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53.5% Harry Potter: The Vampire Prince / Chapter 61: 61: The Grand Duchess Felicia's Other Identity

Chapter 61: 61: The Grand Duchess Felicia's Other Identity

Bond Street, London, England…

Bond Street was a renowned shopping destination in London, known for its understated yet opulent atmosphere. The area was home to numerous Victorian-era classical buildings, and you wouldn't find cheap markets here—only luxury boutiques catering to the elite. It was a haven for high-end shopping enthusiasts.

Among its highlights was the largest Victoria's Secret store in the world, a magnet for young, stylish women who often strolled out with pink VS-logo bags, chatting excitedly with their companions.

On this particular afternoon of July 31st, a sleek black Bentley rolled up along Bond Street. While Bentleys were not uncommon sights on this posh avenue, the individual stepping out of this car was anything but ordinary.

A boy, no older than twelve or thirteen, emerged first. He wore polished silver boots and carried a silver-topped cane with a serpent's head. His pristine white shirt was free of a single blemish, and his alabaster skin paired with his strikingly handsome features could make any woman swoon.

Though he was just a child, his regal demeanor made it difficult to associate him with his tender age. The aura of icy sophistication surrounding him was palpable, and several girls holding their Victoria's Secret bags began whispering amongst themselves, debating whether to approach the enigmatic young gentleman.

However, as their chatter continued, the next passenger stepped out of the Bentley, leaving everyone momentarily breathless.

It was a giant—a man towering over eight feet tall!

The crowd collectively gasped.

How on earth did someone that size fit into a car?

This question rippled through the onlookers as they gawked.

The giant was dressed in a tattered, mildew-stained leather coat, an odd choice for the summer weather. The smell of his attire was so pungent that it seemed almost visible. His unkempt beard was matted with remnants of cheese, greasy bits of chicken, and even a few crawling insects navigating the mess.

Nolan shot Hagrid a sidelong glance and sighed, speaking softly. "I understand that your mother's side of the family didn't care much for bathing. When they were too filthy, they'd just roll in the mud like pigs, but still…"

"Don't bring up my mother!" Hagrid snapped, clearly offended.

Nolan shrugged. "Fine, whatever makes you feel better," he replied dismissively before addressing the chauffeur sitting in the driver's seat. "After today, send the car for a full interior cleaning. I suspect Hagrid may have left some dirt or bacteria behind."

"Don't talk about Hagrid like that, Nolan, please," came a sweet, angelic voice from the car.

Eve hopped out, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she lightly reprimanded Nolan. She seemed fond of Hagrid, perhaps because he was one of the few individuals at Hogwarts who treated her kindly. Eve might not have chosen such an unconventional friend under normal circumstances, but her limited social circle had left her little choice.

Following her, a silver-haired woman stepped out of the car, her mature elegance contrasting sharply with the lively youth of her daughter. Lastly, a frail, younger boy climbed out—a few inches shorter than Eve, his movements hesitant and unsure.

The bystanders were now utterly baffled. How had so many people fit inside a single car?

What they didn't know was that Nolan had used ancient runes to modify the Bentley's interior, doubling its capacity. Without this magical enhancement, Hagrid alone would have been enough to overload the vehicle.

As Harry stepped out of the Bentley, his face full of curiosity, the car gave two soft honks before driving off. Nolan watched the tail lights disappear into the distance before turning to the bewildered group and saying in his usual detached tone, "Follow me."

They arrived at the front of a storefront on Bond Street.

It was another luxury flagship store, its name "BlazeSilver" glinting on the polished sign above. BlazeSilver—Shining Silver, Burning Silver—was a jewelry and fashion brand that had risen to fame about sixty years ago. It now boasted around a dozen branches across the UK, but the Bond Street location was the crown jewel.

The store spanned three floors, with massive display windows showcasing dazzling items—trinkets so exquisite they could make any young woman swoon. Even real princesses would have trouble resisting these sparkling treasures.

Eve let out an amazed "Wow!" and scampered over to the display window, pressing her tiny face against the glass as she stared, wide-eyed, at a delicate silver tiara inside. It was the kind of piece that seemed to have been plucked from a fairytale.

A small crowd of young women lingered nearby, unable to afford anything from the store but drawn like moths to its glamorous glow. They watched enviously as wealthy patrons strode out with their purchases, adorning their aging faces with the shimmering beauty of BlazeSilver's treasures.

Eve's mother also gazed longingly at the display. She too had once dreamed of owning a piece or two from such places. It took her a moment to snap out of her daze. Finally, she turned to the enigmatic boy beside her and hesitantly asked, "Nolan, why are we here?"

Nolan cast her a fleeting glance and answered casually, "This is my sister's store."

"Professor Von Draugr!" Eve exclaimed in shock. "The Professor Von Draugr who taught us Defense Against the Dark Arts last year? But she's so young!"

"I can assure you, Felicia is much older than you think. And stop shouting about Defense Against the Dark Arts in a Muggle area," Nolan admonished, his voice calm but firm. "Muggles don't have any Dark Arts for you to defend against."

With that, Nolan pushed the door open with a faint click, leading Eve and her mother inside.

Two shop assistants were seated behind the counter, idly chatting. It was a common sight—they rarely had many customers since BlazeSilver's prices were so high. During slow seasons, hours could pass without a single buyer walking through the door.

When they saw Nolan, however, both froze. The older of the two women quickly stood and greeted him with a bow. "Your Highness, what brings you here today?"

Nolan nodded faintly in acknowledgment. "Just browsing."

"Felicia has just designed a stunning new tie clip. I think it would suit you perfectly," the woman said with enthusiasm.

"Bring it here."

Delighted at his interest, the assistant dashed upstairs to retrieve the item. The scene left Eve and her mother speechless. They had known Nolan came from a privileged background, but this was beyond their imagination.

Eve tugged on Nolan's sleeve, whispering, "Nolan, why does your sister run a Muggle business?"

Picking up a necklace from a display, Nolan examined it idly, the polished silver catching the light as he spoke. "Perhaps you don't realize this, but pounds are far easier to earn than Galleons. There are fewer than twenty thousand wizards across the UK, but nearly sixty million Muggles. The numbers alone mean that the Muggle market offers three thousand times more opportunities. The wizarding world is far too narrow, with little room for real business potential."

"I thought wizards didn't like Muggles…" Eve said softly, her mind drifting to the discrimination she faced in Slytherin. Her voice grew even quieter.

"That's a foolish prejudice," Nolan said with a dismissive scoff. "Only the truly idiotic wizards see themselves as a superior species."

~~~----------------------

Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / HPdreamer


Chapter 62: 62: But Magic Can’t Beat a Machine Gun

Seeing Eve's confused expression, Nolan sighed softly and began to explain in a low voice, "Although Professor Dumbledore might not tell you this, I think it's crucial for you to understand the current state of the wizarding world. Take the most powerful offensive spell, the Killing Curse—Avada Kedavra—as an example. It's strong, yes. Once it hits, it kills unconditionally, and spells like Protego can't block it. But it has its drawbacks: short range, low accuracy, and high magic consumption. A typical adult wizard would exhaust their magical energy after casting it five to eight times. Dark wizards, accustomed to using such magic, might last three to five times longer. Still, it's not a particularly efficient weapon.

"Now consider the Lee-Enfield rifle, the standard firearm once used by Muggles in Britain. It has a range of 1,000 yards, fires bullets at incredible speeds, and a headshot guarantees instant death. While it can be blocked by a Protego charm, the speed of the bullet makes it almost impossible to intercept. This rifle entered service over a century ago, with over seventeen million units produced.

"When we compare them, it's evident that Muggle weapons are not significantly inferior to wizarding magic. In some ways, they're superior—mass-producible and sufficiently lethal. But what about dark wizards? How many are there in the UK? Perhaps a thousand?

"It's a numbers game."

This was something Eve had never thought about—perhaps something she would never have considered on her own.

Nolan picked up the small silver tiara from the display and gently placed it on the silver-haired girl's head. His fingertips brushed against her forehead, sweeping away a few stray locks before tucking them neatly behind her ear. The closeness of the gesture left the young witch blushing furiously.

As he adjusted the tiara, Nolan continued in a soft, almost detached tone, "A thousand years ago, the founders of Hogwarts—those four great wizards—built the school as a fortress to protect themselves from Muggles. Back then, Hogwarts was essentially a battlefield stronghold. Picture the suits of armor in the halls today; those were enchanted soldiers who fought in wars a millennium ago. The moving staircases and confusing labyrinth-like corridors weren't designed for convenience—they were strategic defenses against Muggle invaders.

"Even a thousand years ago, wizards were weaker than Muggles; otherwise, they wouldn't have needed a fortress like Hogwarts. A thousand years later, the wizarding world has made almost no progress. Magical development has been painfully slow, and there isn't even a proper military. The wizarding world's armed force consists of about a hundred Aurors, while during World War II, Muggles deployed tanks, submarines, and bombers—entire armies larger than the total wizard population.

"I don't know when wizards will finally wake up from their stupidity and arrogance, but I'll say this: magic has never been a much valid reason for their pride."

For vampires—particularly the Von Draugr family, who had long entangled themselves with the Muggle world—wizards were not superior beings, and magic was not a weapon to be feared. The Killing Curse couldn't even end the life of a powerful vampire, but a well-placed silver bullet could obliterate one's skull.

Eve listened, her expression caught between understanding and confusion. She was, after all, a naïve girl in many ways. 

"But what about that Dark Lord from a decade ago? Didn't he say he wanted to destroy the Muggles?" she asked timidly.

"That was his stupidity," Nolan replied without hesitation. "Dumbledore went to such great lengths to stop him, not to protect Muggles, but to prevent the Dark Lord from provoking them and bringing disaster upon all wizards. Dumbledore has always been protecting wizards, not Muggles. But the Dark Lord couldn't see that. His arrogance blinded him. If dark wizards truly had the power to annihilate Muggles, Dumbledore would have been the most terrifying Muggle-killer the world has ever seen."

As he spoke, Nolan led Eve by the hand, strolling through the BlazeSilver store. Occasionally, he would pluck a beautifully crafted hairpin or a pair of earrings from the displays and hand them to her, asking her to try them on.

While they walked, Nolan continued in his calm tone, "This is why our family, the Von Draugrs, prefers not to associate with wizards. They're not shrewd enough. They're too arrogant, too foolish. Our family is deeply rooted in the Muggle world—fashion, pharmaceuticals, heavy industry, even armaments. This store is just Felicia's personal hobby. You can see the jewelry here; most of it was designed by her. Her mind is full of strange and fascinating ideas, but I must admit, she has impeccable taste.

"Oh, this necklace is particularly nice. It seems eager to stay with you."

Nolan picked up a silver necklace adorned with a ruby that gleamed like a drop of blood. He gently clasped it around Eve's delicate neck, letting his fingers linger for a moment.

Eve brushed her fingertips against the ruby, her small face turning as red as the gemstone.

Nolan studied her flushed expression for a moment before adding in a quieter voice, "Your mother could work here if she'd like. If she's not good at sales, her salary might not be very high, but it should be enough to cover your Hogwarts tuition. If she does well, Felicia won't hesitate to offer bonuses or commissions. It could allow you both to live comfortably in the Muggle world."

Eve froze at his words, her petite frame trembling slightly. She lifted her head, her tearful eyes gazing at Nolan with a mixture of emotions. After a long pause, she murmured, "Why are you so kind to me?"

She showed an expression that the fragile little girl from a year ago would never have displayed.

The hardships of the past year had forced her to grow up quickly.

Growth is often a good thing, but to mature under such circumstances was anything but normal. It signified that the girl had endured a gray, desolate adolescence.

Nolan pondered for a moment before replying, "I wonder about that myself."

"You're always so special to me..."

"I suppose I am. Perhaps it's because you taught me how to interact with people. No, you didn't teach me anything directly—I learned on my own. But honestly, that doesn't matter. What matters is that I want you to stay at Hogwarts, Eve. That would make me happy."

Hearing that her mother could work at BlazeSilver, Eve's mother became visibly excited. Perhaps no woman could resist the allure of luxury items. Even if they weren't hers to own, simply being surrounded by these treasures was enough to bring her joy.

The silver-haired woman looked radiant in her fitted blazer uniform, her appearance youthful and striking. Nolan guessed she was in her early thirties, but she could easily pass for a woman of twenty-five or twenty-six.

Seeing her mother so happy, Eve was overjoyed as well. The two embraced, laughing like a pair of sisters with a slight age gap.

For Eve, this might well have been the best day of the year—a bright spot after enduring so much despair.

Leaving Eve and her mother in the store, Nolan stepped outside. Hagrid and the Boy Who Lived had been waiting out front, and they stood out like a sore thumb. This wasn't just because Hagrid resembled an overweight Mexican grizzly bear; it was also due to his loud, animated commentary on Muggle objects.

"Look at that, Harry! I don't know what it is, but it's another one of those strange contraptions Muggles have come up with, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Harry couldn't help but laugh, though he tried to hide it behind a hand.

Nolan observed them quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips. While BlazeSilver symbolized the practicality and sophistication of the Von Draugr family's ventures in the Muggle world, there was a certain charm in Hagrid's unabashed fascination with everything he didn't understand.

~~~----------------------

Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / HPdreamer


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