Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Laying the Foundations

Harry woke with the first rays of sunlight streaming through his window, the golden warmth a stark contrast to the frigid despair that haunted his memories. As the events of the previous day settled in his mind, a sense of determination filled him. He had work to do.

After a quick breakfast, he packed his wand, a notebook for planning, and a small bag with food and water. His destination was clear: Hogwarts.

The castle loomed in the distance as Harry approached, its familiar silhouette set against a perfect blue sky. The sight made his chest ache with nostalgia. No longer encased in ice, the castle looked as it always had: majestic and proud, a bastion of hope.

The gates creaked as he pushed them open. Summer meant the castle was empty, and the grounds were his to explore. "Free rein," Harry muttered to himself with a wry smile. "Finally, no Filch breathing down my neck."

He started with a long walk around the castle grounds, his footsteps crunching on the gravel paths. His eyes swept over every detail of the land, noting the boundaries of Hogwarts and the surrounding area. He traced the edge of the Forbidden Forest, its trees tall and imposing, and then headed toward the Black Lake, its surface glittering like liquid sapphire in the sunlight.

"It's bigger than I remembered," Harry murmured, standing on a rise overlooking the lake. "Perfect for what I have in mind."

Creating the Mountains

From his vantage point, Harry gazed out at the open plains stretching beyond the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade. The area was vast, untouched, and full of potential. He pulled out his wand and took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to attempt.

"Right," he said aloud, as if trying to convince himself. "If I can face Voldemort, I can manage this."

He began with a careful sweep of his wand, focusing on the vision in his mind: a series of mountains rising from the earth like sentinels, forming a protective barrier for the land. His magic flowed, and the ground began to tremble.

The first peak broke through the soil, a jagged crown of rock and stone reaching for the sky. Harry stepped back, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he guided the formation with precise movements.

"Almost there," he muttered. With another flick of his wand, he shaped the slopes, smoothing them and adding outcroppings and ledges.

It took the better part of the morning, but when Harry finally stepped back, five towering peaks stood before him, forming the heart of what would become an impressive mountain range. The peaks stretched in a line, each one unique but harmonized with the others.

Harry allowed himself a small smile, brushing dirt from his hands. "Not bad for someone who failed Transfiguration homework half the time."

Marking the Land

After a short rest, Harry made his way toward the outskirts of Hogsmeade. He'd brought a set of enchanted stakes from Diagon Alley earlier in the year—stakes that, when placed in the ground, would glow faintly, marking the boundaries for magical wards.

"This should do the trick," Harry said, pulling the first stake from his bag. He walked to the edge of the village, near the last row of houses, and plunged it into the earth with a satisfying thud.

From there, he worked systematically, circling the area he wanted to protect. Every few steps, he paused to hammer another stake into the ground, muttering to himself as he calculated the size of the dome.

He took extra care to ensure there was room for expansion. Beyond Hogsmeade, he set aside space for new buildings—shops, apartments, and maybe even a small inn.

"People are going to need places to live," he said aloud, imagining a bustling community growing within the dome's protection. "And we'll need farms, too."

He turned his attention to an open stretch of land between the village and the mountains. The soil was rich, perfect for agriculture. He marked this area for farmland, dividing it mentally into sections for crops and livestock.

By the time he returned to his starting point, the sun was dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows over the land. Harry looked around at the stakes dotting the ground, each glowing faintly in the twilight.

"Not bad for a day's work," he said, stretching his arms with a groan. "But this is only the beginning."

Dinner and Reflection

Harry made his way back to his flat in London, exhausted but satisfied. After a quick shower, he threw on some comfortable clothes and headed to the small café down the street. He ordered a hearty shepherd's pie and a cold butterbeer, savoring every bite as he planned his next steps.

The weight of his task was enormous, but for the first time in months, he felt hopeful. This time, he had a chance to save not only himself but everyone who depended on him.

Back at his flat, Harry flopped onto his bed, letting out a long sigh. Tomorrow, he would reach out to Hermione and Ron. He wasn't sure how he'd approach them yet, but he knew he couldn't do this alone.

As sleep claimed him, he dreamed of a future where the land thrived, protected from the icy doom that had once seemed inevitable. And for the first time, he believed it could be real.