Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Preparing the Grounds

Harry stood at the edge of the Black Lake, staring out at the rippling water. The morning air was crisp, the sun reflecting off the surface like shards of glass. A faint breeze rustled the trees of the Forbidden Forest behind him.

This place—the heart of Hogwarts and its surrounding lands—was both his sanctuary and his responsibility. He had to make sure it was ready, fortified, and capable of sustaining life when the freeze came.

But there was still so much to do.

Inspecting the Land

Harry walked the grounds with a large, enchanted map of the area rolled out in his hands. He had marked the locations of Neville's proposed greenhouses and farmland, Luna's creature shelters, and the expansions for Hogsmeade.

Each section required specific spells and protections to ensure it could withstand the coming freeze. His first stop was the fields designated for farmland.

Standing in the open space, Harry raised his wand and began casting a series of preparatory charms. The first was a soil-fortifying charm, designed to keep the earth fertile even in extreme conditions. The second was a weather-resistance spell, one he had researched with Luna's help, to shield crops from unseasonable frost.

"Conservare Terram!" Harry intoned, his wand glowing as the spell rippled through the ground.

A faint shimmer spread across the fields, leaving the soil looking richer and darker. Satisfied, Harry made a note on his map and moved on.

Expanding the Creature Shelters

Harry's next stop was near the Forbidden Forest, where Luna had sketched out plans for creature shelters. Hagrid was already there, standing next to a half-finished pen meant for the hippogriffs.

"Harry!" Hagrid called, waving a massive hand. "Yer just in time! I was about ter start expandin' this pen, but I could use a second pair o' hands."

"Of course," Harry said, tucking his map under his arm. "How's it coming along?"

"Slow, but steady," Hagrid said, gesturing to the wooden posts. "We'll need ter enchant the fences once they're up. Hippogriffs don't like tight spaces, so they'll need room ter roam even in a storm."

Harry nodded and joined Hagrid, using his wand to levitate heavy logs into place while Hagrid hammered them down. Together, they worked in companionable silence for a while, the only sounds being the clatter of tools and the occasional squawk of a nearby hippogriff.

When the pen was complete, Harry cast a reinforcement charm on the structure, ensuring it would withstand high winds and ice.

Hagrid grinned, clapping Harry on the back. "Good work, Harry. I reckon the hippogriffs'll be right happy here."

"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry said, smiling. "Now let's move on to the next one."

Hogsmeade Preparations

After finishing at the shelters, Harry made his way to Hogsmeade. The goblins had been hard at work constructing new buildings, and the small village was already beginning to look more like a thriving community than a quaint wizarding hamlet.

Grintok met him near the town square, a clipboard in hand.

"Mr. Potter," the goblin said, inclining his head. "Progress is on schedule. The apartments are nearly complete, and the new shops will be ready within the week."

"That's great news," Harry said. "How are we on supplies?"

"Your associate, Mr. Malfoy, has been coordinating deliveries," Grintok replied. "We've received shipments of food, clothing, and tools. The potion ingredients should arrive tomorrow."

Harry nodded, making a mental note to thank Draco. "And the wards?"

"We've begun laying the foundation for the protective dome," Grintok said, gesturing toward the outskirts of the village. "Once the perimeter is complete, we'll move on to layering the wards."

Harry followed the goblin to the edge of Hogsmeade, where a team of goblin builders was placing enchanted stakes into the ground. Each stake pulsed faintly with magic, marking the boundary where the dome would eventually rise.

"Let me help," Harry offered, pulling out his wand.

Grintok raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Very well. Start at the western edge."

Harry joined the team, carefully placing stakes and channeling magic into them to connect the perimeter. As he worked, he felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that these small actions would one day protect countless lives.

A Quiet Moment at Hogwarts

As the sun began to set, Harry returned to Hogwarts, his body aching from the day's work. The castle stood tall and serene, its towers glowing in the golden light.

He wandered through the empty halls, memories of his school days flooding back. The Great Hall was silent, the long tables bare, but Harry could almost hear the echoes of laughter and chatter from years past.

He made his way to the Astronomy Tower, where he could see the entire grounds stretching out before him. The Black Lake shimmered in the fading light, the Forbidden Forest loomed dark and mysterious, and the new mountain range stood proudly in the distance.

"This will work," Harry said to himself, his voice quiet but firm. "It has to."

He stayed there for a while, watching as the stars began to appear in the sky. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, but for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace.

The world was still warm, still alive. And Harry would do everything in his power to keep it that way.