Lesson 1; Term 6; All Years

Oh, zis is so exciting! Andre thought, looking around the empty classroom in amazement. A huge smile was plastered onto his face as he stepped through the doorway. He left the door open, so that the room seemed more inviting to the students who would be arriving shortly. My first class! Andre hurried across the room to drop his supplies on the desk. His desk. It really was a beautiful desk. The grain of the wood was so intriguing, and Andre bent down until his nose was nearly touching the surface to inspect it. Marvelous!

Andre jumped slightly as the bell sounded from the hallway. Zat's right! Ze students will be arriving soon! He had planned to give himself more time to set up, but he had gotten... distracted... on his way. But surely, I couldn't have passed up the chance to talk to zat French wizard in the painting. Oh, that's right. Class! He had to prepare for class! How was one supposed to prepare for class? Andre hadn't thought this far ahead.

Well, he had his supplies - the Arithmancy text, parchment, quill, Bertie Botts beans, a copy of Tolkien in case he got bored... glancing behind him, he saw that there was a chalkboard. Ah, yes! I 'ave to write my name so ze students know it! He remembered that much from being in school. The professor always wrote their name on the chalkboard.

BUT THERE WAS NO CHALK! Not a single piece of chalk! Now what was he going to do? Oh, now ze lesson is doomed for certain! How could he have a lesson if he had no chalk to write his name on the board? He didn't even consider the fact that he could use his wand to accomplish the very same thing with much less trouble. Frantic, he began to search the room for any sign of chalk. He was peering into every compartment of his desk, and was so focused on his search that he didn't realize when the students began to arrive.

Maya sauntered down the corridor, not really bothered about timekeeping. She had heard there was a new Arithmancy professor, but hadn't yet spotted him.  She hoped his class wouldn't be a bore.  All she knew about the subject was that it involved numbers and she had hated math with a passion when she attended muggle school. Maya didn't even have the company of Kynan to make things better. She began questioning why she even bothered taking the class. Oh yeah, she had absolutely no prospects for the future and needed to keep her options open. So that meant taking Arithmancy. Maya opened the door to a classroom she had never been in before, sighing to herself, wondering was it too late to drop the subject.

Oh wow. was all the thoughts that formed in Maya's head as she eyed the eccentric looking teacher as he furrowed through his desk. He appeared too involved in his surroundings that he didn't noticing her coming in, which Maya was thankful for.  No awkward exchanges with the professor. Maya walked on past as the professor's head was stuck in his desk drawer and took a seat in the middle of class.  She didn't bother taking out her equipment as she was too preoccupied in watching the professor moving around frantically. Maybe this could be fun after all, Maya thought as she suppressed a grin.

After a few more moments of enjoying the professor searching his desk Maya decided maybe she should actually do something. "Uhm, professor? Are you ok, do you need any help?" Maya inquired, but didn't move from her seat. She wondered if he would have even heard her as he was so busy rummaging around the place.

Andre had given up rummaging through the drawers of his desk, and had ducked beneath it for a quick look when a voice interrupted his frenzy. He jumped, his head banging off the underside of the desk, and peeked out from behind it to see a young red-headed girl seated in the middle of the room. "A student 'as arrived! he said giddily, bouncing up from where he was crouched on the floor and beaming at the girl. Oh, what had she said? She had asked if he needed help.

"Oh, I am just marvelous!" Andre exclaimed, making his way around his desk. "'elp?" he repeated. "Well, I am trying to write my name on ze board, so zat my lesson will not be a failure, but zere is no chalk!" he responded. "Ah but wait!" he said, tapping his head lightly with his palm. "It seems I am forgetting somezing!" And with a triumphant sweep of his arm, he grabbed his wand.

But rather than using his wand to etch his name on the chalkboard, he waved it flamboyantly in front of him and exclaimed, "Accio chalk!" Looking at the girl, he beamed again. "Zis will work for certain!" he told her. "With the use of zis spell, ze chalk will be forced to show itself!" But the chalk did not show itself, and Andre's face fell. "Oh no," he said dramatically. "Now my lesson will be terrible."

He was trying to think of another way to solve this problem, but there simply wasn't one. He looked back to the girl, and realized that he hadn't introduced himself! "Oh, but 'ow rude of me! You must zink I 'ave no manners!" With a smile, he swept his beret from his head and told her his name. "I am Monsieur Andre Jean-Louis Leblanc, 'owever, since zis is such a long name, Monsieur Leblanc will do." More students should be arriving soon, and Andre hadn't even written his name! But he couldn't forget his etiquette.

Feeling curious about the subject, Aylee had signed up for Arithmancy. She didn't know much about it, only that it was about predicting the future by using numbers. Really, she wasn't one for predicting the future but she was still interested in how numbers were used. Even though she was never as good at Maths, either. Yet, she forced herself to leave the common room after her free period to get to class early for once. After arriving late to Defence Against the Dark Arts, she hoped that this Professor wasn't as mean. Somehow she got a bit lost on the way but a friendly ghost directed her in the right direction towards Arithmancy. When she arrived, the classroom door was wide open.

Aylee peered in before entering and only spotted Maya and a Professor holding a wand and a beret in his hand. Politely, she knocked on the door before walking in, surprised that she and Maya were the only students to arrive to far. "Hello Professor," she mumbled a greeting at the new teacher as she slowly set down her bag on a seat next to Maya's. She sat down and piled out her quill and ink bottle and set of parchment and books on her table. The teacher looks distressed, she observed.

By now, Aoife shouldn't still be getting lost. But she was and there was nothing she could do about it. Her class was meant to be starting at that exact minute. She was hoping to get another detention rather than having points deducted. But it was Charms, so she may be okay. It depended on Professor Fenech's mood.

Ooh, there was a door! She was pretty sure it was the right door too. With a quiet knock, she pushed open the door. To reveal a man running around looking for something, that Slytherin girl trying to help and Aylee sitting down calmly, watching the commotion.

"Am I in the wrong place? Because I thought this was Charms!" Aoife exclaimed anxiously. Then she caught on to what the professor was looking for. "Chalk! Oh, chalk! You must have chalk for your lesson, sir! Shall I help you?" He obviously didn't know that spell that let you write stuff on the board with your wand magically. Therefore, he was in desperate need of chalk, the poor Frenchman.

Where could the chalk be, where could it be? "Have you checked under the chair? People put chalk in odd places!"

MORE STUDENTS! Andre beamed again as a dark haired girl entered the classroom and sat down, as well as a little redhead who exclaimed something about charms. "Why 'ello there!" he exclaimed happily, his problem forgotten for the moment. "Oh, zis is just wonderful, I 'ave so many students!"  Then, the redhead came up to him and offered to help him look for his chalk. "Ah!" he said. "Zat's right, I must have ze chalk to begin my lesson!" He had forgotten all about it.

But it was obviously very important that he find some chalk. "Well, zen!" he beamed at her as she offered to help. "Zis girl understands ze importance of zis problem!" Then, she suggested looking under the chair. "Ah!" he squeaked, rushing back over toward the front of the classroom. "But of course! I checked under ze desk, but alas, ze chalk evades me by hiding under ze chair, ze blasted zing!"

Andre knelt down on the ground beside his chair and very quickly and sharply looked beneath it as though the chalk would hide if it had the chance. "AHA!" he shouted as he did so. "I 'ave got that sneaky chalk now - oh, but it is not 'ere!" He frowned again and stood up as he realized that the chalk wasn't hiding under the chair after all. He looked back at the redhead and was about to thank her for her wonderful idea when the first thing she said came back to mind. Charms.... charms... "I know what to do!" he exclaimed. "Why 'ad I not zot of it before? But of course, zere is a charm..."

With a flourish, he raised his wand and aimed it at the chalkboard. "AHA!" he shouted again, this time triumphantly, as his name appeared on the board in big, loopy writing. "'ow could I forget?" he questioned, turning back to his students. "Now my lesson will not be doomed! Zank you!" he exclaimed, more in general than to anyone in particular. He beamed down at the redhead because she had sparked the brilliant idea in his mind. "Now, what 'ave you been saying about Charms?" he asked her, since the rest of the class had still not yet arrived.

HEY IT TURNED OUT HE KNEW THAT SPELL ALL ALONG!

Chalk was, of course, better than magic, but at least his name was on the board. "That was so cool, Professor....Leblanc!" she beamed, hoping she'd pronounced his name right. There was a happy ending, after all, and the problem had been solved, so everything was all happy and bright and perfect.

And he was asking about her Charms problem. It was only polite, since she had been so concerned and helpful with his chalk problem. Even if it hadn't been hiding under the chair after all. "Well, I had a bit of a problem! I was going to my Charms lesson...but I got lost! And now I'm here instead!" Oh no! This catastrophe! What could she possibly do? Maybe this nice Frenchman could help?

Maya was glad of the interruption from the overenthusiastic first year, even though she clearly wasn't supposed to be here. Maya was nearly drawing blood from her lip as she was biting down on it so hard and trying to refrain from saying "have you tried using magic?" in a seriously sarcastic voice so she chose to stay silent throughout the whole procedure. Best not to get on the professor's bad side, especially during the first lesson.  Maya had to continue biting down on her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud everytime the professor spoke and his French accent became more and more pronounced the more flustered he became. Maya looked over at Aylee and shared a giggle with her, unable to hide her laughter for much longer.

Maya didn't mind the first year's interruption, even if she didn't know what to think of her yet. The longer she was here the shorter their class would inevitably be. Plus Professor, Leblanc was it? seemed like a nice man and she presumed he would be more than willing to help the Gryffindor out. Although, his knowledge of the castle probably wasn't up to scratch as he wasn't here for very long. She hope he didn't call on her to help out. Maya decided to look busy and started taking her books and other equipment out of her bag while idly thinking what Leblanc stood for. Her limited knowledge of French told her it was something to do with white, Professor White maybe?

Zis nice little girl zinks zat I 'ave done somezing cool! Andre thought happily. "Zis is a very simple spell," he informed the little girl standing before him. "If you should like to learn zis spell sometime, Mademoiselle, I zink I would be able to teach zis to you!" Because he was a teacher! Nobody said he was only allowed to teach arithmancy. "And I would 'ave you call me Monsieur Leblanc, if zat is not too much to ask. And what is your name, Mademoiselle?"

A problem! Well, the girl had done her best to help him with his chalk problem, so it was only right that he do his best to help her with her charms problem. "Ah, zis is a problem. I 'aven't ze slightest clue where ze Charms classroom is. It took me ze longest time to find my own! Of course, zat is because zere is so much intriguing architecture in zis magnificent castle zat can simply not be overlooked!"

He could have easily asked one of the other students in his classroom to give the girl directions, but such a simple answer naturally didn't cross his mind. "And surely, I wouldn't 'ave you punished for arriving late because you were 'elping me..." After another moment of though, he snapped his fingers and smiled. "AHA! Ze solution is zis - You may stay here for ze remainder of ze class time, so zat you do not receive punishment for being where you are not supposed to, and I will explain ze situation to your Charms professor over lunch!" There! That was a good solution, right? "Just take a seat in wherever you like in ze class Perhaps you will learn somezing new!"

Beaming, Andre returned to the front of the classroom and shuffled through his things a bit before turning to face the students that had already arrived. "Alright!" he exclaimed excitedly, looking at the two girls that were sitting next to each other. The red-head seemed to be rather amused by something. Andre approved of amusement - life would be quite pointless without it! "Perhaps we should begin!" he said enthusiastically. There were still a few students missing, but that was okay. Per'aps zey found somezing important to inspect on zere way to my classroom. Andre hoped that they did! In a castle like Hogwarts, it was hard not to!

"OH! he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "I almost 'ave forgotten somezing!" Quickly, he snatched the box of Bertie Botts beans from his desk and deposited a handful to each student, as well as the little first year. "As a zank you!" he explained brightly. "For taking zis class! But of course, ze Bertie Botts are ze most intriguing candy. I 'ave a list of every flavor zat I 'ave tasted!" Before setting the box back down on his desk, he popped a few in his own mouth. Intriguingly, none of them were unpleasant to taste.

Wait. What was he doing again? Oh, right! Teaching! "I am very pleased to welcome you all to ze subject of arithmancy!" Andre said, spreading his arms wide. "Let us start with ze very basics, as I believe everyone should be fairly new to ze subject." It seemed that he was the first arithmancy professor at Hogwarts in some time. "'as anyone any idea of what ze practice of arithmancy is?" His first question! A brilliant milestone! He glanced around the classroom with a smile on his face to see if any of his new students knew the answer.

WOW THIS WAS THE NICEST PROFESSOR EVER.

He was letting her stay in the class and he was going to teach her a new spell. That was so cool. All her first-year friends would be so jealous. "Of course, Monsieur Leblanc! Thank you! I'm Aoife, by the way!" she beamed. "The castle is very beautiful, I agree! But it is very confusing and hard to get around." She skipped towards a seat in the middle of the classroom, quite far away from all the stinky, icky elderly people in the class. Excluding Aylee, of course.

Monsieur Leblanc just got more awesome and more awesome! First he let her stay, then he said he'd teach her a new spell and now he was giving her sweets! Some of the best sweets in the world, as well! "Thank you!" Aoife picked up a small brown one. Wood, she was pretty sure. It didn't actually taste too bad. Another one, this one orange. Orange flavour. That was boring.

It was such a shame she wasn't old enough for this class. They got sweets and a Frenchman to teach them. So unfair. At least she had this lesson, if not any others. What was Arithmancy? She didn't know. But she had some sort of idea. Was she allowed to answer? Or only elderly people? Was she just meant to sit and watch silently? Oh well.

"It sounds like...arithmetic...and that's numbers, isn't it? So is it getting numbers and turning them into something magical? Like...you take the number two...and make it explode?" Aoife tried, a serious expression on her face. If it had to do with numbers, this was the only logical explanation, surely?

Ah! The little first-year, who had introduced herself as Aoife, spoke up in response to his question. Is she allowed to do zat? he questioned in his head. Then, suddenly, he remembered that he was the teacher! And he was teaching his first class! And his first question had been answered! Well, zis is allowed if I say zis is allowed. He couldn't put down a student's enthusiasm, whether they were meant to be in his classroom or not. And as long as the little red-headed girl was in his classroom, she might as well participate if she liked!

He listened carefully to her answer. It was extremely correct! Until it wasn't. "Zis is a very creative answer!" he exclaimed to his class. "Zis answer is also 'alf correct. Arithmancy does 'ave to do with ze combination of numbers and magic!" That was really very good for a first year who hadn't even planned on attending an arithmancy class! "'owever, Arithmancy does not 'ave anyzing to do with making ze numbers explode. At least I don't believe zis is ze case." Or maybe it was... that would be embarrassing if he was wrong, so he zipped up to his desk to check the text book, just in case. "Ah, yes. No'zing to do with blowing up ze numbers, as I 'ave said. Al'zough, zis was a logical assumption." One that Andre would have to look into in more detail after class.

He beamed at Aoife for being brave enough to answer his question and asked again. "Is zere anyone else who 'as an idea of what ze study of arithmancy is?" He wanted to be fair and give the students who were actually registered in his class a chance to answer as well. While he waited for his students to come up with an answer, he popped a few more Bertie Botts into his mouth and skimmed his eyes over the summary writing on the back of his tattered Tolkein book.

Before Aylee knew what was going on, Aoife was there and helping the Professor find the chalk. She watched as the French teacher played ninja with the chalk as he looked here and there. Even under the chair. Next to her, she heard Maya giggle and she decided to do the same- just not in front of the Professor. Slowly, she reached down to get some more parchment from her bag until her head was behind the table. Then she let out a small giggle and sat up straight again, her face a bit red. Finally, the Professor seemed to have found a solution and waved his wand so his name appeared on the board. Professor Leblanc, Aylee repeated in her mind, then tried saying in a French-y way, considering that the Professor was French. "Professor L-eh-b-ia-anq," she muttered to herself.

Then she shrugged and realized that the Professor was handing out sweets. Surprised, Aylee took a few and left them on her desk. She wasn't a fan of Bertie Botts. If Kynan took this class, he would absolutely love it, she thought to herself. "Thank you, Professor," she mumbled at Professor Leblanc shyly then looked up as he asked a question. Before she had the chance to raise her hand, Aoife answered loudly. Aylee looked at the little girl at the back, wondering what she was still doing here. She could ask to lead the tiny first-year back to Charms but she guessed that it would offend the Professor in some way- the two seemed on the road to become really good friends. Okay. She bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh at Aoife's answer. Making the number two explode. Her face held a funny look. Then the Professor decided to check the textbook in case Aoife was right, which made it harder for her not to laugh. Finally, as she couldn't stand it anymore, she coughed loudly to hide her laugh underneath.

Professor Leblanc then asked the same question again and Aylee immediately raised her hand to answer, "It's about telling the future by using numbers, I think?" She noticed the Professor messing around with an old-looking book but she ignored it.

Maya raised an eyebrow at Aylee when she heard her pronouncing the professor's name under her breath. Oh, so that's how it's pronounced. Maya had never been to France before and was struggling enough to keep up with the professor's accent, never mind using French words. Maya thought it was very decent of the professor to allow the first year to say, even if Maya felt like banging her head off the desk at the first year's shrill voice and overenthusiastic excitement.  Although, it did make the class appear slightly fuller Maya thought ruefully as she glanced around the quite empty room. Obviously word of a new professor hadn't spread to all the students.

Maya decided that taking the class was worth it when she was handed a bunch of jelly beans from Bertie Botts. She wondered if they were found in France also.  Maya began happily munching on the sweets, her face scrunching up every now and again at an unusually sour or disgusting flavour.

Maya's mouth was too full when Professor Leblanc asked the class a question on Arithmancy and Maya was glad of the excuse. She hadn't done much preparation for the class, all she knew was that the subject and its methods of predicting the future appeared a lot more solid than Divination. Although Maya was still skeptical of having to use numbers, she wondered how complicated they could become. She was glad Aylee had taken the class, hopefully she could help her as she'd surely need it.

Evan left Ravenclaw Tower a little later than he would otherwise leave. Most of the portraits on his way gave him judging looks. Come on. The teacher is expecting me to be late, he's an Arithmancy master after all. He sees future in numbers. He can deduct some points if he's evil, but he probably won't start the lesson without me. Passing knowledge should be a priority for any teacher. For some reason Evan expected this teacher to be kind. His father, who was a math teacher, was nice. His actual math teacher was a good man too. Maybe kindness of all these positive numerical-related persons made Evan expect the same from his Arithmancy teacher.

When Evan reached the classroom he thought he was mistaken, because he heard loud and annoying Aoife's voice. Although some time ago, when they were still friends, Evan found this voice really nice. Does she use intrigues and cheating to take advanced classes? Can she not cheat at least sometimes? Anyway, I admire her aspiration for knowledge. He checked the classroom one more time and entered. I would cheat too if the subject was worth it.

Evan looked at the blackboard and read teacher's name. Long and French. Then he looked at the teacher. Black and funny. It took him a bit to understand the irony. Wait. Doesn't Blanс mean White?

Evan heard Aylee answering a question he hadn't heard. Judging by her answer he assumed it was something like "What is Arithmancy?" Easy House points. He nodded to Professor Leblank and took a seat somewhere in the middle of the classroom, waiting for some interesting mathematical stuff.

Andre was just about finished reading the summary of his Tolkein book when someone interrupted his thoughts. He looked up as the dark-haired girl said said that it was telling the future with numbers. "Is zat right?" he said in interest. Telling the future... with numbers... why did that sound so familiar? "OH!" he exclaimed, dropping the book on his desk and tapping his palm against his forehead again. "But of course zat is right!" He had nearly forgotten that it was he that had asked the question! Smiling at the girl, he said, "Very good! Five points to Ravenclaw, Mademoiselle."

Just then, a boy walked into the classroom. "Oh, wonderful, zere is a latecomer!" Andre exclaimed, beaming. As the boy took a seat, Andre questioned him. "And why is it zat you 'ave not made it to zis class at ze appropriate time?" Andre's tone wasn't accusatory, but curious. After all, one could come across so many interesting things on their way through the corridors of the castle. "'ave you discovered somezing worth interest on your way to ze classroom? Per'aps some brilliant architecture or design in ze castle zat you 'ave overlooked in ze past?" Why else would a student ever be late for class if it was not because they'd come across something more important to study than the class itself?

"Per'aps we should continue with ze lesson," Andre said brightly, turning to the board. "Now, ze term arithmancy literally translates to number divination. And zat is precisely what it is, as Mademoiselle Walters 'as told us." Andre paused for a moment to pop another bean into his mouth. It was wood, but Andre knew that it was more specifically spruce wood. Bertie Botts certainly were realistic! Oh, right. The lesson! "Now," he said, "zere are many different ways to use ze practice of arithmancy. We will begin with ze most basic, and will be learning 'ow to find our vibrational numbers." With a flamboyant wave of his wand, words scrawled once more across the board.

Blackboard:

"Wonderful!" Andre exclaimed, watching the words form. It was really quite intriguing the way the letters connected. He didn't speak until the writing was finished. "Now," he said to the class. "Zis is a very simple exercise. All zat you must do is reduce your birthday to ze single digits by adding ze digits together. Simply combine ze numbers until zere is only one number left!" He grinned widely at his class. This was so exciting, after all!

"As you can see," he said. "Zis is my vibrational number. Five. Jupiter. Fives usually 'ave a curious, unpredictable nature." And fives were the best number! But he wasn't going to say that to his class, because they may not get five as their own number. And then they would feel bad about themselves. And Andre didn't want that. "I will 'ave you each take a moment now to work out ze vibrational number for your birthday. Please, when you 'ave finished, I would ask you to share ze number with ze class!" This was a big turning point in his lesson! His student's first arithmancy exercise! And, of course, his first chance to really delve into Tolkein while he waited for them to finish.

Ugh, why did Aoife have to be here. Couldn't have the professor just asked one of the older students since they would obviously know where to go? No, because he was an idiot. A complete idiot. But he had given them sweets. Why had he given them sweets? Probably because he was an idiot. Jen shrugged slightly and took a sweet. It tasted like metal. It was probably metal. Yes, iron, she suspected.

When he moved onto the actual class, the irritating first year tried to answer a question but failed miserably, saying something about exploding the numbers. Rolling her eyes, she watched as the professor actually had to check his textbook for the right answer. Idiot. She smiled at Evan when he came in late, wondering if Professor Leblanc was actually serious.

Okay, now they were meant to actually do something. Chewing on a grass flavoured bean, she worked out the number. 4th November 2010. That meant the sum was 4+1+1+2+0+1+0=9. Her number was nine then. What was nine? Neptune - Universal Influence. That wasn't too bad. Obviously the whole thing was a load of cop, but at least her number didn't mean something stupid like sunny and happy.

"Mine's nine, Professor."

Professor gave Aylee five points. For nothing. This wasn't very good for Evan, because he cared much more about the Best Student Award than the House Cup. Earning points by giving answers everyone knows. How impressive. However, if this answer was given by him or Jen, Evan wouldn't object.

Evan was asked a different question soon. Much less point profitable than the first one. Why am I late? An interesting question. The best answer for it depends on whether the professor knows the real reason or not. Could he discover the reason working with his magical numbers? He frowned, thinking hard. If he didn't, then the best answer would be some good fitting lie. If he did, however, any lie could get me into trouble. It was definitely the time for tough decisions. Evan was about to choose his destiny. Epic moment. I should have hurried up after all.

"It was Peeves," Evan lied. "The Poltergeist, you know. He's such a pain in the.. well.. he's annoying." "It was Peeves" was the most popular excuse in Hogwarts these days. Maybe not only these days. So Evan was sure it wouldn't sound very suspicious. Good, old, reliable excuse. "Can I have sweets too, professor?"

IT WASN'T RIGHT? OUTRAGEOUS! Aoife had been reassured when the professor had checked the textbook in a way which indicated she was right, but then Aylee answered and apparently that was correct answer. She hadn't really listened to the older girl's answer, but she didn't need to. Half of her answer was right, so it had to do with making things explode but not numbers. Explosions were fun, so she was looking forward for when she could take this class properly.

When Monsieur Leblanc wrote on the blackboard, she was confused. Weren't those numbers? So her answer was right? But they weren't supposed to make things explode. Perhaps the professor had got things the wrong way round, and the other half of her answer was right? Aoife understood now why she wasn't allowed to take this class. Too difficult and confusing.

Now to work out her number. Her birthday was 16th July, 2016. She scribbled on some parchment to work out her answer. It would be cool if it was five like the professor. 1+6+7+2+1+6. So that was...23. 2+3=5! Her answer was five, just like her new idol! It was obviously the coolest number! Jupiter: Expansion, Adventure, Travel. She loved adventures!

Aoife saw Jen had got nine. Universal influence? The older girl thought that, anyway. "Mine is five! That's cool!" she beamed.

Maya decided that the first task didn't appear too difficult as she watched the professor quickly work out his own number.

Maya raised her eyes at Evan's excuse of being late. Lame. But, of course the professor was new and probably didn't know too much about Peeves. Although, Peeves was a pain, even on his good days.

Maya got to work on her number, ignoring Evan's pleas for sweets. Her date of birth was 12th of September, 2014. So 1+2+9+2+0+1+4 which was 19. So then, 1+9 was 10. Hmm, her number was 10, which conveniently wasn't on the board. Maya went to look up her book, but couldn't find the page in the text book. Why did everything have to be so hard, what even were Vibrational numbers? Maya gave up in frustration and threw her pencil down on the desk.

"Zere is a poltergeist zat in'abits 'ogwarts?" Andre asked in interest when the boy explained that he'd been detained by a character named Peeves. "I was unaware! Zat is very interesting." Andre decided that he would have to make a point to go and chat with this... this Peeves. The things a poltergeist might be able to tell him! Oh, but that's right. He was talking with a student. Finding Peeves would have to wait. "Well," he said. "Zis is an understandable reason for being late for ze class." Then the boy was asking for sweets. "Aha!" Andre beamed. "A student who 'as 'is priorities in order! But of course, you may take some on ze way to your seat!"

After demonstrating how to find the correct number, Andre decided to go and walk between the desks while the students worked out their own. Just in case anyone needed his help. It was a hard decision, because he could be reading his book instead, but he wanted to take at least one lap around the classroom first. Zat is what a teacher should do. As he passed the red-headed girl's desk, she threw her pencil down on her desk. Zis student is in turmoil! I must help!

Stopping next to her, Andre addressed the girl. "What is ze matter, Mademoiselle?" he asked her. "Do you not like ze number zat you have gotten?" Andre peered over the girls shoulder so that he could see her paper, and smiled. "But of course. Ze solution is simple. You 'ave simply not reduced ze number enough." It was a common error. Beginners often thought that ten was a vibrational number, but it wasn't. "You must reduce ze numer to ze single digits," he explained. "So ten becomes one plus zero. Zerefore, your vibrational number is one, the sun!"

"Ones are known for being ze most ambitious of all ze numbers," Andre said louder, so that the rest of the class could hear the explanation. "Zey are strong willed and independent, and often are ze first to take action. Zey can, 'owever, be self-centered." While Andre wouldn't want one to be his own number, it was a very good one. "Those with zis number often go on to become leaders in ze world!" Andre looked back down at the girl with a smile. "Good Job, Mademoiselle Winchester."

By this time, several other students had already come up with their numbers. A sixth year, Jennifer Moss, announced hers to the class. She had gotten a nine! "Aha! A nine!" Andre said excitedly. "I was uncertain if we would 'ave any nines in ze class. But 'ere is one!" Andre beamed at the girl and continued. "Nine is considered by many to be ze best of all ze numbers. I do not zink zat any number is ze best of course, but nines are known to be very successful! Zey 'ave ze intelligence and ze creativitly to accomplish any of ze goals zey set for zemselves. 'owever, nines may often react violently when zings do not go zeir way." This was quite a pleasant surprise, to have a nine in the class. "Wonderful, wonderful."

Then, the little first year was quick to shout her answer out to. And it was a five, like his! "Ah, brilliant, Mademoiselle O'Donnel!" Andre squeaked. It was wonderful that he had met another five so quickly! "Fives are very unpredictable and adapt most easily to change. Zey can also be very impatient. Zey are ze most likely to 'ave a fast paced life, and enjoy travel more zan other numbers." He had already explained fives, sort of, when he explained his own number. But it was a cool number, so he could explain it again. Andre beamed at the first year and continued striding through the desks while he waited for the rest of the students to finish up.

Maya looked up when a shadow crossed her page. The professor actually looked excited to be able to help her and Maya let him go ahead and do his job. Hmm, maybe she shouldn't have given up so easily and shouldn't have given Evan as much thought while she was supposed to be doing class work. "Thanks professor." She mumbled, trying to be polite.

Independent and strong willed, she already knew all this and had heard it all before, but it was still interesting to hear and she thought it was nice to see what the universe thought of her. Maya watched and listened with interest as the professor strode around the room, announcing everyone else's characteristics with glee. While Maya was waiting for everyone else to finish up their work she glanced back down at her page and the description of her own personality and thought maybe the class wasn't going to be so bad after all.

JENNIFER'S NUMBER? THE BEST NUMBER?

Aoife snorted, glad the professor said he didn't agree. Obviously. Because five was the best number. Because who wouldn't want to be unpredictable and impatient and travel a lot? A LOSER like Jen, obviously. "Thank you!" she beamed at Monsieur Leblanc.

Since she was done now, the Gryffindor doodled some sheep on her paper, using her very best shading and pretty drawing skills to make her final design the BEST SHEEP EVER!

I've got sweets and haven't got detention. I like this French dude. It's a really good day. Evan grabbed some Bertie Bott's sweets and sent one to his mouth. It was black pepper. It wasn't the worst flavor, but everyone around probably noticed that Evan face became red and he held his breath. Well, it can't be an absolute good day, can it?

Evan calculated his vibrational number. (8 + 7 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 4) ~> (2 + 2) ~> (4). Mercury: Stability, Solidity, Endurance. Lame. Evan didn't want anyone to know how lame his vibration number was. But he had a good opportunity for some lying: no one knew his birthday and no one would check his calculations even if they knew. From now on I was born on the 9th of July instead of the 8th. Now his number was 5. Jupiter: Expansion, Adventure, Travel. Cool. Evan didn't use papers to find his number, so he left no clues of his deception.

"Five, Professor. Jupiter," he announced happily.

For a few minutes, Aylee seemed to be in a daze and was staring at her hands until she heard the Professor say something about 'vibrational numbers'. She listened attentively to the explanation and, like everyone else, set off to start finding her number. Her birthday was 10th June, 2012. So it was 1 + 0 + 6 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 2. Or remove the zeros to make everything easier and make it 1 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2. During the summer, her mother liked giving her Muggle school things to work out, especially Maths, so this was a piece of cake to Aylee. Add two and two together, make it four, add it with six and make that ten, then add the one and one, which makes it twelve. Two plus one equals three. She looked up and checked what the number three meant. Talent, Versatility, Joviality. Aylee raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything about it. Since when was she described with 'Joviality'? Her life was based on depression!

Since everyone was saying aloud their numbers, she decided to go along with it. "Professor, I have three," she said aloud.

"Aha!" Andre exclaimed when the boy who arrived late announced his number. "Anozer five! Zis is quite ze intriguing zing, zat zere are so many fives." In truth, Andre wouldn't have pegged the boy as a five. He seemed more like a four, or a seven. Well, ze numbers may show 'ow ze boy is on ze inside. Andre was quite interested to see the numbers that he would come up with in the next lesson.  "Very good."

The Ravenclaw girl was the last to announce her number to the class. "A three!" Andre repeated, beaming down at the girl. "Very good, Mademoiselle Walters. Andre was glad to have a new number to explain. "Threes," he began excitedly, "are usually ze best at magic overall. Zey have a special connection with magic zat other numbers 'ave to work 'arder to achieve!" Threes were wonderful! "Zey are kind and often go on to be in professions where zey can put zere ability to come up with creative solutions to good use! Magnificent!"

Checking his watch, Andre saw that class was almost over. "Zis has been wonderful!" he exclaimed. "I 'ave been privileged to meet each of you, and I 'ope zat you 'ave enjoyed ze study of Arithmancy so far!" Andre had certainly enjoyed the class. "Each of you will receive ten points for ze finding of your vibrational numbers! Mademoiselle Walters and Mademoiselle O'Donnell will receive an extra five for their answers at ze beginning of class!" It felt good to give out points! The first-year's answer hadn't been correct, but Andre wanted to encourage his students to answer questions. "Mademoiselle O'Donnell, per'aps you should try not to go to ze wrong classroom again. I do not know 'ow another professor will react to such a zing." Andre beamed around at all his students. "'ave a marvelous day!"