Intermediate Arithmancy: Lesson 2

[Rebecca Davenport]

It was usually this time of the year that Becca really started enjoying her Intermediate class. They had usually moved past the basics and had often started asking intelligent questions. This year was no exception and Professor Davenport looked forward to the budding Arithmancers' arrival.

Unfortunately, once they got to class, they were in for one of the most boring of lessons. As much as she liked the subject as a whole, she too was not looking forward to this particular lesson which was all lecture and very little action.

The door was open, ready to welcome the unsuspecting students who would probably not know the topic of the day's lesson until they read the board:

PYTHAGORAS; wizard, philosopher, mathematician

[Emeric Troy III]

Emeric wasn't exactly sure why he had chosen Arithmancy as an elective. Care of Magical Creatures was an obvious one, it was interesting as long as he stayed clean, but arithmancy? It was obvious why he didn't sign up for Muggle Studies, he detested the subject and those who studied it, divination was a subject for loons to study, and ancient runes just sounded a bit too boring for him. He wasn't sure why he kept up with the class of Arithmancy, though. He supposed in some strange way he found it interesting in a way.

Numbers by themselves were rather boring, a topic Emeric didn't care to deal with or discuss, but when the numbers mean something, it was different. Looking prim and proper in his Hogwarts uniform, Emeric entered the third floor Arithmancy classroom to discover he was the first one. Tut, tut, where were all the over-eager Ravenclaws? Emeric was dissapoint by the lack of them. Surely, they would arrive later though. He gave a nod of acknowledgement to Professor Davenport and took his seat. Emeric pulled out his quill, ink, parchment and book and waited for what was in store for the lesson. His eyes stared off into the distance until he noticed something written on the board. PYTHAGORAS; wizaed, philosopher, mathematician Ah, so the lesson would be a rather boring one. Emeric waited for it to begin.

[Autumn McLoughlin]

Autumn was worried. She paced outside the Arithmancy classroom, a crumpled letter in her hand. Her parents had written her last night, telling her they expected her to take Arithmancy class this year. She hadn't signed up when she came her because she didn't know her parents wanted her to. Should she go in? Should she not? This question banged around her mind. She decided to go in and ask the professor if she may join their class. She then did something she never used to do. She fixed her outfit, making her look very presentable. Autumn was never one to fix her appearance. But since coming to Hogwarts she felt she needed to look somewhat nice.

The door was open to the classroom. She peeked in, hoping no one was in their besides the Professor, but alas she was disappointed. A Slytherin boy was sitting down in the room. She didn't know him. Holding her head high she walked in towards the Professor, the letter still in her hand. As she got closer she noticed the Professor was her Care of Magical Creatures Professor also. This made her a little less scared. She liked this teacher a lot. Once she was at the desk she asked, "Professor? May I ask you a question?" She bit her lip, hoping the outcome would be a good one.

[Rebecca Davenport]

Professor Davenport had taken longer than usual setting the class up for her lesson, not that there was much to set up, but the last group had left quite a mess. Usually Becca was behind her desk, nose in a book, semi-oblivious to those that came in before the bell. This particular afternoon, she was still sorting through the work from the previous lesson when first a Slytherin, and then a Ravenclaw entered her classroom.

She did not recognize the girl, but that really didn't mean much. The girl had a question and the professor would answer it the best she could. "Yes?" she asked, waiting for the girl to continue.

[Autumn McLoughlin]

Autumn took a deep breath. She flattened out the note and held it in front of her for the teacher to look at. "I didn't know who I should take this up with but.....My parents wrote me last night telling me they wanted me to take Arithmancy but the sign up date passed. I just wanted to know if I may join the class?" She looked at the teacher, hoping she would be nice enough to let one more student join.

"Both of my older sisters took the class and my parents think it will look good with whatever job I decide to pursue." With her hand she smoother her skirt out, trying to get the less noticeable wrinkles to go away, for the time being.

[Rebecca Davenport]

Professor Davenport took the note and frowned through her glasses at it as she read. Becca had no problem letting students into her class if they hadn't signed up, but there was a bigger issue in her mind.

"You realize this is the Intermediate class, Miss... ?" she asked, waiting for the girl's name. "If you haven't taken Arithmancy before, you might want to start in the Beginning class." Then again, it wasn't unheard of for students skipping straight to her Mid-level lessons. As long as they kept up, Becca didn't mind.

[jacquelynchaput]

Jax was psyched for Arithmancy. Then again, she always was. Sure the numbers slightly confused her, and the charts were tedious at points and even some of the lectures about the numbers were dull and lifeless, but Jax really had to give Davenport credit... Jax wasn't sure what it was, but she'd sit through a class with that Professor any day of the week no matter what the topic was. The way she was so spacey about things, and was one of those people who could never judge. Or so it seemed that's how Professor Davenport was. Jax thought about it every now and then, sometimes a slight heat rushed to her cheeks as she did so. There was just something about going to Arithmancy that made Jax wish she had signed up for Care of Magical Creatures too... but Jax couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

Heart racing, her stomach slightly doing flips as she entered the classroom, Jax noticed that Davenport was speaking to another Ravenclaw girl, and her eyes narrowed slightly at the girl wondering why the Professor would be talking to her before class. Not that it was any of Jax's business, but still she wondered and a bit of annoyance came from it. Jax crossed her arms, wishing she had done more research on anything just to go up to the Professor and speak with her about it, but sadly, Jax had not that day and therefore just went to the very nearest chair to the professor's desk and sat down in it. She wished the class was just the one on one like it had been the previous term. Those were even better...

[Autumn McLoughlin]

"Autumn, my name is Autumn. And yes, I know this is an intermediate class. Mum told me to go for this one. When I was home schooled Mum made Arithmancy a subject I had to take. She thought Arithmancy was something I should know." Autumn said this quietly, not wanting anyone else in the class to hear. Not that it was embarrassing, she just didn't. She turned her head slightly, looking behind her. The class was filling up. She didn't know anyone. There was another Ravengirl, the Quidditch Captain, but they had never talked before.

"I've gotten really good grades in the classes my Mum taught. She'd sent over my grades if you'd like." Autumn said, nodding. Her mother was quite stern with what she wanted for her daughter.

[Rebecca Davenport]

"Well, if you think you can keep up," Becca answered with a smile. The girl seemed nervous but confident. That was an asset. "I see no reason why you can't sit in this class then. No, the grades aren't necessary, but mind you, I will expect you to keep up. If you happen across something that you haven't covered, see me after class and we can arrange a quick tutoring session. Agreed?"

As if the matter had been settled, the professor turned to the rest of the class and cleared her throat. The lesson was about to begin.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're discussing the great thinker, Pythagoras today," she started. "Pythagoras lived in the 500's BC, and was one of the first Greek mathematical thinkers. He spent most of his life in the Greek colonies in Sicily and southern Italy. His followers, the Pythagoreans were known for their pure lives and would go to the outlying communities to spread their master's teachings.

"Pythagoreans were interested in philosophy, but especially in music and mathematics, two ways of making order out of chaos. Music is noise that makes sense, and mathematics is rules for how the world works. He was also one of the first people to discover the connection between numbers and their magical properties."

She paused here, giving the students a chance to write it all down as well as ask any questions they may have had.

[jacquelynchaput]

Great thinker, Pythagoras. Jax allowed Davenports words to echo inside her head just briefly before she began to scribble down the notes on parchment, trying all at the same time to keep her eyes focused on anything she could other than the professor. Jax always found it a bit difficult to write notes in Davenports class, and yet, her intent on paying attention to the woman was outstanding. Jax found herself hanging off of her every word, and she sighed slightly as she looked up and listened again... her note taking itself, forgotten.

"But how?" Jax asked curiously. It was faster than most, for they were all taking notes (it seemed to her, but she was looking up front so she couldn't tell) and she had forgotten to write most of anything down so it was quicker for her to speak up. Not to mention, Jax was still not used to the fact that it wasn't just her and Davenport anymore like it had been the previous year. Then she didn't have to raise her hand, wait her turn, and so on. She could just yell it out.... or rather just ask nicely because the two of them were like discussing more than anything else. "How did he discover it again? This part always confuses me a bit..." she also could never remember if Pythogoras was a muggle or not... if he was, that confused her too.