Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

Expanding the Test

The early morning sunlight filtered through the dome as Harry stood at the edge of the Frozen Path, gazing toward the archway that led to the Black Tower. He had spent most of the previous day deliberating, considering the risks and rewards of returning to the tower.

But he knew the only way to uncover more about the crystals—and what they meant for the sanctuary—was to retrieve larger samples.

Entering the Black Tower

For the first time, Harry stepped through the archway into the Black Tower. The oppressive energy pressed down on him immediately, the air thick with ancient magic. He adjusted his backpack, gripping his wand tightly as he moved deeper into the tower.

It wasn't long before he encountered the first challenge: a group of frail goblins wielding crude weapons.

"Stupefy!" Harry shouted, stunning two of the goblins as they charged.

Another lunged at him from the side, but Harry blocked it with a shield charm, quickly disarming the creature with a flick of his wand. The goblins were weaker than he expected, but their persistence kept him on edge.

Once the creatures were dealt with, Harry took a moment to gather samples from them. He collected their blood in enchanted vials and carefully broke off a piece of one of their bone weapons for later study.

The Crystal Room

The journey to the crystal room was as labyrinthine as ever, but Harry eventually found himself standing before the heavy iron door. Pushing it open, he was greeted by the familiar glow of the Core Crystals and the various other stones that lined the room.

"This is it," he murmured to himself, stepping inside.

Harry began his search methodically, moving from one cluster of crystals to the next. Finally, he found what he was looking for:

A large Core Crystal, translucent and perfectly spherical, glowing faintly with shifting colors. It was far bigger than the ones they had tested before.Nearby, he spotted a Ranking Crystal, similarly large and clear, its smooth surface gleaming in the dim light.

"These will do," Harry said, carefully wrapping each crystal in protective cloth before placing them in his backpack.

As he continued searching, Harry noticed a group of uniquely shaped crystals in a corner of the room—twisted, angular stones that pulsed faintly with energy. Curious, he added a few of these to his collection.

With his pack filled, Harry retraced his steps back through the tower, careful to avoid unnecessary fights.

Back at Hogwarts

When Harry returned to Hogwarts, he immediately went to one of the unused classrooms in the castle. He set the large Core Crystal and Ranking Crystal on a table, their soft glow filling the room.

"This changes everything," Harry muttered, examining the crystals. "We need to know how these interact with more people."

Deciding to test the larger crystals on the students, Harry grabbed a fresh notebook and enchanted a quill for note-taking. He made his way to the Great Hall, where Percy Weasley met him with his usual brisk efficiency.

"You're serious about this?" Percy asked, eyeing the crystals.

"Completely," Harry replied. "I need your help to organize the students. And since you're here, we might as well start with you."

Percy nodded, stepping forward.

Percy's Results

Percy placed his hand on the Core Crystal, and it immediately shifted to a deep auburn orange, the glow warm and steady.

"Well," Percy said, glancing at the crystal. "That's... unexpected."

"It suits you," Harry said with a small smile. "Strong, determined."

Percy then moved to the Ranking Crystal, placing his hand on its smooth surface. The number 4 appeared within, glowing faintly.

Percy tilted his head. "Not bad. Respectable."

Harry wrote the results in the notebook:
Percy Weasley – Core Color: Auburn Orange; Rank: 4

Testing the Students

Soon after, Harry called the rest of the students to the Great Hall. The room buzzed with curiosity and excitement as the Core Crystal and Ranking Crystal were placed on a central table.

"Form two lines," Harry instructed. "First, you'll test the Core Crystal. When you've recorded your color, move to the Ranking Crystal. Percy will write down your results."

One by one, the students approached the crystals, their expressions ranging from nervous to eager.

The Core Crystal glowed in an array of colors as the students touched it:

A calm blue for one Hufflepuff student.A fiery red for a Gryffindor with a mischievous grin.A soft pink for a shy Ravenclaw.A vibrant yellow for an optimistic first-year.

The Ranking Crystal, meanwhile, displayed a wide range of numbers, from 6 to 3, reflecting the diversity of magical strength and potential among the students.

Reflections

As the testing continued, Harry couldn't help but notice patterns emerging. The students with higher numbers on the Ranking Crystal often displayed brighter, more vivid colors on the Core Crystal, while those with lower numbers had softer, subtler hues.

"It's not just raw magic," Harry mused, watching a particularly confident Slytherin receive a 2. "The crystals are measuring something deeper—potential, personality, maybe even connection to the tower."

By the end of the day, Percy's notebook was filled with names, colors, and ranks.

"We'll analyze this later," Percy said, handing the notebook to Harry. "But it's clear these crystals are more than just tools. They're a way of understanding who we are—and what we can do."

As the Core Crystal and Ranking Crystal sat quietly on their pedestals, Harry felt a strange sense of progress. The Black Tower had given them tools to measure their strengths and connections—and with it, the beginnings of a new understanding of the challenges ahead.

But he also knew that the tower wasn't finished with them yet.