Questions
When Dumbledore first saw the Dursley boy walk into the Great Hall for the first time, gazing all around at the magic, he was surprised so to speak. The second surprise came when the boy was sorted into Slytherin House. However, the one event that shook him the most was when little Harry James Potter failed to appear when his name was called.
There was dead silence in the hall when no one by the name 'Harry Potter' stepped forward towards the Sorting Hat. The name was repeated three more times before McGonagal skipped onto the next name on the list. Almost suddenly, the hall had erupted in heated whispers flying across from one wall to another; the main question being 'Where was Harry Potter?'
Dumbledore stood and clapped for silence, promising to explain the situation after the Sorting and Feast. The students did not seem satisfied, but calmed down as their Headmaster demanded of them and quietly waited. The Sorting and Feast slew by, yet Dumbledore still did not have an answer as to the location of one Harry James Potter. He was baffled, he was stunned, he was in big trouble now. When he had taken the babe and left him on his relatives' doorstep, he never thought the boy would turn up missing. He needed to find him, and find him fast, before word goes to the Ministry and he be stripped of his highly regarded status.
But where should he look first?
His eyes surveyed the students unblinkingly, and fell on the face of one newly sorted Slytherin, one Dudley Dursley. Yes, he thought, the boy would do fine in his search. It was the most logical place to start when looking for the child savior; just start with his relatives, and in this case, Harry's cousin.
After the feast, he slowly approached the young boy, eyes twinkling and a grandfatherly smile upon his wrinkled face. As he stopped in front of the boy, Dudley, looked up to find the Headmaster before him. He looked questioningly up at the old and sagely man, projecting his thoughts clearly through his eyes.
Dumbledore's smile merely increased as he spoke softly to the child, asking him to follow him to his office and discuss some important matters concerning Dudley's apparent cousin. Dudley merely nodded slowly at the man and swiftly followed behind, careful to inspect the castle as he walked past many moving and talking portraits, armor statues, moving staircases and one poltergeist. However, he was most astounded by the guardian gargoyle statue that jumped aside at the sound of a few odd words from the Headmaster.
Dumbledore smiled softly as Dudley's expression as he was exposed to a magical environment for the second time in his life. He gestured for the boy to take a seat the chair before his desk and offered a Lemon Drop as per usual. Dudley greedily took a few and put them in his mouth. Dumbledore waited a few moments for Dudley to become comfortable, and for the Calming and Truth Potions to take their effects.
He opened his mouth and asked very bluntly, "Where is your cousin, Harry Potter?"
Dudley merely looked backed at him, slightly befuddled and answered in a sluggish voice.
"He's dead."