"From every direction-vast numbers, both far away and right before my eyes."
As Moody spoke gravely, his magical eye traced a circle, and he delivered these dubious words in an utterly convincing tone.
"It's as though a huge crowd is plotting against Hogwarts-not even people, perhaps, but a great swarm of things with malicious intentions. More than all the fish caught in a fishing boat's net and all the mosquitoes in a forest combined."
Moody sounded as though every wizard in Britain bore Hogwarts ill will, but this answer actually put Brian considerably more at ease. For now, it seemed far more likely that the man's notorious paranoia had worsened than that a group really was plotting to invade Hogwarts.
"You make it sound as though a group of people has cursed Hogwarts."
Brian spoke soothingly.
"Fortunately, Hogwarts has nothing to fear from curses. It's a powerful magical castle in its own right, and it has magical wards cast by the most powerful wizard of modern times-Albus Dumbledore. Don't worry too much, Professor Moody."
"Did you say a curse? A curse-a curse! Exactly! That's what this feels like!"
Moody's magical eye suddenly bounced excitedly in its socket. He reached out and gripped Brian's shoulder.
He gave it several appreciative pats and began muttering.
"I've really gone senile since retiring-no, I haven't gone senile. I stay ready for battle at all times. So the caster must be skilled enough to have stopped me from considering a curse... Is Hogwarts really the target of this curse? No, clearly not. Ah, yes, I should have thought of it sooner. I'm the one who's been cursed!"
After a brief consideration, Professor Moody arrived at a conclusion that delighted him beyond measure. He genuinely looked overjoyed, as though he had just said, "I'm the one