Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Strengthening the Sanctuary

The day after the meeting with the Ministry, the sanctuary hummed with renewed purpose. Harry and his team wasted no time implementing the agreements reached during the negotiations. While the frost loomed beyond the dome, inside its protective barrier, progress was swift and focused.

Medical Supplies and New Arrivals

By midmorning, a Ministry shipment arrived at the apparition point. Large crates filled with medical supplies, potion ingredients, and enchanted tools were carefully transported to the hospital that Harry had built.

Neville and Hannah Abbott oversaw the inventory, checking each item against the list provided by the Ministry.

"This is a lot more than I expected," Neville said, pulling out a crate of powdered dittany.

Hannah nodded, inspecting a box of ready-made healing potions. "They've given us everything from burn paste to anti-frostbite draughts. These will save lives."

Madam Pomfrey, who had joined the sanctuary early on, walked into the room, her sharp eyes scanning the supplies. "It's about time the Ministry started doing something useful," she said briskly. "Get these sorted and stored immediately."

Nearby, Luna spoke softly to a group of new arrivals from the Ministry's recommended team. Among them were two healers, a warding specialist, and an agricultural researcher.

"You'll be working directly with our teams," Luna explained. "We're happy to have your help, but remember—this sanctuary operates differently. We value collaboration and respect."

The group nodded, though the warding specialist, a middle-aged wizard named Thaddeus, seemed slightly hesitant.

"We'll do our best to integrate," he said. "The Ministry spoke highly of what you've accomplished here."

Luna smiled serenely. "You'll see for yourself soon enough."

Preparing the Capturing Mirrors

In the workshop near the vineyard, Harry and Draco worked with a small team to prepare a new batch of capturing mirrors for the Ministry.

"These will be a test," Draco said as he polished the surface of a completed mirror. "If the Ministry uses them wisely, we'll know they're serious about collaboration."

"And if they don't?" Harry asked, examining the runes carved into the mirror's frame.

Draco smirked. "Then we'll deal with that, too."

Luna entered the workshop, carrying a scroll of instructions. "These explain how to activate the mirrors and use them for monitoring the frost. I've simplified the language so even the most stubborn bureaucrat can manage."

Harry chuckled. "Perfect. Let's get these packed and ready for shipment."

Expanding Communication

As part of the compromise, Harry had agreed to integrate the Ministry into the sanctuary's communication network. Luna and Neville worked together to expand the enchanted mirrors, linking them to the Memory Keeper network.

In the Great Hall, Percy organized the installation of a central communication hub—a large, wall-mounted mirror that displayed live updates from other sanctuaries and the Ministry.

"This is impressive," Hermione said as she appeared through the mirror for a test run. Her image flickered slightly as the enchantment stabilized. "It'll make coordination much easier."

"It's a work in progress," Percy said, adjusting the frame. "But it's already proving useful. The other sanctuaries are sharing their frost data in real-time."

Hermione's image nodded. "Kingsley's already seeing the benefits. He asked me to pass along his thanks."

Percy snorted. "Tell him to send more supplies instead."

Strengthening the Dome's Defenses

With the frost creeping closer, Draco and the warding specialist, Thaddeus, began working on strengthening the dome's magical defenses.

"This dome is incredible," Thaddeus said, running his hand along the shimmering barrier. "The magic is ancient—far older than anything I've seen."

Draco nodded. "It's alive, in a way. It adapts to our needs, but we can't rely on it to do all the work. If the frost pushes harder, we need to be ready."

The two spent hours layering additional wards around the sanctuary, creating a network of protective spells designed to repel magical disruptions and physical threats.

Community Growth

Meanwhile, the sanctuary itself continued to thrive. The fields were lush with crops, the lakes teemed with fish, and the orchard yielded fruit faster than ever.

Fred and George were busy organizing a small market day in Hogsmeade, encouraging residents to trade goods and share resources.

"It's not just about survival," Fred said, setting up a stand filled with jars of jam and bottles of juice.

"It's about living," George added, grinning.

Nearby, children laughed as they played near the vineyard, their voices a rare and precious sound in a world shadowed by frost.

As evening fell, Harry stood at the edge of the dome, watching the frost shimmer beyond the barrier. The day had been long and filled with progress, but he knew the road ahead would be even harder.

Luna joined him, her gaze thoughtful. "The Ministry's help will make a difference," she said.

"For now," Harry replied. "But we'll still need to be careful. The frost isn't stopping, and we don't know what's coming next."

Luna nodded, her expression calm. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."

As the dome glowed softly under the stars, Harry felt a flicker of hope. The sanctuary was stronger than ever, and with the Ministry's support, they had a chance to help even more people.

For now, it was enough.