The Room of Requirement and the Phoenix (Part Three)

Harry took a deep breath and began. He told Dumbledore about Dobby coming to his dormitory that night, and about what Dobby had seen on the parchments at Malfoy Manor—the Room of Requirement, the Heir of Slytherin, intelligence on Pure-blood families. He spoke quickly, as if afraid he would stop halfway through, or that Dumbledore would interrupt him and refuse to believe him.

But Dumbledore did not interrupt. He listened, then gave a slight nod.

"I thought you might come to me about this," he said.

Harry froze.

"Your trust in House-Elves, your determination to find the truth, your concern for your friends' safety—those qualities are more precious than any intelligence you could bring me today." Dumbledore returned to his desk and sat down, folding his hands on its surface. "But have you considered why Dobby was able to see that information?"

Harry opened his mouth but did not answer.

"Would secret documents at Malfoy Manor just happen to be left where a House-Elf could see them?" Dumbledore's voice was as gentle as ever, but the question pierced Harry's mind like a needle. "Lucius Malfoy is an exceedingly cautious man. He knows House-Elves have remarkable memories. Would he spread top-secret documents across his sitting room and let Dobby come in to serve tea?"

Harry's face went pale.

"You mean... Dobby was meant to see that information?"

"What I mean," Dumbledore said, adjusting his glasses, "is that sometimes intelligence an enemy gives you is more dangerous than having none at all. It may be incomplete. It may have been altered. It may be intended to lead you somewhere they want you to go."

He rose and walked to the window. The light outside had dimmed a little. The sun had shifted westward, casting shadows of different lengths across the office. On