Lesson 4: Dealing with Bad Numbers

[Ivan Kresimir]

Ivan noticed the guy in the back of the class who was staring at Samantha oddly, he got the feeling there was something not quite right with the guy. Ivan noticed a seat that was right in between the line of vision between the guy and Samantha, so he walked over and sat there. When his sister followed him he pointed to the seat in front of him. No need to have the weird guy looking at his sister either. Though he made not a single expression than normal.

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya wondered what her brother was up to but she obediently sat in the seat where he'd indicated next to the older girl. She shifted nervously but did as she was told. She knew her brother had his reasons when he actually made a point to give an opinion on something so she listened. She usually did when Ivan actually spoke. She gave a shy 'hello, I'm Anya' to the girl.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Hiya, Samantha Montgomery." she said offering her hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you Anya."

Sam noticed what Ivan did for her and a wave of gratitude washed over her for his assistance, she was liking this school more and more finding that she wasn't quite so alone anymore...people like Ivan, people like Seth they were quick to defend her.

Her eyes narrowed slightly but her expression was easy, "I hope you don't find this odd...but I have to comment that your eyes are the prettiest I have ever seen in my life."

[Dorian Knight]

Dorian watched Rafe enter class, and it struck him very suddenly how Sam reacted to him. He made her uneasy, and the Sam he was getting to know was damn near inflappable. He looked towards Renneau, but he seemed clueless about it.

There was a lot to figure out about this girl, and he wanted to talk to Rafe to start finding it out. Somehow, he knew the new Slytherin would know *something.*

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha had no idea that she was being watched by two people in the room, if she had she'd have tried to be more subtle about the way Rafe made her feel. Ryan was great to look at, he was even fun to hang around once you got past the miscommunication, but she by no means trusted him with her secrets, or her past, he was the last person she wanted finding out anything about her.

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya looked at her with a soft and quietly shy expression, "oh thanks" she seemed to blush but she didn't elaborate either. She remembered Remus's eyes from the other day and although they were much the same, his eyes held an intensity that was not otherwise evident in his demenor or expressions. But she'd liked his eyes.

She wasn't sure what to say to older girl. She wasn't very aware of what the different houses within Hogwarts meant yet or for that matter what to expect from each student based on the color on their robes. But she noted that while she herself wore red, the girl wore green. She wondered if that meant something but didn't know enough yet about this school to have any misconceptions of the girl.

[Samantha Montgomery]

There were always exceptions to the rule, and Sam intended to be one of them, she was new to the school as well having transfered, and really too old to buy into the hype of house rivalry she only knew that she'd try to do the best for her house, but it was in her nature to be loved by everyone so she was "nice" to everyone.

Her kindness in this matter however wasn't part of some ruse to gain affection, she sincerely liked Ivan, and she imagined she would like his little sister as well.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita strode in with confidence and a half coy half appreciative smile for anyone who cared to look. She merely waved at the professor knowing that her reputation as a writer proceeds her, at least if you read the Daily Prophet, and her photo is already prominently displayed in the columnist section. She sat down on the other side of Samantha.

"Hello my dear Samantha. How are you doing today?" She crossed her legs in her seat and smiled at her new friend.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Wonderfully Rita." she answered contrary to what was truly going on, politely she introduced Anya and Ivan, "Rita this is Ivan, and Anya Kresimir, transfers like myself. Play nice." she warned but there was an amused tone to her voice, still there was steel behind it, once under her wing you would pay for attacking them.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita quirked an interested eyebrow but didn't say anything. "mmm... a pleasure for you I"m sure. I'm Rita Skeeter, intern for the Daily Prophet. I'm sure you'll become avid readers once you discover it.. I'll send you both a copy of my latest article." She winked at Ivan and smiled at Anya. They seemed good enough but not really too interesting as far as she could see, though she did vaguely wonder why they seemed to be under Samantha's protection.. well enough. The influence Samantha had was more important than anything these two children could provide her with anyways. She turned her attentions to the instructor smiling.

[Ivan Kresimir]

Ivan didn't say a word but he watched.. everyone but the boy behind them, that is. He didn't deserve his attention if he seemed to be bugging Samantha, unless he caused trouble that is. He watched his sister protectively though and included Samantha in that circle. He didn't have many friends yet but so far Samantha had seemed a friend and he was the loyal type.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Perhaps that was why he was under her protection, he was muscle, and he seemed to want to protect her. He seemed the loyal type, and they had hit it off the other day, so until he betrayed her or managed to hurt her she was testing out this friendship thing by taking him under her wing, him and his sister. There were all kinds of protection and while she was a small fry in a physical fight, her influence spoke heavily to some.

She smiled at Rita then nodded towards the front of the class as well waiting for it to start.

[Sin Savira]

Sin walked into class and found a seat near the back of the room. He'd skipped the last class but figured he should at least show up today. He sat back almost half lounging in the chair and looked to see who else was there. No one he really knew, except the dreadful Skeeter and he wasn't about to sit near her. When the professor asked his name he called out "Sin Savira" and kicked out his feet in front of him on the floor with his ankles casually crossed.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam eyed the tall dark and handsome with an objective glance, she didn't know who whe was and that was a problem for her since she knew who everyone was, she would have to remind herself to make an introduction. He looked to be a Gryffandor, so he was supposedly "courageous" well that was fine she liked boldness...in some.

She didn't really understand the whole segregation between the classes, she understood a caste system, but there were influential members in several different houses and it was her job to make love to them all with her eyes and her pretty words, her charm and grace. She knew and did her job well.

[Caleb Renneau]

Caleb took his attendence and then brought out his text book' teacher edition before addressing the class the rest of his students were late but he was coming to see that that was just how it went sometimes.

"Alright, today's lesson is in Chapter four, Dealing with Bad Numbers"

Oh how pointed, he thought after last week's class.

"Now you've already determined what your numbers are, what the objects around you have the numbers of, and last week you determined a few of Arithmancy's divination aspect. Many people use these numbers to sort out and plan their lives, it's why certain people say yes on some things and no on others giving them a better chance "numerically" than before. Today we're going to look at some Changes bad numbers give us."

He continued his lecture throwing in a few jokes here and there, he was a good teacher, and he enjoyed being in front of the class.

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya raised a hand hesitantly looking at the professor. This was her first class ever in arithmancy, since most students her age weren't given the option to take it. But she'd been given special permission from her head of house. She waited until called before asking her question "What makes a number bad?"

[Caleb Renneau]

"That's an excellent question Miss Kresimir, there are no bad numbers." he explained to the class, "Only bad combinations. For instance a family is made up of a brother and a sister. Now of course experience determines the markup of the relationship between the two but Arithmancy tells us that if one of the siblings was born with a character number which values harmony and peace, and another sibling with a character number which signifies instability the siblings may clash, it is a bad combination, not necessarily a bad number."

[Anya Kresimir]

Anya raised her hand again, siblings was a subject she understood and could grasp but that lead to another question that didn't make sense about what the professor said. She waited again for him address her but she seemed to look a bit confused as if she'd found a flaw in his comparison.

[Caleb Renneau]

"Yes Miss Kresimir?" he asked patiently waiting for her question, there was pretty confusion written on her face and he loved seeing that confusion wiped away or even expanded at least his students were thinking and that is what he valued most.

[Anya Kresimir]

Arithmancy tells us that if one of the siblings was born with a character number which values harmony and peace, and another sibling with a character number which signifies instability the siblings may clash, it is a bad combination

"So then why is there things like opposites attract? Or in the example you gave where one's number is for harmony and the other is for chaos, wouldn't that be the whole yin-yang theory of balance? ...rather than a bad combination?"