Written for: Wattpad's Fanfiction Bootcamp 2018

Prompt: Write about an event that creates an alternate universe for the fandom of your choice. Was it a natural or man-made disaster? A disease? What event created the AU for your fandom. Your story must explain what happened and describe the new AU (alternate universe). Only canon characters may be used. Must be a 1k min - 1.2k max one shot.

Fandom: Harry Potter

AU Creating Event: Outbreak/Plague

Word Count: 1000-1200

Going Muggle

The sharp rapping on the door caused the inhabitants of the boarded-up warehouse to huddle closer together. Being trapped indoors for almost two weeks had made them all jumpy. The house elf that used to bring them food and supplies had stopped coming two days ago and they did not want to even speculate on why. The virus, as Madame Pomfrey had explained, affected not just humans, but every living creature that had the misfortune of contracting it. The loud banging continued, getting more persistent by the second. When no one dared to venture to the door, a wisp of a girl with dirty blonde hair stood from the corner and walked towards it.

"Luna! Don't!" a black-haired boy called out to her.

"It could be Harry and the others, Dean," she replied, her hand resting on the plank of wood barring the door.

"We don't even know if they made it out," Dean protested. Lavender, Parvati, and Padma nodded in agreement, their eyes wide with fear.

"And even if they did, they could be infected," a red-headed boy argued.

Luna turned to him, head shaking in disappointment. "I can't believe you said that, Ron. They're your friends! Aren't you concerned for them?"

"I am! But are you sure that they're the ones out there? What if-"

Before Ron could finish his sentence, the bar was flung to the floor and Luna proceeded to open the numerous locks. She paused, and as if giving consideration to Ron's argument, retrieved the wooden plank from the floor before carefully turning the knob. When the door was finally ajar, she swiftly jumped back and held the plank aloft, ready to strike if needed.

She sighed in relief when the head of Harry Potter peaked through the opening, his emerald eyes bright, his face clear of any greenish tinge.

"Luna!" Harry cried, bursting through the door to embrace her. Within seconds, the whole room had exploded into a mixture of laughter, tears, and hugs. Hope was restored with the return of their leader. Nobody noticed the other people slipping in behind Harry.

It was Seamus Finnigan who eventually took notice of the group of Slytherins standing quietly in one corner - Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, and Daphne Greengrass.

"What are they doing here?" he croaked, his hands balling into fists.

The atmosphere promptly turned volatile, the two groups staring each other down with Harry standing almost like a reluctant referee in the middle.

"Hey, guys! Enough of this. They helped me escape, okay? It was Draco's elf, Ginger, who'd been bringing you food these past two weeks. She came to apparate Draco home, but Draco told her to look for other survivors first," Harry explained.

"So why didn't she just apparate us from here?" Ron asked, glaring at Malfoy.

Harry swallowed and glanced back at Draco, who shrugged.

"We...we didn't know where she could take you. Malfoy Manor was no longer safe..."

"Why?" Ron persisted.

"Because my parents have been infected, Weaslebee. Happy now?" Draco spat.

Ron's stance softened a bit. He never liked Malfoy, but the blonde Slytherin was apparently on the same boat as him now. His parents had also quarantined themselves in the Burrow after Molly had been bitten by an infected Percy. Ginny was sent to Bill's where Fred and George were also staying.

"Where's Hermione...and...Neville?" Luna asked, reaching for Harry's hand.

Harry turned pale, his eyes taking on a pained expression.

"Voldemort. He's going to experiment on them, especially on Hermione," he said, slumping into the nearest chair, his fingers running through his hair.

"What? Why?" Ron asked, taking the chair beside Harry.

Harry looked to Malfoy, as if asking him to explain.

"Contrary to what Madame Pomfrey said, the virus doesn't affect Muggle-borns. Okay, they do get sick, but just for a while, and they don't turn into salivating, rabid, green monsters like everyone else does," Malfoy said.

"How do you know this?" Dean asked.

"Ginger...before she disappeared...overheard the Dark Lord and my father. He experimented on my parents first, thinking that Purebloods were immune, but when they turned, he needed new test subjects," Malfoy replied. "The virus was supposed to be a cure for the first outbreak, that flu-like disease which Virgil, that deranged scientist who turned out to be actually a vindictive Squib, had spread through our water system making all of us who were not Muggle-born, including Voldemort, lose our magic."

"Wait, Voldemort doesn't have magic?" Ron exclaimed.

Harry nodded, "Yes, which is why he is so keen on analyzing Hermione and the other Muggle-borns. He wants to know why they're the only ones who still have magic."

"That's why he attacked Hogwarts, to get more Muggle-borns," Blaise said.

Ron's face fell, "And he has them all at the Manor?"

Malfoy nodded grimly.

"We have to rescue them," Seamus cried.

"Of course! But without magic?" retorted Dean. The once silent hideout immediately turned into a cacophony of dissenting opinions, both for and against the idea.

"We don't need magic to rescue them," Luna said in her naturally sleepy voice.

Harry still marveled at how Luna never failed to silence a raging crowd with her calmness.

"She's right," Malfoy said. "Voldemort and his thugs don't have magic, either. So, we're basically on even ground."

"Basically. But if it comes to brute strength, they're at an advantage," Ron scoffed.

Malfoy laughed. "If Granger could hear you now. She almost broke my nose during third year, but not by brute strength."

"She did take you by surprise," Theo sniggered.

"Then that's what we're going to do - take them by surprise!" Seamus laughed, bumping fists with Dean.

"How? We can't even apparate, not without magic," Ron said, rolling his eyes.

"Even if you were still magical, you won't be able to apparate inside Malfoy Manor. It's protected by blood wards, hence only those with Malfoy blood can apparate into or disapparate from the manor," Malfoy explained with a huff.

"Do you think they're still in effect?" Harry asked.

Malfoy gave him a condescending smile. "Maybe. There are other ways to get into the manor, though, passages not affected by the wards. I've tested them myself, they're safe."

"Okay. We have a way in. But how do we fight them?" scoffed Ron, not willing to give Malfoy complete victory.

Harry gave him a mischievous smile as he grabbed a large backpack from Blaise.

"Before we came here, we snuck into a police armory in London. I don't know if you're aware, or how it actually happened, but the Rabid Plague has already reached the Muggle community. It's pandemonium out there. I figured that since we're all practically Muggles now, then what better way to fight Voldemort and his goons than by Muggle means," Harry said as he continued to empty the backpack of its contents.

"Yes! Now we're talking," Dean said. Growing up with a Muggle mother and stepfather, he was quite familiar with Muggle contraptions.

"What are those?" Ron asked, pointing to the assortment of unfamiliar paraphernalia Harry had laid out on the table.

"Ever heard of tasers and tear gas?" Harry smirked.

A/N: Just had a thought. This would make a good multi-part fic, don't you think? Comments, please? Thanks for reading!