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HRA# Chapter 75: The Cruel Selection and the Remaining Twelve
🕑 Added 2025-03-22 19:36:51 +0000 UTC“Thank you for the invitation, Albus,” Professor McGonagall said dryly, “but I don’t think it’s necessary—do you really believe this approach of yours is effective?”
Dumbledore was currently sitting cross-legged on the ground, his long robes draped over his upper body. Though his torso was mostly obscured, his two hands were visible, palms turned upward toward the sky, fingers twisted into an odd gesture.
“I feel like it’s effective,” Dumbledore replied earnestly. “You might not know this, but it’s a posture from the distant East called ‘Five Hearts Facing Heaven.’ It’s said to help one achieve a state of unity with the cosmos. Hmm, I think it’s more or less what Harry was getting at.”
“So you’ve already sensed this ‘Soul of the Earth’ he mentioned?” Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.
“No,” Dumbledore shook his head, chuckling cheerfully. “I’ve only sensed that the ground is a bit cold… quite chilly, actually. Not exactly friendly to an old man’s bones.”
“If you catch a cold because of this, I’ll send you straight to Poppy.”
“Oh, let’s hope not,” Dumbledore muttered. “When it comes to patients, Poppy can be frighteningly serious.”
Harry passed by the two of them, still in the midst of their experiment, pretending not to overhear their conversation.
Truth be told, Harry was genuinely curious about what the world looked like through the eyes of these students after drinking the Earth Covenant Potion. How would the elements manifest to them?
Unlike this world, the elemental forces of Azeroth were always vibrant and active. Back then, when Harry drank the Earth Covenant Potion at the shamanic altar, it had taken little effort— he turned around and immediately saw the Soul of the Earth, establishing a connection with the earth element right away.
But in this world, the elements were scattered and dormant, fragmented by years of slumber. They couldn’t seek out or respond to anyone on their own; the students had to find them instead.
Harry wandered the field, putting a stop to a variety of dangerous antics— these kids always managed to come up with something new to surprise him.
One student soaked a patch of dirt with water and jumped in, coating themselves in mud from head to toe until they were unrecognizable, a literal mudball. Another stood in an open space, passionately reciting odes to the earth and soil in an emotional voice, hoping to win the elements’ favor.
There was even one who tied a rope around their neck, trying to force themselves into a half-conscious state of asphyxiation to sense the Soul of the Earth in a dreamlike trance.
—That last one, especially. If Harry hadn’t intervened in time, he was certain that poor soul would’ve choked themselves out and become the first official casualty of the Shamanic Priesthood Club.
Half-dreaming, half-awake? More like half-dead, half-delirious.
There were simply too many geniuses here. By the time Harry completed his lap around the field, he couldn’t help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
How were Hogwarts students this creative?
And it wasn’t just the Gryffindors— plenty of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were in on it too, their ideas even more bizarre than the rest.
Harry was starting to regret his initial vague instruction: “Drink the potion and feel the Soul of the Earth.” He should’ve laid out a detailed list of what not to do. Now he was exhausted from the oversight.
Lesson learned. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
“I did it!!!”
A sudden shriek echoed across the field, drawing everyone’s attention. Harry hurried over and saw Penelope Clearwater cradling her hands in excitement. Hovering above her palms was a shapeless lump of earth, tumbling and rolling in midair.
“Congratulations, Penelope,” Harry said without hesitation, offering his blessing to the familiar upperclassman. “You’ve officially stepped onto the path of a shamanic priest. I hope you’ll go far.”
“Thank you! Thank you, Harry!” As the first person in the field to connect with an element, Penelope was so overjoyed she could barely string her words together. She gave Harry a tight hug, then eagerly began directing the lump of earth in her hands.
“Congrats, Penelope,” Percy said, offering his own well-wishes. Having had his own metaphorical window paper pierced by Harry, his expression carried a hint of reluctance.
Truthfully, Percy’s face betrayed a touch of envy. Compared to Penelope, who had achieved such a tangible result, Percy still hadn’t sensed the slightest trace of the earth element.
This feeling was a first for him. Up until now, Percy had excelled in every subject at Hogwarts, acing all his courses and consistently ranking at the top of his year. Nothing had ever stumped him.
He glanced at Penelope, now surrounded by friends and fellow Ravenclaws asking her what it felt like to connect with an element, what the Soul of the Earth looked like, and— oh, by the way— how exactly she’d done it. Percy pulled Harry aside.
“Honestly, Harry, isn’t there some trick to connecting with the elements?” Percy asked with a sigh. “Penelope said she saw it, but when I looked where she pointed, all I saw was ordinary grass and rocks. Nothing different from usual.”
“No, Percy, I’m sorry to tell you this,” Harry said, patting him on the back. “But being a shamanic priest really does depend on natural talent. You can’t force it— give it another try, though.”
Harry could empathize with Percy’s frustration. Ron and the twins had complained about Percy plenty of times in front of him. Harry didn’t think Percy was a bad person— he was just used to being exceptional. Failing at something due to a lack of innate talent, something he couldn’t overcome with effort, was hard for him to accept.
Jaina had once grumbled to Harry about the other mages she’d studied with in Dalaran. Things they couldn’t comprehend, no matter how hard they tried, were as simple as 1+1 to her. It had earned her quite a bit of jealousy and gossip during her apprenticeship.
But Harry didn’t think Percy was the jealous type.
Penelope’s success wasn’t an isolated case— in fact, it acted like a shot of adrenaline for the other students. The little earth element trailing behind her as she wandered the field was proof that Harry hadn’t been spinning tales. The elements were real. The Soul of the Earth was real. They could harness elemental power.
Sure, the earth element Penelope had summoned was tiny compared to the massive one Harry had called forth at the start of the lesson— like a grandchild next to its grandparent— but she’d summoned it herself nonetheless.
It even toddled after her, adorable in its own way, which secretly made plenty of students grit their teeth in envy.
They wanted one too!!
And so, with renewed vigor, the students launched into… well, madness. Under Harry’s speechless gaze, they threw themselves into a frenzy of poses, movements, and chants, desperately trying to connect with the legendary elements.
At a glance, it looked like some bizarre cult ritual attempting to contact extraterrestrials.
Where there’s a first, there’s a second. Soon, Penelope wasn’t the only one with a tiny earth element trailing behind her.
“Harry! Look! I did it!!” Hermione nearly shoved her own earth element into Harry’s face, cradling it in her palms.
“Congrats! I told you back on the train— you’ve got some talent for this,” Harry said with a laugh, stepping back half a pace. He glanced at Neville and Ron, who’d followed her over. “Did you two manage it too?”
“No,” Ron said glumly. “I’ve already downed two vials, but I haven’t seen a thing. Neville got it, though.”
“Really?” Harry said, surprised.
“Heh, check it out,” Neville grinned sheepishly, stepping aside to reveal a tiny earth element trailing behind him. “I felt a bit tired, so I rested on the grass. When I turned my head, there he was, looking at me. I named him Dove— what do you think, Harry?”
“Pretty great,” Harry praised. “Neville, your pure heart really helped you here. Congrats to both of you.”
“Don’t worry about it, Ron,” Harry said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “The elements are just too dormant right now. Once they start waking up in the future, you’ll still have a shot.”
“Alright,” Ron sighed. “I’ll wait.”
It was clear Ron wasn’t thrilled. Being the only one of their four friends to fail was a tough pill to swallow, but Harry didn’t have any quick fixes for him.
“How’s it going, Professor Snape?” Harry asked, approaching the edge of the field where Snape stood with his back to the crowd. “Have you heard the whispers of the elements?”
Snape remained motionless, facing away, fists clenched tightly. Even through the billowing black robes swaying in the wind, Harry could sense the tension in his rigid frame and taut muscles.
He didn’t look like he was trying to connect with the elements— more like he was ready to pummel them the moment they showed up.
“Relax, don’t be so tense,” Harry said, a bit exasperated. “Remember what I said— a calm mind makes it easier to bond with the earth element.”
“I know,” Snape replied in a low voice after a long pause. He even turned further away, keeping his back to Harry. “Only by becoming a shamanic priest can one summon the souls of the departed, right?”
“Er… if you’re hoping to summon my mother’s soul, I’m afraid that won’t work,” Harry said after a moment’s thought. “She’s my ancestor, not yours, after all.”
Snape seemed to freeze entirely.
Motives aside, Harry actually thought Snape had potential— he could be a valuable ally, at least.
So, keep at it.
As the time neared the end of the lesson and dinner approached, Harry gathered everyone back together.
Most of the students stood to one side, while a small group joined Harry— those who had successfully connected with the earth element.
Honestly, the number exceeded Harry’s expectations: a full twelve.
From Gryffindor, there were Hermione, Neville, and Katie Bell. From Hufflepuff: Cedric Diggory, Hannah Abbott, and Zacharias Smith. From Ravenclaw: Penelope Clearwater, Padma Patil, Cho Chang, Terry Boot, and Roger Davies.
And finally, from Slytherin: Draco Malfoy.
Truth be told, Harry was genuinely shocked when he saw Draco Malfoy excitedly holding up a tiny earth element.
Ravenclaw dominated the group with five members, followed by Hufflepuff and Gryffindor with three each, and Slytherin with just one— despite Slytherin sending fewer than ten students total. That left plenty of people grumbling.
Only these twelve would advance to the Shamanic Priesthood Club’s second lesson. The rest were out— and considering all four houses had sent a total of 267 students today, the final count didn’t even reach a tenth of what Harry had initially predicted.
As Harry announced the end of the lesson, some students grew so emotional they grabbed his arm, begging for another vial of Earth Covenant Potion to try again— even if it meant stomach trouble later that night. Harry obliged, but no miracles emerged.
“Thank you all so much for joining the Shamanic Priesthood Club’s first lesson and for your support,” Harry addressed the crowd. “I hope you won’t feel discouraged or upset. Like I said today, the elements are still in a deep slumber. Connecting with them is inherently difficult— even Professor Dumbledore didn’t gain their recognition.”
His words brought faint smiles to the disappointed faces in the front. After all, every single Hogwarts professor had struck out today— not one had summoned so much as a palm-sized earth element.
Not even Dumbledore— especially not Dumbledore!
That thought cheered many of them up, easing their frustration.
“If you share my vision and want to become a shamanic priest to join us in forging a new future for wizards, you still have a chance,” Harry continued. “With my efforts— and those of many shamanic priests— as the elemental spirits gradually awaken, becoming a shaman will get easier over time.”
Well, for a good while, that “many shamanic priests” would just be Harry alone. It’d take Hermione and the others quite some time to grow into fully-fledged shamans capable of standing on their own.
“Kindred spirits aren’t bound by fleeting years. If your resolve hasn’t wavered by then, I’ll always welcome you,” Harry said, offering the students an ancient, solemn bow. “For now, class dismissed— you must all be starving. May the Earth Mother bless you.”
“May the Earth Mother bless you!”
To Harry’s surprise, the dense crowd of students didn’t rush off. Instead, as if by unspoken agreement, they mimicked his bow in a scattered, uneven chorus of voices.
For them, successful or not, this was a day worth remembering.
The unselected students left in chattering groups, some disappointed but laughing with friends. The twelve official members of the Shamanic Priesthood Club stayed behind, along with a few lingering professors.
Looking at the twelve apprentices standing before him, their faces alight with joy, Harry’s demeanor turned stern.
“Starting today, I’ll teach you the knowledge of the shamanic priesthood, and you’ll bear responsibilities others cannot,” Harry said gravely. “At least within the Shamanic Priesthood Club, you’ll address me as Mentor, and you’ll be my apprentices. Any issues with that?”
“Huh? Apprentices?” Zacharias Smith said reluctantly. “You didn’t mention that earlier… but fine, I’m in.”
“That’s not all,” Harry said, stepping up to Smith and locking eyes with him. “In the coming lessons, I’ll gradually explain the taboos of the shamanic priesthood, and you must swear to uphold them without fail. If you don’t… I’ll become your worst nightmare. Understood?”
“Harry?” Dumbledore called out suddenly.
For a moment, Harry had exuded a tangible aura of menace, his mere presence enough to set nerves on edge and spark unease.
“Y-Yes, understood,” Smith stammered, swallowing hard. He glanced at the nearby professors for support, but they only watched solemnly, offering no objection.
To the professors, the shamanic priesthood Harry described resembled an ancient magical tradition, not unlike the old-school wizards outside Hogwarts who took apprentices under their wing, passing down spells in exchange for duties like caring for them in old age.
Harry didn’t need anyone to look after him in his twilight years, but there was nothing wrong with teaching this ancient magic and having his students serve as magical apprentices— especially given what they’d heard in today’s lesson. The professors didn’t see the shamanic priesthood as anything sinister.
As for the goal of awakening the elements? Well, that was a bit too distant to judge for now.
Sure, Harry wasn’t much older than these students, but this mentor-apprentice dynamic was distinct from the typical teacher-student relationship at Hogwarts— and perfectly acceptable.
“You’re sure?” Harry gave Smith a deep, searching look before turning to the others. “You can back out now if you want. No responsibilities or rules will bind you later— but this is your only chance to walk away.”
Comments
Samuel S.
"from Slytherin: Draco Malfoy." The next guldan i See, great Things He will do...
Samuel S.
"like a grandchild next to its grandparent" Makes me giggle
