Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Preparing for the Freeze

The days grew shorter, and the mornings colder, as autumn edged closer to winter. The first true frost had yet to fall, but the crispness in the air spoke volumes about what was to come. The dome's magic held strong, keeping the land inside warm and vibrant, but the world beyond its boundaries was another story.

Harry stood atop the Astronomy Tower, gazing out at the shimmering edge of the dome. Outside, the forests were bare and stark, their leaves long since fallen. Inside, the grounds of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade still carried the glow of autumn, but the change was coming. He could feel it.

A soft knock at the door broke his thoughts.

"Come in," Harry called.

Percy entered, a thick sheaf of parchment under his arm. He set it on the table, leaning against the desk. "We've finished cataloging the creature habitats and their supplies. Everything's accounted for."

"Good," Harry said, turning toward him. "Are the greenhouses fully stocked?"

"Neville says they're at capacity," Percy replied. "We've got enough food to last through the first phase of the freeze, but we'll need to start rationing soon if we're going to make it through the long haul."

Harry frowned. "We've been preparing for months, Percy. It still feels like we're behind."

Percy crossed his arms. "That's because we're racing against the inevitable. But we're as ready as we can be."

The Final Preparations

Later that day, Harry joined Neville and Luna in the greenhouses, where the air was warm and fragrant with the scent of herbs and plants. Rows of enchanted vegetables glowed faintly under the magical grow lights, their leaves lush and healthy.

Neville knelt beside a row of tomatoes, examining their roots. "These charms are holding up better than I expected," he said, glancing at Harry. "The goblins did a good job reinforcing the soil."

"They always do," Harry said, crouching beside him. "How much longer before we start the next harvest?"

"A week, maybe less," Neville replied. "We've got enough to fill the storage vaults in Hogsmeade, but we'll need to rotate crops more often once the freeze really sets in."

Luna wandered through the greenhouse, her gaze dreamy as she ran her fingers over a cluster of glowing Frostbane Ferns. "The creatures will love these," she said. "The Thestrals have already started nibbling on the ones near their enclosure."

Harry smiled faintly. "I'll make sure Hagrid delivers more to their habitat. They'll need all the energy they can get."

Reinforcing the Dome

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Harry joined Grintok and his goblin crew at the edge of the dome's perimeter. The stakes marking the boundary hummed softly with magic, their light faint but steady.

Grintok gestured to a section of the wards near the Forbidden Forest. "This area needs reinforcement," he said. "The forest's natural magic is interfering with the dome's energy flow. If we don't stabilize it, it could weaken during the first real freeze."

Harry nodded, drawing his wand. "What do you need me to do?"

"Focus your energy here," Grintok instructed, pointing to one of the glowing stakes. "Channel your magic into the ward line. We'll handle the rest."

Harry raised his wand, feeling the familiar surge of power as he cast the spell. A wave of golden light flowed from his wand, connecting with the stake and spreading outward in shimmering ripples.

Grintok and his team worked quickly, weaving their own magic into the ward line. The air around them pulsed with energy, and after several minutes, the glow of the stakes grew brighter.

"It's done," Grintok said, stepping back. "The dome will hold."

Harry exhaled, lowering his wand. "Thanks, Grintok. I don't know what we'd do without you."

The goblin smirked. "You'd survive—just not as efficiently."

A Gathering in the Great Hall

That evening, Harry called a meeting in the Great Hall. The long tables were filled with witches, wizards, and goblins, all of them listening intently as Harry outlined the next steps.

"The dome is secure," Harry began, his voice steady but firm. "The greenhouses, the hospital, the creature habitats—they're all fully operational. But this is only the beginning."

He gestured to the maps spread out on the table. "The freeze is coming faster than we expected. We have to be ready to adapt. Supplies will be rationed, and we'll need everyone's cooperation to make it through the worst of it."

Percy stood beside him, nodding in agreement. "The Apparition point is functioning perfectly, but we can't rely on it for everything. If you're outside the dome, you need to be cautious. The wards will protect us, but only if we use them wisely."

Neville raised his hand. "What about the Ministry? Do we still think they'll interfere?"

"They won't," Percy said firmly. "We've taken every precaution to keep this off their radar. As long as we stay careful, they won't know a thing."

The room murmured in agreement, the tension in the air easing slightly.

The Calm Before the Storm

As the meeting ended, Harry lingered near the fire, watching as the others filtered out of the hall. Luna was the last to leave, pausing to give him a soft smile.

"You're doing well, Harry," she said. "The creatures feel safe, and so do the people. That's because of you."

Harry shook his head. "It's because of all of us. I couldn't do this alone."

Luna tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe not. But you brought us together. That's something only you could do."

As she walked away, Harry turned back to the fire, the flames reflecting in his tired eyes.

The dome was ready. The habitats were full. The people were prepared.

And yet, as he stared into the flickering light, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

The freeze was coming. And they would face it together.