Vampires

### Introduction

Vampires are creatures well known throughout Muggle mythology and fiction. As accounts vary widely between sources, however, and as a particular explosion in popular culture surrounding these beings has rendered it difficult to distinguish between different versions, this page will set out the lore that we adhere to on Light After Darkness, which has been expanded somewhat from the very minimal information that we have on these creatures from the canonical sources.

### Biology

To all intents and purposes, vampires are dead. At the point of death, certain biological processes are taken over by the individual's innate magic, which then fuels the continued function of the body; however, not all such processes are continued, owing to the need to conserve magical energy for the most essential functions. For instance, vampires no longer need to breathe, as their bodies draw their power from magic rather than respiration.

#### Creation

Vampires are incapable of sexual reproduction; new vampires are created only by means of infection, which takes place during a vampire's feeding process. Only magical individuals will become vampires, and not every magical individual from whom a vampire feeds will be converted. No one is entirely sure of what makes the difference between those who become vampires and those who do not. Many academics have devoted considerable time and thought to the question, but the ethical difficulties inherent in the study, along with the difficulty of tracing individuals at the appropriate point in the process, have made it an unfulfilling avenue of exploration so far.

#### Diet

Vampires do not need to consume 'normal' food or drink in order to survive, although they are capable of doing so should they wish. Their bodies are no longer able to derive any nutrition or hydration from these substances, and so they will not gain weight; for most individuals, eating normally is done either to blend in with groups of humans, or for enjoyment of the taste. As classically stated, vampires do consume blood; however, they generally do not actually need to do so until after the first thousand years or so following their deaths. They are able to supplement their own magic with the innate magic of other beings, obtained through the blood, which allows them to continue functioning effectively.

#### Lifespan

There is no actual limit to the lifespan of a vampire; they are immortal, and so, provided that they are not killed by one of the few methods proven to be effective against them, they can live eternally. Older vampires do have a tendency to tire of the human world and to withdraw into remote and solitary places after a certain point, however, which contributes to a general impression that they fade away after a thousand years or so.

#### Sexuality

Although vampires are incapable of sexual reproduction due to the inability of the dead body to either produce sperm or the necessary hormones in the female, they remain capable of intercourse. Male vampires typically suffer impotence due to the lack of blood movement around the body. Magic maintains nerve connections, however, so sensation is not an issue.

#### Sleep

Vampires do not actually require sleep, although most of them will spend a few hours in a sleep-like meditative state once a week or more in order to clear and organise the mind. If older vampires find themselves running low on magical energy and with no ready source of blood, they may shut down into a state of hibernation which appears like sleep or even death, and can maintain this state for many centuries if required.

#### Death

Killing a vampire is an immensely difficult task, as centuries' worth of vampire slayers have discovered to their cost. Beheading is the only method which is guaranteed to be effective. There are other methods by which one can certainly make life very uncomfortable for a vampire, but they are generally not worth the risk to the operator.

### Magic

As their innate magic is utilised in keeping their bodies functioning, vampires are unable to channel this magic through use of a wand or similar disciplines. Incidentally, they are also (canonically) prevented from carrying wands through wizarding law.

### Myths and Legends

#### Garlic

Vampires do have a certain aversion to garlic. For reasons which no one is entirely sure of, consuming it produces an anaphylactic reaction which has historically often been fatal as most remedies are not calibrated to work on vampire physiology.

#### Mind-Reading

Despite much rumour to the contrary, vampires have no marked ability in Legilimency. They tend to understand human behaviours very well based on centuries of observation. Though they are no more capable in Occlumency, most Legilimens find their minds almost impossible to access, owing to the fact that vampire brains function using magic rather than the typical human system.

#### Sunlight

Though many vampires are pale-skinned due to the effects of their condition and are therefore prone to uncomfortable-looking red rashes if overexposed, the effect of sunlight on them has otherwise been much exaggerated. They are perfectly capable of moving about during the day.

### Social

Vampires are inclined to be solitary creatures, and often travel large distances and engage in varied professions in an attempt to alleviate the boredom of an empty eternity. Though they may have human acquaintances, their closest friends are likely to be other vampires, as the trouble of forming connections with individuals who are likely to die in a comparatively short time isn't considered worthwhile by most. Generally, they will travel and live alone, connecting with friends only from time to time in order to increase the variety of experiences that they have to discuss.

In relation to the wizarding world, they are regarded with considerable suspicion, partly because they usually don't try particularly hard to integrate with those who are, in their view, mere infants who will be gone momentarily. Their often unnerving appearance and the effects of their usually considerable age and wisdom are equally unhelpful in building trust.