A/N: Just for the record, this happens in the summer between Harry's fifth and sixth year. A little time before everything happens. Please keep in mind that this is Alternate Universe, in case you had not yet noticed

Chapter two - The Other Realm

'Molly,' Dumbledore said as he swept in through the back door of the house. Everyone immediately seized eating. 'Oh, by all means, continue!' He said smiling kindly at the group. Ron did not need to be told twice and immediately started binging again. Hermione and Harry were not as convinced. Also Lupin and Mr. Weasley were staring at the headmaster of Hogwarts intently. Wondering if something bad had happened. This just being a social visit did not even cross their mind. 'Molly, dear, I do not mean to be rude, but I have not eaten all day…'

'O,' Molly said. 'Of course, professor, of course. Not rude at all!' She went back to the stove and filled the plate until it could be filled no more.

As Dumbledore sat down at the head of the table, she swiftly placed it in front of him. It took her a few moments to realize that she was still standing next to him, staring at him as if he was the new main attraction of the zoo. She felt herself blush and in sake of having something to do, she started taking away the plates of family members. Under very loud protesting (though barely understandable, as it was still stuffed with mashed potatoes) of Ron.

'Shut up Ron,' Hermione hissed.

'Excuse me, professor, but… to what do we owe this pleasure?' Mr. Weasley asked after he'd given the headmaster some time to eat. Dumbledore looked up and smiled. 'Yes. Yes. I'm waiting for another guest, truth be told. Than I will tell the…'

At that moment, someone banged loudly on the front door of the Burrow. Molly looked at Dumbledore, who did not say anything or even cast anyone a glance accept for his food. Molly than looked helplessly at Arthur, who just signalled her that it was just best to open the door. So, she did.

'Hello,' a honey-sweet voice said.

Harry, Ron and Hermione froze. They all knew that voice too well.

'Miss Skeeter,' they heard Molly say. 'What are you doing here?'

'Professor Albus Dumbledore asked me to come.'

Another wave of confusion swept across the Burrow.

'Come in then,' Molly said, sounding slightly disapproving of Dumbledore's choice.

Skeeter came into the kitchen, looking tired and very pissed. 'Well, what's the deal?' She lit a cigarette, 'you don't mind, do you?' she said, not really directing the question at anyone in particular.

'Actually I do,' Arthur muttered. But his voice was drowned by that of Dumbledore's.

'Miss Skeeter, how lovely to see you! And how nice of you to come this swiftly after my rather short letter.'

Skeeter did not respond.

'I brought her here because I have a rather… strange… matter to discuss,' he said. 'There seems to be a problem in the Other Muggle realm.'

'Other Muggle realm?' Said Arthur, his interest peaked even more, if such a thing was possible.

'Indeed. Indeed.' The entire kitchen was quiet, eager for what Dumbledore had to say. Skeeter had summoned a notebook and her ever-famous quill. 'You see, it seems we are all quite famous there. Even – or should I say – also miss Skeeter.'

'Famous? With the Muggles? So they know of our existence?' Remus Lupin demanded.

'They do, in a way.' Professor Dumbledore said, still not making himself very clear. 'I was called upon by a very clever Muggle. Who somehow heard of a plan she never should have heard of by something called Inter-Net.'

'Inter-Net? Harry, what is Inter-Net?' Arthur wanted to know.

Harry had heard of it briefly, from his cousin. But knew not much more of it than Hermione, who droned: 'It's a way Muggles share information. They use computers…'

'Commuters?' Arthur said confused.

'It is not important,' Albus Dumbledore overruled them quickly. 'Explaining it would be far too difficult. As Hermione said, it is a way Muggles communicate. A young Dutch girl seemed to have made contact with this boy over it. Called Parson Hyndrich. He busies himself with the same hobbies our dear Mundungus seems to enjoy. They plan to steal something that is very much appreciated in their world.'

Lupin frowned, what did they have anything to do with something of Muggles being stolen? They had more important matters to worry themselves over!

'True indeed.' Dumbledore said, staring directly at Remus. 'If that precious thing that is being stolen, did not involve us.'

Rita's quill scribbled furiously.

'As I said, I am not speaking about the Muggles known to us, but the Muggles of another Realm. In their Realm we are, apparently, fictional characters. A woman named J.K. Rowling writes some wonderful books about Harry Potter.'

'WHAT?' Harry blurted out before he could stop himself. As if his world could not get any crazier! Now it turned out that not only Muggles knew about their very existence, but that they were from another REALM and that some woman he'd never heard of was writing books about HIM!

'I've known of it for some time now,' Dumbledore said simply, as if he was telling about the weather report. 'I read the first as well. The Dutch girl gave me the book. Brilliantly written, I must say.'

'Wait, wait. You can travel to the other realm? And speak with them?' Hermione said. Ron cast her a glance, as far as he was concerned, that was the least important thing that the professor had revealed these past few minutes.

'It is all a matter of magic, very complicated, but not impossible.'

'So what is this important thing that involves us that is being stolen?'

'The seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series,' Dumbledore stated. When everyone was too shocked to give a response he continued. 'The books span from Harry's first year at Hogwarts to his final year. When I first met this young girl I've told you of before, the fifth book had just been released. She was beyond herself when she met me. Said I was one of her favourite characters. Along with Rita Skeeter and Gilderoy Lockhart.'

Hermione, Ron and Harry all looked like they had a hard time believing this.

'She was particularly fond of Ron too. As I recall. She was wondering when Hermione and Ron were finally coming together.'

Both Ron and Hermione turned a deep shade of red and Harry suppressed a snigger. He was not doing a very good job at it and his two friends replied with giving him both a hard kick at his shins.

'The sixth book was released two years ago. She was terriblyupset by this book, for some reason she would not confide in me. She said it was not wise for her to tell me what would befall us in the future. Fate must run its course, she said. As I said, she is very smart. Now the seventh book is nearly…'

'Hold up,' Harry said. 'She knows what is coming this year, and she knows it's not good and she will still not tell us?'

'No, and if she would I would not listen. She is right. Things happen for a reason and I am inclined to believe that she believes that the way the story has evolved, will eventually be all the better for all of us. If she believed it needed any changing, she would have tried to tell me.'

'What is the girls name?'

'Simone,' Dumbledore said, 'Rita, you do realize that all of this is off the record and if any word is spread of this it will have terrible consequences for those responsible?'

Rita looked rather annoyed but whisked both the parchment and the quill away with a short flick of the wand.

'As for a conclusion of my long monologue, she had been in contact over the inter-net with Parson Hyndrich for some while. He told her he and his half-brother and some others were planning to steal the final book. They had a solid plan that would certainly enable the police from catching them at their evil plans. Fans all over the world would be very disappointed over this very news. Harry Potter, as it seems, is what keeping a lot of children, fathers, mothers and others inspired. It is the most important book of their time.'

Great. Even in Other Realms he was famous. Wasn't their anywhere where he could get some peace of mind? Harry sighed. Apparently not.

'She could have contacted the police, but was afraid she would not be taken seriously. So she called for my help. I promised I would help. It would mean a lot to her and considering she has helped me with many riddles I could not figure out on my own – her having some foresight over the situation – I thought it was only fair. Of course I would have all figured them out myself, but it saved me some valuable time.'

He checked his watch.

'Look at the time! Molly, Rita and I will leave you to your business and will come to pick up the children in the morning at nine. They will take a short visit to the Other…'

'Forgive me for saying, Professor, but aren't they a bit young to travel from this to the "other realm" if the magic is so difficult?' said Molly fearfully.

'I'm with them,' Dumbledore assured them. 'Not to mention that this realm is not nearly as dangerous as this. Not yet.'