and their study of dark magic and curses became twice as effective.
Vold, hiding in the shadows, watched as the group quickly left with their travel bags. After hesitating for a few seconds, he decided to shake things up.
He transformed back into his human form, checked the time, and then turned the Time Turner back two more times.
The safety limit of the Time Turner was five hours, not that it could be turned five times in one go. Instead, within the same time period, the cumulative effect of using it multiple times was also limited to rewinding five hours at most.
Beyond five hours, the Time Turner could still function, but the user would become extremely dangerous.
Vold had already reached the five-hour limit as there was an overlapping period during his two uses of the Time Turner.
Image: A peregrine falcon flying through the night sky, its wings outstretched as it soars towards a distant village.
As time rapidly rewound, Vold was accustomed to the sensation. When things stabilized, he noticed that the sky remained dark.
It was still night, but compared to the previous silence, some houses in the town had their lights on, and he could vaguely see the images on their television screens. A few late-night cars drove along the highway.
Vold transformed into a peregrine falcon and flew directly towards Hogsmeade.
Upon his arrival, the chaos had already subsided. Dumbledore, dressed in his pajamas, was speaking to Hagrid, "Take him to the Hog's Head and wait for me—"
Suddenly, he spotted the peregrine falcon descending from the sky. His voice paused for a moment, and when he saw the falcon hiding, Dumbledore discreetly averted his gaze.
Hagrid, thinking Dumbledore had finished speaking, replied, "Okay."
He carried the werewolf and hurried away, clanging as he went. Everyone who witnessed this scene was shocked, pressing themselves against the walls to clear a path for him.
At this moment, Vold, hidden among the foliage, had already identified his target with his keen eyesight and noticed something amiss.
The woman, who had just been terrified by the werewolf, stood up, patting her skirt. She hid in the shadows, squinting as she scrutinized Dumbledore in the crowd.
At her feet lay a young man, presumably her "date" from earlier.
Niel, who had escaped from the Three Broomsticks with the other customers, appeared shaken. He sat on the street, exchanging a subtle glance with Clami.
He tucked a small, toy-like camera into his pocket, and the owner of the nearby Quill Shop came out, inquiring about the man's condition with feigned concern. Niel responded, pretending to be scared, and spoke to the shopkeeper.
"It was terrifying... I thought such things wouldn't happen around Hogwarts..." His voice drifted faintly through the air.
Vold already knew where they were headed next. After observing the couple for a while and confirming that no one else was meeting them, he flew to the Hog's Head Pub to find Dumbledore.
As if expecting him, Dumbledore was standing by the window when Vold arrived, the window open. They locked eyes, and Vold knew he had been recognized.
He was somewhat surprised but not entirely. Instead of approaching the pub immediately, he searched the area.
Soon, Vold spotted a sparrow perched motionlessly, constantly gazing at the exterior of the Hog's Head. On its chest, there was a faint reflection.
Vold calculated the time and knew that Carrel and the others were currently transporting the Flowing Mirror. He transformed back into his human form in a corner and waved his wand gently.
A withered leaf unfolded before his eyes, becoming a photograph of the dirty and old exterior wall of the Hog's Head Pub. However, Dumbledore was not in the picture.
The photograph flew over and covered the Mother Mirror lens on the sparrow's chest.
Then, Vold transformed and entered the room through the window, returning to his original form once inside.
By this time, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Babaji had already left, with Madam Pomfrey taking Hagrid with her. The room was now empty except for Dumbledore and the unconscious werewolf.
When Vold transformed back into the Peregrine Falcon, Dumbledore showed no surprise. The werewolf on the bed, however, let out a soft moan.
"Professor," Vold approached and asked, "How is Remus?"
"As of now, he doesn't seem to have suffered any fatal injuries, and this transformation isn't permanent—that's good news," Dumbledore said.
"When will he recover?" Vold asked.
"I can't be certain, but Severus might be able to give us an answer," Dumbledore said calmly.
"Professor Snape?"
Vold paused, thinking about the complicated relationship between the two. He first felt sympathy for Remus, who was about to be "treated" by his arch-nemesis, and then for Professor Snape, who would be forced to save his enemy.
Then he heard the headmaster ask, "Vold, when did you receive the message?"
There was no point in hiding it, so Vold replied, "I met Fred and George on their way back to school."
Dumbledore asked directly, "How many times have you used the Time Turner?"
Vold hesitated before answering, "Five times already."
Dumbledore sighed, as if to say, "I knew it."
"Don't use the Time Turner again within the next 24 hours."
"Yes, sir."
"Since you've already used it five times, I assume you've gained quite a lot of information?"
"Of course, Professor."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
