The Curse of the Eberbachs

They drove into London before the early morning rush hour began. Near Victoria Station, Dorian parked the Lamborghini in an old warehouse, where Bonham was expecting them.

"'E'll be waitin' for us at the Magic Triangle on Soho Square in an hour, M'lord," Bonham reported.

"That a strip bar?" Klaus demanded. A strip bar certainly would be too much now, after the kennel at the animal shelter.

"A pub, dear," Dorian said soothingly, "just a pub Bonham visits sometimes. – Well then, I'll just freshen up a bit and give you something to drink, Darling. Then we'll be off."

"What I'd need right now would be a good glass of Weinbrand," * the Major grumbled. "Better two."

Dorian ignored his remark. He went to a back door, which led to a small office-cum-dressing room. Obviously, the old warehouse was one of the hideouts of the Eroica gang ... The Doberman followed him, lying down in a corner.

Dorian changed from his catsuit into a pair of his unhealthily tight jeans, which looked so damn good on him. Unfortunately, this pair was pink. He choose one of his frilly white shirts to go with it, white shoes, and then endlessly fussed with his hair in front of the mirror.

The Major had lapped up some water and eaten a few dog biscuits. Dorian was still styling his hair.

"It is a debut, Darling. After all, we are meeting a member of the Wizarding World!"

"Sure. No doubt he'll be impressed if you look like a strawberry with cream on top!"

"Do I?" Dorian's tone became sultry. "If it wasn't a bad pun, I would say you were – bitching, Darling. Or was it a compliment?"

His German has improved a lot, the Major found himself thinking, but he was still grumbling when they left the warehouse.

Of course, Dorian insisted on taking the car again. The rush hour traffic had begun, and they were a good twenty minutes late when they finally swept through the doors of the Magic Triangle.

At this early hour, the pub was empty, except for a few hard-liners, who had decided they would not yet find their beds, and a few early risers.

Their "contact" sat in a corner. The Major's first impression consisted of exciting smells: of coalfire, of sweat, of animals he could not place. The man rose when they approached his table. A veritable mountain of a human being: auburn hair falling down to wide shoulders; a round, bearded, friendly face; black eyes taking in the new arrivals with a good-natured twinkle. A wide smile revealed enormous white teeth.

"Bonham!" A deep, rumbling voice called, and then the Earl's stocky second-in-command vanished into enormous arms and waves of hair and beard.

"Long time, no see, 'Agrid!" Bonham's voice was no less enthusiastic, when he emerged from the human mountain. He turned to Dorian.

"Allow me to present me mate, Rubeus 'Agrid, M'lord. 'Agrid, that's me boss, the Earl of Gloria."

The Earl, who despite his height looked veritably elfin next to the giant, extended a hand.

"The pleasure's all mine, Yer Lordship, ter be sure." The Major detected admiration in his voice. "And yeh've got yerself a fine dog 'ere." He actually knelt down to let the Major sniff his hand. It was the hand of a manual labourer, huge, callused, and not exactly clean. It smelled of food, of wood, of strange animals, of soap, of the man himself. And there was the smell of another person, a bit musky and spicy, aroused and male ...

Before he realised what he was doing, the Major's little tail wagged a bit, and his tongue rasped once over the giant's fingers.

"Yeh're a beautiful creature, aren't yeh?" Hagrid rumbled. He scratched the Doberman behind one of his pointed ears, then suddenly stopped. He looked puzzled.

The landlord, a man of perhaps Bonham's age, wiry and completely bald, with a ring through one of his earlobes, came to take their orders.

"Ah, Bertie, we'd like to move somewhere more – private to talk, if you catch me meanin'," Bonham said.

"You sure? I mean, you and 'im," he indicated Hagrid, "alroight, but wiv th' Gent 'ere – 'e's a Muggle, ain't 'e? I don't want no trouble wiv' th'Aurors."

"There won't be any trouble," Bonham promised and pushed a fifty-pound note over the table.

Throwing the money around, are we? the Major thought, but in a way he was glad. Bonham would not have given a rather generous amount of money without Dorian's permission. It truly showed Dorian's squandering nature, but also that he was serious in his wish to help Klaus.

"Alroight," Bonham said. "'Agrid leaves first. We'll follow in about ten minutes."

"Well, I'll better drink up, then," Hagrid said. He emptied his teacup, put the last bite of his ham and eggs into his mouth and got up.

"See ya." Bonham answered. He ordered tea. Dorian wanted a Cappuccino and settled on coffee when the landlord looked puzzled. He also ordered some water for "Major". The big dog snorted.

"How did he know I'm non-magical?" Dorian asked. "Can you wizards detect this somehow?"

"Not every wizard can do it," Bonham answered. "Bertie can, though. Comes in 'andy, for his job as a gatekeeper to the world of wizards."

When they had finished their drinks, they paid and left. Bonham went around the corner, opened a steel door and entered a yard at the backside of the pub. Before Dorian could ask a question, the stocky thief went straight to the opposite brick wall and touched a few of the bricks. Part of the wall swung aside, opening a passage.

Dorian and the Major did as they were told and stepped through the passage. The Major's human senses as well as his dog senses immediately became more alert. The air seemed more electrical, tingling like before a thunderstorm.

Maybe Bonham is right, and someone put me under a magical spell. The tension I feel in the air could be magic ... Sounds all nonsensical to me, but it's as good an explanation as any ...

Dorian seemed to feel the difference in the atmosphere as well. He shuddered briefly.

They were standing in another yard with brick walls, almost identical to the one they had left, but it was closed off by a heavy wooden door instead of a steel safety door. Another entrance led into the pub's twin brother on this side. Hagrid stood at the door, beckoning them to come over. They entered together.

This pub's interior was roughly the same as in the establishment they had just come from. Only everything modern was missing: the fittings and switches for the electrical light, and the fridge. The tables and chairs looked rougher; there was a large fireplace with a fire blazing. The walls were part brick, part wooden panelling, so the room was much darker than its twin, only lit by a huge chandelier.

The establishment was definitely more busy. The Major took in the exciting smells of roast beef wafting over from a room in the background, probably the kitchen. Dorian looked at the patrons. Part of them seemed quite ordinary, wearing everyday clothing. Others were dressed more eccentrically, wildly mixing styles and centuries. There also were a few men sombrely dressed in black robes; they reminded Dorian a little of catholic priests, but also of judges or scholars. Others wore exactly the eccentric gaudy robes you would expect from fairytale wizards. Dorian earned many an interested look himself, no doubt because of his lion's mane of golden hair and his tight pink jeans.

Even here he manages to stick out from the crowd, the Major thought. It's unbelievable!

"The Magic Triangle in the wizardin' world is a place where Muggles an' Squibs an' Wizards can meet," the big man explained, seeing Dorian curiously looking around.

Dorian, who had been fascinated by an old man who looked every bit like a fairytale wizard, clad in purple robes with golden star patterns, sporting long white hair and a white beard, now gave the big man his attention.

"No, Yer Lordship, Muggles n' Squibs. Muggles are people who come from non-magical famblies an' can't do any magic. Squibs are people from wizard famblies, who don't have any magical talent 'emselves."

"I see." Dorian seemed somewhat miffed. "You do not seem to have a good opinion of non-magical people, though."

"Some of us haven't, tha's true," Hagrid admitted. "I for my part ... a nice feller is a nice feller, Wizard or Muggle, I don't care." He shrugged.

"Normally," Bonham joined in, "the wizards keep away from the Muggles and 'ide. We live in different worlds. But some people have t'go in-between. Some wizards have Muggle parents. Some people choose to live here in-between, 'cause they've gotten a Muggle or a Squib partner. Some wizards may 'ave dealin's wiv Muggles and vice versa, y'see?"

You don't like not being at the very top, the Major thought. But you are such a charming Muggle as to make some wizards overlook the little thing that you are unable to do magic. That overdressed guy with the albino hair and the cane ...

"Cane alarm. Spotted 'is Lordship 'ere, but now 'e's befuddled. What's 'e doin' 'ere anyway? Slummin'?"

Same thing as in our world. Someone entered, and Bonham thinks it's better if he doesn't see us. Something's going on in their world as well ... the Major thought. He watched the foppishly dressed wizard with the mane of whitish-blond hair and the haughty face look around, then leave, with a definite air of cold and cruel disgust.

"Someone not ver' pleasant jes' came in, M'lord," Bonham answered. "A wizard pureblood, tha's the nobility 'ere. Name of Lucius Malfoy. Not a ver' nice man to know."

He is definitely uneasy, the Major thought. He may be a thief and a crook, but Bonham surely wants to keep the Earl out of trouble. So if he says the guy's no good, this Malfoy must be a slim customer.

"Aye, one should be careful 'roun' 'im, ter be sure," Hagrid agreed. "But 'e's gone now, an' we can talk 'bou' th' dog."

"About time!" Hearing the Major's baritone voice from the floor so unexpectedly, made not only Hagrid, but also the Earl and Bonham look down.

The Major jumped onto the wooden bench next to Dorian, putting his forepaws onto the table. He looked around in the way Dorian knew from him in his human form, when he was leading a strategic meeting.

"You strike me as someone I can trust, Mr Hagrid," the Major continued, after he had the humans' full attention. "You also seem to be able to help in the matter which befell me. Until a few days earlier, I have been a human. Then, one morning, I woke up as you see me now. I have retained my human voice and brain, though. Bonham told us you are an expert in such cases. So Lord Gloria, who has – kindly taken care of me – asked him to arrange a meeting."

The Major felt the Earl's joy and appreciation of his care like a pleasant warmth next to him. His main attention was focused on Hagrid, though, who scratched his shaggy head.

"Thought sum'fing was outta th'ord'nary with yeh, Sir," he said politely. "'Course I'll be tryin' ter help yeh if I can, but yeh see, I'm more in th' knowledge of magical creatures an' th' like, than of enchanted humans."

"Oi!" Bonham waved at the waitress, a young witch with a shock of red hair, clad in a clinging black dress with a cleavage that even in his dog state left the Major positively dizzy.

"A beer," the Major ordered. The waitress took down his order without any surprise. Dorian seemed less impressed by the clinging black dress and the cleavage, than by the fact that her pen and her writing pad hovered in the air in front of her, and the pen wrote the orders down without her moving a finger.

"Tea, please," Dorian ordered. Hagrid followed the Major's example, and Bonham asked for a breakfast.

"Well, Dragons 'n Unicorns, fer example," Hagrid explained, "Hippogriffs 'n Sphinxes, Nifflers, Kneazles, Blast-Ended Screwts, Phoenixes, Acromantulae, and what have yeh. But an enchanted human is quite a diff'rent matter." Hagrid took his breath, and Dorian looked positively stunned.

"Nah, M'lord, don't ask 'im now 'bout all the Magical creatures, or we'll be sittin' 'ere for another three days!" Bonham intervened.

"Thank you, Bonham," the Major said dryly. "Mr Hagrid, Bonham mentioned, if you cannot help me, you might perhaps know someone who could."

"Tha' may be th' case indeed, Sir," Hagrid agreed. "But I'd like ter know a few more things, fer 'xample whether it's the first time ever yeh've become a dog."

A few days ago, even a few hours ago, such a question would have struck me as absurd. But with the things I see here ...

"What do you mean?" the Major asked back. "As in the Werewolf movies? No. I went to bed as a human and woke up as a dog. As simple as that."

Hagrid an Bonham exchanged a glance. Probably they were thinking about how much they could tell the Muggles about the wizarding world.

"A wizard who can change into an animal at will, M'lord," Bonham finally answered. "Very few wizards have this gift, and they must be registered wiv th' Ministry."

His idea of a "free" wizarding world seems to have suffered considerably, the Major thought with a hint of satisfaction.

"A were-dog would be like a werewolf, Yer Lordship," Hagrid went on explaining. "Werewolves undergo a change fer a night ev'ry full moon. There are were-dogs, and rats, tigers and lions and other big cats people can turn inter. – With yeh, Sir," he turned to the Major, "my guess is yeh're under a curse, 'cause if yeh were an Animagus, yeh prob'ly would know, and as a were-creature yeh would be changin' ev'ry month."

"That's – interesting," he finally said. "Lord Gloria came to the same conclusion already." He suddenly felt cold. "You haven't, by chance, tried out anything stupid in regard to me, which then worked better than you expected?" he asked sharply. "And Bonham was the wizard who cursed me?" His voice had become a low growl.

"Darling, I swear, I didn't know Bonham was a wizard, until I told him and James that you are the dog I took in! So how could I have planned something with Bonham before? And for that matter, why should Bonham put a curse on you all of a sudden?"

"Tha's roight, Sir," Bonham said. "And I swear by Merlin's Beard, I couldn't do such a curse on anyone if I wanted to!"

"An' I'd put me hand inter th' fire fer tha'," Hagrid added. "Sech a curse isn't ter spell easily and not ter resolve easily either. B'sides, a wizard cursin' a Muggle jes because he can, an' with a long-lasting curse a' tha', will find himself in Azkaban sooner than he'd think!"

"Azkaban is a prison for wizards," Bonham explained. "It's a place where no Magic works, and the guards ..." He shook himself. "Nah, nothing for Maggie Bonham's son, I tell you, even if I 'ad the powers to curse someone. What I can do is an invisibility spell, loike the one I did when The Cane came in, but that's about it, more or less."

Paranoia will not help you, von dem Eberbach. Besides, what's done is done. Even if he asked Bonham, and the Cockney cursed me and cannot reverse the curse – what does it matter? They are actually trying to help me now ... Oh, damn everything to Hell and back!

"So, Mr Hagrid, can the curse be lifted at all?" Dorian sounded genuinely worried.

"I could'na say," the big man answered. Thoughtfully, he rubbed his fleshy nose. "But I happen ter know some'un who might be able ter help yeh. He knows a lot 'bou' sech things as curses an' th' like."

Someone behind the Earl began to cough. Dorian flinched and turned around. At the same time, Klaus jumped up against the wall, barking at the portrait of a stern-looking old woman.

The woman in the portrait moved. She actually waved away the cigarette smoke, with an expression of disgust on her face.

"Put out that cigarette, young man!" she demanded. Dorian must have been so surprised that he obeyed.

"John Bonham!" she said. "The good-for-nothin' gracin' our establishment agin! Ah, that your grandmother, Merlin rest her soul, had to see th' day you were thrown out of Hogwarts for takin' off the Headmaster's beard in his sleep! And you, Rubeus Hagrid! I still can't get over your father takin' up with a giantess, though it's not your fault, dear!"

"Lord Dorian Red Gloria at your service, Madame!" Dorian had caught himself very quickly, and obviously, his charms were not completely wasted on the elderly lady.

"Well," she said, a bit more friendly, "nice to meet you, young man. It is just that I never could stand tobacco smoke very well. My daughter-in-law put my picture in this place on purpose! She knows how much it annoys me, that bitch!"

"Like that, is it?" she asked, and before the Major could ask her what she meant, she nodded to him and left the picture, simply walking out of sight, leaving an empty frame.

"A talking painting!" Dorian repeated. His eyes lit up in an almost unholy glee.

"I'll be callin' 'im right away. Was jes' a bit distracted by Mrs Gillespie." The big man went over to the open fire, took a leather pouch from his belt, and threw a kind of powder into the flames, which turned green for a moment.

"What?!" A deep, melodious voice came from the fireplace. Its owner seemed annoyed by the disturbance.

The Major saw the rough outlines of a human face in the flames. Feeling Dorian's body stiffen next to him, he guessed that the Earl had seen the face as well.

"Erm – I wonder, Perfesser, if yeh could spare a bit o' yer precious time fer me," Hagrid said.

"I'm extremely busy, Hagrid, being between potions lessons just now, as you might remember," the man in the fire answered impatiently.

Hagrid bowed closer to the flames and began to whisper. Only the Major with his fine dog ears could understand him now: "I sure do remember, Perfesser, but I owe an ole friend and 'is employer a favour. We'd need yer help very much. An expert's advice."

The face vanished from the flames, and Hagrid rejoined the group. The Major wondered a bit that no one seemed to have taken notice of the big man hunched over the fireplace. Apparently, this was a rather normal means of communication.

"Nah, 'e'll apparate, I think," Hagrid answered. "Shouldn't be long. Not many wizards can apparate to a busy street, but the Perfesser can. 'E's jes got ter walk ter th'boundaries of Hogwarts."

"No 'un can apparate or disapparate on th' grounds of Hogwarts. Ter dang'rous fer th' students. Th' Aurors've seen ter tha'."

It turned out that the "any minute" took a bit longer than Hagrid had assumed. They waited. Hagrid and Bonham drank in silence, Dorian observed the pub's colourful and varied patronage.

The Major looked out of the window. The cobbled street was busy. Shops opened, merchants put their goods outside. In the bustling crowd passing in front of the pub windows a man in a black robe suddenly appeared where there had been an empty space the moment before. He was tall and thin, with a big nose; greasy black hair framing a long, pale face. No one in the street seemed to take any notice of his sudden appearance. The man entered the pub, surveying the patrons sharply.

Hagrid got up and waved, fairly unnecessarily, the Major thought. The huge man would stand out in every crowd.

The wizard approached their table. Sharp, coal black eyes mustered first Bonham, then the Doberman, finally Dorian, before they came to rest on Hagrid.

Hagrid almost fell over himself to get a chair for the newcomer, at the same time doing the introductions.

Bonham nodded and smiled. The black-robed man gave him a look which clearly indicated that he did not think much of Hagrid's "pals".

"I am very pleased to meet you, Professor." Dorian smiled at the stern man. His voice held a seductive lilt.

He's making eyes at him! I don't believe it! the Major thought. He seriously contemplated biting the Earl, just to keep him in line, focused on the situation. Oh well, he likes tall, dark men ...

Dorian took his breath in sharply, but, accustomed to the Major's glare and abrasive nature, he kept himself rather well. The Major gave a sound between a snort and a sneeze. He knew the Earl's soft spot for tall, dark-haired men. At first sight, the Professor was an ugly scarecrow, but his movements were elegant and graceful, his voice, while derisive in tone, was nevertheless deep and pleasant. It seemed he expected authority, and he got it.

At least, Klaus thought, here's a wizard who looks as if he could curse you without batting an eyelid. A lot of power surging around him, and I can't see for what purposes he channels it ...

The black eyes came to rest on him, and he stared back, unblinking. He felt that the wizard was establishing an inner line through which he was scanned. Had his situation allowed it, the Major would have torn out the man's throat, wizard or not, but if he was to get help, it seemed he had no choice. But what if he tried to scan the wizard as well? – Could he do this? Apparently ... He felt a lot of anger and hatred, safely kept behind bars ... not directed at him. At the same time, a deep loyalty, and something very young, very gentle ... like the sapling of a tree ...

He moved a little, and the Major caught more of his smell. It was the spicy, slightly musky smell he had noticed on Hagrid's hands ...

In his inner vision, something like a black cloud rose up, and he felt that the contact break.

The wizard finally sat down on the chair Hagrid had offered so helpfully. He was still focused on the dog and only spoke to him.

The Major related his whole story again. Snape listened intently, without interrupting. When Klaus had finished, the wizard waved two fingers at the young witch with the saucy décolleté and ordered tea. It was brought almost immediately.

Snape poured himself a cup with a drop of milk, but no sugar, without actually touching the teapot or the milk jug. They elegantly bowed over the cup, filing it with exactly the right amount of beverage.

"Have you noticed a change in yourself during the time you have been a dog?" the wizard asked.

The Major did not like the question at all, though he had to admit that it was exactly to the point.

"I – once I thought I spoke like a human, but actually I used the dog language," he said. "And on a few occasions, I almost bit – someone. It seems as – as if the dog part was becoming stronger."

"It means that your friend might lose his human qualities entirely and become an ordinary dog," he answered.

"I thought I had made myself clear," he said. "To be absolutely certain, I'd have to know more. To undo a curse by another wizard is no easy matter. Besides, this curse feels old, and not directed exclusively at Herr von dem Eberbach's person."

"It might be a family curse, yes," the Professor agreed. "Tell me, Herr von dem Eberbach: Do you know about members of your family who suddenly vanished? About family members who suddenly kept a dog when they never had shown any interest in dogs before?"

"Not to my knowledge, but then, I never have given much attention to the history of my family, apart from the official version."

"Then you should brush up your knowledge in this respect," Snape advised him. "I will do some research on the history of metamorphosis curses. If I find out something, how I am to contact you?"

"There's a floo connection at Castle Gloria. It's sealed now, but it ain't no trouble to reopen it," Bonham volunteered.

"A means of communication and transportation, M'lord. It's what 'Agrid used to contact Professor Snape."

He nodded at the men and the dog, threw a few coins on the table and strode out of the pub.

"And why is such a 'floo' network in my castle and I don't know about it?" Dorian demanded.

"What do you know about my family, Bonham, I do not know?" he asked his second-in-command sharply.

"The founder of your family loine, Benedict Red, married Aurora Price, a witch. Some of their offspring were witches and wizards, M'lord. That's 'ow Castle Gloria 'as become part of the floo network. Your great grandfather Cedric 'ad it sealed, 'cause none of 'is offspring showed any magical inclinaitions. It 'as remained sealed since then."

Dorian threw him a look which said "We haven't spoken the last word in this matter yet."

"Well," he continued lightly. "There are more important things to do now. We should follow the good advice of Professor Snape and do some research about dogs in your family, Dar - Major."

"An interesting man," Dorian said dreamily, twirling a strand of his hair around his finger.

"Very interesting ..." Dorian went on. "What a voice! Made for reading poetry ..."

"Ah yes," Hagrid agreed. "And yeh should 'ear 'im yellin' me name when we –" He put a huge hand in front of his mouth.

Bonham spilled some of his beer. The dog coughed, then yawned and let his tongue hang out.

"Oh," Dorian said, his cheeks turning slightly rosy, which did not look unpleasant, as the Major found. "Now I've really put my foot in. Sorry, Mr Hagrid."

If your sense of smell was as sharp as mine is now, you would have known that he is given, Lord Gloria, the Major thought. This will teach you to flirt ... He could not prevent feeling slightly smug, despite his fears. "Progressing," Snape had said.

"We had better go now," he said aloud. "Thank you very much for your help, Mr Hagrid."

"Pleasure, ter be sure," the giant answered. "I hope Sev – Perfesser Snape – and yeh'll find a solution fer th' curse tergether."

With Bonham's help, they reached the "Muggle" part of the Magic Triangle again, then went on to their car. Bonham remained behind. Apparently he had some other business to attend to for the Earl.

The Major fought a bout of despair. What the wizard had told them did not sound very pleasant for his future. He refused to fall into the abyss, though ... Better think of the Earl's thwarted attempt at flirting with a wizard ...

"Oi, Fred, did you see the feller wiv th'dog? Oi could've sworn the dog snickered when we passed 'em."

"Th' dog? Nah, it surely was the damned blond queer snickerin'! Fucking fudge packer!" Fred said.