We never understand how little we need in this world until we know the loss of it. – James M. Barrie

A scream originating in the next room caused Severus to look up from the large gold cauldron he was currently slaving over. He rolled his eyes and wiped his hands on his robes. The wall moved aside as he waved his wand in front of it, revealing two long rows of new and old clothing. The closet served as a secret passage to his private lab, a room only he could access. There he worked on a potion that would not be done for another year. A potion that none knew of, except Severus and one other.

Severus took in the scene as he stalked into the living room. Draco Malfoy sat on the floor, a broken vase lying next to him and a strange look on his pale face. The boy was staring at the wand clutched stiffly in his palm.

"This is what upset you?" Severus motioned to the pieces of ceramic. "It's only a broken vase. Cast a simple Reparo and be done with it."

The young wizard slowly turned his head and when his blue eyes met Severus' own black, a chill ran down the older wizard's spine. Draco's face held an expression of horror and despair the likes Severus had never seen in all his years. It was if the boy had seen his own death.

"I…t…tried," Draco stuttered, "I…" His voice fell away and he held out his wand. "It doesn't work anymore."

"What do you mean, it doesn't work?" Severus questioned nervously. "It's a simple spell, a first year could manage it."

Draco nodded slowly. "I know. It…I don't work anymore. I…my magic is gone."

The breath in Severus' throat caught and his heart thudded against his ribs. He was sure the boy was talking nonsense, but the look in Draco's eyes, the emptiness there…something has gone wrong. A sudden knock on the door drew both their attention. "Not a word," he hissed at the young wizard. Draco shook his head mechanically.

"Winter comes early this year," Severus whispered through the door. There was silence for a moment and he made sure his wand was at the ready just in case the person on the other side wasn't a friend.

"But the frost is already here," a sharp female voice replied.

Severus opened the door. "Narcissa, what in Merlin's name are you doing here at this time of night?"

He'd never seen the woman look so out of sorts. Her blonde hair appeared matted and stained with blood. A large cut was leaking dark red liquid down her right leg, pooling on her shoe. Severus put out an arm to help her through the door.

"There was a raid on Hogsmeade tonight and then St. Mungo's. We ran into some resistance in Hogsmeade but we were able to get most of the muggleborns." She paused to take a deep wheezing breath. Severus cringed at the sound.

"Something strange happened," Narcissa said, grabbing Severus' arm in a vice like grip. "Their not muggleborns anymore, they're all just muggles. All of their magic is gone." Without saying anything, Severus cast a silent lumos and sighed in relief as his wand tip began to glow. Narcissa shook her head. "No, it's only the muggleborns." Her eyes strayed to her son and Severus' eyes widened in surprise.

"Surely, you don't mean…"

The witch nodded her head and closed her eyes. "Yes."

"What?!" Draco exclaimed wildly. "But I can't be…I'm not…we're purebloods!"

"Your father and I are purebloods, but you are a muggleborn. I adopted you when you were just a baby. I was desperate. My baby was dead inside of me and I was told I couldn't have another." She clutched at Severus' robes desperately, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Lucius would have left me…or worse, what else could I do?"

With those words, Draco Malfoy's world was completely destroyed. It had taken a few years, but Severus knew the day would come when all of the things he'd used to build himself up would come tumbling down. The older wizard took no pleasure in seeing the boy fall so far.

"You've got to get him out of here," Narcissa hissed, eyes fierce and determined. "If the Dark Lord finds out, if any of the Death Eaters find out…"

"You wish me to hide something from our Lord," Severus stated carefully.

"O come off it," interrupted Narcissa, "I know you're not loyal to anyone but yourself. I'm not blind or ignorant. You have to help me Severus, please help me."

Severus gave her a curious look. "What would you have me do? There is no where safe to send him."

"Hogwarts," she said.

"No!" Draco protested. "They'll kill me, or worse. I let the Death Eaters in, I let them kill Dumbledore!"

"Quiet," Severus commanded. "Your mother is correct. Hogwarts is the only place where you'll have a chance at survival. You're a muggle now so you're not a threat. The worst they'll do is lock you in the dungeons, but at least you'll be safe."

"What about Potter?" Sneered Draco. "Do you think he's just going to forgive and forget? He'll kill me and they'll do nothing to stop him."

Severus cocked his head to the side. "We'll have to take that chance."

DSz

At Hogwarts the chaos continued. Many of the muggleborns became hysterical at the discovery that their magic was gone, while some did not believe it, choosing instead to label it as a cruel trick perpetrated by You-Know-Who. Stanley Panos and his wife Elsie, held their granddaughter close and thanked Merlin that they were still alive. Up in the Headmaster's office, three teenagers sat together, avoiding the crowds and attempting to reconcile with the events of the evening.

"Hermione, you need to calm down." Harry spoke slowly and softly to the young witch as Ron rubbed small circles on her back. "I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this."

She turned to him with bloodshot eyes. "Of course there is," she replied, voice gravely and harsh. "It was all a mistake, just as I thought it was when I first got my letter. Magic," she cackled, "Who would believe such a foolish thing? It's all been some kind of dream, I just need to wake up."

Ron shook his head. "No Hermione, it's not been a dream. I'm right here and so is Harry. We're not a dream. Look at me." Hermione turned toward the redhead.

"O Ron, as if you'd tell me if you were a dream. You're a figment of my imagination, just like everything else."

"Does this feel real?" Ron questioned sharply and leaned in, capturing the young girl's lips with his own. Before she could react, he snaked one arm around her and pulled her close, tangling a hand in her ratted brown curls full of mud and leaves. He pulled away and looked deep into her eyes. "Tell me Hermione," he commanded huskily, "Was that real?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed with color. "I've completely overreacted," she stuttered nervously, "Surely there's a logical explanation for this, we just need to search for it." She glanced down at her robes and pulled at her dirty hair. "But first a good bath might be in order." Harry and Ron both laughed jovially, glad to have their friend back even for a little while.

Suddenly the floo glowed green and a young man in black robes came stepping through the flames. All three Gryffindors were on their feet immediately, wands drawn and at the ready. The pale young man put his hands up to show he was unarmed.

"Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed, finally recognizing the soot covered Slytherin.

"Malfoy?" Ron questioned, eyes widening in surprise. Both Gryffindors were too surprised to make a move, but not Harry.

"Malfoy," he hissed menacingly, closing in on the other teen until the tip of his wand was resting on the blonde's jugular.

"Please don't kill me," Draco pleaded in a quiet whisper, "I've come to give myself up."

"And why would I let you live," Harry growled, "After what you did. Dumbledore is dead because of you! Now all the muggleborns have lost their magic. What's your Lord been up to Draco? It seems he's got some new tricks up his sleeve."

"I don't know," Draco whined pitifully, "I don't know anything about it."

Hermione stepped up beside Harry and reached over into Draco's pocket, extracting his wand. She looked at it sadly and then handed it to Ron. "Don't hurt him Harry," she pleaded with the young man, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You're better than that. You're not like him." That must have been exactly what Harry needed to hear because he slowly lowered his wand and backed away.

"Now tell us what you're doing here," Hermione demanded. "Did he…" Her breath caught in her throat as Draco's eyes met her own.

"It happened to me too you know," Draco mumbled, "I felt it leave me and now I'm so empty. Do you feel the emptiness too? It's like I'm not even a person anymore. O Merlin what am I!" He dropped to his knees, his wail echoing through the room causing the portraits of the old Headmasters and Headmistresses to shift nervously in their frames.

"Blimey, he's a muggle-born!" Ron exclaimed.

Hermione knelt in front of the young Slytherin. "Is it true Draco, are you a muggle-born?"

"I'm not even that anymore," he bawled, "I'm just a muggle now. Just a worthless muggle."

It was like slow motion the way Draco fell into Hermione's arms and she caught him immediately as if she knew he was going reach for her before he did. They clutched each other, old enemies now turned into something else by a shared experience that few could ever understand. Harry and Ron watched the scene and shifted awkwardly where they stood.

"We're going to figure out what's going on," Hermione stated as she pulled away, "There's got to be some kind of explanation, some reason this happened now."

"It's got to be You-Know-Who, hasn't it?" Ron questioned. "He hates muggleborns."

"But he hates muggles too," Harry added, "Wouldn't he just want to kill them all, why change muggleborns into muggles?"

Suddenly the door burst open and Remus burst in dragging Rowena along by the arm. He paused for a moment to catch his breath and then pushed the girl out in front of him. "Tell them what you told me."