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HRA# CHAPTER 145
🕑 Added 2025-05-31 23:39:26 +0000 UTCIt was obvious that Luna had come up with the idea on a whim, so even her usually spirited slogan came out a bit... dazed.
"Down with the Ministry of Magic?" Harry quipped. "My relationship with the Ministry hasn’t gotten that bad."
"My dad says Nargles have probably built a nest in the Ministry, which is why they keep making foolish decisions like framing you," Luna said airily. "Dad and I both support you, Harry. Keep it up!"
"...Thanks," Harry replied, his expression a touch complicated.
He’d just learned a new term: Nargles. He wasn’t sure if he’d find anything about them in the Hogwarts library later.
As he’d expected, Luna exuded a certain mystical aura, not unlike the traditional shaman priests he’d encountered in Azeroth who specialized in the ways of spirits. Her cryptic speech, her eccentric attire... it was hard to tell if it was from spending so much time communing with the spirits.
Alright, Harry had to admit, Luna reminded him more of a troll witch doctor.
But that wasn’t a big deal.
"Anyway, like my other apprentices, you can just call me Mentor," Harry said, shaking off the stray thoughts. "Once you officially start at Hogwarts, I’ll introduce you to the others."
"Alright, Mentor," Luna nodded obediently.
"I’ll be staying at the Weasleys’ for a while," Harry continued. "During that time, I’ll teach you some of the knowledge a shaman should have. Compared to the other apprentices, you’re already a year behind."
"I’ll work hard," Luna said, her small face, framed by a cascade of feathers, brimming with determination.
"You just need to study normally. No need to stress yourself out," Harry reassured her. "Unlike the others, Luna, you have an advantage in the ways of the shaman. To you, the elemental spirits are friends, not servants or lifeless objects."
"Don’t others think that way?" Luna tilted her head.
"Some see them as lifeless objects, servants, or even slaves. Everyone has their own perspective, and it’s not something you can fake with words. The elements and spirits can sense your sincerity," Harry said seriously. "That’s why I say it’s your advantage. I can tell you genuinely see them as friends, which will make it easier for you to walk the path of the shaman. Here."
As he spoke, Harry pulled a pair of runed horns from his dragonhide pouch and handed them to Luna.
"Are these the mark of a shaman?" Luna asked excitedly, taking the horns and pushing her feathered headdress back to position them on her head. "But why do they look different from yours, Mentor?"
"Because I don’t need them," Harry explained simply. "See the runes carved on them? They’re written in the language of the elements. Wearing these horns will strengthen your connection to them."
"The language of the elements?" Luna obediently placed the horns on either side of her forehead. They automatically adhered to her skin, fitting as naturally as if they’d grown there.
"Yes, the elements have their own language," Harry said with a smile. "I’ve told you before—my version of a shaman is different from what most people in this world think of. At the very least, my shamans need to learn a lot."
"You’ll need to learn the language of the elements because only by calling to them in their purest tongue will they respond most strongly. Compared to ordinary languages, the elemental tongue itself holds magic, almost like a spell," Harry said earnestly.
"Besides that, you’ll need to learn Taur-ahe and Orcish, because the shamanic path I teach comes from the tauren and orcs. You don’t need to know what those races are yet, but mastering their languages will allow you to cast shamanic spells with the proper incantations."
No magical discipline comes without intellect. As Harry understood it, mages had to master many languages—some even studied Demonic or Void tongues. It was incredibly complex.
"I’ll study hard," Luna repeated, her usually dreamy eyes finally focusing.
And so, even though it was still the holidays, Harry’s little classroom was in session.
"I can’t believe I’m studying during the holidays!" Ron growled, sitting at a wooden table beside Harry’s hut in the Mulgore suitcase world. "This is the kind of thing Percy would do! If Fred or George find out, they’ll laugh me into the ground!"
"They’ll call me Percy the Second?"
In front of Ron lay a book Harry had written—one of a kind—for learning Taur-ahe, more like a dictionary than anything else.
"No way. You’re just Percy’s brother, not his son. Why would you be Percy the Second?" Harry said, suppressing a laugh. "Stop complaining and study. You’ll need it eventually."
"But I can’t even connect with the earth element!" Ron said, setting his quill aside in frustration. "I might never manage it. Imagine what people will say! Both of us are your apprentices, but I can’t cast a single shaman spell or carry an earth elemental on my head like it’s nothing."
"Actually, I don’t recommend carrying earth elementals on your head," Harry said with a wry smile. "Don’t you think it’d be heavy? They’re earth elementals, Ron. You could sprain your neck."
"Hey, that’s not the point!" Ron shot him a sideways glance. "The point is—you secretly took on another apprentice, Harry! A Lovegood, no less. If Hermione finds out, she’ll lose it!"
As he spoke, Ron lowered his voice and glanced at Luna, who was reading nearby, making sure she didn’t overhear.
"Why would Hermione lose it?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Come on, it’s an apprentice!" Ron rolled his eyes. "Even I know that in traditional wizarding mentorships, an apprentice can inherit everything from their teacher—sometimes they’re closer than the teacher’s own kids! This is huge, and you didn’t even tell us. Are we still friends?"
"Don’t be ridiculous," Harry said, rolling his eyes back. "I just happened to meet Luna that day and realized she has real talent, so I took her on as an apprentice."
"Talent?" Ron raised an eyebrow. "What kind of talent?"
"Even before meeting me, she could vaguely sense the elements’ presence," Harry explained. "You get what that means, right? If I want to spread the shamanic path and awaken the elements in this world, I can’t pass up someone with that kind of gift."
"Fair point," Ron said, swallowing hard and glancing at Luna again. He couldn’t wrap his head around how this quirky girl had such extraordinary talent. "If you put it that way..."
Thanks to Hermione’s notes from Harry’s lessons, teaching Luna had been much easier. "She’s been studying for about a week now," Harry said thoughtfully. "The history and culture of shamans can come later. Tomorrow, I’m going to have her try connecting with the earth element."
"Earthbinding Potion?" Ron asked. "She’s already at that stage?"
"It’s not that hard. You just drink the potion," Harry said with a shrug. "What I’m asking is—do you want to try again?"
Ron’s hand, holding the quill, began to tremble. His face paled slightly, no doubt recalling last year’s ordeal of relentless stomach issues driven by stubborn determination.
It was a sore memory.
"Fine!" Ron gritted his teeth, forcing the word out. He wasn’t giving up.
...
Harry had observed Luna for a while before deciding to let her drink the Earthbinding Potion.
Temperament, personality, speech, desires—some things couldn’t be judged quickly, but there were always signs.
Luna was undeniably gifted. Even though Harry hadn’t taught her any shaman spells yet, her progress in learning the languages was already far beyond most.
But it was precisely because of her talent that Harry was cautious. A gifted person could cause far more destruction than a mediocre one, even without malicious intent.
A brilliant mind with an insatiable thirst for knowledge could be dangerous. Even if driven only by curiosity, the knowledge they pursued could harm the world or others.
Harry didn’t want an apprentice he’d painstakingly trained to become a force of destruction or a threat to others’ happiness.
The lesson of the Dark Iron dwarves was a stark reminder. Their summoning of the Fire Elemental Lord had torn Redridge Mountains apart, creating a blazing volcano and turning Searing Gorge into the Burning Steppes.
If someone used the knowledge Harry spread to unleash elemental forces that devastated entire regions, leaving nothing but scorched earth and suffering, he’d never forgive himself.
Even though the elements in this world were still dormant, Harry could always sense their immense power.
He’d rather have a hundred kind-hearted, rule-following, but unremarkable apprentices than one brilliant but heartless prodigy.
His evaluation of Luna was just beginning and might continue throughout her apprenticeship.
In moments like these, Harry finally understood how Dumbledore must have felt.
The greater the power, the greater the responsibility—and the more there was to consider.
Deep in Thunder Bluff, within the Mulgore suitcase world, Harry had built a shamanic altar, a grand space for communing with elements and spirits.
"I hope this training hasn’t been boring for you, Luna," Harry said seriously, standing before his two apprentices after explaining the process.
"Not at all," Luna said dreamily, her gaze drifting. "It’s like opening a door to an unknown world. Everything you’ve taught is fascinating... though it’s a pity you won’t let Dad publish it in The Quibbler."
"There’ll be a time for that," Harry replied, keeping his face neutral.
By now, he fully understood The Quibbler’s reputation in the wizarding world and how people viewed it.
He still planned to become a Hogwarts professor and spread the shamanic path. The last thing he wanted was for wizards to associate shamans with some fringe, laughable rag.
"Alright," Luna said, sounding disappointed as she picked up the bottle in front of her. "Is this the Earthbinding Potion?"
"Earthbinding Potion, used only to connect with the earth element," Ron said, picking up his own bottle and taking a deep breath. "Merlin’s beard, I’ll never forget the taste of this stuff."
"Is it bad?" Luna asked, eyeing Ron curiously.
"Not exactly bad," Ron said, downing his potion with a grimace. "But after a few times... ugh. You wouldn’t get it. I’m heading over there, Harry."
Shaking his head, Ron didn’t feel like chatting with Luna, who Harry had called so talented. After a quick wave to Harry, he sat in a corner of the shamanic altar, closed his eyes, and began the familiar ritual of calling to the earth element.
"My kind of person?" Luna tilted her head, looking at Harry.
"Don’t mind him. He didn’t mean anything by it," Harry said with a smile. "Drink up. If all goes well, the earth element is waiting for your call."
Without hesitation, Luna popped the cork and drank the potion in one go.
"...It’s kind of sweet," she said, her furrowed brow relaxing. "From what Ron said, I thought it’d taste strange."
Leaving Luna to quietly sense the earth element’s presence, Harry wasn’t in a rush. Except for those naturally favored by the spirits, most people needed time to feel and connect with the elements after drinking the potion.
A moment later.
"It worked!"
A joyful shout.
"It worked! Haha, ahahahaha! Harry! I did it!"
It wasn’t Luna’s voice but Ron’s—loud, accompanied by wild laughter, growing closer.
Harry turned quickly and saw Ron stumbling toward him, practically tripping over himself in excitement, waving his hand as if afraid Harry wouldn’t hear.
"It worked?" Harry raised an eyebrow. He didn’t need Ron to explain further—he could see the small, dark, stone-like earth elemental cradled in Ron’s arms.
"I’m finally a shaman!" Ron stopped in front of Harry, panting with excitement as he held up the elemental, careful not to drop it. "Look! I’m naming him Hercules! What do you think?"
"The Greek hero?" Harry said, giving the tiny elemental a curious look. It waved what might’ve been an arm in greeting. "If you like it, go for it."
Ron was free to name his elemental whatever he wanted. The important thing was that, after all this time, his friend had finally succeeded.
"Congratulations, Ron," Harry said with a shrug. "From now on, you’re a proper shaman."
"Yeah," Ron said, his eyes glistening as he hugged Hercules close, sniffing. "Finally... you don’t know how rough last year was. Out of the four of us, I was the only one left behind. But now, I’m with the earth—"
Ron’s words cut off abruptly, his ecstatic expression freezing—then turning to shock, disbelief, and finally despair.
"Ron?" Harry waved a hand in front of his friend’s face, but got no response.
Following Ron’s gaze, Harry saw a small mound of earth at the edge of the altar, unmistakably new. He was certain that spot had been flat grass before.
About the height of an average adult man, made of gray stone, it was undoubtedly an earth elemental—just a bit... chubby.
But compared to the small girl crouching in front of it, the elemental was massive.
"She—she—she did it too?!" Ron finally regained his voice, pointing shakily in that direction and turning to Harry, stammering.
T/N: If you find any typos or incorrect names, please leave a comment. Thanks, and enjoy reading!
Comments
Vick
Ron is a bit a ass here.
ZaChan
Congrats to both Luna and Ron!
