Harry Potter and the Deep Freeze

A Leaders' Council

The auction had officially ended, the Ministry's event room slowly clearing out as attendees returned to their homes and sanctuaries. But Harry and the other sanctuary leaders lingered, their minds too burdened with questions to simply walk away.

It was Natalia Ivanova from the Amazon sanctuary who first approached Harry. "We need to talk—properly. Not in the middle of a public event," she said, her voice low but insistent.

Zhang Yi nodded in agreement. "There is much to discuss, and not just about the auction. These... towers, or dungeons, are more important than anything we sold today."

Harry turned to one of the Ministry officials, a tall wizard with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor. "Would it be possible for us to use a meeting room? Somewhere private?"

The official hesitated but then nodded. "Follow me."

The Sealed Room

The leaders were led to a large, ornate meeting room with a long table surrounded by high-backed chairs. The Ministry official closed the doors behind them, leaving the group alone.

Once inside, Harry raised his wand, murmuring a spell under his breath. The air shimmered briefly as the room became sealed, protected against any form of eavesdropping or magical intrusion.

"We can speak freely now," Harry said, taking his seat at the head of the table.

The Towers

Each leader took turns sharing their observations.

Natalia Ivanova, her dark hair tied back tightly, spoke first. "In the Amazon, we've seen a black obelisk rise in the heart of the rainforest. It's surrounded by strange creatures—shadowed and twisted, like the ones you described from your Black Tower."

Zhang Yi leaned forward, his expression grim. "A tower has appeared near my sanctuary as well, in the mountains of Yunnan. It emanates a strong magical presence, and the surrounding area has grown... unstable. Creatures are gathering near it, just as they did during the frost."

Others echoed similar accounts—towers rising in deserts, forests, mountains, and even in remote seas. Each structure seemed to bring with it a wave of magical and environmental disturbances.

Draco, seated to Harry's right, had been silent throughout the discussion, his brow furrowed in thought. Finally, he spoke. "Maybe these towers—or dungeons, if we're calling them that—are the next challenge."

All eyes turned to him.

Draco continued, his tone sharp and analytical. "The warning from the Black Tower said, 'True challenges await for years to come.' It didn't specify what those challenges would be, but these dungeons started appearing almost immediately after we returned the heart. That can't be a coincidence."

Harry nodded slowly. "You think they're connected?"

"Of course they are," Draco replied. "The frost was just the beginning. These dungeons are the next phase."

The Question of Muggles

As the discussion continued, Harry brought up a lingering thought.

"With the frost and now these towers, secrecy from the Muggles seems... unnecessary," he said. "They've seen too much already. They know magic exists."

Zhang Yi nodded. "In China, we've had to work closely with Muggle authorities. They don't just know about us—they've been helping us survive."

Natalia added, "In the Amazon, Muggle communities have started seeking us out, asking for help. The lines between our worlds are blurring."

Draco, however, was more hesitant. "The Ministry has always upheld the Statute of Secrecy for good reason. If we abandon it entirely, what happens to balance? To control?"

Harry leaned forward, his voice thoughtful. "I understand your concern, but we've already learned something important about Muggles—something that changes everything."

The room fell silent as Harry continued.

"When we tested the Core and Ranking Crystals, Muggles responded to them, too. They have cores, and their numbers showed up on the ranking system. That means there's something magical—or at least magical-adjacent—about them."

Natalia's eyebrows shot up. "Are you saying Muggles have magic?"

"Not exactly," Harry said. "But they have something. Whatever it is, it reacts to the crystals. It proves that they're not entirely separate from us. If they're connected to magic in some way, doesn't it make sense to work with them, not against them?"

Draco frowned, still skeptical. "Even if that's true, it doesn't mean they're ready to be fully integrated into our world."

"They don't have to be," Harry replied. "But ignoring their potential—or pretending they're not part of this—would be a mistake."

Harry's Experiment

Harry hesitated before adding, "In fact, I want to test something."

The leaders looked at him, intrigued.

"What if we equip a team of Muggles with enchanted gear and send them into one of the dungeons? Not the deepest levels—just the first part. I want to see if they can clear it. If their numbers and cores are real, then they should be able to use magic, even indirectly."

Natalia frowned. "You want to send Muggles into a dungeon? That's risky, Harry."

"It's no riskier than what we've already done," Harry countered. "We need to know what role Muggles can play in this. If they can face the dungeons, it changes everything."

Zhang Yi nodded slowly. "It's not a bad idea. If Muggles are truly connected to these crystals, then understanding their potential could be critical."

Draco sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. But this is your experiment, Potter. Just don't get anyone killed."

The Meeting Concludes

After hours of discussion, the leaders reached a tentative agreement:

They would share information about the dungeons and coordinate their efforts to understand and confront the challenges they presented.Harry would lead the experiment with the Muggles, reporting back to the group on his findings.They would begin reevaluating their relationships with Muggle communities, acknowledging that collaboration might be necessary.

As the meeting ended, Harry canceled the sealing spell, and the group dispersed, each leader returning to their respective sanctuaries.

The Ministry auction had brought them together, but the meeting had solidified their alliance. The sanctuaries were no longer isolated havens—they were part of a global network, preparing for challenges that would test their strength, unity, and resilience for years to come.

And as Harry left the Ministry, the thought lingered in his mind: What if the Muggles hold the key to surviving the trials ahead?