Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

New Faces from Home

The morning had dawned cold and quiet inside the dome. The frost's relentless grip continued to tighten around the world, but the sanctuary held steady, its wards humming with quiet strength.

Harry had just finished breakfast in the Great Hall when a Patronus in the form of a hare darted into the room. It was Hannah's, her calm voice filling the air.

"Harry, another group has arrived at the gatehouse. Four people. They're from Wizarding England."

Harry set down his cup, rising quickly. Percy, who had been seated nearby, followed without needing to be asked.

"From England?" Percy said as they left the hall. "That's close to home. They might have valuable information."

"Let's find out," Harry replied, his tone measured but curious.

Arriving at the Gatehouse

When Harry and Percy stepped into the gatehouse, the four newcomers were seated in the living room, their robes torn and their faces etched with exhaustion. They looked up as Harry entered, their eyes widening slightly in recognition.

"You're Harry Potter," one of them said, a young woman with short, dark hair. She was gripping a battered wand in one hand, her knuckles white.

Harry gave her a small nod. "I am. Welcome to the sanctuary. You're safe here."

Hannah was at the kitchenette, preparing tea, while Michael sat at the panoramic window, quill hovering over a sheet of parchment.

"They arrived about twenty minutes ago," Hannah said, glancing at Harry. "Said they're from London."

Michael gestured to the newcomers. "We've just started taking their information."

Harry pulled up a chair, sitting across from the group. "Let's start with your names."

The young woman spoke first. "Emily Dawlish," she said, her voice steady despite her tired appearance. She gestured to the others. "This is Duncan Greer, Alice Fawcett, and Malcolm Jugson."

Harry's brows rose slightly at the last name. "Jugson?"

Malcolm, a wiry man with a sharp jawline, nodded. "Yes. My family has... a complicated history." He met Harry's gaze evenly. "But I'm not my father."

Harry studied him for a moment, then nodded. "We don't care about the past here. What matters is surviving the freeze. Where did you come from?"

"London," Emily said. "We were part of a small group trying to hold out in Diagon Alley. But the frost—it's everywhere. Even the wards at Gringotts couldn't keep it out forever."

What It's Like Outside

Michael leaned forward, quill scratching across the parchment. "What's it like out there now?"

Alice, a petite woman with glasses that had been repaired several times, spoke softly. "It's unbearable. The cold doesn't feel natural. It seeps into everything—your clothes, your skin, even your magic. Spells don't hold like they used to."

Duncan, a broad-shouldered man with a deep voice, added, "We heard rumors about this sanctuary weeks ago. It took us that long to get here. Most of the people we started with... didn't make it."

Harry's chest tightened. "I'm sorry. But you made it, and you're safe now."

Emily nodded, her expression grim. "What's worse is the Ministry. It's complete chaos. They're so focused on controlling the panic that they're not doing anything to help people. And Hogwarts... we thought it had fallen."

Percy, standing by the window, frowned. "The Ministry's in chaos? No surprise there. But they think Hogwarts is gone?"

"That's what people are saying," Malcolm replied. "No one knows for sure. The frost swallowed the school weeks ago—or so we thought. Then we heard rumors about a dome in Scotland. We took a chance."

Harry exchanged a glance with Percy. "The Ministry doesn't know about this place," he said firmly. "And we need to keep it that way. The dome can't handle an influx of thousands right now. We're not ready."

Getting Them Settled

When the interview was complete, Harry stood and gestured to the door. "Let's get you to Hogsmeade. Draco Malfoy is in charge of housing and orientation. He'll assign you an apartment and explain how everything works inside the sanctuary."

Emily hesitated, glancing at Harry. "Thank you. For all of this. We didn't think we'd find anything left."

Harry offered a faint smile. "You'll find a lot of people here who thought the same thing. Go on—Draco will get you settled."

Hannah escorted the group out, leading them toward the village.

Reflections in the Gatehouse

Once the gatehouse was quiet again, Harry sat by the panoramic window, staring out at the edge of the dome. The bubble had already disappeared, the grass where it had formed undisturbed.

Percy joined him, crossing his arms. "We're going to see more of this," he said. "More people from England, from places we know. It's only a matter of time."

Harry nodded slowly. "And every time, it's going to remind us how bad things are out there."

"But it'll also remind us why we're doing this," Percy said firmly. "They're alive because this place exists."

Harry looked down at the notes Michael had taken. Names, places, descriptions of the frost—it was all there, a record of the world they were leaving behind.

"You're right," Harry said softly. "We just have to keep going."

As the dome shimmered faintly in the afternoon light, Harry felt a renewed sense of determination. The sanctuary was growing, and so was the fight for survival.

And they wouldn't stop until they'd saved as many lives as they could.