After opening the door, they saw Kreacher stumbling downstairs. His movements made it look as though he might fall and tumble down the stairs at any moment.
Before anyone could ask, Douglas gave his instructions. "Dobby, take Lupin and Harry home first, then transport them to Hogsmeade.
"Lupin, after you take Harry back to school, find Dumbledore and bring him here. We may have to hold our Christmas party somewhere else today."
Sirius asked urgently, "Does this have something to do with Regulus?"
Douglas glanced at him and said, "You'll find out in a moment. Oh, and Dobby, come back after you drop those two off. I have something else for you to do."
Dobby bowed to Douglas, then took hold of Lupin's and Harry's arms. Lupin did not object.
But Harry hurriedly said, "Wait, why can't I take part?"
Douglas did not answer his question. Instead, he looked at him and stressed, "Once you're back at Hogwarts, behave yourself and enjoy Christmas. Don't discuss what happened here."
Seeing Douglas's stern expression, Harry immediately changed his tune. "I mean, could I take a Muggle vehicle back on my own... the feeling of Apparition..."
Before he could finish, he felt something fly into his mouth.
"Keep it in your mouth. Swallow it if you start feeling sick. Dobby, hurry up."
Before Harry could say anything else, the three vanished from the room with a familiar crack.
Clearly, the Black family's ancestral home had no defenses against House-elf magic either.
Sirius looked at Douglas with a stony expression. "Now that they're all gone, can you tell me?"
Douglas shook his head. "Don't get impatient. Once I get the item, stand to one side without speaking. Don't interfere in any way. Let Kreacher finish his story. By the time he's done, Dumbledore and