After an hour of fruitless weeding (meaning removing the curse), Brian and Moody realized they needed outside help.
They managed to catch Dumbledore in the Headmaster's Office, wearing a dressing gown and a phoenix-feather nightcap, having just got up without finding time to change.
Brian breathed a sigh of relief. Neither he nor Professor Moody had classes that morning, and Dumbledore, who was frequently nowhere to be found, was free that day too. This was wonderful; they had plenty of time to deal with that troublesome curse.
If Dumbledore had not been in the Headmaster's Office, they would already have been on their way to Gringotts in Diagon Alley-paying the goblins some money was the quickest way to contact Moody's old Curse-Breaker friend. That old friend was a goblin himself, and goblins had their own special messaging magic.
"Ah, good morning, gentlemen. Neither of you looks particularly cheerful."
With his phoenix hat on his head and Fawkes preening on his shoulder, Dumbledore greeted Brian and Moody with a smile.
"Shall we go to the Great Hall for breakfast? We can discuss your trouble along the way."
Dumbledore's pajamas and dressing gown were a matching set, very similar to his favorite robes-a gradient from pale purple to deep purple, patterned with golden stars and moons and enchanted to retain warmth. They looked loose and cozy.
"I'm afraid breakfast is out of the question."
Brian glanced at the dispirited Fawkes (who held a freshly shed feather in his beak), then at the clock, and teased,
"But we're just in time for the lunch still simmering in the pots."
"That sounds good too."
Dumbledore cheerfully carried Fawkes over to his perch and said,
"How lovely. Every once in a great while, when all is quiet at Hogwarts and neither the Ministry of Magic