Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Operating in the Shadows

The Ministry of Magic loomed over Diagon Alley, its towering structure bustling with the usual comings and goings of witches and wizards. Inside its halls, workers hurried between departments, unaware of the storm brewing far beyond their jurisdiction.

Harry, Percy, and their allies had made one thing clear in their planning sessions: the Ministry couldn't know what was coming.

If the Ministry found out about the preparations, they would undoubtedly intervene. Whether out of a misguided attempt to control the situation or a refusal to believe the magnitude of the threat, the Ministry's involvement would only complicate things.

So far, their efforts had gone unnoticed, but Harry knew it wouldn't stay that way if they weren't careful.

Steps for Secrecy

The first order of business was ensuring the invisibility of their operations. Percy and Harry spent an entire day reviewing every step of their supply chain and construction projects, ensuring that no magical traces could lead curious minds back to them.

"We need to be thorough," Percy said, tapping his wand against a map of Hogsmeade. "The goblins are discreet, but wizards have a way of noticing when something feels off. If anyone starts asking questions..."

"They won't," Harry interrupted, his voice firm. "The wards around the dome are strong enough to block detection spells, and we've kept the supply routes staggered and varied. No one's going to piece this together."

"Still," Percy said, narrowing his eyes at the map. "We need contingencies. If someone stumbles across this by accident, we have to be ready."

Harry nodded, agreeing reluctantly. "We'll create fake ledgers and use Confundus Charms if necessary. But we'll make sure no one gets close enough for that."

Decoy Operations

To further misdirect attention, Percy suggested setting up "decoy" projects—smaller, unrelated efforts that would give the illusion of ordinary magical activity.

"We can fund renovations in other parts of the country," Percy explained. "Something high-profile enough to attract attention but harmless enough to avoid suspicion."

Harry frowned. "You're suggesting we waste resources just to keep people looking elsewhere?"

"Not waste," Percy corrected. "Invest. A few Galleons spent on superficial projects will keep the Ministry's attention occupied. It's worth it to protect the real work."

Harry sighed but couldn't argue with Percy's logic. "Fine. I'll talk to Grintok. He can help us set up a few construction jobs that look legitimate."

The Goblins' Role

Grintok was delighted at the idea of misdirecting wizards. "It's rare to see humans with this level of strategic thinking," he said with a toothy grin. "We'll handle the decoy projects. I'll even make sure they're inefficient enough to keep the Ministry busy for months."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Thoroughly," Grintok admitted.

Meanwhile, the goblins worked tirelessly to reinforce the secrecy of the dome's perimeter. They laid down additional layers of wards that blocked magical tracking and concealed the construction activities within.

"You could walk right up to the edge of the dome and never notice it was there," Grintok explained proudly. "These wards are goblin-crafted. Wizards won't detect a thing unless we want them to."

False Trails and Silent Allies

Neville and Hannah took the lead in spreading rumors to distract attention further. Hannah, with her connections in the magical community, started circulating stories about minor disasters in far-off locations—floods in the Outer Hebrides, a strange magical plague in eastern Europe.

"The more we keep their attention elsewhere, the safer we'll be," Neville said as he worked on expanding the greenhouses. "Even if someone starts asking questions, they won't have the time or resources to investigate."

Luna Lovegood, who had returned from her travels, proved invaluable in this effort. Her reputation for whimsical stories and unorthodox ideas made her the perfect decoy. She started publishing articles in The Quibbler about fantastical threats—migrating Thestrals disrupting magical trade routes, enchanted snowstorms in Antarctica.

"It's not even lying," Luna said cheerfully when Harry asked her about it. "There really are strange things happening. I'm just... emphasizing them."

A Growing Network

As weeks turned into months, Harry and Percy's efforts expanded, and their network of trusted allies grew. Draco Malfoy discreetly funneled supplies through old family connections, while Hagrid and Luna worked tirelessly to relocate magical creatures into the dome's safety zones.

Through it all, the Ministry remained blissfully unaware. The decoy projects and misdirections worked better than Harry had hoped, keeping attention far from Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.

One day, as Harry stood at the edge of the dome, watching the shimmering wards hum softly in the light of the setting sun, Percy joined him.

"It's working," Percy said, his voice quiet but satisfied. "They don't suspect a thing."

Harry nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We've bought ourselves time. But the freeze is coming faster than we expected. We can't get complacent."

"We won't," Percy promised.

A Quiet Victory

Back at the Great Hall that evening, Harry sat with Percy, Neville, and Luna, their plans spread across the long table. For the first time in weeks, Harry allowed himself a small moment of relief.

"They don't know," he said quietly. "The Ministry doesn't know."

Percy nodded, his expression grim but determined. "And they won't. Not until it's too late for them to interfere."

As they continued to work late into the night, Harry felt a flicker of hope. The Ministry's absence from their plans was a victory, but the real battle was yet to come.

And this time, they would be ready.