Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Familiar Faces in the Crowd

The gatehouse was bustling with activity as Harry made his way there. Another Patronus from Michael had arrived that morning, its message brief but intriguing:

"A group of ten just came through. You'll want to be here—there are some familiar faces."

Harry quickened his pace, his mind racing with possibilities. Familiar faces meant connections to his past, people he hadn't seen since his time at Hogwarts. He pushed open the door to the gatehouse, and his breath caught.

Susen Bones stood near the window, her auburn hair tied back, her expression weary but resolute. Beside her was Amelia Bones, her sharp, no-nonsense demeanor intact despite the obvious toll the frost had taken.

Around them were eight others, some older, some younger, all huddled together as they spoke quietly with Hannah and Michael.

"Susen," Harry said, his voice filled with equal parts surprise and relief.

Her head snapped toward him, and her eyes widened. "Harry!"

Reunited

Susen crossed the room quickly, pulling Harry into a brief but firm hug. "I can't believe it's you," she said, stepping back to look at him.

"I could say the same," Harry replied, his gaze shifting to Amelia. "Madam Bones... it's been a long time."

Amelia gave him a small nod, her expression softening slightly. "It's good to see you, Potter. I was beginning to think this sanctuary of yours was just a myth."

"It's real," Harry said firmly. "And you're safe here now."

Amelia's sharp gaze swept over the room. "We've heard rumors, of course. A dome protected by powerful magic. A refuge for wizards, witches, and even Muggles. But seeing it... it's beyond anything I imagined."

The Group of Ten

As Harry spoke with Susen and Amelia, Michael continued the intake process with the rest of the group.

There were a mix of faces in the crowd—two young wizards who looked barely out of Hogwarts, a middle-aged witch clutching a tattered bag, and a trio of Muggle-born witches who had clearly been through a harrowing journey.

"It was her idea," one of the Muggle-born witches said, nodding toward Amelia. "She led us here."

Amelia waved the comment off, but Susen smiled. "She did. When we heard about the dome, she made sure we didn't stop until we found it."

Michael approached Harry with the intake parchment. "Everyone's names are here. Most of them are from southern England. Their town was overtaken by the frost a week ago."

Harry scanned the parchment, his stomach twisting as he read the details. Another town gone. More lives uprooted.

"You're safe now," Harry told the group, his voice steady. "We'll get you all settled in."

Reconnecting with the Past

As the group began moving toward the new houses, Harry walked with Susen and Amelia.

"How long have you been traveling?" Harry asked.

"Too long," Susen said, her voice tired. "We barely made it out of our town before the frost overtook it. After that, it was just one abandoned shelter after another."

"And the Ministry?" Harry asked, glancing at Amelia.

Amelia's jaw tightened. "Useless," she said bluntly. "They're too busy bickering over jurisdiction to actually help anyone. We left when it became clear they had no plan for survival."

Susen looked at Harry. "What about you? How did you end up running this place?"

"It's a long story," Harry replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But let's just say it's been a team effort. I couldn't have done it alone."

Settling In

Draco was waiting at the edge of the new neighborhood, clipboard in hand as he organized housing assignments.

"Potter," he called, glancing up as Harry approached. "These the new arrivals?"

"They are," Harry said, gesturing toward the group.

Draco quickly began assigning houses, his tone brisk but professional.

"You'll be in this row," he told Susen and Amelia, pointing to one of the new houses. "The others will be in the neighboring townhouses. The houses are fully stocked with food and supplies, and Percy will explain the rest of the rules during orientation."

Amelia arched an eyebrow. "Malfoy giving orders. Never thought I'd see the day."

Draco smirked. "Desperate times, Madam Bones."

A Moment of Reflection

That evening, as the sanctuary settled into its nightly rhythm, Harry stood at the edge of the dome, gazing out at the frost-covered world beyond. The familiar faces of Susen and Amelia brought back memories of his time at Hogwarts, but they also reminded him of how much had changed.

The frost was relentless, and the sanctuary was growing faster than he'd ever anticipated.

Luna appeared at his side, her expression calm and thoughtful. "They'll be alright," she said softly.

Harry nodded. "I know. It's just... every new face is a reminder of how much we've lost."

"And how much we've saved," Luna added.

As the dome shimmered faintly in the moonlight, Harry allowed himself a moment of hope. They were building something strong, something lasting.

And as long as the dome held, they would continue to fight for survival—one life at a time.