Holy Moley! Fia's eyes widened as she made sure to NOT have her wand out for any reason what so ever. This lady was...rough. She liked her already. As she asked a question, Fia was just about to answer but someone had already spoke what she was going to say.

Rhea thought about the professor's question. She raised her hand tentatively. Sure she wasn't good at the subject but she wanted to try.

"Arithmancy professor is an ancient system of fortune-telling based on names and numbers.One must first analyze a word and using arithmancy convert it to a set of numbers. Each letter of the alphabet is assigned a numerical value between 1 and 9."

Herminny had an idea of how to answer the 1st question so she raised her hand and answered, "I think arithmancy means the science of numbers and how they relate to different aspects of our lives", Herminny replied with a smile.

No wands? Pout. Arya could tell this class was not going to be her favorite. Atleast the new professor seemed friendly, stern, but friendly none the less. Pulling out a piece of parchement and her new purty phoenix feather quill, she began to take notes.

As soon as the professor had spoken, Mat's attention was all focus on what she was saying. Well sort of... In the beginning he knew that this would be a painful class for him to attend to and it was. The simplest question that she had just ask was mind buggling for him and they were no way he would raise his hand to answer. For him arithmancy was something to do with numbers that was influence stuff in your life or maybe it wasn't but it never really stop to pay attention so this was a first.

Still listening to what everyone was saying, Mat waited to have somewhat of an answer so he could right down.

After what was an obvious disappointed look at her house mates, Cela raised her hand.

"Professor, Arithmancy isn't just the study of numbers and how they effect different aspects of our lives, its the application of numbers to the vibrations of the universe.

Arithmancy a way of helping us understand the meaning of things, because its human nature to try to quantify and explain everything. Numbers are universal. No matter what you call them, the actual amount, and therefore the meaning, stays constant. Arithmancy is about understanding these constants and using that understanding to live our lives to the fullest and gain mastery of the self, no matter how many lifetimes it takes."

Xylon raised a bored hand.

"It's a play of numbers if you ask me," he said. He liked to think of Arithmancy as play. Something fun. "A serious kind of course. It's one of the gateways between who we are or can be, and what magic can teach and show us. A study you can apply to your life. Where you interpret numbers to find more about your personality, life and desires ----- and what can possibly lie ahead for you."

So what if he wasn't making sense? She had asked for an original definition so there. She had what he thought of the subject.

He lowered his hand and gave Celandine a curious look. He disagreed with the Head Girl. Numbers are constant but not in the way she claimed they were. There are number systems you can't apply to Arithmancy. In Xylon's opinion she was missing a point here ---- meanings can vary, beliefs can interfere. But she was right about application. Mostly right in fact.

Simon raised his hand he knew this one. "Professor Arithmancy is the study of divination through numbers, so it is learning numbers." Simon smiled, he wasn't sure now that he had said it, if it was right of not.

Cedric smiled as the professor deducted points to the houses of chattering students. He just found her just and rational. And for him, being just was what the other professors needed to have.

He quickly raised his hand after listening of what the new Arithmancy professor had to ask.

"Arithmancy is our guide with the use of numbers. It's also like a map that tells you which path to choose and it intricately shows us how numbers relate with our life. Arithmancy is therefore a substantial matter in life that should be studied carefully with wide understanding and succinct interpretation."

"Arithmancy is a branch of magic that is concerned with the magical properties of numbers. It uses mumbers associated with an individual to help predict their future. Arithmancy is considered more acurate than Divination because you calculate the numbers using various items associated to the individual and then interpret their meaning using information provided.

Sophia raised her hand. Though she wasn't sure, she has an idea, "Professor, I think Arithmancy is studying numbers and how the letters and numbers are related. It also tells us how important a single number is."

Initially the Prefect was talking about Greek roots, which seemed rather plain and not very interesting, but she moved quickly away from that topic and led into more interesting description of the subject. "Yes, understanding is key. Good points, Ms Laksh. Especially on how precise your calculations are, which I must warn you all, is tedious." She paused letting this sink in. "But it is also worth the tediousness in the long run, I think as it helps for a more accurate understanding of who you are and who you will become."

Nodding at the girl in agreement with her answer, she sent a small smile her way. "Excellent. Arithmancy numbers are very useful in informing us of what to expect later in our lives. We could easily find out what will happen tomorrow or in two years just through plugging in a couple numbers. Good, Miss Flores."

"Yes, precisely," Fina agreed with the next two students. Smart kids. They knew what Arithmancy was, which was definitely a positive sign.

"Very true, sort of," Josephina contemplated her answer for a moment before continuing on. "Please remember though that there are two major methods of practicing Arithmancy in existence - the Pythagorean Method and the Chaldean Method. The one you mentioned is the Pythagorean Method which uses the number 9 to represent letters, while the Chaldean System excludes this number. For now, we will be using the Pythagorean method, but perhaps as you get to be good at calculating the numbers we will look at the other method." It was at least worth touching on.

"Yes. It is a science." Not like Astronomy, but still it was science. Things were fact based. "Good."

Quiet students. Those were just as valuable. Acknowledging each of them with a small smile in their direction, she moved on to the next comment.

"Application. Understanding. Good points, in particular about numbers being constant," Josephina replied earnestly to the head girl. "A seven will be a seven, no matter what. Words, however, can change with different contexts, so yes, I can understand what you mean. Good."

Why did Josephina get the idea that this kid was bored? If he didn't want the review session than he didn't have to attend. It's not like he wasn't warned ahead of time that this would be a review of the basics. "Play of numbers? I'm curious what you mean by this, Mr Saar" She raised an eyebrow at him. "But yes, you're right about Arithmancy being a study you can apply to your life. Though it is a different form of magic ..."

"It is more than just learning numbers, but rather interpreting the numbers and feeling their influence in your life." She elaborated upon his vague answer. But yes, study of divination through numbers. That wasn't wrong. Just not completely right either.


"Precisely, and i do like your use of the word map because it fits so nicely with the description of Arithmancy. It is the map of our past, present, and future. BUT, I must admit that interpretations do not necessarily have to be succinct, rather it should be as long as deemed necessary." Fina added on her two cents about that; after all, she'd written PAGES for one interpretation before versus sometimes only a few lines.

"Good, both of you." Josephina added, as she gave another sweeping glance around the room for other last minute answers.


"As aforementioned, we will be discussing basics, which includes, for those who don't know, the core numbers. Yes we will be calculating them, but no, we will not be calculating our own numbers." She paused a moment before going on. "Can someone please name for me the four core numbers?"

The core numbers? That hit some blockage in her mind for some reason. "I think they are the life path, the expression, the personality, and the heart's desire numbers...I think." she said after raising her hand, finding herself smiling slightly. She had read the book, but had no idea if those were the core numbers or not. The words went through one eye, and right out the other. If that made any sense whatsoever.

Okay, really she couldn't stay mad forever. It was like impossible for her this year to stay angry for some odd reason. Even after just that minute, there was a slight smile on her face.

Mina slowly raised her hand. She wasn't completely sure of her answer, but it was worth a go in her opinion. The worst possible thing would be be incorrect, but like being wrong every really stopped her. "Professor, I think they are the Life Path Number, the Expression/Destiny Number, the Heart's Desire/Soul Urge Number, and the Personality Number." Those did sound right, didn't they?

Cedric attentively raised his hand once again, "The four core numbers are The Life Path Number, The Expression/Destiny Number, The Heart's Desire or Soul Urge Number and the Personality Number." Hmm, he thought the professor didn't ask for explanation at all so he just answered what he had to answer. And he muttered under his breath, "I'm still a bit wondering how they fully relate and interact with each other though."

Again, Cadence's hand shot into the air. "Professor, they are the Life Path Number, the Destiny or Expression Number, the Heart's Desire Number... also known as the Soul's Urge Number, and the Personality Number," she said confidently.

"Good, Good." Fina said, content with their responses, making mental notes of the participating students. "Can I get four volunteers please? One from each house preferably."

Gold raised a hand. "That would be the Life Path, Heart's Desire or Soul Urge, Expression or Destiny, and the Personality Numbers, ma'am." She was glad she had studied all of that for her OWL's, now.

Definitely glad.

... and ooh! Volunteers. Gold raised her hand, again. "I would love to help, Professor," she said cheerfully.

Hmm... Well, why not! Volunteering here was better than volunteering in...muggle studies or something. "I'll volunteer." Evelyn said, raising her hand once again. Yes! Actually doing something in class for once! It felt...weird.

Oooh. Volunteers! Greaat! Cedric raised his hand real quick, "I'd like to volunteer professor," He grinned, having sense that they would have a rather fun yet informative Arithmancy class today.

Looking around quickly, Mina raised her hand as well. "I'll volunteer," she smiled. Why not just jump right into it. She was sure being more involved in the lesson would help her remember it better.

Maddie raised her hand
'I'll volunteer, Proffessor Hadley!' she said politely

Ty's quill was flying over his parchment as he tried to write down everything. Sure, his handwriting might be completely illegible, but still. At least it was SOMETHING. Uncle James said to always take notes, said they were very important.

As Professor Hadley asked for volunteers, Ty wondered if he should raise his hand. He was about to when he noticed that a Ravenclaw had already offered, and she had said one from each house. Oh well - it didn't matter! Watching was fun tooooo!

Waiting for the volunteers to come, she wasn't exactly sure what she expected. Perhaps an influx of hands in the air forcing her to choose? Yet they seemed slow and reluctant, in particular the Ravenclaw volunteer. It wasn't like she was asking them to sing a song or something that could wind up horridly embarrassing; granted she hadn't said exactly what they volunteering for . . .

"Great!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "Come up here. The four of you. Each of you is going to be a core number. Gold - you'll be the life path number, Evelyn - destiny number, Cedric - Heart's desire, and Mina - you'll be personality." Good, each number assigned to a person. Ironic that Evelyn got destiny number, but how was she supposed to know that Evelyn and Destiny were inseparable best friends? "Now in turn, I want each of you to tell your classmates who you are and how you are calculated. Giving us a general understanding of the importance of your number."

Oh my, this was awesome. Gold beamed at Professor Hadley, rose to her feet, and looked round the classroom. She waited for a minute or two, then realized none of the other volunteers had spoken up. Well, she could always get things started!

"Hi, guys!" She waved at everyone. "I'm the awesome Life Path Number, and I do exactly what my name says I do - help you trace your life's route. I give you an understanding of the path you will follow, or can expect to follow, in your life. But that's not all! I help you get an insight into exactly what will help or hinder you, in this. Your skills and stuff. Think of me as a big, warm lamp - I can show you the path and, in doing that, indicate what may, or may not, help you out. In the end, though, I'm only a lamp - I can help you see what you can depend upon, but it's up to you to put me to proper use, interpret me correctly, and let me guide you."

".... You know, you could think of me as the moon, too. I'm a really pretty number." Okay, scratch that.

"The calculation is fairly simple. You need to add the number of the month, the year and the day you were born, together. Reduce each value to a single digit, add the new values, and then reduce them again until you have a pretty, little digit you can flaunt as your Life Path Number."

What else?

"I'm generally all around awesome, and can help you become a better person, make better choices. Sooo use me wisely!" With that, she beamed at Professor Hadley again, and waited to see if she was allowed to sit again. This lesson was definitely turning out to be awesome.