Class One: OWLS and NEWTS

[jayma]

Jayma walked from her office to the front of the classroom, nodding her head at her students and whispering a good morning. As her first class of the day, she knew that some students were either going to skip, or be late. She was too much of a pushover to care though. And besides, it was their grades.... She picked up her wand and waved it in the air, and chalk marks appeared on the board that stretched across the wall. She smiled as she began to write out some simple equations, as well as some simple introductions for the class. She turned on the balls of her feet to face the class, her wand tucked between both hands, which hung in front of her. She smiled at the class. Good morning! Welcome to Arithmancy. Today we'll be taking some brief notes on what Arithmancy is. After notes, I would like each of you to figure out a few equations based on what we've just talked about."

BRIEF HISTORY:
Arithmancy comes from the two greek terms "arithmos" meaning number, and "manteia" meaning divination. It is an old way of calculating the future, the past, and the present, and is also used to pick out important dates for future plans. With Arithmancy, you can predict outcomes, someones future, love possibilities, weaknesses, and even the future.

HOW IT WORKS:
With Arithmancy, you reduce down dates or words, using numbers. Each resulting number has a meaning. Right now we will focus on your birthdays. Taking your full birth date (day + month + year), you add each of the numbers and reduce it to one number. For example, Harry Potter was born on July 31st 1980.

31 + 7 + 1980 = 3 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 0
= 29
= 2 + 9
= 11
= 1 + 1
= 2

So as you can see, after adding the numbers, if there's a two digit number, simply split them (29 = 2 + 9) and then add them again. Keep reducing down like this until you reach a single digit number. This number reveals your vibrational number, or destiny number. When figuring out birthdays, each number is often associated with astrological signs and meanings. It is often recommended to plan important dates on or around this date. Below are the nine vibrational numbers.

1 - The Sun (Agression, Action, Ambition)
One primarily deals with new beginnings, strong will and pure energy. Ones are independent, focused and determined individuals, who don't shy away from taking a leading role. They take action, start new ventures, and are ambitious. They can also be self-centered, egotistical and headstrong, and domineering.

2 - The Moon (Balance, Contrast, Opposite)
The number 2 deals with balance and cooperation. It is the number of loyalty, commitment, harmony and tact. Twos are imaginative, creative, and fair individuals. They use communication and urge people out of indecisiveness, calling others to unite with like-minds and like-ideals. They can also be withdrawn, moody, and self-conscious.

3 - Mars (Talent, Versatility, Joviality)
The number 3 deals with magic, intuition and self expression. Threes are creative, easy-going and generally highly successful individuals. The number 3 is often associated with time (past, present, future), and well as wholeness (mind, body, spirit), which gives the number a certain metaphysical meaning. Number 3s can also be unfocused, easily offended and superficial.

4 - Mercury (Stability, Solidity, Endurance)
The number 4 is one of stability, and invokes one with a grounded nature in all things. There are 4 elements, 4 seasons, 4 directions, all things that nicely packaged in little squares. Fours enjoy hard work, are practical and are very organized individuals. They are reliable and prefer logic to flights of fancy. They can however be stubborn, suspicious and prone to angry outbursts. Furthermore, the conflicts possible in "two" are doubled in "four".

5 - Jupiter (Expansion, Adventure, Travel)
The number 5 is one of instability and unpredictability. It suggests a change and chaos and a willingness to take risks and try different things. Fives are prepared to take action, to meet new people and to marvel at the wonders of the world. They can also be conceited, irresponsible, quick-tempered and impatient.

6 - Venus (Tolerant, Dependable, Sincere)
The number 6 is one of harmony and sincerity. It represents friendship and family life and individuals who are loyal, reliable and loving. People who are 6s are tactful, calm, and honest, and do well in teaching and the arts. They are however prone to gossip, and complacency.

7 - Saturn (Mystery, Study, Knowledge)
Sevens are scholars, and thrive on intellectual challenges. They are imaginative and aware, and have a deep understanding of their world. Originality and imagination is often more important to them than material possessions. They are often serious, bright, and creative, but can also be pessimistic, sarcastic and insecure.

8 - Uranus (Success, Opportunity, Strength)
Eight is the number of success. It deals with repetition, cycles and continuation, and it is often the number associated with business, wealth, and politics. It is the number of momentum, and as such 8s are practical, ambitious, committed, and hard working individuals. They can also be jealous, greedy, domineering and power-hungry.

9 - Neptune (Universal Influence)
The number nine is the epitome of the vibrational numbers. It represents the attainment of satisfaction, accomplishment and success. It deals with intellectual power, inventiveness, influence over situations and things as well as the ability to make a positive influence over others. Nines are determined individuals who tend to work tirelessly towards their goals. They can however, be arrogant and conceited, especially when things don't go their way.

HOMEWORK:
Please use your birthdays to figure out your vibrational numbers. After reading those numbers, please write a one hundred word essay (minimum) on whether or not you think this fits your personality, followed by why. Return to me by July 16th.

[ANNELIESE PORTIA VAISEY]

Anneliese preferred the methods of Arthimancy than she did Divinations. With Arthimancy there was some control, which being a rather structured person, she found appealing. Numbers were constant, simple as that. Divination was subject to a person’s ability and it had been discovered some time ago that Anneliese was not one of the few that had the sight, so there was no sense in her continuing in something that there was no chance of her excelling in. Like with all her classes, she had arrived early, taking a seat in the front row. Her hands laced themselves neatly on top of her desk, sitting with ramrod posture, parchment, quill, and inkbottle all placed in front of her meticulously. Some might have believed that Anneliese was a bit of a neat freak and they certainly were not wrong.

Being greeted so generally Anneliese replied in unison with the other voices surrounding her, in her soft-spoken manner. The mention that they would be taking notes made the trouble that she had gone to in order to make sure everything was ready for the lesson, worth it. Picking up the quill, feather wafting in the air loftily, Anneliese dipped it into the ink, smoothed out the parchment, and delicately began to write the information that Professor Johanson was giving them in her elegant script. The lesson was very essay, she felt and while she sat there finishing up her notes, Anneliese did the math in her head. Already she had her essay panning out in her mind. If there was any free time she would even be able to turn in the assignment by the end of the lesson.

02+03+2006=2+3+2+6
=13
=1+3
=4

As I read the traits that fours possessed I found myself nodding along with most of the things that were mentioned. Since a very young age I have always stood solidly, much like a four-legged table, resolute in my standing despite pressure laid upon me to weaken my repute. Whether that is a testimony of stability or stubbornness is a matter of semantics, in which, as it pertains to this assignment, regardless of the answer, is merely further proof of a Mercury personality. I can, in fact, be relied on as I never make any promise that I do not fully intend to keep. In keeping these promises I work rather hard, as I do with all things in my life. Fours having such significance in life brings one to the balance being double what it is in twos. Just as well with a balance the affirmation of general relatability must also have fluctuations. With that said, a contradiction of myself and a Mercury personality is that I am not prone to angry outburst, I much prefer to compartmentalize, as it is the more logical approach in solving my problems than lashing out.

[jayma]

Jayma walked around her classroom as she watched students scribbling furiously on their parchments, trying to bust out an essay before her class was up. Usually after notes, and working on their in class work, Jayma would allow them to work on their homework. She knew that sometimes coursework could be overbearing, especially to those who weren't the best of students. Smiling at one of her favorites, she watched Anneliese working diligently on her work. She noticed the girl get her essay done, almost in record time at that, and walked over to politely take it and read it over.

Anneliese clearly understood the assignment well. She wanted to have students see that this was an easy way of pairing people together, to figure out love interests, friends, enemies, etc. But she also wanted them to see that sometimes their personalities varied a bit from what Arithmancy says. She smiled at Anneliese and waved her wand, sending the paper back to the girl with an "O" written at the top, for outstanding. "Ten points to Slytherin, for Anneliese's ability to make sense of this assignment." Looking at the other students, she saw some that were not impressed with Slytherin getting points, and others that didn't really care, since they just wanted to get out of class.

[LORANA ALEXIS SMITH]

Lori was rather fond of Arthimancy. She thought it was neat that something as bland as numbers could supposedly tell you so much about yourself, the future, and general compatibility with those around you. Although Lorana wasn’t one to rely on any form of divination, no matter how cool it was, to determine her future, the thought of it still interested her. She was more the you make your own future kind of person than she was just because something is written makes it true type.

Entering the class she only found one other person there, a Slytherin girl that she didn’t associate with. She seemed a bit snobbish to her so despite giving a warm smile to both the girl and Professor Johanson, Lori took a seat off by herself and listened intently to what the professor had to say. When she was finished Lorana did set out to do the assignment as directed but wasn’t nearly as quick as the Slytherin. She had to think more about what she was going to say in reply to a Uranus personality and herself.

06+04+2005=6+4+2=5
=17
1+7
=8

The only thing that was mentioned in that of a Uranus personality that had anything to do with the person that I am, not to mention that I strive to be, is that I am hard working. I never had much of a desire to be wealthy or powerful, nor have I concerned myself in politics or greediness. I’d much rather be happy and make those around me feel good about themselves than be someone of that kind of power-hungry importance. If I had to attribute myself to any personality, I would say Venus is the most likely candidate. I’m all about being friend and family oriented, I’m fiercely loyal and am always sincere in my honesty. I guess that old expression of being born under a bad sign applies to me.

[nikko]

As was his usual, Nikko was in danger of being late to class. It couldn’t be helped really when there were so many things along the route to class that could distract him. Like his lard of a cat slipping out of the common room to tort its plump way along the corridor with him and him having to go back twice to put Fritz back in his dorm room, or some pretty girl giving him the eyes and having no choice, of course, but to say hello, maybe make some funny comment to coax out a laugh. Looking down at his watch Nikko picked up the pace knowing that at any time now the bell would ring. It didn’t though and he made it into class with a triumphant smile.

He took his seat recovering his breath as he pulled out his supplies quickly scribbling down the notes that were needed to properly complete the assignment. He didn’t really think that it was necessary for numbers to tell him the type of person that he should be but it was pretty cool to see the discrepancies in them. Finishing up his note taking Nikko moved right along to the assignment liking the fact that it was simple enough to be completed during the lesson itself. Nikko never was very fond of homework.

19+05+2006=1+9+5+2+6
=23
2+3
=5

Jupiter to a tee, I was actually really surprised to see that my birthday coincided so well with my personality. I’m prone to impulsive tendencies, which make my life both unpredictable and chaotic. I like taking risks, trying new things and the sort, meeting new people has always been an interest of mine too, considering I’m a rather friendly person, in that smart-mouthed adolescent kind of way. As for me being conceited I’m going to have to plead exception on that one, as I much prefer the term confident. Not even to deny it, I can also be quite irresponsible and my temper could stand to be a mite bit more level.

[jayma]

Jayma clapped her hands with glee. Everyone was understanding the assignment! This was the first time in the history of her class that her students understood that this was a comparison of themselves, and that they could see the similarities and differences amongst each other. Walking around the classroom, she collected the last few papers and assigned them grades, each one an O for outstanding. She set the papers back on the desk of the respective student, grinning. "Thank you all for attending class today, please make sure to bring your notes for the next one, as we'll go more into depth with this next class. Dismissed!" she said, waving her wand.

The door creaked open and she sat back down at her desk. Remembering what she had done for Anneliese, she stood back up and hollered after her students. "Oh wait! Ten more points for each house, for all the great work today!" She waved her wand once more, and even though it couldn't been seen from the tower, points trickled into the vases for each house. Feeling pleased with herself, Jayma erased the board with the flick of her wand and she set off into her office, to plan out her next lesson.

Results:
Gryffindor - 10 points
Ravenclaw - 10 points
Hufflepuff -
Slytherin - 10 points