Chapter 217: 218: It's Almost Time to Relax

Words : 1216 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

"Basalisk... and a house-elf with a grudge against the so-called savior. This year has been absolutely dreadful." As the Hogwarts Express pulled away from the station, Nolan let out a rare sigh, speaking in a low voice to Eve beside him. "Honestly, as a vampire, I rarely feel fatigued, but this year, the atmosphere at Hogwarts has been downright unpleasant. Just staying in that place made me restless." "Hey, don't say that," Eve chided gently, rubbing his temple. "Professor McGonagall is doing everything she can to make Hogwarts a better place. She values you as a student—if she heard you say that, she'd be heartbroken." "I know she means well. The unfortunate part is that Dumbledore doesn't seem to realize it. In his eyes, Potter is above all else—even above the bond he has with the Von Draugr family. Honestly, I'm not used to being dismissed so easily." Nolan shook his head. As soon as he saw Cho enter the compartment, he gave Eve's hand a small pat, signaling the end of that topic. Instead, he turned to Cho and asked, "Have you reached your sister yet?" "I don't know," Cho admitted hesitantly. "I think she might want to come home for Christmas, but... maybe I should offer her something to make it more appealing. Nolan, can I bring Bai to your place? If she gets to stay with a wizarding family, she might be more interested." "Oh, wonderful." Eve rolled her eyes. "If she can't become a witch herself, then she'll just marry into a wizarding family? That's the future you're setting up for her?" "Actually," Nolan interjected, "if your sister just wants to experience a wizarding family's life, my home wouldn't be the best choice." He searched for the right words before settling on, "It's... a bit eerie. I doubt she'd get the experience she's looking for. Come to think of it, I'd recommend the Weasley household instead. Being surrounded by all those redheads should give her plenty of wizarding atmosphere." "If I do that, Bai will never forgive me..." Just then— "May I come in?" Astoria Greengrass strolled confidently into their private space. —Not that she really waited for an answer. Eve shot her an unimpressed look. "You're already in." "Don't be so stingy, Eve," Astoria said with a bright smile, sauntering over and pressing a vial of blood into Nolan's hand. "Here's your portion for today, Nolan. And since I won't see you for Christmas... can I get a little kiss as an early holiday gift?" "What do you think?" Nolan, Cho, and Eve all spoke in perfect unison. Astoria beamed as if she'd gotten the answer she wanted. Her cheeks flushed pink with excitement. "So that means yes?" —Was this girl getting bolder? Cho blinked, utterly baffled. Her gaze flickered to Eve as if to say: Why does this girl dare to act this way when you're right here? Just as Astoria, grinning like a cat, inched closer to Nolan, the compartment door slid open again. "Nolan... oh my, I wasn't expecting such a full house." Cho groaned as soon as she saw who it was. "What do you want, Penelope?" The newcomer was none other than Penelope Clearwater, who still managed to hold onto her title as the reigning school beauty—though that might change soon, given how much Cho and Eve had flourished at fourteen. "I thought you'd be preparing for your N.E.W.T.s by now, Penelope," Nolan said, absently pressing a hand to Astoria's forehead to push her away, squishing her face into a funny expression in the process. "Have you been corresponding with Felicia this term?" "Naturally." Penelope arched an eyebrow, pulling a rolled-up parchment from the bodice of her robe. "She suggested that I accompany you to Yorkshire's Randall Gorge over the holiday." Then, she turned to Astoria, her lips curling into a smirk. That arrogant look practically screamed: We're both chasing the same prize, but at least I do it with class. "That vixen!" —For once, all three girls in the room shared the exact same thought. "So, does this mean I can sit here?" Penelope asked with practiced elegance, sweeping into the compartment like a lady of high society. She folded her hands on her lap and smiled sweetly. "Don't misunderstand, Cho, Eve—I was merely invited by Professor Felicia to visit the Von Draugr estate." "Yeah, right," the three girls thought in unison. And then—the compartment door slid open yet again. Cho, now at the end of her patience, glared furiously at the newcomer like an enraged little beast. "Who is it now?" The intruder was Miles, who stopped short at the sight of the four strikingly different yet equally stunning girls gathered around Nolan. There was the polished and elegant Penelope, the cool and aloof Eve, the gentle and refined Cho, and the lively and mischievous Astoria. Miles swallowed hard. Looking at Nolan, surrounded by these beautiful girls, each with a tense and competitive air between them, Miles couldn't help but wonder— We're both Slytherins. We're the same age. Why does he have all these famous beauties gathered around him... while I can't even get a single girlfriend? His lips twitched into an awkward grin. "I, uh... I just wanted to ask about stocks, but, on second thought, I can wait until after Christmas! Ah—Montague was looking for me anyway—!" With that, Miles fled, feeling a dull pang of resentment in his heart. And yet— That feeling only worsened when he reached Montague's compartment and caught him passionately making out with his older-year girlfriend in a quiet corner. As they prepared to disembark, Nolan turned to Eve and asked, "Are you coming with me to Randall Gorge?" The other girls in earshot immediately noticed his choice of words. —He had said coming back, not going to. "I need some time with my mom first," Eve replied thoughtfully. "Besides, we need to have that conversation with her—the one we've been discussing. If all goes well, I'll arrive the day before Christmas Eve. Just let Shafa know ahead of time to let me through. My mom just bought a car, so I'll have my own transport." The conversation—the one they had been skirting around for months—was whether or not Eve would accept the Von Draugr bloodline and fully become a vampire. "I'll be going home to Bai..." Cho sighed wistfully, clearly torn. Astoria looked eager, ready to pounce on the opportunity to follow Nolan. If she wanted to make a move, her family would support her without hesitation. They might even encourage it. But after considering the situation more carefully, Astoria realized her chances weren't great. She still had too many rivals to contend with, and honestly... her body was still too immature for the battle ahead. She glanced at Penelope, who had been clinging to Nolan's side since they got off the train. Then, she looked down at her own completely flat chest. With a sigh, she resigned herself to waiting a little longer. ~~~---------------------- Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / HPdreame

Chapter 217: 218: It's Almost Time to Relax

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