Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

The Bubble Gate

The morning sun was rising over Hogwarts, its golden light reflecting off the shimmering surface of the dome. Harry strolled along the edge of the protective barrier, his wand tucked into his pocket and his thoughts occupied with the growing responsibilities of leading the sanctuary.

As he moved through the dew-covered grass, something unusual caught his eye. A faint distortion rippled against the edge of the dome—a bubble-like protrusion forming outward. The dome's normally smooth surface shimmered erratically, the bubble growing larger with every passing second.

Harry froze, his hand instinctively reaching for his wand. "What in Merlin's name...?" he muttered, stepping closer.

Before he could investigate further, the bubble solidified. It gleamed like glass, faintly translucent, and then, without warning, two figures appeared inside.

An Unusual Entrance

The couple—a man and a woman—stood motionless within the bubble, their faces pale and drawn. Their clothing was tattered, their breaths shallow as they clutched each other tightly. For a moment, the bubble seemed to shimmer violently, and then it contracted. The two figures staggered forward, as if compressed by an unseen force.

With a soft pop, the bubble opened into the dome, depositing the couple onto the grass. Harry instinctively stepped forward, his wand drawn but lowered.

"Are you alright?" he called, his voice steady but cautious.

The man blinked at him, his eyes bloodshot and weary. "We made it," he croaked. "We made it inside."

Harry lowered his wand completely, pulling a small notebook and pen from his pocket. "I'll need your names," he said, keeping his voice calm. "And I'll need to know where you came from."

The woman, trembling slightly, managed to whisper, "Anya. My name is Anya, and this is my husband, Viktor."

Harry nodded, jotting down their names. "And where did you come from?"

"Poland," Viktor said weakly. "Our town—everything—it's gone. The frost took everything."

What It's Like Outside

Harry paused for a moment, letting the weight of their words settle over him. "What's it like out there now?"

Anya shivered visibly, pulling her tattered cloak tighter around her shoulders. "It's worse than anything we imagined. The cold isn't just freezing—it's... suffocating. It feels like the air itself is trying to kill you."

Viktor nodded. "Nothing survives. The frost is relentless. We heard rumors of a sanctuary here, of a place untouched by the freeze. We traveled for weeks, searching for it."

Harry looked at them with a mix of sympathy and admiration. "You've been through a lot," he said gently. "But you're safe now. You're inside the dome."

Getting Them Settled

He closed the notebook, tucking it back into his pocket. "Here's what I need you to do. Go to Hogsmeade, to the apartments. Draco Malfoy is in charge there. He'll give you a room key and explain how things work inside the dome."

Anya and Viktor exchanged a look, their relief palpable. "Thank you," Anya said, her voice trembling.

Harry gestured toward the path leading to Hogsmeade. "Follow this road, and you'll find the apartments at the edge of the village. Someone will direct you to Draco. He'll take care of the rest."

They nodded, their movements slow and exhausted, and began making their way toward the village.

Examining the Bubble

Once they were gone, Harry turned back to the bubble-like feature still lingering at the edge of the dome. Its shimmering surface pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat, before finally fading back into the smooth expanse of the barrier.

"What was that?" Harry muttered to himself. He knelt, running his hand over the grass where the bubble had been. The ground was slightly damp but otherwise unremarkable.

Grintok's voice broke the silence behind him. "Something interesting, Potter?"

Harry turned to see the goblin walking toward him, his sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"You could say that," Harry replied, standing up. "A bubble formed here, just now. Two people came through it."

Grintok raised an eyebrow. "Came through the dome? That's impossible. The wards are designed to allow entry only through specific access points."

"Well, they're here," Harry said, gesturing toward the path. "And they didn't Apparate. The dome created some sort of... gate. Like a decompression chamber."

Grintok crouched to inspect the area, his long fingers brushing the grass. "Interesting. This wasn't a breach—it was intentional. The dome itself allowed them in."

Harry frowned. "The dome let them in?"

Grintok nodded, his expression thoughtful. "The dome is attuned to life within its boundaries. If these people were in extreme distress, the magic might have responded to their need for sanctuary."

"That's... new," Harry said, running a hand through his hair. "If the dome is doing this on its own, we'll need to monitor it. The last thing we need is an accidental breach."

"Agreed," Grintok said, straightening. "I'll have my team analyze the wards. In the meantime, you should prepare for more arrivals. If the dome can create gates, others might find their way here."

Harry nodded, already thinking of how to prepare for the influx of people. "Let me know what you find."

The Start of Something New

As Harry walked back toward the castle, his mind raced with possibilities. If the dome was responding to the needs of the outside world, it could mean more survivors were on their way.

It was a hopeful thought—but it also carried risks. The dome's magic was powerful, but it wasn't infinite. If too many people arrived too quickly, their resources might not hold.

Still, as Harry reached the castle steps, he allowed himself a small smile.

They had built this sanctuary to protect life. And now, it seemed, the dome was doing exactly that.