Chapter 363: Ralph, the Guardian
Wade escorted Carlyle to the Gryffindor Tower just before Curfew, pointing out the various classrooms they passed along the way.
At the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room stood the Fat Lady, dressed in a pink dress. As they approached, she asked, "Password?"
"I don't have the Gryffindor password, but I can find someone to let you in," Wade said.
"No need," Carlyle said with a smile, waving his hand. "Percy told me the password. I can go in by myself."
"Oh," Wade said, looking at him. "I should head back too. Get some rest so you don't oversleep tomorrow."
"Okay," Carlyle nodded.
Wade then left, and as he turned, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Although he had softened and agreed to Dumbledore's request at the time, Wade quickly realized that he wasn't actually suited for the task Dumbledore had given him.
Wade felt that he wasn't as socially adept as Michael, as kind and considerate as Theo, or as pure and sincere as Ryan. Nor did he possess the lively enthusiasm of the Gryffindors.
Dumbledore was truly mistaken in expecting him to influence Carlyle.
"I need to go chat with Violet! Either tell me the password or leave!"
After walking some distance, Wade vaguely heard the Fat Lady's complaints.
He turned back and saw Carlyle still standing in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. Seeing him turn around, Carlyle even happily waved.
The torches in the corridor always seemed to provide insufficient light, making people in the distance appear to be perpetually standing in darkness.
Wade waved a hand and truly walked away this time.
"Password?"
The Fat Lady impatiently urged again.
"Fortuna Major," Carlyle finally responded this time.
He watched with surprise as the portrait swung open, revealing a large hole in the wall. He ducked through the doorway into the circular Common Room, filled with plush armchairs. A roaring fire blazed in the fireplace, and intertwined gold and red silk hung from the ceiling.
The Common Room was bustling with students: some doing homework, some playing chess, some playing with pets, some practicing Magic. It was noisy and lively everywhere.
Carlyle stood at the entrance for a good while.
He just kept watching everything before him.
Until Percy Weasley finally saw him.
"Johnson!" Percy's eyes lit up, and he pushed through the crowd to approach.
"What?" Angelina asked loudly.
"Not you!"
Percy said just as loudly, then had to change his address:
"Carlyle, you're finally here! I need to give you your schedule for tomorrow, and your assigned dormitory is upstairs this way. Follow me..."
Carlyle followed him without a word, his gaze inevitably sweeping across the necks of the people around him. He licked his lips, as if extremely thirsty, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
"Here we are, this is your dormitory."
Percy pushed open a small door, revealing a rather spacious single room inside.
The room contained an orange-yellow solid wood desk, an armchair, a thick, soft bed, and deep red drapes that hung from the ceiling. A long-handled charcoal warmer lay between the bedclothes.
—Even though it was only early autumn, the castle was already getting chilly at night, and many students were wearing scarves.
"If you need anything, you can find me or one of the prefects, or you can write to Dervish and Banges in Hogsmeade—they sell all sorts of magical equipment."
"If you need Muggle things, the shop can also help you purchase them."
"Okay, thank you," Carlyle said.
After Percy left, he entered his room and examined it closely. He then noticed a small bottle of fresh blood in what he had initially thought was a vase on the desk.
Carlyle sniffed, muttering to himself, "Goat."
He stood for a moment, then suddenly started to laugh.
"Hogwarts."
...
In the corridor, after walking some distance, Wade couldn't help but look back again.
This time, there was no one behind him.
The long corridor resembled a deep, dark tunnel. When there were no students, the interior of the ancient castle always seemed overly gloomy and silent.
He recalled what Dumbledore had told him earlier—
The Headmaster had disguised himself as a common Auror to pursue some Vampires, even feigning defeat to make them lower their guard.
After a kite-like chase, the Vampires believed they had shaken off their pursuers. To treat their injuries and temporarily rest, they went to one of their temporary bases in England.
Subsequently, that base was gone.
The few remaining Vampires fled in a panic, and after another chase, they led the Headmaster to one of their bases in France.
That base was also gone.
But this time, out of the three adult Vampires, two died and one escaped. The remaining young one was captured by Dumbledore.
Carlyle was still underage, which gave him a huge advantage when facing a Wizard like Dumbledore. Although he resisted fiercely, in Dumbledore's eyes, it was probably no different from a child throwing a tantrum.
However, among a group of similarly underage young Wizards who hadn't mastered the Sunlight Charm, the threat posed by a Vampire was self-evident.
"No need to worry about him biting anyone."
A voice suddenly sounded beside him.
A very ancient House-elf stood not far away, moonlight filtering through the window and illuminating his silver-white eyebrows.
"Mr. Ralph." Wade paused, then said, "Good evening."
He recognized this House-elf. Although Ralph looked extremely old and frail, he possessed powerful Magical Power, even capable of transporting Wade across the Atlantic between England and America.
Previously, when the Ministry of Magic wanted to apprehend Sirius, it was Ralph who brought Wade back to England from America.
Furthermore, he was elderly and wise, earning the deep respect and admiration of many House-elves at Hogwarts. Wade had heard his name mentioned more than once by Zoe and others.
He was the "Dumbledore" among House-elves.
"Good evening," Ralph said in a slightly hoarse voice. "Since Dumbledore dared to bring him into the school, he has naturally arranged thorough measures to ensure the students' safety. You don't need to worry."
"May I ask, what kind of measures?" Wade asked.
Vampires feeding was an instinct; even a magical contract might not completely restrain such behavior.
For example, an Unbreakable Vow wasn't truly unbreakable; rather, breaking it would simply lead to death.
With enough determination, nothing in the world could truly bind a person.
Then, Wade heard the House-elf in front of him say, "It's me."
He was stunned for a moment.
Ralph raised his eyes, looking at him gently, and said, "I have watched Werewolves leave the school at night through the Secret Passage. I also saw you stay outside on the terrace for almost an entire night."
"I follow Dumbledore's orders; I am the Guardian of you children."
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