Hope flipped open her book and began writing out her name and the numbers. After a little math she came out with 9. Looking again in her book she read the caption. Empathy, generosity, and artistry.. HMM.. Hope could see that. Noelle was in this class and seeing as they had the same name she looked up to see if her cousin had figured it out yet too. When she looked up Noelle was already looking at her. She gave her a small smile and a thumbs up. She really didn't really get this subject, but it was kind of cool in it's own way.

She was right on that count. Professor Tanner’s words and expression were those of positive emotions in response to her answer. So Olivia herself was happy as she listened to what else was being said by her classmates as well as the professor’s responses to them. The Ravenclaw actively taking notes in the process of any tidbits that seemed interesting and potentially useful. And then the demonstration that was performed on the board on how to do the math portion of the work. The first year copied it into her notes as well as an example before opening her textbook to the right chapter to find the number conversion and went to work.

SPOILER!!: Work

S – T – O – N – E
1 + 2 + 6 + 5 + 5
19
1 + 9
10
1 + 0
1

So supposedly her family’s name number was one. Or rather HER family name number was one. “Cool…” she absently mused as she turned to the next chapter they were to us to figure out the actual meaning. Might have been even cooler of she got a master number for once but oh well. But once she found the right page it was easy to find the revelation among the list which she copied down into her notes as well.

SPOILER!!: Meaning

ONE (1): You inherit an independent spirit, a forceful nature, a strong will, and the ability to come up with original ideas.

Hmm…she might have to agree with that there prediction. At least her father would.

And just in time it seemed too.

Noelle heard Sabbath and Haddie talking about their families a few feet from her. She kept her head down though, paying attention to her own parchment paper. To be honest, Sabbir had bothered her with his entrance. And the note throwing when the professor was right there.

When her problem was done. She heard the professor give her a praise. She smiled gratefully. "Thank you Professor. I think this is actually a good match for my family." her family were farmers. They should all these aspects.

Hope caught her eye, and Noelle smiled at her. "What do you think? Does this match our family?" Noelle mouthed to her cousin.

Her eyes fitted around the room once more and she wondered what Kitty or Hady had gotten and if they matched.

Tanner nodded. She understood this reaction completely. "In some ways it does describe us and our families, but in other ways no. Our experiences and the beliefs we are exposed to do shape us, whether you admit it or not." It could be that it shapes someone either because they grow into mimic a behavior, or because they react to it and do something differently - either way it is shaping them. "Also remember that you likely have decades ahead of you in your life. Who you are right now could be drastically different than who you will grow to be." Sound wisdom, but not radical.

A solid plan from a smart planner. "You do still have some time, fortunately." It wasn't as if O.W.L.s were today or anything. "But make sure you pursue interests because it is something you want, not only because you wish to be better than another." That would certainly lead to an unhappy and unfulfilled life in the long run.

Really, it seemed there were more first year students here today than normal. But that did not bother Tiara at all, it was just an observation. "Well done, Miss Stone," she said encouragingly. This girl was getting the hang of things quickly.

"You are most certainly welcome, my dear. I am glad to hear you are finding it accurate." Meaning that her cousin likely felt the same way. Tiara glanced over at Hope, but she could not read her expression well from this far away.

"Alright, class, listen up please!" She waited a moment for them to finish up their thoughts and settle down before continuing. "For our activity today you will need to partner up with one or two other people that you work well with. No sworn enemies paired together, please!" she said, mostly as a joke. "I will give you one minute to find and sit by your partner or partners. Go!"

OOC: Activity will be posted tomorrow afternoon to get started on.

Melbourne nodded at Professor Tanner. “Of course, I just mean…I want to do well of course” she grinned. Yes she was a bit of a planner but that wasn’t something that her close friends weren’t aware of. Heck, she had made plans for pranks before and would only ever set them off when every piece was tested and ready.

See, that was it. She wanted to be successful and well, knowing that fit with her name it might have been a good idea to work on her own success. “Anyone want to partner up?” She asked the students around her and grinned at them.

She was going to have SO much fun with this class today! So much.

Kitty lagged behind everyone else in finding her number. She scribbled madly on her notebook, aware that everyone else was reading their numbers and meanings while she had yet to add hers. Finally she added them:

Valentine
4 + 1 + 3 + 5 + 5 + 2 + 9 + 5 + 5 = 39
3 + 9 = 12
1 + 2 = 3

Kitty flipped to chapter two to see what number 3 meant. She read it out loud: "My family name is Valentine and it's number is three. Three means You inherit a fun-loving, optimistic nature, a sense of humor, and a creative spirit. Cool!" Her grandfather was a famous journalist who went on many adventures after all, and Kitty was optimistic.

Now they were getting ready to partner. Kitty turned to Esme who was sitting right next to her. "Do you want to partner with me?" she asked, hoping she would say yes.

Yep. She had done the calculation correctly; that wasn't really a surprise for Esme since it wasn't exactly complicated math. Fortunately she didn't have many problems with the class even if she wasn't a genius. So long as she remembered to reduce all numbers besides the Master ones she was okay.

More partner work...

Esme was not about this life. She would rather do things by herself. Seemed that it wasn't meant to be, however. Maybe this wouldn't be TOO bad and at least it was Kitty wanting to work with her. Esme had quite a few friends and she would definitely prefer working with them to a stranger. "Sure thing!" She was totally game for this, deciding that this was more practice towards her learning to work great with others.

Ariadne was determined to find a partner early on. She HATED that awkward moment when nearly everybody had partnered up, and she left practically begging for someone to work with. Ariadne figured she worked well with whoever. She didn't have any enemies...YET. At least she thought she was doing better in the friend department than her sister Sierra probably did.

"Anybody want to work with me?" she asked, hoping somebody would take her up on that. It would be pretty lame if nobody did. With that, Ariadne fidgeted in her seat until she got comfortable. Her work was correct. She knew this, because the professor had given her a nod when she'd passed by.

Okay, awesome...so partners anybody?

Rachel reasoned her work was done correctly when Professor Tanner made no comment as she passed by. It seemed they would be working with partners now. Who did she work well with? She didn't even have to ask herself twice. Her and Haddie maybe polar opposites but they worked so well together. Almost, unconsciously, Rachel turned towards the back of the class to look at her once best friend, hoping that they could be partners again in class. But no. Haddie won't want that. With a sigh, she turned to face the front of the room again.

Besides Haddie, Rachel had a lot of choices. She got along with everyone but the person she got along the next best was Garreth but she thought he may have gotten himself a partner. The third person on her list was Esme. It was possible she would ask Esme and Kitty to join their group or maybe Ariadne. The decisions...

This school sure loves to partner them up all the time. It did bother Jace, because he'd rather work alone, but he did not dare defy Professor Tanner's instruction. It was a very simple one, even a four year old can understand. Without much emotion on his face, he turned around his seat...and walked over to where a Slytherin girl was sat.

Jace gave her a wave and a smile. "Can I work with you? I don't have a partner yet." The Ravenclaw's cheeks flushed in embarrassment because there were days wherein it was so hard to interact.

Haddie caught the look from Rachel, mostly because she'd happened to have been glancing at her fellow Ravenclaw. She knew who she wanted to partner with, casting a glance at Tenacius, but she'd asked him last time, and it had been a disaster for her. Part of hoped he might ask her this time...

But...

Natalie was right. She needed to make up with her best friend. "Sabbath," she turned to her new friend. "I need to partner with a... friend of mine. We sort of need to work stuff out... You can be in our group if you want." Though, he probably wouldn't want to be a part of their drama, she imagined. "If not, that's cool." It's not like they weren't in the same house and have plenty of opportunities to hang out, maybe figure out a way to learn flying behind the Hogwarts staff's back. Stuff like that. She flashed him a grin and gathered her things up, heading down toward the fire.

She approached Rachel from behind, climbing over the back of the chair next to her and sat down. The long silence lingered in the air between them for what might have been eternity. Then Haddie spoke. "Just so you're aware, you have horrible taste in guys."

SPOILER!!: Hads! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callie

Haddie caught the look from Rachel, mostly because she'd happened to have been glancing at her fellow Ravenclaw. She knew who she wanted to partner with, casting a glance at Tenacius, but she'd asked him last time, and it had been a disaster for her. Part of hoped he might ask her this time...

But...

Natalie was right. She needed to make up with her best friend. "Sabbath," she turned to her new friend. "I need to partner with a... friend of mine. We sort of need to work stuff out... You can be in our group if you want." Though, he probably wouldn't want to be a part of their drama, she imagined. "If not, that's cool." It's not like they weren't in the same house and have plenty of opportunities to hang out, maybe figure out a way to learn flying behind the Hogwarts staff's back. Stuff like that. She flashed him a grin and gathered her things up, heading down toward the fire.

She approached Rachel from behind, climbing over the back of the chair next to her and sat down. The long silence lingered in the air between them for what might have been eternity. Then Haddie spoke. "Just so you're aware, you have horrible taste in guys."

Rachel watched Jace partner with Ariadne. There was still plenty of others without partners though so maybe she would be able to get one of their attention? Mel, possibly? But she was slightly startled by the movement beside her and turned to see Haddie climbing over the back of the chair. She bit back the urge to tell the other girl that Professor Tanner would disapprove of such an action but couldn't bring herself to say anything. Every cell in her body dearly wanted to hug Haddie but she held back.

Was this too good to be true?

Was Haddie actually making up with her?

Rachel remained silent until that comment. She blushed before replying. "I suppose they have to be extra good looking like Tenacius.'' Try as she might, she could not keep the trace of giggle from her voice. To her, however, David was adorable. Very adorable, to be precise. But she pushed this talk aside. "Does this mean we're partners and that you want to be my friend again?'' Or was the entire friendship aspect just wishful thinking on her part?

Hadley was quiet for longer than she intended, and certainly longer than Rachel would have liked. "You hurt me," she said finally. "Never do it again." There now that that was out of the way, Haddie answered her best friend with nothing more than a sharp look that said What do you think? and screamed even louder DUH!

There were still long stretches of silence, but most of it was out of trying to suppress all she wanted to tell Rachel, all the things they needed to catch up on. There would be time for that after class. "Anyway, we'll find you someone as good looking as Tenacius to crush on. Promise." Haddie snatched the parchment off Rachel's desk, and looked over the work on it. Two. She flipped open her textbook and read the result. "Fits you." She handed Rachel her parchment back.

Although, he would have been happy to not have to get up out of his seat to find another partner, Sabbath could feel the tension between his new friend Haddie and the other girl as they approached each other. "Umm, no it's OK, you two go ahead. Maybe we can partner up some other time" he replied kindly as she asked him to join them. He had enough tension of his own to deal with right now.

Deliberately avoiding eye contact with Noelle, he glanced around for another partnering possibility. He spotted a pretty Gryffndor girl [Melbourne] looking around hopefully in the corner. He scooped up his stuff and approached her with a smile "Hi, if you haven't found a partner yet would you like to pair with me?" his smile widened as he prepared to introduce himself if she accepted.

Melbourne hadn’t meant to hear that comment. ’As extra good looking as Tenacius’ this would not do. Not at all, but she wasn’t going to say anything about that in class in front of people. That would be bad and she didn’t want to be all emotional and and and reveal things. THINGS didn’t need to be revealed in class.

Humph.

Also…hey look there was a boy talking to her asking to be partners that sounded like a better idea than listening in on friends talk about her best friends ‘attractiveness’…though a part of her wanted to hear more about that – she would uh…have to talk to Haddie and Rachel about that later. Mel just sent Sabbath a quick smile, “I’ve not found one yet,” she admitted with a grin. “I’m Melbourne by the way,” she introduced herself, as she hadn’t really met him yet.

His various influences were grand, in his opinion, so when questioned about them Zeke looked up at Professor Tanner with a smile. "I can see how they apply," he started. "My biological mum was strong-willed, in her own way. I didn't really know my dad, so she was all I had, and she overcame a lot because of the way she was. I can't say much about her ideas, but I recon I've always had that, original ideas." At least, it had been a common theme regarding the praise he'd received in his first few years here.

As for his adopted parents... "Mum always says not to be predictable, that it can get you killed if you're not careful, I guess that's how that comes in," he said pointing to the page about being free-spirtied and against routine and things. "Since I've been with her, we've traveled a fair bit too, which is amusing." Like, it was a literal translation? More or less. And he figured he didn't need to bring up his reckless Gryffindoring. While he was the only Lion in the family, he knew Emily's side were risk-takers, law enforcement types and all of that.

"And dad's a perfectionist, really, he's a potioneer, so he has to be... and observation is a big factor in how he operates. He can just see things, you know? I've kind of picked up his habits too, at least where potions is concerned." He paused here, contemplating, "I can see how I've taken bits of all of them, but I can also see how my current name is most appropriate to the traits I possess." Arithmancy was just so relevant. It was brilliant.

Was that too much of an analysis? ... Whoops?

And so it was time for group work? Cool.

But lulz, no sworn enemies? Deal, he could manage that.

"Partners?" he asked, turning to his desk-buddy Janelle. She could of course decline, but since their heart-to-heart with Ancient Runes it seemed only right that they continue their personal partnership here too.

Arithmancy wasn't her strongest subject. It's more her brother's thing. But she still wanted to join this subject, you know? Ava just kept silent at the class and just paid attention to the Professor explained about the family name number.

Alright, let's see if she calculate her family name numbers.

B U R T O N

2 + 3 + 9 + 4 + 6 + 5 = 27

2 + 7 = 9

NINE (9): You inherit an artistic flair, a concern for others, an emotional nature, generosity, a sense of needing to serve, a philanthropic nature, and an attitude of looking for what is possible.

Right...

And next... Partner. She needed a partner. She could partner up with Teddy but she'd never wanted to work together with him on every lessons. "Professor, I still need a partner." The young lioness raised her hand.

It was main activity time and much to Janelle's dismay they had to choose partners. She liked working with her classmates, but hated the process of choosing partners. It never appeared to be an easy thing for Janelle. This time would be different, appparently. Her next seat neighbor and deep dark secrets partner was making an offer.

"You've got yourself a deal partner", Janelle said to Zeke. This was good. As long as they didn't have to do any impressions, that is. Now they just had to wait and find out what they would be doing. Whatever it was, it promised to be interesting.

The words on the parchment weren't going to magically change the more she read them. This much Hadleigh already knew and yet she couldn't stop herself from reading it for a third time before her attention was pulled away by a question. "Well Lynch is my given name and the one I go by however I don't agree about the part with the money and power though I can agree with being well organized and liking to succeed in the things I do," she answered pausing a moment to think over the second number. "Donavon is my fathers last name and even though I don't use it he's raised me for twelve year so I think the master number four fits me even better." Clearly a lot of her traits weren't inherited but more so learned over the years.

When the lesson moved on a little bit and they were told to get into pairs of two or three Hady let out a small breath her eyes quickly scanning those she knew she could work really well with. Unfortunately the few she would've liked to work along already had partners which meant she didn't even bother to move from where she was. Sooner or later someone would need a partner or Professor Tanner would just pair her off with someone.

Ava was looking around, tried to find if someone still needed a partner. And then she saw Hady who was still alone. "Hey, Hady!" The young lioness called her. "Wanna work together? I still don't have a partner." Hopefully she would yes. They had been working together on some several lessons, and also the Slytherin thought that she was cool. So... Please please please?

So don’t reduce 11? He didn’t remember much about Master Numbers but hey "Thanks Professor Tanner! Yeah it does fit me better." Much better than 2. And he beamed his bright smile when she laughed. Indeed he really was a TEN. Numerically now too.

But back to his gal pal "I know your first name is Melbourne." he razzed at her a bit. He knew that name even before he learned to write.

Oh wait so they're partnering up? But Tenacius didn’t want to have to move from his seat. He walked all the way from the classroom door in front to get to his little corner of chill . Then Mel got talking with a Claw kid and what -- she doesn’t have a partner? "What am I chopped liver?" the curly top flicked his bestie with the feathery tail of his quill. "--And I'm Tenacius." he added as Mel introduced herself. "Grab a seat uh... ?"

Tiara merely listened as she let Zeke reason things out. Really she was very interested in what he had to say. His was a natural ability for the topic and a depth of insight that escaped many others. Plus his family history was unusual in this particular case.

"Bravo, Mister Browne," she said once he had finished. "A mature individual is able to look at how his past shaped him and separate out major and minor influences. I agree with your assessment wholeheartedly." This one would be getting Outstanding on his N.E.W.T. when the time came.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Right, it looked as if most people were in their groups. "Attention back up front, please," she asked. The usual murmurs of sound faded after several moments and she fixed them with a stare so they would heed the directions.

"I have here," she began, then walked over to the lectern at the front of the room, "several different scrolls." Bending, she retrieved a few pieces of parchment and then sent all but one flying out of the classroom with a spell. "Each scroll has one of your professors' surnames upon it. Their family name number corresponds to a different floor of the castle, each one leading you one step further in your scavenger hunt." Another pause to let the whispers die down.

"Calculate each number, then head to the floor it suggests, where you will find your next clue. For the purposes of this exercise, we are counting the ground floor as zero," meaning they were currently on the second floor, not the third. "At the last stop you will see a clue telling you to return to the classroom. If you can give me the correct order of floors you visited, I will not give you homework." Ah, the magic words.

"So without further ado, here is your first clue! Have fun!"


OOC: Class will close Thursday or Friday, so you have several days to get through all the stops (4 including the classroom at the end). Feel free to RP getting lost, finding the number incorrectly, or something else creative! At the end of class, you will PM the links for all the posts you make outside of this thread, including the final order of floors visited.

Haddie perked up. No Homework. Music to her ears. She already had her book out, and flipped to Chapter 2 while pulling out the sheet of parchment that she calculated her own name on, and her quill.

M+o+x+l+e+y
4+6+6+3+5+7

Pausing a moment, she slid the parchment to Rachel. "You can do the math." Sure it was just addition and as easy as can be... but Rachel liked this class so clearly she liked doing math, so she can be the one to do it. Perfect logic there. Can't argue with that.

Scavenger hunt, though! Spending the entire class out of class, roaming the hallways. Looked like they wouldn't have to wait to catch up on things. She grinned at Rachel. Sure, the girl never apologized for not having her back, like Haddie had hoped, but, you never knew how much you missed hanging with your best friend; missed the dynamic between you and them, until you experience it again. And Haddie did miss this. More than she realized.

"I'm sorry about that, Haddie. I hadn't meant to. You and David are wonderful persons and I was just trying to help you both to see past the issues you two have.'' Why couldn't everyone be friends? Even she and Ilia were not so hostile to each other. Not able to help herself, Rachel reached out to hug the other Eagle. "I missed you.'' She snorted a little at Haddie's statement but remained silent, not wanting to spoil their newly patched friendship.

She turned her attention back to Professor Tanner. Oh! What an interesting activity this was going to be though the part about no homework did disappoint her. But it made her happy to see that Haddie wanted none of that so for her, Rachel would do her best to complete the activity properly.

The dark haired girl watched as Haddie set up the numbers. "Gladly,'' she remarked and pulled the parchment towards her. She double checked the assigned numbers before doing the calculations.

Quote:

M+o+x+l+e+y
4+6+6+3+5+7= 31
3+1= 4

"The fourth floor, Haddie. That's where we need to go!''

Olivia couldn’t help being happy with Professor Tanner’s response to her work. She was glad that it was something she was managing to work out. With the added benefit of not needing her wand at all when dealing with Arithmacy. “Thank you, Professor,” she answered simply before said woman was moving them on to their activity for the day. Something they would all be needing partners for. The first year looked around for options, brought up just a little short in surprise when Haddie and Rachel appeared to be working together again.

Had they worked things out?

She’d find out later. For now she needed a partner, especially when the first part of the activity was already being laid out before them. “Anyone need a partner?” the Ravenclaw asked aloud. She was supposedly good at this so she was an asset...right?