"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Ginny asked as they finished lunch after Charms class, concerned about Belle going to class on her own.
To tell the truth, Belle wasn't sure. She imagined she was supposed to know people in the Arithmancy class. Without Ginny to cover for her, she might make some strange faux pas.
But Belle didn't want Ginny to worry. Belle didn't want to rely on Ginny her whole life either. She needed to forge her own path.
"It's for the best," Belle said. "I need to start figuring things out on my own."
Ginny nodded, acknowledging Belle's point. "You'll be fine," she said as if to convince herself and Belle of that fact. "I'm happy to walk you to class if you'd like? This is a free period for me."
Belle considered Ginny's offer. It was kind of her and would definitely get her there faster.
"No, thank you," Belle said. "I need to learn my way around the school and when I'm following someone else, I find that I don't pay as much attention. I remember better when I have to do the navigating."
"Okay," Ginny said, smiling in understanding. "If you leave now, you'll have plenty of time to make it there even if you take some wrong turns along the way."
Belle nodded and got up. She left the Great Hall and pulled out her Field Guide. "Lead me to the Arithmancy classroom," she whispered to the map inside. As usual, a dotted line appeared at her location and led her in the direction she wanted to go. Holding the book as casually as she could, Belle glanced down every so often to verify that she was going in the right direction.
Belle took in the details of the castle as she walked. The beauty of the castle never ceased to amaze her. The rich colors, the painted portraits, the elaborate tapestries. It was nothing like the cold barren castle of the Beast. She wondered how Hermione was adjusting to coming from a warm place like this to the unfriendly domain of the Beast.
Lost in thought, Belle nearly missed a turning as she navigated her way through the labyrinthine halls. She quickened her pace, trying to make up for lost time. Finally, she arrived at the Arithmancy classroom just as the other students were settling in.
The room was unlike any other Belle had seen in the castle. Parchments covered in complex equations and symbols adorned the walls, and shelves were filled with ancient-looking books on magical numerology. The air hummed with an energy that made Belle's skin prickle with anticipation.
Taking a seat at a vacant desk near the front, Belle opened her bag and pulled out her quill and parchment. Belle had found Hermione's previous notes bound together and planned to take notes from where Hermione left off. Belle read through Hermione's notes as she waited for class to start.
"Decided to change up the seating arrangements, Hermione?" a voice from behind her said.
Belle turned to see a young man with curly hair addressing her. She thought she might have seen him in one of her previous classes. Had she taken his seat? "Oh," she said. "Sorry about that, I wasn't thinking."
"It's all good," he said cheerfully, taking the seat next to her. "Change can be a good thing. Maybe I'll take in information better here."
Belle smiled, relieved that the boy was kind about her mistake. She looked around the room and noticed some familiar faces from Herbology and Charms. A familiar face in particular stood one. It was one of the girls from her dormitory. What was her name? Ginny had told her… She also played Quidditch with Ginny. Belle wished she could remember the girl's name, but she knew Ginny would know if she asked.
The Arithmancy professor entered the room. With her sharp features and piercing gaze, she exuded an air of authority that commanded attention. Belle was impressed already. This must be Professor Vector.
Professor Vector immediately began the class. "Continuing on with our topic of complex spell formulation and enhancement, we're moving past the theoretical foundation which we covered the past two weeks and into spell analysis," she said.
Belle wrote the heading "Spell Analysis" on the parchment and began to write down everything Professor Vector said. Belle used to help her father write down his ideas as he'd dictate them to her. He would talk extremely fast, so Belle learned to write fast. Even if she didn't understand what she was writing, she was confident she'd captured the majority of the professor's lesson.
The curly-haired boy leaned over and whispered, "Wow, your handwriting is different. How can that happen?"
Belle started, noticing that her handwriting was, in fact, much different than Hermione's. Belle struggled to come up with an excuse but was saved by Professor Vector.
"Mr. Finch-Fletchley," said Professor Vector. "Do you have something to say about deconstructing spells into their numerological origins that you'd like to share with the class?"
"No, Professor," said the so-named Mr. Finch-Fletchley. "Apologies."
"Good," said Professor Vector. "As I was saying…"
Belle hurriedly took notes as Professor Vector concluded the lesson.
"Before you go," she said. "Please place your homework assignments in the tray on my desk."
The boy called Mr. Finch-Fletchley pulled out a scroll of parchment from his bag. "Here's hoping I do better than last time," he said as he grabbed his bag. "I'll see you next time," he waved and headed to the front of the classroom.
Belle had a private lesson with Professor Vector immediately after the class, so she turned in the homework assignment that, mercifully, Hermione had completed and went back to her desk, waiting for the rest of the students to file out.
"Well, well," Professor Vector said, walking over to Belle. Belle stood up and gave her a slight respectful bow.
"It's nice to meet you, Professor," Belle said.
"Nice to meet you as well," Professor Vector said. "I must say, I'm impressed with your ability to take notes. You almost convinced me that Professor McGonagall was playing a joke on me." She appraised Belle. "But I can see the differences between the two of you. They're subtle, but definitely there if you know how to look."
Belle nodded, not sure what to say.
"Well, I suppose I'm meant to try to catch you up on what you've missed since the third year," Professor Vector said. "That won't be easy, but we'll start with the basics. Arithmancy refers to the magical properties of numbers. Numbers underpin everything."
"I know!" Belle exclaimed in excitement, realizing this was a familiar concept to her. Professor Vector looked startled.
"I'm sorry," Belle said. "I got a bit excited. My father is an inventor and studies the properties of numbers. I learned from him and read everything he collected on the topic. I should have made the connection before. Our word for the subject is slightly different in French."
"That is good," Professor Vector said. "I'm glad you have some foundation. However, while the Muggle understanding of Arithmancy has some overlap with ours, we, I dare say, have a much deeper understanding of it."
Belle nodded, excited to learn more. "Please continue, Professor," she said.
Professor Vector continued to explain to Belle the role of Arithmancy in the wizarding world. She briefly mentioned the importance of Arithmancy in daily magical use and its applications in various magical professions.
"I want you to find the textbook Numerology and Grammatica and study the properties of numbers 1 through 9," Professor Vector concluded. "Write a 12-inch essay about the properties of those numbers and turn that in with the rest of the students next week when they turn in their homework. You are welcome to try the homework assignment that the other students receive, but I do not expect Hermione's usual standards."
"Thank you, Professor," Belle said. "I appreciate you taking the extra time to help me."
"No worries, my dear," Professor Vector said. "I've found myself wondering if the curriculum for this year encouraged Miss Granger to do what she did. Did I enable her in some way? I can't be certain. Regardless, I feel I have some part to play in your plight."
Belle was confused until she remembered how Professor Vector had introduced the class. "We're studying spell formulation," Belle said, comprehension dawning on her. "And Hermione created a spell to change places."
"Precisely," Professor Vector said. "Like I said, I feel some remorse for any part I played in your current predicament."
"You're not responsible for the actions of your students," Belle said. "You provide them with the opportunity of knowledge and then they choose their paths."
"That's very kind of you," Professor Vector said. "I suppose you may be right. It's hard when you're a professor. You feel such a responsibility for your students."
"I can imagine that must be very difficult," Belle said with compassion.
"Well, it's part of the job," Professor Vector said, the melancholy leaving her voice. "I look forward to reading your essay."
Belle recognized the dismissal and left the classroom, relieved to be done with classes for the day.