Disclaimer:

All characters in the story are the property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, with the exception of Eleanora Sterling and a few supporting characters, who are my own creations. This story is created purely for the entertainment of myself and other like-minded readers and no copyright infringement is intended.

By mentioning J.K. Rowling in this story I do not intend to present her as a fictional character or to imply that the Harry Potter books are not her own 100% original works.

Any opinions, political or otherwise, on world events, personages or governments expressed in these pages, are the opinions of the characters speaking them and not necessarily those of the author.

Chapter 11: Origin of the Mundane

And so Snape explained to Lupin what he had learned about Mundane history.

"In 1914 an event took place here that was supposedly the catalyst for the start of the First World War. It was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, which was committed by a member of a gang of Serbian rebels called the Black Hand during the Duke's official visit to Sarajevo.

"Nora and I put our heads together to come up with theories about this event and why it had not occurred in our dimension. However, the Duke's visit is mentioned in Wizard-Muggle Relations: A Concise History. It was such an insignificant event in the Wizarding world, that to bring it up in that book at all suggested there was something important about it. Certainly, it had been a very important event in this world."

"Yes, that is curious," Lupin agreed.

"Ultimately we concluded that the assassination had been prevented from happening by some magical means, either because some seer had predicted it would start a war, or perhaps a group of wizards had gone back in time to undo what had been done. In doing so, we believe some cataclysm caused a rift in space/time that had resulted in the Mundane world splitting off from the Magical World."

"Great Merlin! I wonder if Dumbledore is aware of this."

"Well, it's only a theory, of course, but it does tend to explain a lot of things, And further, I'd suggest that it was not the Mundane world that was created in the split: it was the Magical world!"

"So you are saying, that in order for wizards to keep themselves safe from human-caused catastrophe, a new dimension was split off, taking the wizards with it, and most of the magic in the world as well?'

"Yes. Most of the wizards and magical forces, but perhaps not all. How else would you explain people like Nora who are born in this dimension but are unquestionably magical folk?"

"I'll grant you that."

"Further, I believe that somehow non-magical people with more warlike tendencies were excluded from the new dimension, which very possibly explains why there were no major Muggle wars in the last century," Snape added.

"Well, it might just be that by preventing one act, an entire chain of events was prevented, but nonetheless, it's a very convincing explanation for the similarities – and differences – between our dimensions!"

"This brings rise to another conjecture – if the Magical dimension was indeed split off from this one, then magic and Wizards once existed here. There's a rich mythology about alchemy, wizardry and witchcraft and popular tales of magic and magical creatures. What could the source for these stories have been, if they had not been fact at one time?"

"At the very least it suggests a form of collective unconscious or a racial memory of a more magical time," Lupin replied.

"There's quite an outstanding modern example of this… Have you heard of an author named J.R.R. Tolkien?"

"Yes, of course: there's a film of one of his books, 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. I hear it's very popular. A friend of mine keeps trying to get me to see it."

"What's interesting is that Tolkien was born before the rift occurred. I wonder if he could have been a wizard that got left behind in this dimension when the rift occurred. I have read his books, and it seems to take a lot of its plot from what I recall of tales from Wizard pre-history."

"Really? I suppose I should look into this. But speaking of films, Snape, I'm beginning to wonder from what you have told me if this parallel history has anything to do with another peculiar cultural trend I've encountered here."

"Now, what 'trend' would that be? It wouldn't have anything to do with one of our former students, would it?" Snape asked slyly, feeling certain that Lupin was about to broach a subject that had been much on his own mind of late.

"Oh, dear, I suppose you'll have encountered it by now. It's this whole damned 'Harry Potter' phenomenon."

"A-hah! I wondered if you had remained in the dark about it. Yes, I know all about the damned books, and Nora even made me watch part of the film."

"Well, now you'll understand why I had to change my name. You wouldn't believe some of the looks I was getting when I told people that my name was Remus Lupin. But, ye Gods, man, don't tell me you're still running around using your own name?"

"I am, and I've concocted a perfectly logical explanation for it. I simply tell people I'm a personal acquaintance of the author."

"Well and good, but what I can't understand is how this blasted Rowling woman came to write these books in the first place. Does this have anything to do with the parallel dimensions? Is she from this dimension or ours?"

"This one," Snape revealed, with a great deal of satisfaction

"Well, she certainly must number at least one wizard among her acquaintances. It's not really you, is it?"

"Merlin's beard, of course not! But there is more than one wizard involved, and I know exactly who they are."

"And I have a distinct feeling you are about to tell me."

"Yes, I am, but before I do, I must remind you that you assured me this entire conversation was just between us." No point in getting anyone into trouble at this time, if by preserving their secrets he might gain a few allies.

"Agreed," Remus replied stiffly, though he had grave misgivings about doing so. "I do solemnly swear on my mother's grave not to reveal any of this to anyone."

"All right, then. It was Algernon Welkin and Ginny Weasley."

"Young Miss Weasley?" Lupin roared. "Does her family know about this? Good lord, they are all in enough trouble as it is, what with Percy being suspended from the Ministry and all."

"I really have no idea if they do know, though it wouldn't surprise me if Percy had an idea."

"But… but… I don't understand. How did Welkin get involved in this?"

"Apparently, he met Ms. Rowling in a café in the Mundane dimension in Edinburgh…"

"Oh, of course… he used to go up to Edinburgh all the time on Ministry business. But it's a bit of a leap from his meeting her over coffee to her writing a book about Harry Potter."

"Apparently, she was working on a children's book about a boy who finds out he's a wizard and gets sent to a special school. I suppose the old fool just couldn't resist telling her the plot was fact, not fiction. He put her in touch with Ginny Weasley, who was already writing a biography of Potter. And so they collaborated on their projects."

"What an idiot! This is an incredible breach of protocol. And just how do you know all of this?"

"He told us, himself, in an e-mail, after we got here."

"Again, what an idiot! And senile too, probably! Well, it's a damned good thing he's thinking of retiring. I only hope he can be encouraged to stay as far away from Ministry business as possible. But I suppose under the circumstances we can excuse Miss Weasley, as she was quite young at the time, I imagine?"

"I think when the collaboration began, she would still have been a student, yes."

Lupin sighed heavily. "Well, it's been enough of a headache knowing these books exist, but now that I know the reason, it all makes a weird kind of sense."

"So, how long have you known?"

"Almost from the moment I set up housekeeping here. Certainly the first time I set foot in a booksellers… there are posters and flyers for the books and all these little trinkets they sell, everywhere! Do you know they have even made a doll, of sorts, representing Hagrid holding a baby dragon? -- My God, did I just hear you SNORT? -- Pull yourself together, man!"

Snape, uncharacteristically, was indeed nearly incapacitated with laughter at that point. Somehow the idea of Rubeus Hagrid shrunk to doll size just struck him as the most absurd thing he had heard of yet in this absurd dimension. It would be something to think of next time he was attacked by a boggart.

"Where can I get one?" he sniggered. "And I must ask, does Dumbledore know of these books?" he asked, recovering himself.

"As far as I know, he does not. At least if he does, he never heard it from me. I think he has enough on his plate at the moment," Lupin said.

"That was my feeling as well. Nora and I thought that as long as no one in this dimension actually gets wind of the fact that the magical dimension exists, it's all quite harmless."

Indeed, thought Lupin. How very tolerant of you. He was certain under other circumstances Snape would have been more than willing to carry tales to Dumbledore about any infraction committed by another wizard. He had to assume it suited some purpose of Snape's for their leader to remain ignorant of this incredible violation.

"Well, that's probably the best attitude to have at this point. There's certainly nothing we can do about it, eh? Except that I have been thinking of going to Honeydukes and stocking up on Bertie Blott's Every Flavour Beans. I could make a killing on those in this dimension!" Remus chuckled.

"I do hope you're joking. At any rate, I suppose we must end this conversation for now, but I will want to continue this discussion by e-mail. Give some thought to what I said before, about what you think might happen to Voldemort of he were brought over here. I'm thinking this could work to our advantage, but I'd like your opinion."

Since when was Severus Snape interested on any one else's opinion on anything? "Yes, certainly, Severus. Actually, it's been good talking to you. This was probably the longest conversation we have had in quite a while."

"Quite likely." 

The two men ended their call.

Remus presumed his associate was trying to gain his approval of, or collusion in, some scheme to bring Voldemort over to this dimension. It would be interesting to see just what he had in mind. And if it seemed like a good plan, he might just go along with it.

NEXT: Weapons of Mass Destruction

A/N

A bonus chapter! I've been taking too long between updates because I am so freakin' busy right now... Why does every single one of my clients want something done right before Christmas???

Snape is going to have to rely heavily on Remus because he is unable to act for himself. Therefore he's going to have to be a lot more trusting than he normally would be.. and he's not going to like it one little bit!

-Grey Lady