Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

A Plan for the Crystals

The soft glow of the crystals filled the experimental room in Nigrum Anima, casting shifting patterns of light across the dark walls. Harry sat at the center table with Luna, Neville, and Draco, while Fred and George leaned against the walls, their usual smirks replaced with thoughtful expressions. The group had gathered to determine what to do with their newfound knowledge of the crystals.

"These aren't just random artifacts," Harry began, gesturing to the labeled crystals on the table. "Each one has a purpose, and if we use them right, they could give us an edge against the frost—and the Black Tower."

Neville nodded, flipping through his notebook. "The Absorbers alone could revolutionize how we store and control magic. And the Frostheart Crystals... well, we need to be careful with those."

Fred grinned. "Careful is boring. I say we test the Reflection Crystals first—see if we can turn them into shields or barriers."

George added, "Or trap spells inside them and shoot them back at our enemies."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Let's focus on practicality, shall we? If we're going to make use of these, we need controlled testing—and safeguards."

Testing the Crystals

Harry stood, pacing as he thought through their next steps. "We need to divide the crystals into categories: those that are safe for immediate use, those that need further testing, and those that are too dangerous to touch for now."

Luna tilted her head. "The Core Crystals could be safe. They seem more reflective than reactive."

"Agreed," Neville said. "And the Absorbers are stable. They don't release energy unless you extract it intentionally."

Harry nodded. "What about the Reflection Crystals?"

Fred and George exchanged a glance. "Unpredictable," Fred said.

"But useful," George added. "We just need to figure out how to aim them properly."

"The Frostheart Crystals are risky," Neville said. "They amplify ice magic, but we don't know their limits. If someone loses control..."

"We shelve those for now," Harry decided. "And the Shadowglass?"

Luna picked up a Shadowglass crystal carefully, watching it shimmer in her hand. "It's powerful, but temporary. The invisibility only lasts while you're touching it. Still, it could be invaluable for scouting missions."

Developing Uses

Over the next several hours, the group brainstormed and tested potential applications for the crystals:

Absorbers: Neville suggested embedding them into wands or tools to create self-recharging magical devices. Luna added that they could also be used to neutralize dangerous spells or store surplus energy.

Reflection Crystals: Fred and George experimented with attaching the crystals to small shields, creating devices that could deflect curses back at attackers.

Dark Shards: Draco proposed forging them into daggers or arrows, their sharp edges making them ideal for magical weapons.

Shadowglass: Luna and Dudley tested its invisibility properties, discovering that the effect extended to clothing and small objects the user carried.

"The possibilities are endless," Neville said, his excitement growing. "If we can refine these, they'll change how we fight—and how we survive."

Unexpected Results

During one test, Fred tapped a Frostheart Crystal with his wand, casting a simple Frost Charm to see how it would react.

The crystal flared brightly, and the temperature in the room plummeted. Ice spread across the walls and floor, the air turning bitterly cold.

"Fred!" George shouted, pulling his brother back.

Neville quickly countered the spell, his wand emitting a wave of heat that melted the ice.

"Careful!" Draco snapped, glaring at Fred. "These aren't toys."

Fred held up his hands in mock surrender. "Point taken. No more Frostheart experiments without a proper plan."

A Strategy for the Tower

As the group gathered their notes, Harry leaned forward, his expression serious. "We've made progress, but we're still only scratching the surface. The Black Tower isn't just giving us these crystals—it's testing us. Every step we take feels like part of its plan."

Luna nodded thoughtfully. "But if it's testing us, that means it expects us to use what we've learned. The crystals are tools, Harry. We just have to figure out how to use them better than the tower expects."

Draco crossed his arms. "Then we need to move beyond testing. We need to use these in the field—against the frost, the creatures, and whatever's waiting deeper in the tower."

Harry met his gaze. "Agreed. But we don't rush into this. We'll refine the crystals, turn them into something reliable, and then we'll plan our next move."

End of the Chapter

As the team packed up for the night, the crystals pulsed faintly on their pedestals, their magic seemingly responding to the energy in the room.

Harry stared at the collection, his mind racing with possibilities and questions. The crystals were gifts, tools for survival—but they were also a challenge.

The Black Tower wasn't just a threat. It was a teacher, pushing them to evolve. And Harry knew that their next test was only a matter of time.