Arithmancy Tutoring


A hushed voice could be heard whispering behind a bookshelf. Another one answered giddily. In front of exactly that shelf sat a lone witch with brown hair. She tried to ignore the hushed voices. Everyone could see that she was busy. A huge chart lay in front of her. Symbols and numbers were scattered across it in clusters and obscure patterns. Quite a lot of them had been crossed out and replaced.

A book was consulted by the witch. A thin line appeared on her pretty forehead and grew into a full frown. Next, a sigh escaped her lips. It was shaky and distinctly frustrated. Over the past hour, this had happened way too often for her liking.

Reluctantly, she accepted that this led nowhere. She had wasted almost the entire Quidditch training time. Harry would soon show up. Once he did, the window of opportunity would be closed.

She stood up and folded the giant chart up. There really was no choice. She had to ask for help. And it was better to act now while Harry was not around to witness it. There should be still some time. Training was not yet over and he would still have to shower afterward. Once he had done so he also had to walk from the pitch to the school and all the way up to the library which should take him up to a quarter hour.

After wasting another moment over staring in disdain at a few numbers still visible on the folded parchment, she started gathering her books. So far they had failed her. They had granted her no deeper insight into their knowledge but that was her fault and not theirs.

Once the stuff formerly scattered across the table was in one pile she picked it up and pressed it against her chest. With a deep sigh, she turned for the far end of the library.

It was at the same time the most advanced and technical selection Hogwarts' library housed. Few students ever needed a book stored here. The fact that most of the scripts were especially dull kept students away too.

The silence in this specific collection was almost oppressive to the ears. The witch felt like something was wrong with her hearing - like when she flew too fast on a broom. She swallowed. It had no effect and she realized this was not a bodily problem. The problem was in her mind. This part of the library was just eerie.

Subsequently, she told herself that there was nothing to be worried or even scared about. She was just going to talk to another witch. One she had seen on an almost daily basis for the past four years. Her self-assurances were without effect. Unconsciously, she started tiptoeing through the rows of high shelves.

Most students usually tried to steer clear of this section. The worst that could happen to you when you disturbed the silence around here was… She frowned when she realized that she did not exactly know... but she had no intention of finding out. The only thing certain about the consequences was that the worst around here was not the usual. Everybody had been kicked out by Madam Pince once or twice.

Katie took a deep breath before turning the last corner. She told herself that the persistent rumors were just that - rumors. They had to be. If they were not she was in real trouble because there she sat all alone at a huge table. Most of it was occupied by flipped open books. And some more formed two towering stacks.

The brunette witch had stopped reading and was staring straight at Katie. Taken off-guard, she tried to keep her pile of stuff under control with just one arm while the other gestured awkwardly at the chair next to Hermione. "Hi, is this seat taken?"

Brown eyes darted to the left taking in the empty chair. The gaze returned to Katie within a heartbeat. The two witches stared at each other. A part of Katie wanted to look away but she couldn't.

Only when Hermione's fingers drummed on the table, Katie's almost-petrification broke. She felt her eyes grow comically big when she realized what she saw. A wand was lying on the table - right next to a quill and also right under Hermione's drumming fingers.

Instead of inviting Katie to take a seat, Hermione asked indignantly, "What do you want?"

A rather thin and stuttery voice answered her, "... ask for your help... please?"

"I'm not desperate for friends." Hermione's eyes flashed angrily. Some more words were hissed through her teeth, "I'm not interested. You can go away."

Katie's first impulse was to do as ordered and leave. She had already turned halfway around when she stopped. She had no idea what she was thinking but looking away from Hermione she whispered, "Maybe I am... Desperate that is."

An indignant huff answered her, "What would you be desperate about?"

This was as much as of an invitation to explain herself as she could hope for. Katie hurriedly put her stuff down and unfolded the huge parchment she had been working on just minutes ago. "It's this I'm desperate about." She sat down on the edge of the chair she had gestured at. "I need to become better at Arithmancy."

Hermione fought visibly against it. She glanced back and forth between Katie and the huge parchment. Ultimately her curiosity won and she took a closer look. Katie watched nervously as intelligent eyes roamed over the chart faster than she thought anyone could read.

Without looking up, Hermione huffed in annoyance, "Yes, you do." Her index finger pointed at a row of numbers. "If you're doing integer factorization you have to break everything down into prime numbers."

Katie gasped. The mistake was so obvious, how had it slipped her attention?

Hermione tapped two more numbers.

In a hurry, Katie marked the numbers. "Please, you need to help me with this."

"You need someone's help - not mine." Hermione shook her head. "I'm not the only person who can explain this to you. Go and find someone else. I already told you that I'm not interested."

Katie was not above begging, "Please, Hermione! I really, really need you to help me."

The witch in question made a dismissive gesture. "You're one year ahead of me in Arithmancy anyway."

"In name only!" Katie objected pointing at the huge chart. "You already know what this is about don't you?"

"Listen," Hermione's tone was leveled and it felt more threatening than it actually was, "Why don't you ask some Ravenclaw from your year?"

"You've probably never asked a Ravenclaw for anything. I mean, why should you?" Katie gave Hermione no chance to comment on this, "They're holding endless monologues but they only repeat things they read before. And if you ask them for an explanation they'll just repeat one that's written down in the book they personally favor. I mean in almost exactly the same words."

Hermione cocked an eyebrow at her. "And what makes you think I'm different in that regard?"

"Well, if there is someone who really understands the stuff we're supposed to learn it's you." Katie started. "I'm sure if there is someone who can explain these things in her own words it's you."

Hermione still looked doubtful.

"And it would also really help me if you could read over my homework like you sometimes do for Harry. I need better grades on my assignments. And if you would highlight my mistakes as you do for him that would help me so much." Katie took a deep breath before resuming, "And maybe you could even leave those small notes next to the not so obvious mistakes for me in which you explain how it's wrong? That would be a huge help for me too."

For a very long moment, Hermione stared with wide eyes at Katie. Then she snapped, "Who told you about that?" She also leaned forward without any forewarning.

Katie almost fell almost from her chair when she jerked back so their heads would not collide. She squeaked, "Harry told me!"

Hermione sat back into her chair. She blinked in apparent confusion.

For some reason, Katie felt suddenly very nervous. And like always when she was under stress she tried to make everything better by talking, "Harry hasn't told us – no – I mean me very much. He has barely told us – me! – anything at all."

Naturally, Hermione asked the question Katie had tried to avert, "Who is us?"

Katie bit her tongue. Hermione stared. It took only seconds for Katie's nervosity to make her blurt out the answer, "Angelina, Alicia and me," When Hermione's frown grew even worse, Katie hurriedly explained, "But he hasn't told us much. Nothing important at all! I mean, he didn't want to tell us anything at first... but you know what Angelina and Alicia are like!"

The questioning look on Hermione's face was hopefully a good sign. It was definitely preferable to the hard stare. But no matter whether it was good or bad, Katie would have kept on babbling anyway, "I mean it's mostly Alicia. Angelina just goes along with her... but anyway, since the start of the term they grilled Harry at every training session about you. But I swear: He has only told us minor details about you... And really only like once or twice in total!"

"What exactly has he told you?" Hermione asked tersely.

"Just really minor things." Katie rambled, "Like details. Mostly stories what's cute about you... You know?"

"Cute?" Hermione's eyes grew to saucer dimensions.

"Uh-huh," Katie felt her ponytail bounce wildly when she nodded her head. Only when Hermione glowered at her, Katie realized that Hermione was one of those witches who did not like to be called cute. As far as Katie was concerned, there was nothing wrong with being cute. However, she knew some witches did not like that word at all. She instinctively tried to backpedal, "I don't think he actually said the word – you know – cute. That's probably just me."

Hermione goggled at her. "You think, I'm cute?"

Katie wanted to bite her tongue once more but she was already prattling away, "Look, Harry has told us almost nothing. He just likes you and when he talks about you, you can hear it in his voice and see it on his face because he gets that special smile."

A frown on Hermione's face informed Katie that she was not satisfied, Katie blabbered, "He told us totally innocent stuff. You know those little things that make one sigh dreamily?"

"What has he told you?" Hermione asked in horror, "What made you sigh dreamily?"

The way Hermione pronounced dreamily made Katie groan in frustration. She wondered how she could be so dense. Hermione disliked being called cute. If that was not a hint that she was a witch who considered dreamy sighs to be something negative then there were no signs at all.

Katie massaged her temples, trying in vain to stop a building headache. Maybe the best choice of action was a flight forward? Katie tried to say in a firm voice, "Yes, that's what I did. I sighed dreamily. And, Angelina and Alicia did so too. We're that sort of girl. We squeal and we sigh and we're kind of envious because we don't have nice boyfriends who do things we consider to be cute."

"I really don't like to repeat myself. What exactly has Harry told you?" Hermione glowered at her for good measure.

Feeling that her next words were very important Katie kept a firm grip on her proverbial Gryffindor courage and took a leap of faith, "The most private thing Harry has shared with us is that you're uncomfortable about heights and that you always grab his arm a little harder whenever the two of you climb the Grand Staircase."

Hermione's expression was hard to read but Katie thought it was a good idea to smile encouragingly. "Harry is a really nice wizard. There is nothing to worry about. You see, Harry hardly had a choice. He kind of had to explain why his girlfriend wouldn't be watching the match. I mean he had to because Angelina was offering to reserve a seat for you in the front row of the stands for the upcoming Gryffindor match. You know so you would have a good view of Harry. Angelina thought that would be nice. And maybe she thought Harry would play better as well. You know because of seeing you and knowing that you're watching him and so on."

For a very short moment, Hermione looked somewhat mollified. Sadly the moment did not last. "But that wasn't the only thing he told you."

Katie sighed. "No, it wasn't. Harry mentions you like all the time." When Hermione glared at her, Katie added, "Without saying much. He says things like 'Hermione says...' or something like that. And most of the time he just points out that he has a date with you so Angelina won't drag the training out too much." Katie rolled her eyes. "Sometimes, Angelina reminds me of Oliver. She's obsessed with Quidditch!"

Finally, Hermione stopped frowning! A small smile played around her lips. "Harry says that too."

Katie nodded emphatically, "We... I mean the team says that all the time."

Hermione accepted the explanation with a nod so small Katie only noticed it because some of her bushy brown hair shifted.

The mood had changed significantly and Katie hurried to exploit this, "Look, I know what this looks like." She could really understand why Hermione was reluctant. But no matter how much she wanted to leave the other witch alone she couldn't. This was more than important. This was a life-altering matter for her. "I mean, why should you help me. How can you know... I... Out of the blue, I'm asking for your help. We've never really talked before. And there really isn't an apology for that... I mean for this. And I know, I'm pretty much looking like a self-centered and dumb cow right now. And I'm so very sorry about that. I really am! And I wish there was a way to prove I'm not a self-centered cow but there isn't and... and I can only ask for a chance I don't deserve."

Now that she had started explaining herself Katie didn't dare to stop. She had thought about this particular moment for more than two weeks and all those thoughts broke free, "It's just... you know..." She squirmed on her chair. "You were already kind of scary when you were a first year. You hexed Fred and George... And I mean I'm in their class and what most people don't get is that they are really good wizards... I mean despite being lunatic idiots too. So you really, really scared me when you did… you know. And I would have preferred to ask anybody else. I mean, I tried asking some Ravenclaws but that was doing no good. They're so… I don't know. They can't explain anything to me. And then there were those stories Harry told about you. And he says nice things about you all the time… and I thought maybe you could help me..."

"So, I can understand if you don't want to become friends over me asking for your help. But I really, really, really, really need your help with Arithmancy." Hermione's mouth was already open to protest but Katie ignored it and kept on talking, "But I'm not asking for a free favor. I'll return the favor as soon as you know how. And you can ask me for anything and I'll do my utmost to make it real." It was the most and the least she could offer at the same time.

Enthusiasm was notably absent on Hermione's face when she asked, "And what if there is no favor you could do for me?"

Katie licked her lips nervously, "I'm sure you can think of something. As I said, I'm willing to do anything." Her ponytail bounced wildly when her head nodded to emphasize her willingness.

In contrast, Hermione shook her head no. Her head tumbled. "Just ask the Ravenclaws in your Arithmancy course."

"As I said, I already did. And they just can't explain the number-stuff to me in a way I can understand. It's like they're parrots. All they're able of is to repeat what they hammered into their heads."

Hermione's lips formed a thin line when she shook her head yet again. Her jaw was set.

"Please!" Katie departed the begging route, "I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll give you a magical oath!"

Still looking anything but happy, anger seeped into Hermione's voice, "You should not offer something like that. There is no way you could actually mean what you just said!"

Since it was the first time her request got not outright rejected, Katie felt her hope raise. "But I mean it!"

Hermione snapped, "No, you don't!"

"I really mean it." Katie suddenly felt like all she had to do was to convince the other witch of her willingness to keep her word. "I would do anything for you in return for this."

Hermione rolled her eyes in obvious annoyance. "And you think there are no exceptions?"

"Yes, I mean, no! No exceptions." Katie nodded enthusiastically.

"You have no idea what kind of promise you're offering to give."

"I do know. And I will keep it!"

One of Hermione's eyebrows rose at a glacial pace. "And if I ask you to stop playing Quidditch once and for all to prove that this is really as important to you as you claim? Will you do that?"

Katie's eyes went wide. She swallowed and said, "If that's what you want? Then... Yes, I'll stop playing Quidditch."

"You'd be okay with that?" Hermione was flabbergasted.

"Yes, it's okay. I'll stop playing Quidditch if that's what I have to do." Before Hermione could come up with anything to say, Katie explained, "Arithmancy is more important than Quidditch. It's only a game. But I'm on probation in Arithmancy. I barely got an Acceptable for my O.W.L. I have to improve to a solid Acceptable by Christmas and ultimately Exceeds Expectations by the end of the year which is the grade required to enroll in the N.E.W.T. course in the first place."

This explanation changed something in Hermione's posture. Katie wasn't sure why but the other witch seemed more willing to consider her request. "Do you think I need to stop playing Quidditch? I mean, if I have to all you have to do is tell me."

"That's something only you can decide."

"You think so?"

"Who do you think should be able to do so if not you?"

"What about Professor..."

"Wrong. The answer is you." Hermione said categorically. "Besides, I'm certainly not going to spend my entire time tutoring you. So if Arithmancy is the only thing you're lagging behind you should be fine."

"You're going to help me?" Katie felt like whooping in triumph and punching the air at the same time but she refrained herself. First of all, she had more than a vague notion that doing so would not go over well with Hermione. And she had recently become kind of self-aware over it. She had noticed on Alicia how boyish this form of cheering looked.

"Just give me the parchment." Hermione pulled the huge chart out of Katie's hands for a closer look. She mumbled, "We've probably wasted more time talking about this then it will take me to check this.

It was true but confirming that guess was the very last thing on Katie's mind. "I promise, you won't regret this!"

"We'll see," grumbled Hermione. She picked her wand up and waved it over her quill. She whispered something so breathily Katie had no chance of understanding a single syllable. However, when Hermione picked the quill up and crossed the first number out it became clear that the incantation had been about changing the color of the ink.

"I promise that I'll work hard," Katie said giddily. "You're not going to waste your time on me." She was so excited over the short comments Hermione noted on the chart she was almost bouncing on her chair.

After watching the correction of her chart for a while Katie added, "It's been such a long time since someone marked my mistakes with red ink!" She prattled on, "I think it's so super-weird that the Professors don't use red ink. I thought it was the most obvious thing in the world but when I came to Hogwarts, everyone used normal ink and that's really so weird."

Hermione paused to look at Katie. "You're a Muggleborn?"

"Yes, I am." Katie shrugged her shoulders, "Just like you... didn't you know?"

"How was I supposed to know?" Hermione asked with an indignant huff.

Katie frowned due to the question. Yeah, how was she supposed to know? "I'm also only two months older than you. I was born on the First of July."

Hermione had abandoned the chart completely and was fully focused on Katie now. The intensity of her stare was quite scary. "How do you know about my birthday?"

"Because Harry asked us – that's Angelina, Alicia and me – what he should do for your birthday," Katie explained, "He already had a present. But, he had no idea how to give it to you and what else to do. Angelina suggested that smuggling a single slice of cake into the library would probably be the best for a weekday."

Far from being calm but at least no longer on the edge of hexing someone, Hermione asked sharply, "How much are you talking about me?"

"Not that much at all." Katie tried to explain the matter as casually as she could, "It's just that Alicia and Angelina really like to tease Harry about you. Personally, I think they'd like to have a boyfriend like him too." She instantly bit her tongue – what a dumb way to put her foot into her mouth! She added hurriedly, "But older!"

Hermione glanced at her out of the corner of her eye but said nothing.

The chart was quite big and despite Katie's visible efforts Hermione still found a significant number of mistakes. But there was also one thing Katie had been absolutely right about: Hermione knew this stuff. She checked the books more for Katie's benefit when she noted down page numbers than out of a need to.

"Is something making you nervous?" The words were spoken surprisingly soft but they still made Katie almost jump out of her chair.

She had been deep in thought. "Um, no. Why do you ask?"

Hermione had hardly looked up from the chart. "You're glancing at the way you came from like you want to get away."

Katie wanted to object but after talking Hermione into helping her it felt wrong to not answer the question truthfully, "I'd like to be gone before Harry gets here. I don't want him to know..." Katie's voice faded away.

Hermione guessed, "You don't want him to know that you need help in Arithmancy?"

"No, not exactly. I told Alicia and it's okay if she tells the rest of the team." Katie swallowed a lump in her throat. "I don't want him to think that I'm taking advantage of you."

"If that's what you're worried about, you can stop doing so. I'll meet Harry in the Great Hall at Dinner time."

"But I also don't want to take advantage of you. Please try to come up with something I can do for you okay?"


A/N: Thanks for the nice reviews!