Chương 16: Ch14- Aromic Bomb

Walking through the halls of Hogwarts, Cassian spotted a familiar figure ahead. Professor Quirinus Quirrell, the Muggle Studies professor, was heading in the same direction, a stack of books levitating beside him. Cassian was planning to pick Quirrell's brain for some time. Curious about how Muggle society functioned in this world, he decided to strike up a conversation. If things ran parallel to his old world, he had some investments to make… Bitcoin, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon.

Magical history was fascinating, but knowing how the Muggle world operated could be just as useful. He picked up his pace.

"Professor Quirrell," he called, catching up.

"Got time for a chat?" Quirrell glanced over, adjusting his grip on the book at the top of his floating pile.

"Professor Rosier," he said, surprised.

"A chat?" Cassian nodded to the nearest staircase.

"Tea, maybe? I have questions about your subject." Quirrell hesitated, then nodded.

"I suppose I can spare some time." They made their way to the staff room, it was practically empty at this hour. A house-elf had already set out a tea tray, Hogwarts' enchantments running like clockwork to cater to its inhabitants, all the time. Cassian poured them both tea while Quirrell arranged his books into a neat stack, watching him curiously.

"I was hoping to ask a few questions about Muggle society," Cassian said, adding a splash of milk to his tea.

"I have a general idea of where they stand, but I want to get a clearer picture of the recent situations." Quirrell raised an eyebrow.

"Well, are you really interested in Muggle World? No offense but, your family…" Cassian shook his head with a smile.

"Unlike most Rosiers, I don't burst into flames if I hear the word 'electricity.'" Quirrell huffed a laugh.

"Fair point." He stirred his tea.

"Well, it depends on what you want to know. Technology, politics, social structure? Muggle society evolves much faster than the wizarding world. What was cutting-edge a decade ago is practically ancient now." That was exactly the kind of confirmation Cassian needed. If things were developing along the same lines as his past life.

"Let's start broad," Cassian said.

"Technology, for instance. Electricity, transportation, entertainment… how far have they come?" Quirrell sipped his tea.

"Electricity is everywhere. It powers homes, cities, even vehicles. Muggles have machines that can process information faster than any wizard, and they communicate instantly across vast distances. Moving pictures, films, have sound now, and colour. There are devices in homes that play music on command, no magic needed." Cassian feigned amazement.

"Fascinating. And what are these marvellous trinkets called? The ones that can process information?" Quirrell set his teacup down.

"Computers." Cassian hummed.

"Very modern. Who is responsible for these mechanical brain-boxes, then?" Quirrell frowned slightly, thinking.

"The concept has been around for decades, but Muggle development accelerated during the war… World War II, that is. Initially, they were massive, room-sized machines used for calculations. Now, companies like IBM are bringing them into homes and businesses." Cassian barely stopped himself from smirking. Exactly what he wanted to hear.

"And what do these computers actually do? Aside from, I assume, making Muggles feel clever." Quirrell burst into a laughter.

"A great deal, actually. They store and process information, solve complex equations, and even assist in communication. Businesses use them for record-keeping, banks rely on them, and researchers input vast amounts of data for analysis." He took another sip of tea.

"Muggles are entirely dependent on them now. Some even predict that within a few decades, nearly every home in the developed world will have one." Cassian tapped his fingers against his cup, as if in deep thought.

"And these companies… IBM you said? Are they the only ones? Or just the biggest players?" Quirrell shrugged.

"There are others, of course, but three dominate the market. IBM was around the longest. Apple and Microsoft are newer, but they've been making rapid advancements. Apple is known for making computers user-friendly, while Microsoft focuses on software… programs that run on computers, like a set of magical instructions." A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Cassian nodded as if he were only mildly interested, though in reality, his mind was already running through possibilities. If the timeline was the same, Apple had just released the Macintosh, and Microsoft was expanding its dominance with Windows. And IBM… well, they were still the giants.

"And where does the world stand?" Cassian asked, keeping his tone casual.

"Politically, economically. Are Muggles still trying to kill each other every few years?" Quirrell gave him a bemused look.

"You make it sound as though wizards don't have their own share of conflicts." Cassian smirked.

"Touche." Quirrell exhaled, considering.

"The Cold War is still ongoing, though tensions have eased since Gorbachev took power in the Soviet Union. The Berlin Wall still stands, but some think it won't for much longer. America remains dominant in many ways, especially in technology and finance, but Japan has been rising economically. The UK, well…" He gestured vaguely.

"Not quite the empire it once was." Cassian snorted.

"You don't say." Quirrell continued.

"The European Economic Community… precursor to what some predict will become a unified European market, is growing stronger. The Middle East remains a hotspot for conflict, particularly with the situation in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, China is opening up its economy, which could shift global power in the coming decades." Cassian sipped his tea, taking it all in. It was almost exactly as he remembered from his past life. That meant he had time… time to invest, time to plan. Quirrell gave him a smile.

"It is refreshing to be able to speak so freely with another wizard at Hogwarts." Cassian gave a lazy shrug.

"Understanding the bigger picture. History, as you know, isn't just about the past… it is about patterns. How power shifts, how innovations shape societies." He chuckled.

"And, let's be honest, half the wizarding world wouldn't last a week if the Statute of Secrecy ever broke. Seems sensible to understand the Muggle arsenal. Can't fight what you don't bother to learn about." Quirrell tilted his head.

"You think Muggle technology could pose a threat?" Cassian leaned in slightly, as if about to share the world's greatest secret.

"A student of mine mentioned something… Muggles have this thing called an 'Aromic Bomb.' Apparently, it can flatten entire cities. That true?" Quirrell blinked.

"You mean an atomic bomb?" Cassian snapped his fingers.

"That is the one." Quirrell set his cup down carefully, watching Cassian with mild amusement.

"Yes, it is real. Muggles developed it during the last great war… World War Two. It is a weapon that harnesses nuclear fission to create an explosion of unprecedented scale. The Americans used two of them in 1945, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The devastation was…" He hesitated, searching for the right word.

"... absolute." Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"So, what? One spell, but for Muggles?" Quirrell's lips twitched.

"Not quite. Magic doesn't have an equivalent. We can conjure fire, destroy objects, even collapse buildings, but nothing in the wizarding world matches the sheer scale of an atomic bomb. It is not just fire and force… it is radiation, lasting consequences, an entire region left uninhabitable for years." Cassian tested.

"And Muggles just… have these lying around?" Quirrell folded his hands.

"Several countries have them. America, the Soviet Union, Britain, France, China. They call it a deterrent… the idea being that if everyone has the power to wipe each other out, no one will risk using it." Cassian let out a low whistle.

"Bloody hell. That is why I am interested. That is terrifying." Quirrell nodded, checking around as if to if anyone was listening, "It is. A single bomb can level an entire city, kill hundreds of thousands in seconds, and poison the land for generations. Muggles don't need magic to be dangerous, Professor Rosier." Cassian swirled his tea, "And yet wizards strut about like lords of the universe. Arrogance really is our favourite spell." Quirrell gave a knowing smile.

"True. Arrogance is a powerful thing." Cassian raised an eyebrow, "How many of these things do they have?"

"The exact number isn't known, but the major powers have thousands between them. More than enough to wipe out civilization several times over." Cassian let that sink in. Wizards spent centuries believing they were untouchable, hiding behind the Statute of Secrecy, convinced Muggles were weak, insignificant. And yet, here they were, sitting on a stockpile of weapons that could do more damage in a minute than the Darkest magic ever could. But the opposite was also true. Wizards had a significant advantage…

information. If the world didn't know about magic, then magical society was already a step ahead. An atomic bomb was dangerous, sure. But if magical communities worked together, they could easily ward against such weapons while using their own magic to destroy Muggle strongholds. Simple. If Muggles could burn entire cities with one Atomic Bomb, what would happen if a wizard layered wards on top of such technology? Could magic and science mesh… or would they rip each other apart?

Cassian had no doubt that political leaders were aware of magic and magical communities to some extent. Whether they had their own wizards in place to counter magical interference was another question. Logic suggested they did. Governments weren't stupid, and if they knew magic existed, they would want a way to control or, at the very least, counteract it. The real question was how deep that connection ran.

"One day you will publish a handbook on Muggle mayhem, I am sure." Cassian laughed.

"Wouldn't be much of a historian if I didn't leave a mark." Quirrell hummed, setting his cup down.

"I suppose not."