Advanced Arithmancy: Lesson 4

[Rebecca Davenport]

It was the last class of the year, but the tea service was set up as usual at the large table near the front of the room. She was hoping this would be an ideal review time, seeing as the seventh years had NEWTs within days and figured that it couldn't do the sixth years any harm either. As she waited for the students she nibbled on a tea sandwich and checked over the essays on the Flooper that she had before her.

[cronon]

Staying up all night was never in Alexander's view point of a good night, but he could hardly keep up with the essay that van Aller had assigned weeks ago and the research needed for it. Who actually assigned an essay on the ways power is supplied to each muggle facility was beyond him. Though he had grown up in the muggle world, he couldn't believe that she was making them know all of the information needed. It was spinning all in his head, and as he handed it in that morning he could already see the failing mark. His mother would be pleased for sure.

As he entered the classroom, and saw Professor Davenport eating on a sandwich his stomach grumbled loudly. Yes, he had skipped both breakfast and lunch to get all of the work done that he needed to. He hadn't even been able to spend much time that week with Krissy because of the work, and soon she'd be graduating. His luck couldn't be any worse.

Sitting down in front of the tea and sandwiches, again his stomach grumbled but the only thing he could think about was what the food would do to his complexion. His OCD kicked in and his brow sweat and he dared deny his stomach's insistent moans and groans. "..Professor?" Alexander said as politely as possible. "I don't mean to be rude..." again he paused not wanting to look like an idiot for asking what was in the food. "Do you know exactly what is in the tea and sandwiches...for my allergies....is all..." He kicked himself as he lied. But how could he really tell her that it was because it could counter all of his products and creams. Alexander sighed....what a long day he was having already.

The only plus was that in this class he'd be with Krissy. That...and looking into her green eyes, were always some pluses of Arithmancy.

[Rebecca Davenport]

Professor Davenport looked up at the young man, her glasses perched on the end of her nose. Just the fact that she had heard Mr. Cronon speaking to her while she was engrossed in her papers was unusual, even more that she had understood his question.

"Cucumber, mint, and cream cheese," she announced, holding up the sandwich she held. "I do believe we also have watercress, smoked salmon, and olive as well."

She placed the paper she had been grading to the side and pulled a new essay towards her before brushing back a loose strand of hair... or was that hay in her hair? She picked the strand of straw out and smiled at the Hufflepuff.

"But if you're worried about allergies, I dare say you'll need to know all of the ingredients, yes?" she asked. "I'm afraid you'd have to ask the house elves about that."

[Drew Thornton]

Drew slid into the classroom on his heels, landing smoothly in one of the chairs that Davenport had set out. He wasn't particularly fond of Arithmancy, but he was none the less excited to be in class. Davenport always fed her NEWT students.

"LUNCH!" he cried out enthusiastically as he kicked his backpack under the table. Granted, this particular meal would actually be his second lunch... or perhaps a pre-teatime meal? He wasn't sure yet.

[arianna]

Arianna slipped quietly into the room, an odd expression on her face. Her eyes were vacant and stared straight ahead, though they glinted in the corners as though she were just barely keeping herself from crying. In her hand she held the crumpled remains of her Charms homework, a big fat T written in the corner. Her best subject and she was failing. No, worse than failing. She was a troll.

Slumping into the first empty chair she came to, Arianna kept her eyes toward the front of the room. She knew she was struggling with classes, but she hadn't realized just how much until today. If she was doing this badly in Charms, she couldn't hope for anything better in her other classes. She wasn't one to panic over not getting all O's; she'd never been happier than to get that E in potions, but to get the worst grade ever possible in a class she loved more than any other.....Arianna had to wonder how bad she was doing in the others. She could only hope she was doing better in her other subjects.

[cronon]

Alexander listened to the professor, his stomach grumbling and his heart sinking. Well, he could at least try it..."Ah, you're probably right..." Alexander said defeated as he didn't take anything for his stomach. He'd get some food later from the kitchens. Maybe even salad with a bit of grilled chicken...yea, that never hurt his skin too much. He sighed.

Drew then announced his presence as always...as well as reminding the room that there was food on the table. Alexander's stomach grumbled and he shut his eyes tightly for a minute from embarrassment and leaned back in his chair. "Have you not eaten today, Drew?" Alexander said, figuring he hadn't from his enthusiasm for the food. And then Arianna came in, and Alexander looked her way trying to flash a small smile it seemed she may have missed.

She looked upset, and took an empty chair...leaving one thankfully open between the two of them. Alexander figured that she did it for Krissy when she came...but at the same time, Arianna didn't look as if she really was thinking about the chairs. He left it be though as his stomach grumbled again and he decided enough was enough.

Slowly, he took one of the sandwiches and started to eat it. He could only hope that later the great tasting tid bit wouldn't cause him a great amount of stress.

[Drew Thornton]

{OMG! I just noticed my glasses match Davenport's! *shudder* }

"Well, yeah, but it's been like a couple of hours or something," Drew answered, pulling a plate of sandwiches towards him as he started in on one of his happy chair dances. "I LOVE this class!" He grinned at Davenport, knowing she was savvy enough to know he was in it for the food.

But as he was about to pour a round of tea, Ari came in and took a seat. He stopped his grooving and looked over at her. She didn't look so good. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, wondering what had gotten her so down.

[arianna]

{almost...yours look more squarish }

Arianna started to nod, but it was shaky and turned into a head shake after about the third hesitant bob. This was terrible! They'd kick her out for sure. Arianna didn't know anyone who'd gotten a T, but she was sure they didn't last very long. And N.E.W.T.s weren't too far away.

"I'm a TROLL!" she cried over dramatically, holding the paper up for Drew to see. It was crumpled, torn, and tear-stained, her essay barely visible under the numerous red marks and large T. She's started out explaining the Locomotor charm well enough, but she'd mixed up what it was used for and on what sort of objects it could be used on. And then the embarrassing part....somehow, half-way through the essay, she'd started rambling about something that had happened when she was coming out of the shower one day. Most of that story was marked out in black with a note reminding her that this was homework, not her diary.

"He said it was bordering on an R-rating," she lowered her voice and, for the second time that day, Arianna felt her face turn bright red. She didn't even know how this had happened or why she'd written such things in her homework. The only explanation she had was that she'd been tired that night. Arianna might've been doing better than she had since January, but doing anything when she was the slightest bit tired....obviously still a big mistake.

[Drew Thornton]

"What's an R?" Drew asked with a confused look on his face, pretty sure T was the lowest you could get. Even in Muggle schools, the didn't have Rs.

The paper she held up looked like a mess, not only from the crumpling it had gotten, but for the multitude of bright red marks that cris-crossed the parchment.

"You aren't a Troll though..." Heck, Ari was one of the best spell casters at the school. She had obviously just had a bad day writting that paper.

[arianna]

"You know....like at the movies....an R-rating..." Arianna felt even more embarrassed now. She was talking in a whisper, but it was loud enough for anyone else to hear. The Charms professor hadn't explained the marked-out mess in terms of rating, but Arianna had figured it was easier for herself to say it that. Still embarrassing, but not quite so....well, crude seemed the best word she could come up with.

"I remember writing the first half, but the rest....what was I thinking?" she asked, though not exactly expecting an answer. It was clear she hadn't been thinking. "I should have checked it....read over it...had someone else....no, no, no, I shouldn't have had anyone else read over it if it was that....that.....racy....Oh, goodness.....what if I've done this on all my homework? Every teacher in the school is going to know about all my embarrassing moments...."

Arianna slumped forward onto her desk, letting out a dramatic sigh. She could just imagine some of the professors gathering in their lounge to discuss their theories on why the girl seemed to not notice she'd dropped her towel until after she'd finished showering. And if she'd gone into good detail....This so wasn't good. Especially if some professors enjoyed reading it... *shudder*

[Lucas Smith]

Arithmancy was a fun class for Lucas. He liked it because it was something he was good at. When he walked into the class, Lucas noticed the table with food and drinks on it but as always, he passed it by and took a seat.

[Drew Thornton]

Drew smiled aympathetically at Arianna, but really had no advice for her. It was a dillema and he wanted to help her fix it, but he just didn't understand how she could really do anything like that.

"Maybe next time you write an essay... I can look it over for you?" he offered, feeling that was the most he could do. The good news was he had lived under the same roof as Arianna long enough that he had seen a lot of her embarassing incidents so maybe it wouldn't be so bad for him to read them. At least then he might catch them and prevent further embarassment for her.

[arianna]

"Would you?" Arianna perked up and gave Drew a hopeful smile. "I mean.....if you don't mind....I just hope I don't zone out and write anything that would embarrass you, though. I don't even know how bed it really was since he's marked it out and I've totally blocked that part out. It might not even be as terrible as he says and he's just one of those people who gets all flustered when someone says boobs."

Of course, Arianna was sure she'd already embarrassed Drew enough to last a lifetime. Along with anyone else in the house that was a sixth year and over. Everyone in those top two years had probably seen more of the girl, or heard things coming from her, than they cared to ever see or hear from anyone. Some she had been able to laugh or joke off, while others literally made her run for her bed and hide under the covers. She didn't need that sort of stuff to happen in class.

"I'd offer to help you in exchange, but I think homework is out of the question....If you have anything else, though...."

[Drew Thornton]

"Well, sure," Drew agreed, thinking it was obvious that he'd want to help Ari out. And there probably wasn't much she could say that would totally embarass him. Besides, better him than some professor, right?

He wasn't sure how she might be able to repay him though. It wasn't like he was doing it for a return favor anyway. "Eh, that's okay," he told her with a shrug.

[Rebecca Davenport]

{the glasses look better on me}

Well, it looked to be a fairly full class and probably time to get started. She wiped her fingers off on the hem of her robe and pulled out her wand, flicking it over her shoulder to the chalkboard behind her. Almost immediately, a familiar chart was drawn on the surface and Becca glanced at it before turning back to the students and taking up her teacup again.

"In preparation for the end of the year exams, I thought a review on the Chaldean System was in order," she announced. "Anyone care to start with what we already know?"