Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

New Arrivals, Old Faces

The crisp morning air carried the faint hum of magic as the dome shimmered faintly in the light. Harry was walking back from the greenhouses when another Patronus appeared before him—this time a badger, sent by Michael from the gatehouse.

"Harry," Michael's calm voice announced, "we've got new arrivals. A group of six: the Weasley twins, an elderly couple, and Marcus Flint. You'll want to come down here."

Harry paused for a moment, absorbing the unexpected combination of names. Fred and George? Marcus Flint? The dichotomy made his head spin. Without hesitation, he turned and made his way toward the gatehouse, his thoughts racing.

Arriving at the Gatehouse

When Harry stepped inside, the lively buzz of the gatehouse greeted him. Fred and George were sitting casually in the living room, their identical grins firmly in place despite the weariness in their eyes.

"Harrykins!" Fred called out, leaning back in his chair.

"Or should we say, Lord Potter of the Frost-Free Zone?" George added, his grin widening.

An elderly couple sat nearby, bundled in heavy cloaks. They seemed nervous, though the warmth of the dome and the lively presence of the twins appeared to be putting them at ease.

In the far corner, Marcus Flint stood awkwardly, his broad frame towering over the small space. He looked uncomfortable and out of place, his hands fidgeting as he avoided eye contact.

Michael was at his usual post near the panoramic window, quill poised over a sheet of parchment. Hannah was pouring tea for the elderly couple, her soothing presence helping to ease their tension.

Harry took a deep breath and stepped into the room. "Fred, George," he said, a small smile breaking through his surprise. "You're a long way from Diagon Alley."

Fred shrugged. "The joke shop's a bit frozen these days."

George nodded solemnly. "Turns out our products don't work so well when they're encased in ice."

Harry chuckled despite himself. "I'm glad you made it."

He turned to the couple, softening his tone. "Welcome. My name is Harry Potter. You're safe now."

The older man gave a shaky smile. "Thank you, young man. I'm Elbert, and this is my wife, Lydia. We... we weren't sure we'd ever see a place like this."

"You've come to the right place," Harry assured them. "We'll take care of you."

Finally, Harry turned to Marcus, who was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. "Marcus Flint," Harry said, his voice neutral. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Marcus gave a curt nod, his expression guarded. "Didn't have much choice. It was either this or..." He trailed off, gesturing vaguely toward the frost outside.

"Fair enough," Harry replied. "Let's get everyone settled."

Taking Their Information

Michael cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We'll need to complete intake forms before anything else."

Fred and George, unsurprisingly, volunteered to go first.

"Fred and George Weasley," Fred said with a flourish.

"In case you hadn't guessed," George added.

Michael smirked, jotting down their names. "Where did you come from?"

"Diagon Alley," Fred said. "We held out as long as we could, but the frost doesn't really appreciate good humor."

George nodded. "Not to mention the Ministry. Absolute chaos."

"What's it like out there?" Michael asked.

Fred sobered slightly. "It's bad, mate. Real bad. People are panicking, turning on each other."

George sighed. "And the frost? It's relentless. We barely made it here."

Michael nodded and turned to Elbert and Lydia. "And you?"

The elderly couple exchanged a glance before Elbert spoke. "We're from a small village near Dover. It was quiet, peaceful. But then the frost came. Everyone fled. We're the only ones who made it out."

Michael jotted down their story before turning to Marcus.

"Marcus Flint," Michael prompted. "Where did you come from?"

"Manchester," Marcus replied gruffly. "Tried to hold out with some of my mates, but... well, they're gone now." He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding everyone's gaze. "I'm just glad I found this place."

Reuniting with the Weasleys

Once the intake was complete, Harry gestured to Fred and George. "Bill, Charlie, Percy, and your parents are already here. They'll be thrilled to see you."

Fred and George's eyes lit up. "Mum and Dad are here?" Fred asked.

"Percy, too?" George added, raising an eyebrow. "Did he organize the frost or something?"

Harry chuckled. "You'll see for yourselves. Draco will take you to your apartment and explain how everything works here. Once you're settled, you can reunite with everyone."

Fred and George exchanged a grin. "Brilliant," they said in unison.

As they followed Draco out, Fred glanced back at Harry. "Thanks, mate. For all of this."

Settling the Others

Harry turned to Elbert and Lydia next. "We'll get you set up with an apartment in Hogsmeade," he said gently. "You'll have everything you need."

The elderly couple nodded, their relief palpable.

Finally, Harry faced Marcus. "You're here now, and you'll get the same safety as everyone else. But you'll need to pull your weight."

Marcus straightened, his jaw tightening. "I understand. Just tell me where you need me."

"Draco will find something for you," Harry said. "Follow him to the apartments, and we'll go from there."

Reflections

When the gatehouse was quiet again, Harry sat down by the panoramic window, staring out at the frost-covered world beyond the dome.

Hannah approached, placing a hand on his shoulder. "More familiar faces today," she said.

Harry nodded, his thoughts swirling. "Fred and George... they'll bring some light to this place. And Marcus... he's got his demons, but he'll work. I'll make sure of it."

Hannah smiled faintly. "You're doing more than just saving lives, Harry. You're building a community."

Harry gazed out at the shimmering dome, his resolve strengthening. The frost was relentless, but so was the sanctuary.

And every life they saved brought them one step closer to surviving.