Magic being the excuse would be how I would go. I mean there is a loss of mass so why not a loss of fabric? 

Also on my own unrelated note (too caffeinated to hold back), nothing like getting your rough-draft of an essay back, an essay that you thought was 90% bullshit and told to just resubmit it AS IS for an A. I am so freaking relieved. Nothing like making up a BS thesis and running with it.