The realization that he was finally outside of Hogwarts' kitchen broke Dumbledore from his thoughts. Before he could turn the knob on the heavy wooden door, Dobby appeared in front of him.
"Headmaster. Glad you came so quickly. Very important. Poor Harry Potter. He MUST be saved!!"
"Slow down, Dobby. We must discuss this in my office." Dumbledore walked to a large portrait of the squid in the lake and said," Lemonade.", causing the portrait to swing forward, revealing a staircase. Dumbledore always knew this secret stairway would be very useful for more that just getting midnight snacks.
They quickly reached the top and came out from behind a bookshelf in the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore sat behind the desk and motioned for Dobby to take a seat. The house elf started to sit, but then jumped up, too agitated to sit still.
"Tell me what happened, Dobby."
"Well, sir. Dobby was out picking up supplies for Hogwarts when I overheard another elf muttering to himself. This elf took my place at my old master's house after brave Harry Potter freed me. This elf was saying, 'Can't let him do this to Harry Potter. But Master will kill me, if I disobey him. Poor Harry Potter. Wish I could stop Master.' After that, he disappeared and Dobby came immediately to find you."
"And I'm very glad you did, Dobby. I believe Harry is in very grave danger as we speak, and this information could help us find him."
With that, Professor Dumbledore dismissed Dobby and walked outside school grounds so he could disapparate back to the Order.
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Mundungus Fletcher and a handful of order members had returned to their posts after Dumbledore left. The remaining members paced and fretted, counting the seconds that Dumbledore was gone.
"We should be out looking for Harry! Not just sitting here twiddling our thumbs." blurted Bill Weasley. His long hair was falling out of its ponytail from him shaking his head while he paced and mumbled to himself.
"And where do you propose we start?" retorted Snape. "The boy could only be ANYWHERE!! Wait, I know, why don't we just start going door-to-door asking people if they've seen a boy with a strange scar on his forehead and happens to be a wizard?!"
"Severus, that's enough." Minerva put her head in her hands, rubbing her temples, as if willing off an ensuing headache.
At that moment, Hagrid burst in the front door.
"I came as soon as I could. Have you figured anything out?" The giant was red-eyed, like he'd been crying. The giant sniffled and picked up the door that had fallen to the floor. He muttered a spell and a golden light flashed out of his umbrella, placing the door back on its hinges.
"Not yet, Hagrid. We're waiting for Dumbledore to return from talking to Dobby. Dobby sent Fawkes with a letter saying he'd heard some news about Harry." explained Arthur Weasley. Worry had aged his face at least ten years in the past few hours since they'd first heard Harry was missing. Molly wasn't doing much better. Suddenly, she stood straight up.
"What about Ron and Hermoine?! Could they be in danger, too?"
"Dumbledore's already taken care of that." replied McGonagall. "Kingsley has the night off, so Dumbledore sent him to keep an eye on Hermoine."
"And Charlie is going to bring Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George when he comes in a little while." added Bill. At that moment, Dumbledore apparated in the room. Everyone looked at him expectantly.
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Goyle grumbled to himself as he apparated amongst the shrubs in back of Number Four, Privet Drive. It was a dark, moonless night and he was wearing his Death Eaters robe, which helped camouflage him, even though he didn't have the hood up. But he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself anyways. He tromped around the Dursley's house until he was standing under the window of the small extra bedroom the Dursley's had begrudgedly given to Harry. Pointing his wand at himself, he muttered "Wingardium Leviosa," and floated up to the window. It was unlocked, so he lifted it up and squeezed in. He would've preferred to apparate in, but he knew the noise would wake the Dursley's and he didn't want them telling Dumbledore someone had been there. "Lumos." He lit his wand to a small beam of light as he searched the room for the boy's glasses. The beam swept over the nightstand, dresser, bed, then the floor. Nothing. The glasses were nowhere to be found. He looked up and suddenly noticed a face looking at his light through the window. "Shit!!"
"Stupefy!" he yelled at it, but the man moved out of the way as the window broke into shards. Goyle ran to look out the window when the door of the bedroom flew open and Vernon yelled, "What the devil!?!?"
Goyle pointed the wand towards him and shouted "Stupefy!" Vernon fell to the floor and moved no more. Goyle turned back to the window, but saw no one. With that, he disapparated just as Petunia ran over to Vernon, screaming.
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Mundungus apparated into Headquarters just as Albus Dumbledore finished telling the Order what Dobby had said.
"A Death Eater was at Potter's house tonight. He stupefied one of the Muggles. Vernon, I think."
"Bloody Hell!!!!" exclaimed Bill.
Who was it? And is he still there?" Dumbledore asked as he stood.
"I think it was Goyle, sir. But I'm not positive. It was dark and he cast a Disillusionment Charm right after he apparated in the yard. He left after he stupefied Dursley."
"Minerva, Tonks, and Arthur, come with me. The rest of you, be prepared to confront Malfoy when we return."