Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Into the Unknown

Dudley sat at the edge of his seat in the Great Hall, gripping his hands tightly. The image of the Black Tower's front door from the captured mirror had lingered in his mind since Harry first showed it to everyone. Something about it called to him, a strange mixture of dread and curiosity pulling at his thoughts.

"I'll go," Dudley said suddenly, breaking the tense silence.

The room turned to him in surprise. Harry furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about?"

"The archway," Dudley said firmly, his voice steady despite the nerves bubbling beneath the surface. "I'll go through it. I've got a good sense of direction, and I've been preparing for this kind of thing."

Fred leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "This kind of thing? You mean walking into creepy magical portals that lead to god knows where?"

Dudley's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Not exactly. But I've been studying what I can since I got here, and I've been training. I'm not useless anymore."

Harry crossed his arms, skeptical. "You've been doing well here, Dudley, but this isn't just a walk in the park. We don't know what's beyond that door. It could be dangerous—deadly, even."

"That's exactly why we need to know," Dudley said, meeting Harry's gaze. "If this thing is tied to the frost, it's not going to wait for us to figure it out. We need someone who can go in and report back."

The room fell silent, everyone exchanging uncertain glances. Finally, Harry sighed.

"Fine," he said reluctantly. "But you're not going in there without precautions. We'll tie a rope around your waist to guide you back, and if anything happens—anything—you turn around and get out."

Dudley nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Deal."

Through the Archway

Dudley stood at the archway in the Frozen Path, the biting cold making his breath visible in the air. The enchanted rope tied around his waist hummed faintly with magic, its other end held firmly by Harry and Neville, who stood just outside the arch.

"You're sure about this?" Harry asked one last time.

Dudley nodded. "I'm sure."

With a deep breath, he stepped through the archway.

The cold intensified as Dudley crossed the threshold, the air feeling thicker, heavier. When he opened his eyes, he was standing before the Black Door.

The door was massive, its iron-bound frame towering over him. The jagged runes etched into its surface pulsed faintly, and as Dudley approached, the door creaked open slowly, revealing the dark interior of the tower.

Inside the Black Tower

Dudley stepped cautiously into the tower, the rope trailing behind him. The air inside was different—stifling and heavy with an unplaceable energy. The entryway was vast, its high ceilings supported by stone arches and iron chandeliers that flickered with ghostly light. The decor was a strange mix of Victorian elegance and medieval austerity, with tapestries depicting unknown symbols and long stone corridors stretching into the darkness.

"This is like something out of a movie," Dudley muttered to himself, his footsteps echoing against the stone floor.

As he moved deeper into the tower, shadows flitted at the edges of his vision. Figures, humanoid but insubstantial, lingered just out of sight, their movements unnatural and soundless.

He froze as one of the shadows moved closer, but it didn't seem to notice him. Instead, it glided past, disappearing into a side corridor.

Dudley pressed on, gripping the rope tightly. His eyes darted around the space, taking in every detail. Then he saw them.

Goblins.

The small, sharp-featured creatures scurried through the halls, some carrying tools, others wielding weapons. Their eyes glinted with intelligence, but their movements were hurried, as though they were workers on a tight schedule.

"Why are there goblins here?" Dudley whispered, baffled.

Farther into the tower, Dudley noticed other oddities. Among the shadows and goblins were creatures he'd never seen before—shadow bunnies, small, eerie animals that darted across the stone floors, leaving trails of darkness in their wake.

And yet, something about the tower felt oddly familiar.

Dudley paused as recognition struck him. "This is... like a dungeon," he realized aloud, his mind flashing back to the anime he'd been watching since arriving in the sanctuary. "This whole place is like one of those dungeons from Solo Leveling."

The realization made him uneasy. If the Black Tower was a dungeon, then it was likely filled with dangers and challenges—and perhaps rewards as well.

Looking around one last time, Dudley followed the rope back to the door, retracing his steps carefully.

Back Through the Archway

When Dudley emerged from the archway, Harry and the others were waiting anxiously.

"Dudley!" Harry called, rushing forward to untie the rope. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Dudley raised a hand, still catching his breath. "Let's talk back at Hogwarts," he said. "I'll explain everything."

In the Sitting Room

The group gathered in one of Hogwarts' cozy sitting rooms, a fire crackling in the hearth. Dudley sat in an armchair, a blanket draped over his shoulders, as he recounted what he had seen.

"The inside of the tower is... strange," Dudley began. "It's huge—like something out of an old medieval castle, but also fancy, like a Victorian mansion. The entryway alone was massive, with all these arches and chandeliers."

"And the door?" Harry asked.

"It opened on its own," Dudley said. "It felt... alive, in a way. Like it knew I was there."

Neville frowned. "What about the shadows? Did you see them?"

Dudley nodded. "Yeah. Shadowy figures everywhere, moving around like they had somewhere to be. And goblins—actual goblins. They were working on something, but I couldn't tell what."

"Goblins?" Luna asked, tilting her head. "That's odd. Why would they be there?"

"I don't know," Dudley admitted. "But there's more. The whole tower reminded me of something I've seen before—in this anime called Solo Leveling."

"Anime?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's like a magical story from the Muggle world," Dudley explained. "In it, there are these things called dungeons. They're places filled with challenges, monsters, and treasures. The Black Tower felt like one of those dungeons. It's designed to test whoever enters it."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed his words.

"A dungeon," Harry murmured, staring into the fire. "If that's what this tower is, then it's not just a threat—it's a challenge."

Luna's voice was soft but steady. "And challenges always come with risks—and rewards."

As the fire crackled in the quiet room, Harry leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. The Black Tower was more than just a looming presence—it was a mystery to unravel, a danger to confront.

And now, thanks to Dudley, they had their first glimpse of what lay inside.