Harry Potter: The Worst Thing Every Order Of The Phoenix Member Did

Elphias Doge has a limited but influential role to play in the opening of The Deathly Hallows. While little is known about this member of the Order's Advance Guard, he is bitter at the death of so many members, not least among them Albus Dumbledore. Even in death, Dumbledore is the victim of some heinous slandering on the part of Rita Skeeter, the dodgy columnist from the Goblet of Fire.

Lamenting her role in besmirching the former headmaster's good name, Doge suggest that author Bathilda Bagshot was Skeeter's source on gossip she had drudged about Dumbledore, further referencing Godric's Hollow as a place the wizard had grown up. To Harry's surprise, Gordric's Hollow is also where his parents had settled to raise him before their untimely demise.

This information sets Harry's choice to travel to the location into motion, which turns out to be little more than a wild goose chase. Encountering Bathilda, they soon learn she is long since dead, as she is in essence being worn by Voldemort's massive serpent Nagini. The snake nearly kills Harry and Hermione, and the two escape with little more than their lives and more questions.