Harry Potter: The Vampire Prince

The Slytherin common room fell into an uneasy silence as the young witches and wizards exchanged nervous glances.

Lucius Malfoy was stunned for a moment before his face contorted in fury. "You'll pay for this, boy!"

Nolan frowned slightly and replied in a low voice, "Don't threaten me." His wand flicked up with lightning speed. "Silencio!"

Lucius Malfoy's mouth snapped shut mid-sentence, silenced by the spell.

Professor Snape, clearly exasperated, waved his hand dismissively. "That's enough, Mr. Von Draugr. Stop this foolishness. Lucius is a graduate of Slytherin. As a member of this house, you should show respect to your elders."

"He's the one who pointed his wand at me, Professor Snape," Nolan replied coolly. His eyes, now colder than ever, locked onto Snape's, causing the professor to instinctively swallow. Pausing briefly, Nolan continued, "No one enjoys being on the receiving end of a wand, Professor. Believe me, even you wouldn't."

Nolan stepped closer to Lucius Malfoy, tilting his head slightly as he looked up at him. Rarely one to speak excessively, Nolan now had plenty to say. "Do you think you're entitled? That your status makes you untouchable in Slytherin?"

To the horror of everyone present, Nolan raised his wand and jabbed its tip against Lucius's face. The sharp pressure against his pale skin filled Lucius Malfoy with an unfamiliar sense of fear.

"Stop him, Severus!" one of the older wizards shouted.

"This boy's insane! Slytherin has truly fallen. We must demand that Dumbledore expel him!" a witch shrieked hysterically.

Snape's irritation reached its peak. He raised his voice sharply, "Enough! Everyone, be silent!" Once the adults had quieted down, Snape turned to Nolan and, with visible effort, asked patiently, "Mr. Von Draugr, I need you to stop this immediately. What do you want?"

"You're threatening me as well, Professor," Nolan remarked, his tone calm but cutting.

"No, Mr. Von Draugr, I'm asking you," Snape replied, his lips barely moving. The words, despite their seemingly respectful phrasing, were delivered with an icy precision that could chill a room.

Nolan pondered for a moment before tilting his head slightly, his hair shifting just enough to reveal a faint red glow in his left eye. "In that case, I do have a suggestion, Professor Snape. I would like these so-called esteemed individuals of Slytherin to cease their harassment of Eve. We all know that even if they drag her to Professor Dumbledore, nothing will come of it. This behavior is foolish. She's already one of us, a Slytherin. If you believe having someone of Muggle blood in Slytherin is disgraceful, then consider yourselves thoroughly disgraced from this school year forward."

"You insolent brat! How dare you?" the witch screamed, raising her wand. "Petrificus Totalus!"

But how could Nolan, a vampire with superior reflexes, be slower than her? As if on instinct, he shoved the terrified Lucius Malfoy forward. The spell struck him instead, and with a loud thud, Lucius fell to the floor, his body as rigid as stone.

"Oh! Merlin, Lucius, I didn't mean to!" the witch shrieked, flustered and panicking. She failed to notice that Nolan's patience had worn thin.

With a flick of his wand, Nolan levitated a heavy marble chair. It hovered for a brief second before hurtling through the air like a missile.

"I said that's enough, Mr. Von Draugr!"

Snape finally drew his own wand, stopping the flying chair in midair. But just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he felt his scalp prickle in alarm. Glancing up, he saw a streak of red light coming straight for him.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Nolan and Snape's Disarming Charms collided in midair, ricocheting back onto them both. Their wands flew out of their hands simultaneously. Snape let out a quiet sigh of relief and raised his hand.

"That's enough, Mr. Von Draugr. I believe you've caused enough trouble. I will inform your sister and Professor Dumbledore about this incident. I'm sure they'll have a unique perspective on your reckless behavior."

One of the adult wizards sneered and spat on the floor, glaring at Nolan with hatred. "It won't end here, Severus! That little bastard will pay for this!" He turned back toward Nolan, his empty hand raised. "Crucio—"

Snape's eyes widened in alarm. He quickly raised his hand. "Stupefy!"

The Stunning Spell struck the man before he could finish the incantation, and he collapsed onto the floor in a heap.

But before Snape could catch his breath, a sharp female voice cried out from behind him. "Crucio!"

"No!"

Snape moved to intervene, but it was too late. The Cruciatus Curse struck Nolan directly, with no way to avoid it.

An unbearable pain tore through Nolan's chest, spreading through every nerve and fiber of his being. It was an excruciating agony, unlike anything he had ever felt before. Yet the unique resistance of his vampiric blood pushed back, working to preserve his health and safety.

Had he been a normal wizard, Nolan would have undoubtedly passed out from such a powerful strike of the Cruciatus Curse. After all, the Unforgivable Curses were among the most feared spells in the wizarding world, and using them on a person warranted an immediate sentence to Azkaban.

"Oh no!" Miles Bletchley shouted in panic. "What are you doing to Nolan? That's an Unforgivable Curse!"

He wanted to rush forward and pull Nolan away, but his courage failed him. Fear rooted his feet to the spot, leaving him helpless.

None of the other Slytherins dared to move either. Nolan may have been their prince, but no one was brave enough to stand against the force of an Unforgivable Curse.

No one—except perhaps one person.

"Nolan!"

A flash of silver hair streaked through the air. Eve Stock, trembling but determined, threw herself into the fray. The curse's lingering effects lashed out at her, and she collapsed with a sickening thud, lying motionless on the ground as if lifeless.

Nolan steadied his breathing, the initial shock of the pain beginning to subside. Slowly, he raised his head, his crimson eyes now calm but cold, glowing faintly with a dangerous light.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone in the room, Nolan rose to his feet and moved to Eve's side. He knelt down, gently touching her skin to check if she was still alive. Then, he lifted his gaze, locking eyes with the witch who had cast the Cruciatus Curse.

Snape broke the silence, his voice heavy with warning. "Von Draugr, leave this to the school and the Ministry. Do not escalate matters further."

"Shut up, Severus Snape," Nolan said flatly, clenching his fist with a resounding crack.

In the blink of an eye, Nolan disappeared. His vampiric speed carried him directly in front of the astonished witch who had cast the curse.

"I've always thought magic that requires a wand is unreliable," Nolan said quietly, his tone chilling. "When it comes to a real fight, this works best."

With that, he swung his fist.

The impact was thunderous. His punch landed squarely on the left side of the witch's face, shattering her features like a fragile porcelain vase.

Blood and debris splattered everywhere as her body was flung backward, slamming into the marble wall of the common room with a deafening crash.

"In the end, relying on oneself is always best," Nolan muttered, flexing his wrist with a series of sharp cracks.