Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

An Icy Betrayal

The wind howled like a wounded creature, cutting through the frozen ruins of Hogwarts. Snow and ice had swallowed everything Harry knew, turning the once-warm corridors into lifeless, hollow tombs. They had tried spell after spell, charm after charm, but no magic was powerful enough to stop the deadly chill that crept in from the edges of the world, sinking deeper each day.

Harry pulled his cloak tighter, squinting through the pale light filtering down from a sky clogged with dark, churning clouds. He turned back toward the small circle of survivors, gathered around the flickering light of a magical fire. Most faces were downcast, shadows under their eyes from hunger and cold, and the despair they no longer had the energy to hide.

Hermione and Ron were huddled close together, whispering. Harry caught the briefest flicker of Hermione's gaze in his direction, and he thought he saw something... unreadable. It made him shiver, and not just from the cold.

"Any news?" he asked, stepping forward and trying to break the silence.

Ron looked up, a frown etched on his face. "Nothing. We've tried everything, Harry. The spells... the ancient magic..." He shook his head, glancing at Hermione. "There's nothing left."

Harry sighed, his breath visible in the icy air. "There's always something left, Ron. We just have to keep looking." His gaze shifted to Hermione, who looked away as if his words had stung.

Hermione took a breath and nodded. "Maybe," she murmured, her voice unusually soft. "Or maybe we're clinging to a lost cause."

Harry blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Hermione's shoulders tensed, but Ron stepped in, his voice tinged with a strange edge. "Look around, mate," he said, sweeping an arm toward the crumbling walls and the thick sheets of ice encasing them. "Everything's gone. Hogwarts, Hogsmeade... London. And even if there's some way out of this, you think we're the ones who'll find it? Maybe it's time to—"

"To give up?" Harry interrupted, his voice rising in disbelief. "Is that what you're saying?"

"It's not giving up, Harry." Hermione's voice was calm, but there was a tremor beneath it. "It's accepting reality. How many have we lost just trying to hold on to this impossible hope? How many friends?"

Harry clenched his fists. "We're still here, aren't we? We can still try. We've faced worse before—"

"Have we?" Ron's words came out like a snarl. "I'm done trying, Harry. I'm done watching people die."

Harry's heart pounded. This wasn't like Ron, the Ron who'd stood by his side through every trial, who'd fought with him at the Battle of Hogwarts, who'd faced down every danger without a second thought.

Hermione took a step forward, her eyes dark and sad. "Harry, you've been so brave. Braver than any of us. But maybe it's time for... for someone else to take the lead. Someone who can make the hard choices."

"The hard choices?" Harry echoed, his voice a whisper. "What does that mean?"

Ron moved to stand beside Hermione, his expression hard. "It means we have to do what's best for everyone left. And that means letting go of things that... that hold us back."

Harry's stomach twisted as an awful realization dawned on him. He staggered back a step, his gaze flickering between his two oldest friends. "You... you're not saying..."

Hermione's eyes glistened. "We don't want to do this, Harry. But... but we don't see any other way."

"You can't be serious," Harry breathed, his voice barely audible above the wind. "You... you're my friends."

Ron's face contorted. "We were, Harry. But things have changed. This isn't Hogwarts anymore. This is survival."

Before Harry could react, Hermione's wand was out, pointed straight at him, her hand shaking. "It'll be painless," she whispered, her voice cracking. "We owe you that much."

Harry's wand was still in his pocket; he'd trusted them. He never would have thought to be on his guard, not with them.

He shook his head, feeling betrayal stab through him, colder than the winter that had taken everything else. "Hermione... Ron... please... we've been through so much. Just... just give me a chance."

But their eyes told him there was no chance. Whatever they'd become, they had made up their minds.

Ron's voice was hoarse. "Goodbye, Harry."

And before Harry could say another word, Hermione's lips moved, and the world erupted in blinding light.

When Harry woke, it was to warmth.