BuffyBuff: Aberforth Dumbledore? I thought he was the bar man in the Hog's Head? Dunno where I read that - I'm so crap at actually remembering my sources it's untrue - but I know I've read it somewhere, cause I was really surprised by it. I was expecting Aberforth to come to prominence in a later book. I mean, there's just no hint at all that it's Aberforth behind the bar in OotP, is there? Still, I kind of like him already - inappropriate charms on a goat, indeed - and I hope he comes into the story a bit more in the next couple of books, cause I think he'll be a good source of comic relief.

Also, the method of communication the order might use. I was thinking about that and the only thing I could come up with was in GoF in 'The Madness of Mr. Crouch' chapter. Harry goes to fetch Dumbledore after discovering Mr. Crouch in the grounds and when Dumbledore gets into the ground, he uses his wand to send a silvery something towards Hagrid's hut. A few seconds later, Hagrid appears. Dunno whether it's actually feasible, because I always assumed that was Dumbledore's Patronus - JK has actually said it's important to figure out what Dumbeldore's Patronus is. I might start a forum about that, actually - but whatever it is, it's clearly a form of communication, too.