Arithmancy Class With Professor Vector[8]

[Professor Septima Vector]

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

*Priscilla quickly starts to write on the parchment in front of her, and does not stop a single time, neither to use the conversion tables nor to consult the book, until she has filled out a generous sheet of parchment with her crisp handwriting.*

-Find your heart number and those of your parent/guardians and compare them. Use the Agrippan method.
My heart number, or as it is also called, “Soul Urge” number is 7 using the Agrippan conversion table. I would prefer not to involve other members of my family in my schoolwork, be that in name or person, as it would greatly displease them. I will gladly perform this task using any other name.

-Do so once more using the Chaldean method. Compare each method and it’s outcome to the other.
Using the Chaldean conversion table, the result is the same as with the Agrippan conversion table. Personally, I find this method messy and tainted, as the Babylonians let their religious beliefs about the number 9 interfere with the arithmetic craft, and thus cripple their width of insight.

1) What does the word arithmancy originate from? Explain.
The name Arithmancy is derived from two Greek words – arithmos(meaning number) and manteia (meaning divination). Arithmancy is thus the study of divination through numbers.

2) What is another name for the agrippan method?
The Agrippan method, named after Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (a 16th century wizard writer, astrologer and alchemist) who first applied the concept to the Latin alphabet, is also called the Pythagorean Method. This Greek philosopher born sometime around 580BC, was one of the first and most important mathematicians in history (he is often referred to as the father of mathematics) and founded an academy in Crotone, a society or Brotherhood, if you will, called the Order of the Pythagoreans. This order acknowledged that certain symbols have mystical significance. The debate around who originally created Arithmancy is still hot amongst academics today, but as Arithmancy is based on numbers, mathematics and recognition of the mystical, it is not such a wild theory to make the guess that Pythagoras himself did so, and many Arithmancers refuse to use the name “Agrippan” in connection with this method based on this theory. However, the evidence to prove this theory true are painfully lacking.

3) What, in your opinion, is the most reliable source of “fortune telling” and why?
In my opinion, there are no other way of predicting the future, illuminate the past and clarify the present, as accurate as Arithmancy. Why? Because, as the Pythagorians put it: “Everything is created out of the whole numbers. From their ratios, differences and sums, everything is made.”

*Upon finishing the last punctuation, she puts her quill aside and lifts her gaze towards Prof. Vector, so as to signal that she is done.*

[Professor Septima Vector]

*walks over and takes a look at Priscilla's papers, puzzled and pleased*

I agree with your opinion on the Chaldean method, and we wont be using it much, but it is still nessessary to learn, no matter how much religion tampered with the way they studied.

I wont pry, *looks at the first request on the page* but i will ask you to pick two of your closest friends and do the work with this question as such*

*glances through the rest of the paper thoroughly, after a few minutes she takes the paper, talking to Priscilla as she goes, and puts it on her desk, and sits down*

I see you have an extensive knowledge, no doubt you will do well in this class, but it would be easier on yourself if you were to answer with a little less detail in questions such as number three, the information you stated is all accurate - something i always appreciate - but you will be using that for your home work tonight.

*smiles at her from her chair and writes a note to herself*

This does not mean, however, you have not been awarded 10 house points for your excellent work. *looks around briefly* Is everyone else almost finish?

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

*A smirk spreads on Priscilla's face and she looks very pleased with herself, however her glee is tainted by the Professor's reply to her request. Anyone who knows Priss also know that the word "friend" does not exist in her dictionary. Allies, yes. Partners in crime, most definately. But friends? Never. Most people would rather french-kiss a blast-ended shrewt before they'd ever even consider social interaction with the heiress of the Chimaera family. However, Priscilla's disiplined mind is not allowed to wonder for long, as she quickly starts scanning her brain for names she can use without too many eyebrows raised.*

[Elena Elias]

*gawking at how quickly Priscilla finished*

Yeah, almost...

[Professor Septima Vector]

*nods at Elena and turns to Troy*

Are we about done with this first excersise?

*waits patiently, wondering whether to alert Minerva at the lack of students in her class, and decides

against it. Hogwarts had been deserted for nearly two years, and the head mistress did not need

reminding. Still, there were quite a few students that should have been there*

[Elena Elias]

Done!
*Holds parchment up in air*

Elena Elias

Agrippan Method

My Heart Number (Elena) 11 -- 2
Mother (Emma) 6
Father (Elijah) 15 --6
Surname (Elias) 15 --6
*haha my family has a lot of vowels in our names*

Chaldean Method

My Heart Number (Elena) 9
Mother (Emma) 6
Father (Elijah) 7
Surname (Elias) 7

*notes lower heart numbers with Agrippan method except Emma, which remains constant

Arithmancy: From the Greek meaning divination by numbers. Orgins in both Greek and Chaldean history, with Hebrew and Aramaic influences.

Agrippan method also known as Pythagorean.

I believe palmistry is the most reliable form of divination because everyone has a unique palm print, although many people may share the same name. For example, I have the exact name of my great-aunt, but have a different fate as I have reached the age of seventeen without losing a body part. Crystal gazing, in my opinion, requires innate talent, thus a unreliable source to the ungifted.

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

*As Elena lifts her parchment in the air, Priss seems to have a Eureka-moment. With a pleased smirk, she quickly scribbles something down and then places her quill beside her parchment, waiting patiently for the Professor to come over and check her work. On the parchment two names are written down with their respective numbers. *

Bill Gates: 33 (or 6 if one only uses 11 and 22 as master digits) with the Agrippan method, and 7 with the Chaldean.

Spencer Silver: 66 (3 if one only uses 11 and 22 as master digits) with the Agrippan method, and 6 with the Chaldean.

I also think it is worth noticing that both names gave master digits with the Agrippan method, and both names are significant in muggle technological history. It is also interesting to note that the deducted value of the master digits provided by the Agrippan method of the two names equals the doubled digit of the other name (Bill's double digit is 3 and Spencer's 6, while deducted, Bill's single digit is 6 and Spencer's is 3).

While the Chaldean method strengthens and matches Spencer’s Agrippan result, it is ever so slightly different with Bill. However, looking at the man and his achievements, and his place in muggle society, the combination of the religious leadership the number three (which is doubled, and thus it’s meaning strengthened) indicates and the analytical academic the number seven refers to is not surprising.

[Elena Elias]

*pulls down her paper when she notices Priscilla writing more*
Hmph...

[Professor Septima Vector]

*walks over and looks at Elena's paper*

*smiles softly, takes the paper up to her desk, marks a note on her parchment and takes the papers back to Elena*

*laughs, putting the paper down on Elena's desk*

This class is much more advanced than i thought. I'm not going to have to struggle with you as much as the OWL students, you ARE all NEWT aren't you?

*looks around expectantly*

[Priscilla Medusa Chimaera]

*Priss puts on a sugar-sweet smile (which looks utterly unsettling on her), and nods as answer to the professors question.*

[Ginny Weasley]

*Walks into class, her skin pale, and a slight frown upon her face*

*Having just arrived back to Hogwarts, she had a note signed from McGonagall excusing her for being late*

*Book bag hanging onto her shoulder, she walked up and Handed the Professor her note, muttering a quiet*

Sorry, Professor.

[Elena Elias]

*ignoring Ginny's entrance*

I'm definitely here for NEWT.

*now watches Ginny walk across the room, slumping in chair*

[Ginny Weasley]

*going to her seat a moment after, she drops her book bag, and simply collapses into the chair*

*After a minute she began working on trying to get out a quill, ink, and parchment*

[Anna Bellacoure]

*takes out a piece of Parchment, and the beautiful black quill that Harry had gotten her over the summer*

*spends about five minutes thinking of him, then shakes herself and tries to do the hard work*