Neville's dreams were lovely. He dreamed of beautiful blue skies, calm breezes, white stockings against green grass, gentle touches… So when he awoke abruptly, it was a little jarring, but it didn't diminish the cozy feeling left over. He wasn't entirely sure why he had woken up—he was still quite tired. He plucked his wand off the table beside his bed and gave it a flick toward the curtains on his window. They didn't budge.
He tried again, and then once more, but nothing happened. He couldn't feel the flow of magic through his wand like he typically could, and everything in his room felt still and eerie. He pulled himself out of bed and threw the curtains open by hand. The sun hadn't even risen yet. It must have still been early, but he could sense that something was wrong.
He dressed quickly, throwing on his robe and slipping on his shoes before he headed out to the castle. He had to force the door open, as even that seemed to be off, but he was immediately greeted with the sight of Minerva and most of the Professors, who seemed to be on their way out.
"Longbottom, we were just about to come wake you," Minerva said, her voice unsteady. She held a letter in her hands, fiddling with it as she spoke. "The Minister is on his way. No one is sure what's happening, but witches and wizards aren't able to use magic anywhere on Earth as far as we can tell."
She handed Neville the letter from the Minister and he quickly read over it. It detailed that he had to speak to the Muggle prime minister but would quickly be at Hogwarts. Magical non-humans seemed unaffected, and as such, they would be arriving by way of Ministry-employed Elves.
"Well, at least I didn't turn into a squib overnight," Neville said, handing the letter back to Minerva. He felt a lump in his throat and almost felt sick. No magic anywhere? He had heard of individuals being unable to use magic because of their emotional state, but had this ever happened before?
"If you're a squib, we're all squibs. But we have bigger problems than our own wands, Professor Longbottom. Nothing that uses enchantments is working. The stairs aren't moving. The candles in the great hall are all on the floor. Portraits are completely still. Worst of all, there are no protections left around Hogwarts."
Oh, that was not good.
"So, what do we do? Just wait for the Minister?"
Minerva shook her head. "We have to find a way to get the students home until—if—this is resolved. Hogwarts Express is not running, nor would students or their parents be able to get through the barrier from Platform 9 ¾. We should consider ourselves lucky that the stairs are in the right places, save for one that the Ravenclaws will have to jump onto."
"Minerva," started tiny Flitwick, peeking his head out from behind Professor Vector. "As the Minister said, nonhuman magic still works… Perhaps we could also employ the house elves for assistance?"
Minerva nodded and gestured approvingly. "Excellent, that's a possibility. Hogwarts employs quite the legion of elves. If they can apparate the students safely home, it may be the best option we have."
There was a faint sound of someone walking quickly down the hall before an extremely disheveled Kyle emerged, wand out.
"What—oh, everyone's here—what on Earth is happening? The portraits are—"
"Not moving, yes. Enchantments, all of them, have stopped. Magic is not working for any human worldwide to the best of our knowledge," Minerva explained, sounding perhaps annoyed that she was having to explain this again.
The look on Kyle's face was one of confusion and distrust. She held up her wand and muttered 'lumos.'
The tip of her wand flickered, in and out, for a couple seconds before maintaining a solid, steady light.
There was a stunned silence as the professors all exchanged looks with one another, then back to Kyle. A few pulled out their wands and made an attempt, hoping that perhaps the event was over and magic had returned. This was apparently not the case, as no other wands were lit but hers.
"Madam Cunningham," Minerva said softly after she had regained some of her composure. "Were you doing anything… strange overnight?"
Kyle furrowed her brows and thought about it. "No, I don't think I was. Someone came in for a pepperup, and when they left, I read for about an hour then went to bed. I was asleep until five minutes ago."
"May I?" Minerva held out her hand, and Kyle handed over her wand. "Is there anything unusual about your wand, maybe?"
"Thirteen-and-a-half inches, cherry, dragon heartstring, unyielding. It's my second wand; I got it after the war. Nothing strange that I've noticed."
Minerva gave it a flick, but nothing happened. She tried a few more times, trying out basic spells, but no matter the incantation, nothing happened. She handed it back and shook her head. "The Minister will want to talk to you, I'm certain. As far as we have been told, no one can use magic… I can't understand why you can."
"It's… not as strong," she said, tapping her wand against her leg. "I can feel that there's been some change, but what it is, I don't know."
There was another silence, brief but awkward, before Minerva cleared her throat. "Heads of Houses, if you will please go wake the students and explain what's going on… Have them come down to the Great Hall—Filch is clearing up the candles now—and bring whatever luggage they can pack quickly. Professor Longbottom, it may be best that you go to Ravenclaw Tower, the jump from the stairs to the landing is a bit long for Filius."
So, Neville headed up to the tower, having to force the door open. It wasn't quite as hard as imagined without enchantments, but it still took considerable power to push stone against stone. He woke the students just as the sun began to rise and explained everything he knew to the confused and frightened students. They gathered together in the common room, carrying only the essential items needed to go home, and when all had come forth, one-by-one they made the leap from the platform onto the stairs, then down and into the Great Hall, huddling together and whispering.
The students left all their luggage lining the hallways to save space in the Great Hall, and they gawked up at the ceiling, plain and gray for the first time in hundreds of years. Neville joined the head table just as several soft pops echoed through the room. Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hermione Granger, and two older Unspeakables Neville vaguely knew entered the Great Hall, walking with purpose and urgency. If anything, there was now more tension.
"McGonagall," Kingsley greeted as he came up to the table. They were both looking very stern and… well, that was kind of typical, honestly. "As much as I hoped this was just a momentary blip, it seems like this is going to be ongoing. I've talked to the Muggle Prime Minister, and he is looking to put up military watch over Hogwarts and Hogsmeade if things aren't quickly sorted. It's not the best plan, as some of those servicemen will want to ask questions, but..."
"Hopefully it won't be necessary. Minister, there is something you need to know…" Minerva gestured for Kyle to come over. Still in her long nightgown and stocking feet, she came forward, shuffling a bit and holding her wand to her side. After glancing between Kingsley and Minerva and Hermione, she repeated her feat from earlier, lighting the tip of her wand.
Kingsley's jaw tightened. "How? Do you have any idea what is going on? Or why none of the rest of us can do anything?" His voice was riddled with panic.
Kyle was beginning to look overwhelmed and just shook her head, her face turning red.
"Kyle, you're a Muggleborn, aren't you?" Hermione piped up, looking intently between Kyle and her wand. She received a nod in return. "Nothing unusual in your family lineage? No strange grandparents or circus performing uncles?"
"No. My mother is a housewife, my father is an architectural engineer. We're close with my father's family, who are all quite normal, if a little hoity-toity. My mother's family was small and have all passed away or otherwise don't speak to one another."
Hermione tapped her fingers against the shoulder bag she was carrying as she thought. She asked about her wand and what she was doing around midnight when magic stopped working, and Kyle repeated the answers she gave to Minerva. She once again handed over her wand, and Hermione, Kingsley, and the two Unspeakables each took turns examining it and trying to cast spells. Hermione even took her shoes off to try to get as close to Kyle's example as possible. But, when nothing happened, they handed it back.
"If you can do magic," Kingsley said, crossing his arms across his broad chest, "there have to be others able to as well. We just have to find them and find out what about you is the same." He got an approving nod from Hermione.
"Minister, if it's all the same to you," Minerva said finally. "I think it's best we get the students to write home as quickly as possible. As soon as we get a response from each parent, the Elves should be able to get them home."
Kingsley looked out to the sea of nervous, groggy students and sighed heavily. Neville could see just how exhausted he was. After everything that happened, after getting all of the Ministry in order again and struggling to right all the wrongs, this had to happen?
"Alright, Minerva. Getting the students home is your top priority. If anything—and I mean anything—goes wrong, I need to know as quickly as possible so we can come up with a plan. And, if it's alright with you, I'd like to leave Beezer, Twilly, and Mrs. Granger in your care. Hogwarts' library may have a book or old scroll that has answers for us."
"That's not a problem for us, Minister. I do, however, have to go and tell the Elves of the plan. I don't want to blindside them."
"Oh! I can go, Headmistress!" Hermione said, and Minerva immediately shook her head.
"Mrs. Granger, I know you care deeply about the Elves and their welfare, but… with all due respect, I don't think your visit would be a very welcome one. I think, perhaps, we should leave this to Professor Sinistra."
Hermione slunk down into a nearby chair, accepting her words but not happy with it. Professor Sinistra made her leave and came back rather quickly, relaying the message that the Elves were more than happy to assist and would take utmost care in returning the students home.
With the agreement made, Minerva stood and called for attention in the Great Hall. Professors Vector and Flitwick were rounding up parchments and quills, and each student was to write home immediately and instruct their parent or guardian to respond. As soon as a letter was received, they were to take their trunks and be apparated home. Until that time, they were to remain in the Great Hall except to be escorted to the bathrooms.
The Elves, pleased to be of more service than usual, brought up breakfast. It was certainly an ordeal, but it worked out well enough. The tensions were easing but not by much. Theories were being passed around like they were contagious:
Voldemort is back!
It's a curse from the secret daughter of Bellatrix LeStrange!
Bet Goblins are finally tired of being regulated and controlled by the Ministry. Their magic is very powerful, you know.
None were based on anything factual. The only fact to be seen was that no full-blooded human could use magic of any kind, with the very curious exception of Kyle Cunningham. Thankfully, only those present at the Head Table knew of this strange development. Looking at the expression of fear and confusion on Kyle's face, Neville thought that maybe she hoped it would stay that way.