Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Secrets and Strategies

The Great Hall was quiet the next morning, its vast space filled only with the soft rustle of parchment and the occasional scrape of quills. Harry and Percy had set up a makeshift planning station at the Gryffindor table, maps and notes spread out before them.

Outside the protective dome, the frost was beginning to creep in earlier than expected. The mornings were colder, the days shorter, and Harry could feel the tension in the air.

Percy was hunched over a detailed inventory list, muttering under his breath as he made annotations. Harry, meanwhile, was drawing a rough schematic for a transportation hub to connect Percy's Muggle warehouse to the magical dome.

"We'll need a secure Apparition point," Harry said, breaking the silence. "Something shielded from magical detection in case the Ministry starts sniffing around."

Percy glanced up, his quill paused mid-stroke. "I've already considered that. The Ministry doesn't like it when wizards stockpile supplies without their oversight. If they get wind of what we're doing, they'll try to take control."

Harry nodded grimly. "We can't let that happen."

Building the Network

Harry tapped his wand against the map of Hogwarts, creating a glowing circle around the northern edge of Hogsmeade. "Here," he said. "This is where we'll set up the transport hub. It's close enough to the village to be practical but far enough from the main roads to avoid attention."

Percy leaned closer, studying the location. "We'll need to set up wards. Strong ones. If the Ministry—or anyone else—tries to interfere, we'll need to know about it immediately."

"I can handle the wards," Harry said. "But we'll also need a way to conceal the supplies during transport. Enchanted crates, maybe."

Percy nodded, jotting down notes. "And we'll need to stagger the shipments. If we move too much at once, it'll draw attention."

The two brothers worked in focused silence, their plans taking shape piece by piece.

A Visitor Arrives

A sharp knock echoed through the hall, startling them both. Harry's wand was in his hand before he even thought about it, his reflexes honed from years of danger.

The massive doors to the Great Hall creaked open, and Neville stepped inside, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Harry? Percy?" Neville said, striding toward them. "What's going on? I saw Hedwig flying in and out of here all morning, and you two didn't come to breakfast."

Harry exchanged a glance with Percy, then sighed. "Neville, you might want to sit down for this."

Neville frowned but pulled up a chair, looking between the two of them expectantly.

The First Ally

Over the next hour, Harry and Percy explained everything. The freeze, their memories of the previous timeline, and the preparations they were making to stop it. Neville listened intently, his face growing paler as the story unfolded.

When they finished, he leaned back in his chair, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "I... I don't even know what to say," he admitted. "This is... huge."

"It is," Harry said, his voice quiet. "And we need your help, Neville. You've already been working on the greenhouses and farmland, but there's more we'll need. A lot more."

Neville's expression shifted, his initial shock giving way to determination. "Of course I'll help. I've already been working on expanding the greenhouses, and Hannah's been gathering medical supplies like you asked. Just tell me what else you need."

Harry smiled faintly. "Thanks, Neville. We're going to need every bit of support we can get."

Percy leaned forward. "This is just the start, though. If we're going to make this work, we'll need more people—trusted people—who can handle different parts of the plan. Who else can we rely on?"

Neville thought for a moment. "What about Luna? She's been traveling a lot lately, but if anyone can help with magical creatures and the natural side of things, it's her."

Harry nodded. "Good idea. I'll write to her."

A Warning

As the conversation continued, Percy's expression grew more serious. He tapped the table with his quill, drawing their attention.

"There's something else we need to talk about," he said. "The Ministry. They're already watching me, and if they find out about the dome—or this warehouse network—they'll try to shut us down."

Neville frowned. "Why would they do that? Don't they want to save people too?"

"They do," Percy said grimly. "But the Ministry doesn't like it when people act outside their authority. They'll see us as a threat, not an ally."

Harry's jaw tightened. "Then we need to stay ahead of them. No leaks, no loose ends. If they come after us, we have to be ready."

Percy nodded. "Agreed. But if we're going to survive, we can't just react to them. We'll need to anticipate their moves."

A United Front

By the time the meeting ended, the sun was high in the sky, casting warm light through the Great Hall's windows. Harry, Percy, and Neville stood together at the edge of the table, their plans laid out before them.

"We're going to make this work," Harry said firmly. "We have to."

Neville nodded, his expression resolute. "Whatever it takes."

Percy crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "Together, we can do this. But we'll need to move fast. The freeze isn't going to wait for us."

As the three of them stepped outside into the crisp autumn air, the weight of what lay ahead pressed down on them. The freeze was coming—but now, they weren't fighting it alone.

This time, they had a plan. And they wouldn't stop until it was complete.