Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

An Unexpected Reunion

The streets of London were bustling as Harry weaved through the crowd, his hood pulled low over his head. It was a cloudy day, the air crisp with a hint of rain, but Harry barely noticed. His mind was focused on the list of supplies tucked into his pocket—mundane Muggle items that would fill gaps magic couldn't always address.

Bandages, antiseptics, solar-powered lanterns, thermal blankets...

He had no illusions that the wizarding world's preparations alone would be enough. Muggles had their own ingenious ways of surviving harsh conditions, and Harry intended to make full use of them.

As he turned a corner into a quieter industrial area, his attention was drawn to a group of people loading supplies into a van parked near an old warehouse. He slowed, curiosity piqued.

The items they were packing—thermal blankets, canned food, first-aid kits—looked strikingly familiar. Harry's brows furrowed. Whoever they were, they seemed to be preparing for the same kind of catastrophe he was.

The Encounter

As Harry approached, one of the group members—a broad-shouldered man—noticed him and stiffened. He muttered something to the others, who turned to look.

When Harry drew closer, his breath caught in his throat.

"Percy?" he said, his voice low and filled with disbelief.

The red-haired man froze, his eyes locking with Harry's. For a long moment, neither of them moved, the shock evident on both their faces.

"Harry," Percy finally said, his voice quiet but steady.

Before Harry could say anything else, another member of the group—a woman with auburn hair—stepped forward, her eyes darting between Percy and Harry.

"Boss?" she said tentatively, looking at Percy.

Percy shook his head slightly, his gaze never leaving Harry. "It's my brother," he said, his voice tinged with emotion.

The rest of the group stared in silence, clearly trying to process this revelation. Finally, the woman turned back to Harry. "You're... Harry Potter?"

Harry nodded slowly, his mind still racing. "What's going on here? What are you doing, Percy?"

Percy took a deep breath, stepping away from the group to stand in front of Harry. "It's a long story," he said. "But we can't talk here. Come inside."

The Warehouse

Harry followed Percy and the group into the warehouse, his senses alert. The space was vast, filled with shelves stacked high with supplies. It reminded Harry of a miniature version of what he was building in Hogsmeade.

The group led him to a meeting room at the back, where a large table was surrounded by mismatched chairs. Harry took a seat, his eyes flicking between Percy and the others.

"So," Harry said, breaking the tense silence. "Are you going to explain what's going on, or am I supposed to guess?"

Percy leaned forward, his expression serious. "You first. What are you doing here?"

Harry hesitated. "I was gathering supplies. Things we might need when... well, when things get bad."

Percy's jaw tightened, and he nodded slowly. "So you know, then. About the freeze."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about the freeze?"

Percy exchanged a glance with the auburn-haired woman, then looked back at Harry. "Because I've seen it. I lived through it. And now I'm here, trying to stop it from happening again."

Percy's Story

The words hit Harry like a physical blow. He stared at Percy, his mind spinning. "You... you lived through it? How? When?"

Percy leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. "I don't know how it happened. One moment, the world was frozen over, and I was... leading survivors. Muggles, Squibs, anyone who couldn't rely on magic to save them. We barely scraped by. And then, one day, I woke up here. A year before it all starts."

Harry's stomach churned. The images Percy described—people freezing, scraping by in a desolate, frozen world—were too familiar.

"How did you... die?" Harry asked hesitantly.

Percy exhaled sharply, his eyes darkening. "We were in a bunker. The ceiling started to collapse from the weight of the ice, and I threw myself in front of the group to protect them. I don't even remember the moment I died. I just woke up here, with the knowledge that I had to try again."

Harry's Truth

Harry sat silently for a moment, letting Percy's words sink in. Finally, he looked up, his voice quiet but steady. "The same thing happened to me. I died, and I woke up a year before it all started."

Percy frowned, his eyes narrowing. "How? What happened to you?"

Harry's hands clenched into fists on the table. "I was betrayed."

Percy blinked, his face twisting with confusion. "By who?"

"Ron and Hermione," Harry said bitterly. "They killed me, Percy. They thought I wasn't doing enough to protect everyone. They said I was wasting time with plans that wouldn't work. I trusted them more than anyone, and they turned on me."

Percy stared at Harry, stunned. "Ron and Hermione?"

Harry nodded. "They were desperate, scared. And in the end, they decided I was the problem. I didn't see it coming."

Percy's expression hardened, his hands tightening into fists. "I'm sorry, Harry. I... I can't imagine what that must have been like."

"I didn't understand it either," Harry admitted. "Not at first. But now... now I know we have to be ready. For everything. Including betrayal."

A Shared Purpose

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of their shared experiences pressing down on them. Finally, Percy leaned forward, his expression resolute.

"We've both been given a second chance," Percy said. "And we can't waste it. You're right—we have to be ready for everything. Betrayal, the freeze, all of it."

Harry nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I'm building a dome, Percy. Around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. A place that will survive the freeze. But we'll need more than just magic to make it work."

Percy's gaze softened. "I've been gathering supplies—things the Muggles have that we'll need. Maybe we can combine what we've built."

"Together," Harry said, a faint glimmer of hope in his voice.

"Together," Percy agreed.

For the first time, Harry felt like they might actually have a chance. The freeze was coming, but this time, they wouldn't face it alone.