Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

The Puzzle Deepens

Snape spent the rest of the day sequestered in his temporary quarters at Hogwarts, poring over the events of the morning. His mind churned with questions about Regulus and Sirius's return, the mysterious nature of the sanctuary, and the seemingly limitless capabilities of the dome.

He stood by the window, staring out at the sprawling sanctuary. The farmhouses dotted the landscape, the subdivisions stretched toward the horizon, and the faint shimmer of the dome's barrier was visible in the distance. It was surreal, a world entirely unlike the Hogwarts he had known.

Snape's fingers drummed against the windowsill as he replayed his encounter with the Black brothers.

A Visitor Appears

A knock at the door broke his reverie. With a flick of his wand, Snape opened it, revealing Harry standing in the hallway, a calm but purposeful look on his face.

"Potter," Snape said, turning back to the window. "If you're here to deliver more surprises, I'd rather not hear them today."

Harry stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "No surprises, Professor. Just... a check-in. I thought you might have questions."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Questions? I've encountered two supposedly dead men, one of whom I loathe, wandering this sanctuary as if it's a summer holiday. And this dome, this construct, seems to have intentions of its own. Of course I have questions."

Harry smirked faintly, taking a seat in the corner. "I figured as much. Ask away."

The Questions Begin

Snape crossed his arms, his dark eyes narrowing. "Start with the obvious. How did you find Regulus and Sirius, and what role does the dome play in their return?"

Harry leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "Sirius and Regulus were found at the gate to the Winter Path. Regulus was lucid, but Sirius was... struggling at first. As for the dome's role? That's harder to say. It didn't directly bring them back, but the magic here feels connected to whatever preserved them. Maybe the dome's expansion or the sanctuary's energy awakened something dormant."

Snape's lips thinned. "Magic of this scale doesn't act without intent, Potter. The dome, the dungeons, even the freeze—they're all part of something larger. Something we still don't understand."

Harry nodded. "You're right. That's why we're studying everything—every dungeon, every artifact, every anomaly. The Nigrum Anima is working day and night to uncover answers."

Snape turned to face him fully. "And what do you suspect, Potter? Don't tell me you've taken all this at face value."

Harry hesitated. "I think the sanctuary is meant to prepare us for what's coming next. The freeze was just the beginning. The dungeons are proof of that."

A Grim Possibility

Snape's gaze sharpened. "And if the dungeons are a test, as you seem to believe, what happens if we fail?"

Harry's expression darkened. "We won't fail."

Snape scoffed. "Spoken like a Gryffindor. Optimism without strategy is meaningless."

"Which is why I need people like you," Harry countered. "You're meticulous, logical, and more than capable of uncovering the truth. You see what others miss."

Snape stared at him for a long moment, the faintest flicker of surprise crossing his features. "Flattery, Potter? You must be desperate."

Harry smirked. "Just practical. You're not exactly easy to replace."

A Reluctant Agreement

After a long silence, Snape sighed and turned back to the window. "Very well. I'll lend my expertise—for now. But mark my words, Potter: if this sanctuary falls, it won't be because I was unprepared."

Harry stood, his expression serious. "It won't fall, Professor. Not while we're all here."

As Harry left the room, Snape remained by the window, his mind racing with possibilities.

The sanctuary was a mystery, the dome a puzzle, and the dungeons a challenge waiting to be solved.

And Severus Snape intended to solve them all.