Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

The Colors Within

The crystal lab in Nigrum Anima was filled with a soft hum of magic as the Core Crystals pulsed faintly on their pedestals. Harry stood at a central table, holding an enchanted notebook in one hand and his wand in the other.

The Core Crystals had proven to be the least volatile of the samples retrieved from the Black Tower. Unlike the Absorbers or Frostheart Crystals, they didn't react to spells or emit dangerous energy. Instead, they shifted colors based on the person touching them, seemingly reflecting their core magic or personality.

"It's time we catalog these properly," Harry said, placing the notebook on the table. "Everyone will touch a crystal, record the color it changes to, and we'll note it down. We might discover something useful about how these reflect who we are—or what we're capable of."

Neville's Turn

Neville stepped forward first, his brow furrowed with focus. He picked up a Core Crystal carefully, its smooth surface cool to the touch. Almost instantly, the crystal began to glow, its color shifting to a vibrant, earthy green.

"Green," Luna said softly, smiling. "Like growth, nature, and life."

Neville placed the crystal back down, his cheeks slightly flushed. "Makes sense, I suppose. Plants, healing, and all that."

Harry wrote in the notebook:
Neville Longbottom: Green.

Draco's Turn

Draco approached next, his expression neutral. He placed his hand on the crystal, and the soft light shifted to a muted gray.

"Gray?" George teased from across the room. "Bit boring, isn't it?"

Draco shot him a glare. "It's balanced," Luna interjected. "Between light and dark. It's steady, reliable."

Harry nodded and wrote down:
Draco Malfoy: Gray.

Luna's Turn

Luna stepped forward with her usual dreamy calm, her fingers brushing lightly over the crystal's surface. The color shifted almost immediately to a shimmering silver, like moonlight on water.

"Silver," Neville said, smiling. "That's perfect for you, Luna."

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "It's peaceful, isn't it? Reflective, like it's always listening."

Harry made a note:
Luna Lovegood: Silver.

Fred's Turn

Fred was next, his grin widening as he picked up the crystal. It flashed a brilliant sun-orange color, glowing brightly in his hand.

"Well, that's fitting," George said with a laugh. "You're all flash and no subtlety."

Fred wiggled his eyebrows. "I like to think of it as warm and inspiring. The life of the party."

Harry jotted it down:
Fred Weasley: Sun Orange.

George's Turn

George stepped forward, taking the crystal from Fred with a mock flourish. The glow dimmed for a moment before shifting to a deeper, burnt orange color.

"Burnt orange?" George said, frowning slightly.

"It's still vibrant," Luna said. "But grounded. Like fire after it's settled."

"Good enough for me," George said with a shrug.

Harry added to the list:
George Weasley: Burnt Orange.

Harry's Turn

Finally, Harry approached the crystal. As soon as he placed his hand on it, the color shifted to a bright, shimmering gold, glowing more brightly than it had for anyone else.

"Gold," Luna said softly. "It's strong. Protective."

"Like leadership," Neville added.

"Or stubbornness," Draco muttered, though his smirk softened the jab.

Harry lifted the crystal, watching it glow in his hand. "It feels warm," he murmured, placing it back down.

He wrote in the notebook:
Harry Potter: Gold.

Reflections

The group stood around the table, staring at the list of names and colors in Harry's notebook.

"It's fascinating," Luna said. "The crystals don't just reflect magic—they reflect us. Who we are at our core."

"Or who we could become," Neville added thoughtfully.

Harry closed the notebook, tucking it into his pocket. "Whatever these crystals are showing us, it's important. They're tied to the Black Tower, but they're also tied to us. Maybe that's why the tower gave them to us in the first place."

Draco crossed his arms. "The tower doesn't give anything, Potter. If these crystals are part of its test, then we need to figure out what the test is—and what happens if we fail."

As the crystals pulsed faintly on the table, the group left the lab with a renewed sense of purpose. The Core Crystals were more than just tools—they were a reflection of the team's strengths, their potential, and the challenges they would face.

And Harry knew that whatever the Black Tower was preparing them for, they would face it together.