Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

A Face from the Past

The gatehouse buzzed with activity as Harry walked in, a fresh chill from the Winter Path still lingering in his mind. Michael was seated at the intake desk, scribbling down notes as the latest arrivals were processed.

"Another group?" Harry asked, stepping closer.

Michael nodded, but his expression was grim. "Just one person this time," he said, his quill pausing. "And, well... you're going to want to handle this one personally."

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why? Who is it?"

Michael gestured to the intake room, where a man sat hunched over in one of the chairs. His frame was larger, but his posture radiated defeat. As Harry stepped closer, the man looked up, and Harry froze.

"Dudley?"

An Unexpected Arrival

Dudley Dursley looked up at Harry with hollow eyes, his once-rosy cheeks pale and gaunt. He seemed older than his years, his clothes hanging loosely on his frame. For a moment, the two cousins stared at each other in stunned silence.

"Harry," Dudley said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Harry stepped forward, his thoughts racing. "How... how did you get here? Where are Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon?"

Dudley's face crumpled, his hands trembling as he covered his face. "They're gone," he said, his voice cracking. "The frost... it took them. We tried to hold out, but it wasn't enough. They didn't make it."

Harry felt a pang of guilt and sorrow twist in his chest. Despite everything the Dursleys had put him through, they were still his family in a way—and now they were gone.

A Somber Conversation

Michael excused himself, leaving Harry and Dudley alone in the intake room. Harry pulled up a chair, sitting across from his cousin.

"Tell me everything," Harry said softly.

Dudley took a shaky breath, his hands gripping the arms of the chair. "After we left Little Whinging, we stayed in hiding for a while. The frost came slowly at first, but then it... it took everything. The house, the neighborhood... we barely escaped. We moved from place to place, but it kept following us. My parents..." His voice broke, and he struggled to continue. "They didn't survive the last freeze. I tried to save them, but it was too late."

Harry swallowed hard. "And how did you find the dome?"

"I heard rumors," Dudley said. "People talked about a safe place, protected by magic. I didn't know if it was real, but I had to try. I walked for days... and then I found the bubble."

Harry leaned back, his mind reeling. Dudley had never accepted magic, yet here he was, sitting inside the dome, seeking refuge in the very world he had once scorned.

A Welcome, Despite the Past

"You're safe now," Harry said finally. "The dome will protect you."

Dudley looked up, his expression a mix of gratitude and guilt. "Thank you, Harry. For letting me in."

"You're my cousin," Harry said simply. "I couldn't turn you away."

Dudley hesitated, then said quietly, "I never... I never said it before, but... I'm sorry. For how we treated you. It wasn't right."

Harry's chest tightened. The apology was unexpected, and while it didn't erase the years of neglect and cruelty, it was something.

"I appreciate that," Harry said after a moment. "And I forgive you."

Settling In

Harry called for Michael, who returned with a map and a set of instructions for Dudley.

"You'll be given a place to stay," Harry explained. "Go to Draco in the residential quarter—he'll get you a room and help you settle in."

Dudley nodded, his expression still dazed. "And... what do I do here?"

"Everyone contributes," Harry said. "You'll find your place. We'll figure it out together."

As Michael led Dudley out of the intake room, Harry sat back in his chair, letting out a long breath. The arrival of his cousin stirred a mix of emotions—grief for the loss of his aunt and uncle, and a strange sense of closure for a chapter of his life he thought he'd left behind.

A Quiet Reflection

That evening, Harry stood near the edge of the dome, staring out at the frozen wasteland beyond. The frost had taken so much—his parents, his friends, and now even the Dursleys. Yet, somehow, Dudley had survived and found his way here.

Luna appeared beside him, her gaze thoughtful. "He's carrying a lot of sorrow," she said softly.

"We all are," Harry replied, his voice heavy.

"But he's here," Luna said. "And that means there's still hope."

Harry nodded, her words resonating deeply. The dome had become a place of second chances—a sanctuary not just from the frost, but from the mistakes and pain of the past.

As the dome shimmered in the moonlight, Harry made a silent promise: he would protect everyone who sought refuge here, no matter where they came from or what they carried.

Even Dudley.