Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Answers Begin to Unfold

The hospital bustled with quiet efficiency as healers moved in and out of Sirius and Regulus's private rooms. The two brothers had been resting for hours, their strength slowly returning after Harry had found them in the Winter Path.

Harry stood outside their rooms, his thoughts swirling. Both men were supposed to be dead—Sirius had fallen through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries, and Regulus had died in the cave by Voldemort's Inferi. Yet here they were, alive and sitting under the dome's protection.

The door to Sirius's room creaked open, and Remus stepped out, his expression tired but lighter than Harry had seen in years.

"He's awake," Remus said softly.

Harry nodded and stepped inside.

Sirius's Story

Sirius looked up as Harry entered, his sharp features thinner but unmistakably his. He offered a small, tired smile.

"Harry," he said, his voice hoarse. "I thought I'd never see you again."

"I thought the same," Harry said, pulling a chair closer to the bed. "Sirius, you were... you were in the Veil. How are you here?"

Sirius leaned back against the pillows, his gaze distant. "I don't know. After I fell through, it was like... nothing. I don't remember anything until a few months ago. I woke up in that cave, freezing and disoriented. Regulus was already there."

Harry's brow furrowed. "The Veil... it's supposed to be—"

"A one-way ticket," Sirius finished, his voice bitter. "I know. Believe me, I didn't expect to wake up again. But something brought us back, Harry. Something pulled us to that cave."

Regulus's Perspective

Leaving Sirius to rest, Harry crossed into the next room, where Regulus was sitting upright in bed, his expression as composed as ever despite his pale complexion.

"Regulus," Harry said, pulling up a chair.

"Harry Potter," Regulus replied, his voice calm but laced with curiosity. "I hear you're the one I should thank for getting us out of that frozen nightmare."

Harry smiled faintly. "I wasn't going to leave you there. But I need answers, Regulus. How are you alive?"

Regulus's gaze dropped to the blanket in his lap. "I don't know exactly. The last thing I remember was the lake—the Inferi dragging me down. I should've drowned, but instead... I woke up in that cave, just like Sirius. It was freezing, and the vines were everywhere. At first, I thought it was another one of Voldemort's traps, but the vines didn't harm us. If anything, they... protected us."

"They kept you alive," Harry said, remembering Sirius's words.

Regulus nodded. "The cold never felt unbearable. The vines pulsed with magic—ancient, protective magic. I tried to leave the forest a few times, but every path led back to the cave."

"It's like the forest was keeping you there," Harry said.

"Exactly," Regulus said. "And now, here we are. Under this... dome, as you call it."

Discovering the Dome

"You didn't know about the dome?" Harry asked.

Regulus shook his head. "No. We had no idea there was a sanctuary out there. The cave and the forest were all we knew. Sirius and I thought we were alone in whatever strange second chance we'd been given."

Harry leaned forward. "This dome—it's ancient magic, and it's been protecting us from the frost. But it's doing more than that. It created the Winter Path, and that's where I found you."

Regulus frowned. "You think the dome brought us here?"

"I think so," Harry said. "The dome gives us what we need, even if we don't understand it at first. Maybe it brought you both back because we need you."

Regulus was silent for a moment, his sharp mind clearly processing Harry's words. Finally, he said, "If that's true, then the dome is far more powerful—and far more intentional—than I imagined."

The Brothers Reunited

Later that evening, Harry brought Sirius into Regulus's room. The sight of the two brothers together again was surreal, their contrasting personalities as evident as ever.

Sirius leaned against the wall, his arms crossed but his expression soft. "It's been decades, Reg. I never thought we'd have this chance."

Regulus smirked faintly. "Neither did I. Though I have to admit, you look worse for wear."

Sirius chuckled, a sound Harry hadn't heard in years. "Still the same sharp tongue. Some things never change."

The tension between them eased, and for the first time, they seemed like brothers again.

Unanswered Questions

As Harry watched the two, a sense of unease crept into his thoughts. The mystery of their survival, the purpose of the Winter Path, and the dome's intentions weighed heavily on his mind.

"I don't know why the dome brought you back," Harry said, breaking the moment of levity. "But I'm glad it did. And if there's any chance of understanding what's happening, we'll figure it out together."

Sirius placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, his grip firm despite his weariness. "Whatever's going on, Harry, we're with you. Always."

Regulus nodded, his voice steady. "We owe you our lives. Whatever lies ahead, you have my support."

As Harry left the hospital that night, the weight of the day settled over him. Sirius and Regulus were back, but their return raised more questions than answers.

The Winter Path had given the sanctuary its first real mystery, and Harry knew it wouldn't be the last.

As the dome shimmered in the moonlight, Harry looked out toward the frozen forest, his resolve hardening.

Whatever the dome was preparing them for, they would face it together.