Chapter 69: 69: Trapping the Dark Lord... Yes, Just Like Catching a Rat

Cornelius Fudge trembled slightly. He was not accustomed to the sight of vampires baring their fangs. No white wizard ever truly felt comfortable around dark magical beings, even if those beings embodied eternal beauty. Beneath that beauty, people still remembered the lurking shadows of death. "Dumbledore... you must tell me... Dumbledore, what is Mr. Von Draugr doing? He—he's not going to... to kill Fi, is he?" Fudge stammered. "Kill her? I doubt it." Dumbledore shifted his tone with remarkable ease. Once it became clear that this situation could not be avoided, he leaned into it, letting his curiosity take hold. "When a vampire finds someone... interesting, they rarely kill them outright," Dumbledore remarked, his voice soft but laced with meaning. He was right. Aside from fledgling vampires driven by uncontrollable bloodlust, very few vampires drained their victims completely. It was wasteful—like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Even vampire families valued sustainability. Nolan's fangs pierced Fi's neck. He drank slowly, the warm trickle of blood gradually quelling the anger burning inside him. As for Fi— The poor, inexperienced Auror still had no idea what was happening to her. She felt heat bloom through her body, but a deep chill settled into her bones. The strange blend of warmth and coldness wrapped around her, heightening her senses in ways she couldn't comprehend. And as more of her blood flowed into Nolan's mouth, the sensation intensified. A soft, involuntary moan escaped her lips. Fudge's face turned red. His head jerked to the side, as if averting his gaze could somehow erase the awkwardness of witnessing such an intimate act. Dumbledore's eyes, however, sparkled with amusement and quiet understanding. With hands clasped behind his back, the headmaster stepped closer to Nolan and the trembling Auror. "There's no need to be so embarrassed, Cornelius," Dumbledore said lightly. "This... pleasure is something our dear Miss Fi cannot resist. Drinking blood is one way vampires reproduce. Naturally, it feels... pleasurable to the recipient." Nolan released Fi from his bite, letting her body slump against the wall. He wiped his mouth with a crisp handkerchief, his expression cool and composed. "I didn't infect her," he remarked, dabbing at the faint smudge of crimson on his lips. "The blood of the Von Draugr family is valuable. I wouldn't waste it on a random woman." "A random—? She's an Auror of the Ministry!" Fudge sputtered, momentarily outraged. But the realization struck him swiftly. "Wait—you mean to say, Mr. Von Draugr, that she won't turn?" Fudge's heart leapt with relief. If Fi disappeared under mysterious circumstances during his term, the backlash would be catastrophic. A missing Auror was the kind of scandal that led to public outcry—and worse, political upheaval. "Yes. She won't turn," Nolan confirmed lazily. "But I wouldn't mind keeping her as part of the Von Draugr collection. Her blood type is A. Not rare, but pleasant enough." Without another word, Nolan conjured a long, silver cord. He looped it around Fi's neck with the casual ease of someone putting a leash on a pet. "No!" Fudge's shrill cry echoed down the alley. "You can't take her!" "That's not your decision to make, Minister," Nolan replied coldly, his gaze flicking toward Fudge. The mere weight of Nolan's eyes made the portly Minister shrink into himself, nervously fiddling with his robes. "Your people dared to interfere in my battle, point their wands at me, and accuse me of crimes. There must be consequences," Nolan stated plainly. "This woman now belongs to me." Fi, still dizzy from the blood loss, let out a weak, garbled protest as Nolan tugged lightly on the cord, guiding her forward. He led her a few steps before pausing to glance over his shoulder. "Oh, and Minister," Nolan added, "I suggest you train your Aurors better. This time, Dumbledore was here. I won't be so lenient next time." Nolan's footsteps echoed softly as he walked away, Fi trailing reluctantly behind him. Dumbledore followed at a leisurely pace, hands tucked into his sleeves. Fudge remained frozen in place, watching the two figures vanish into the busy street. The Minister had no idea what schemes Dumbledore and Nolan were plotting. But he knew one thing for certain—his competence as Minister of Magic would once again be questioned. It was only a matter of time before the Daily Prophet published headlines about a missing Auror. And when that day came, the public's outrage would undoubtedly fall squarely on Cornelius Fudge's shoulders. "Oh, for Merlin's sake... this couldn't possibly get any worse..." Meanwhile, Dumbledore and Nolan strolled leisurely back to Hogwarts, using Floo powder to return through the fireplace. As Nolan stepped out of the flames, he casually handed the Sorcerer's Stone to Dumbledore. "Here. The task you gave me is complete," Nolan said, brushing soot from his sleeves. His crimson eyes flickered with curiosity. "Though I am rather intrigued about what you plan to do with it... I must admit, I'm surprised you haven't simply destroyed it. Are you pursuing immortality as well, Professor Dumbledore?" "Immortality?" Dumbledore chuckled softly, the twinkle in his eyes sharp and bright. "Oh no, Nolan. As I've told you before, living forever isn't as wonderful as it sounds. It strips away pieces of your soul, even if you happen to be the greatest wizard in history." With a mischievous grin, Dumbledore reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag. "Fancy a sweet, Nolan? It'll help with the fatigue." Nolan arched an eyebrow. "You carry cockroach clusters everywhere, don't you?" he asked with disdain. He tugged at the leash in his hand, and the dazed and bewildered Fi stumbled forward with a yelp. Poor Fi. Reality was finally sinking in—her captor, the strange boy she'd foolishly pointed her wand at, was a vampire. And now, here she was, being paraded through the halls of her old school, led on a leash like a dog. Dumbledore could clearly see her, yet the old headmaster didn't seem the least bit concerned. It was maddening. Fi was moments away from an emotional breakdown. Dumbledore, utterly unfazed, led them both to the fifth floor. Stopping in front of a stone gargoyle, he uttered the password. The gargoyle leapt aside, revealing the spiral staircase that led to the headmaster's office. Once inside, Dumbledore carefully unwrapped the Sorcerer's Stone and placed it on his desk. As he examined it with a few quick flicks of his wand, he answered Nolan's lingering question. "You asked why I'm keeping it?" Dumbledore mused. "The answer is simple, Nolan. The Stone may be of no use to me, but with a little creativity, we can make it quite useful." Nolan tilted his head thoughtfully. "Like cheese in a mousetrap?" Dumbledore laughed, eyes crinkling with delight. "I must say, I never know what a vampire will say next," he replied with a wink. "Do you have a mouse problem in your castle as well, Nolan?" "Unfortunately, yes." Nolan sighed dramatically. "My cat isn't very reliable. She seems to think hunting mice is beneath her. Apparently, that sort of thing is reserved for 'less sophisticated' cats. Hers is the kind of sophistication that involves charming her way into extra servings of gourmet cat food. I don't know how she ended up like this... lazy creature." Dumbledore laughed heartily at Nolan's exasperation. "Well, Nolan, I believe you'll enjoy the game we're about to play," Dumbledore said, brushing a hand over the gleaming red Stone. "This year, we're setting a trap here at Hogwarts. This Stone... will be the cheese at the center of the cage. And the mouse we intend to catch—" Dumbledore's gaze sharpened, his voice dropping to a quiet intensity. "—is none other than the Dark Lord himself." He smiled, blue eyes twinkling once more. "It's quite the delightful game, don't you think?" Nolan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Yes, Professor Dumbledore." Their eyes met for a brief moment. And in that silent exchange, both wizard and vampire shared the same thought. Let the game begin.