Chapter 355: Vampire 3
This time, with Dumbledore present, the two of them arrived in the town in the blink of an eye.
Apparition was never pleasant—Wade still felt the familiar wave of nausea and dizziness that came with the abrupt, violent shift in space. But he had grown better at managing it. After a few deep breaths, he steadied himself, shaking off the disorientation.
"Feeling better?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yeah," Wade replied, nodding. He glanced around, comparing the scene to the view he’d seen from above, then started walking toward the right. "This way. I think the inn’s in this direction."
Apparition always produced a loud crack, even when performed by someone as skilled as Dumbledore. The sound could only be softened—not erased. Vampires had keen hearing, so Dumbledore had chosen a landing spot two or three hundred meters away from the inn, far enough to avoid detection.
Then, the two of them cast a series of spells: Disguise Charm, Obliviation Charm, Shielding Charm, and Silence Charm—each carefully layered to conceal their presence. They moved quietly along the muddy path toward the inn.
As they walked, Wade lowered his voice and recounted every detail he’d heard and seen, sparing no information.
"I’ve never fought a vampire before. I’m worried about what might happen… and if they turn into bats and escape, it could cause trouble down the line."
Dumbledore’s voice came softly, as if drifting from the air itself.
"Caution is wise. I’m glad to see you didn’t charge in blindly."
"There’s a spell specifically designed to fight vampires," Dumbledore continued. "It’s not in our textbooks. But if you ever take the advanced Charms class, you might learn it from Professor Flitwick."
"What is it?" Wade asked.
"The Sunlight Charm," Dumbledore said. "Some call it Embrace the Sun."
Wade frowned. "I’ve never heard of it."
"Of course not. It’s been classified as a forbidden spell. The Ministry of Magic forbids schools from teaching it to students—because it causes severe harm to non-wizards, especially half-bloods like vampires. It threatens their very safety."
Wade was silent.
Vampires’ safety was important—but what about the wizards who faced them?
Dumbledore seemed to sense his unspoken thought.
"I once heard Nicolas Flamel speak of a time over five hundred years ago, when vampire power was at its peak."
"At that time, Muggle societies were ravaged by plague. Many wizards were infected too. But vampires were immune to disease, and their magic allowed them to hide easily. They expanded rapidly—so much so that they became a plague in their own right."
"The Muggle church sent knights across the world to hunt them down. Thousands died. Meanwhile, wizards fought back as best they could—but some vampires were incredibly powerful. In the end, many wizards were forced to flee, hiding among Muggles with their families."
"But then came the Sunlight Charm. It gave wizards the power to fight back—finally turning the tide."
Wade listened in silence, absorbing truths that would never appear in any textbook. Then he asked:
"I thought vampires only disliked sunlight. They’re not completely unable to move in it."
"That’s true. But the Sunlight Charm produces light that’s far hotter, far more intense than ordinary sunlight. Legends say it feels to vampires like being thrown into a boiling pot. Yet it harms no ordinary creature."
"So now," Wade concluded, "vampires are the ones who need protection."
"Exactly. After centuries of bloodshed and sacrifice, in the 17th century, the International Confederation of Wizards reached a treaty with the vampires—ending generations of war."
"The vampires claimed the Sunlight Charm was a cruel weapon, demanding the Confederation ban its use across all nations. In return, wizards imposed strict limits on vampire reproduction—enacting laws that forbade them from attacking humans or half-human creatures, from preying on livestock, and restricted them to drinking only blood from animals they raised or purchased."
"Every vampire must register with the Ministry of Magic."
Wade stared ahead.
No doubt, the vampires had signed those so-called “unequal treaties” only after being cornered—driven to the brink by Muggle armies and wizard hunters. The restrictions on the Sunlight Charm weren’t a concession from the wizard side. It was simply the victors’ declaration of “rights.”
In truth, the spell had never stopped being taught or used.
Newspapers were full of voices demanding the Ministry wipe out vampires entirely. Some wizards even took pride in calling themselves Vampire Seekers, though many had never even faced a real vampire.
Take Lockhart, for example. In his books, he claimed to have traveled with a vampire, “communicated” with it kindly, and even transformed it into a creature that only ate lettuce.
Lockhart’s books sold like wildfire. And the vampires? They let it slide.
Wade asked, "What does the Sunlight Charm actually look like?"
"Remember the incantation: Akayas-Tomio," Dumbledore said. "You must cast it with the intention of protection—not destruction. And you must move your wand like this."
He lifted a single finger, gently tracing a curve in the air.
Though he remained invisible, a faint, glowing arc appeared in the space between them—a perfect demonstration of the wand motion.
Wade memorized it, whispering the words twice under his breath. But he didn’t release the spell.
"Better not use it in public," Dumbledore said with a quiet chuckle. "You know, it’s illegal."
Wade smiled.
There was something strangely satisfying about doing something forbidden—something that felt like a shared secret. It was easier to feel connected when you were breaking rules together.
At that moment, they reached the inn. From Wade’s height, he could only see a single lit window—but no one inside.
And there, perched beside an owl, was a falcon—slightly larger than a pigeon, standing in a row with the bird.
For a split second, Wade thought he heard the Headmaster chuckle.
He silently groaned.
He could almost feel the heat of embarrassment rising from his cheeks.
Dumbledore changed the subject. "The child inside—is that the one you’re looking for? Kariel Johnson, wasn’t it?"
Wade corrected him sharply. "He’s Kariel Johnson. But he’s not my friend. Never was. Never will be."
Dumbledore looked at him, eyes thoughtful. "What happened?"
(End of Chapter)
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