Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

The Dome Expands

Weeks had passed since the bubble first appeared, and the flow of arrivals to the sanctuary had steadily increased. Every day, more desperate faces stepped through the gatehouse, carrying stories of frozen lands and shattered lives.

Harry stood at the edge of the dome, his wand in hand as he examined the wards. The shimmering barrier was pulsing faintly, but something about it felt... different. The edges of the dome were no longer fixed. Instead, they seemed to ripple outward, inching further into the surrounding land.

"It's expanding," Harry murmured, running his hand along the barrier. "The dome is growing."

Inspecting the Magic

Harry spent the morning in the goblin-engineered ward room beneath Hogwarts, where the magical controls for the dome's Eternal spell were housed. Grintok stood beside him, a ledger in hand, as they studied the runes etched into the stone walls.

"The Eternal spell is holding perfectly," Grintok confirmed, his sharp eyes scanning the glowing runes. "The core is stable, and the magic hasn't faltered."

Harry frowned, pointing to a section of the runes that seemed brighter than the rest. "Then why is the dome expanding? It shouldn't be doing that on its own."

Grintok tapped the ledger with a clawed finger. "The dome's magic is designed to protect life, Potter. It's possible that as more people arrive, the dome is responding to their presence, creating more space to accommodate them."

Harry leaned back, crossing his arms. "So it's growing because it knows we need the room."

Grintok nodded. "That would be my assessment. The dome's magic is attuned to survival—it adapts to meet the needs of those inside."

Preparing for Growth

As Harry left the ward room, his thoughts churned. If the dome was expanding to make room for more people, they needed to prepare. The existing apartments in Hogsmeade were already nearing capacity, and with winter approaching, the sanctuary would soon be too crowded to function efficiently.

By the time he returned to the castle, Harry had made up his mind.

He called a meeting in the Great Hall, gathering Draco, Percy, Grintok, and a handful of others who were responsible for the sanctuary's infrastructure.

"The dome is expanding," Harry announced, spreading a map of the sanctuary across the table. "The Eternal spell is still intact, but the wards are growing outward. We need to act now to make use of the extra space."

Draco studied the map, his brow furrowed. "We'll need more apartments. The current buildings won't be enough if the arrivals keep increasing."

"Agreed," Percy said. "And we should plan for additional facilities as well—storage, communal spaces, maybe even another greenhouse."

Grintok tapped the map with his clawed finger. "My team can handle the construction, but we'll need to know exactly where you want the new buildings."

Harry nodded. "Focus on the area west of Hogsmeade. It's close to the existing apartments, and the dome has already expanded into that region."

"What about resources?" Neville asked, looking up from his notes. "The greenhouses are doing well, but we'll need more food as the population grows."

"We'll expand the greenhouses next," Harry assured him. "For now, let's focus on housing. If people don't have somewhere to sleep, nothing else will matter."

Construction Begins

Within days, the goblins had begun work on the new apartment buildings. The site west of Hogsmeade buzzed with activity as construction teams laid foundations and enchanted stone walls rose into place.

Draco oversaw the project, walking the site daily with a clipboard in hand. "Make sure the heating charms are reinforced," he instructed one of the goblins. "The temperature might not drop inside the dome, but people will still expect their homes to feel comfortable."

Nearby, Percy directed a group of volunteers who were organizing furniture and supplies for the new apartments.

"These buildings need to be move-in ready by the time construction is complete," Percy told them. "Beds, tables, chairs—everything needs to be in place."

The work was grueling, but the sense of purpose drove everyone forward. By the time the first building was finished, it was already clear that the expansion was a success.

A Growing Sanctuary

One evening, as the sun set over the newly built apartments, Harry stood with Grintok near the dome's edge. The barrier shimmered faintly in the twilight, its pulsing light steady and strong.

"The dome feels... alive," Harry said softly.

Grintok nodded. "In a way, it is. The magic responds to the needs of those within it. As long as we continue to protect and strengthen the wards, the dome will continue to adapt."

Harry glanced at the bustling construction site, where workers were putting the finishing touches on the second apartment building. "We're building something incredible here," he said. "But it still feels like we're racing against time."

"You are," Grintok said bluntly. "The freeze will not wait. But this sanctuary is proof that humanity can endure. Keep building, Potter. Keep adapting. That is the only way you will survive."

Hope for the Future

That night, Harry returned to the castle and sat by the fire in the common room. The parchment in his lap was filled with plans for the next phase of expansion—more greenhouses, additional storage, and possibly a school for the children who had begun to arrive with their families.

The dome was growing, and so was the sanctuary. Every step forward felt like a small victory against the relentless frost outside.

As Harry stared into the flames, his resolve hardened. They were building more than a refuge—they were building hope.

And as long as the dome held, they would keep moving forward.