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The stars shone above the tower, shimmering and sparking in the cold winds that blew through the highlands. It was warmer, now, the barest tastes of spring starting to creep into the days and nights; but with that came rain, and fog, and of course mud. The road to Hogsmeade was a filthy slur, making any trip to the bars an exercise in practicing scourging spells.

The night was clear, but nonetheless the tower was closed up, the tall arches covered and turned back to their simulated window status. The sight that shimmered on their surface was, tonight, quite plain; it showed the Sun, its brightness reduced greatly, as it passed through the constellations of the Zodiac. The guide to them wasn't there, but he could expect the students could recognize those by now (and he had headaches over the students that couldn't).

Likewise, the desks and chairs were stacked up in the corners, leaving the students to sit in groups on the floor, astrological circles drawn out in front of the group. The circles* were complex things, overlapping lines and figures that were quite beautiful, in their own way. And a bloody nuisance to read.

Tapendra stood by his desk, watching as they settled down. When the students had grown quiet, he clapped his hands together, the slap echoing in the high-ceilinged dome of the Astronomy tower.

"Right! Today we're going to see if you've all been paying attention to this form of charting," he said. They'd been covering the concepts and mathematics involved since January, as part of a larger unit on understanding the mathematics in star charts. This, he hoped, would be a bit more interesting than the endless charts showing the orbits of Jupiter.

To them, anyway. He rather liked the other kind, especially when Oliver turned in one that sent Jupiter's orbit through the Earth in just such a way it would have flung Earth out of the Solar System...

"Using the charts in front of you, I'd like you to have a go at predicting some aspect of a classmate's personality, history, or appearance. Remember to base it off their date of birth when you get started, and add to it from there. Ask them if it's true, when you think you've got it."

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Note: The circle is just for visual reference for what these things look like. Don't worry about trying to read it; bugger me if I can. Make things up and have fun!

Juni arrived to class, only to raise her eyebrows at the seating arrangement. She gave Trishna an inquisitive look, but didn’t speak. It wasn’t long before he went off in his explanation. She had rather enjoyed the way classes were going, it was very logical. However, this was going to be a nice little break from all of that, and a chance to get to know other students. She doubted that your birthday completely dictated your personality or your history, but she also believed that it probably had some sort of magical influence. Otherwise, Professor Trishna wouldn't be teaching it, right?

She sat down at one of the circles cross-legged, between Pisces and Aries. She was born on the cusp, so she felt like it was a suitable spot for her.

“So~” Juni looked at the people in her group, “I guess I’ll start? My birthday is on March 20.” She wasn’t sure if they needed the year, too? “1995. If that helps.” Her birthday was in two days, and it hadn’t really registered to her that she was very nearly fifteen. She hadn’t made plans. Her family would probably send her cards and maybe gifts, but that was about it. She didn’t like making too big of a fuss about her own birthday—there were other more important things. Like school. And boys. And mattress jousting.[1]

1.	The Noble Art of Mattress Jousting

"Oooh, happy birthday!" Zeta leaned forward and grinned. Juni was nice enough, maybe enough for a birthday drawing even.

After the class. The chart was really complicated. She hoped Cyhirae would be in her group. Ravenclaw and the Professor's daughter? Very helpful. Though if she copied the chart down...Zeta pulled out a piece of paper and started to scribble. Leo wouldn't mind googly eyes, would it?

"Mine was January 21. It's...bad for presents." Christmas was so busy, and everyone was tired afterwards. Even her. But wasn't that always part of Christmas?

Things with Juni had been pretty awkward ever since Winnie started hanging out with Zel all the time. Juni didn't like werewolves. But Zel was nice. He was a nice werewolf. Not the eat you and your family for dinner on the full moon kind. He took his wolfsbane and was safe enough to be at Hogwarts- so what was Juni's problem?

Even so, she and Zeta were the only people Winnie could tolerate that she saw gathered at class already. So she plopped down with Juni and Zeta. Juni mentioned her birthday was in two days. Winnie ought to know that. And she would be sure to send Juni a very nice birthday present- just to make the point that she was being the better friend.

"Hi Juni, Zeta," she said with a bright smile. "My birthday is September 13th," she told them. "And mine is bad for presents, too. Cause buying school stuff is really expensive." Especially for her family. They didn't have much money. She leaned forward to look at the chart on the ground. Winnie had no clue how to read it, or what it was. She was bad at Astronomy. Even when she tried she was terrible at it. Oh well. Who needed astronomy anyway? She was a seer. Astronomy and astrology were so beneath her.

Listening to the girls ramble on about presents, Alvis lifted an incredulous eyebrow. Was that really all a birthday meant to them? As much as he thought personal astrology to be a load of crock, Alvis could appreciate what it represented: an attempt by humankind to apply the principal of 'as above so below' to their everyday lives via mathematical formulas. Between that and the guiding "life path" numbers of arithmancy, there was quite a bit more to birthdays than just the gifts.

Alvis balanced his notebook on his knee, scribbling down calculations and he thumbed through a stack of charts and notes that rested on the ground beside him. He kept his ears open to pick up the various dates being offered around him and eventually turned his head to the girls on his right.

"Do you happen to know what time you were born?" he asked Zeta and Zamperia, though the question was soft enough that he might not be heard over all the chatter. He cleared his throat before adding, "You're both on the cusp. It's more accurate, on those days, to know the time."

Of course, he didn't really expect either to know. Few people even in the magical world remembered their time of birth. The extra uncertainty was enough to make him happy that he'd been born well away from any astrological transitions. No one could doubt that December 3rd was firmly in the realm of Sagittarius.

Of the two things known about Casey on a general basis, no one would deny that he could be pricklier than a cactus at times and despite his posture there was some ill or weak suggestion to his overall health. Though still you never expected to see him almost falling asleep in class.

Astronomy nights had become a bit of a bane what with potion tutoring and, well, other activities[1] over the times Casey usually took for a rest. So tonight he was not on his best focus though still appeared alert as possible through half lidded eyes.

"What is it with Astronomy and birthdays?" he mumbled to himself, recalling a time in January were such a class had coincided close with his when they first began the topic of ascribing planetary actions with days of birth.[2] One hand was plastered over the side of his face while the revealed eye blinked at the work they were to do.

'Predict some aspect of a classmate's personality, history, or appearance using birthdate and star charts.' Why? So much of this could be done much more quickly with a well reasoned observation. Their appearance? Look at them, unless it was about their future appearance.

Casey's elbow slid in the support of his head but he immediately re-straightened.

1.	Spell Fights #1 - March 12, night
2.	Futures Found in the Stars - Jan 12

However much he disliked Casey, he had to agree that birthdays were a common theme of mystery and analysis in several divination strands. Astronomy was the only bit Ambrose really came into contact with, but the heavens and their positions on given dates were rather important in several areas, from herbology to potions to even creatures.

"It depends which story you believe," Ambrose explained to Alvis and a grin on his face, and thumbing to Zeta, "depending on how Uncle Octavius tells it, sometimes she was there in an instant, and other times she took a year to arrive."

He got onto his knees and peered around the chart which he could just about work out the dates on.

"So like, I was born on September 19th," his finger outstretched and waggled around until he found it. "There," then he paused, "or .. no…" he wriggled and bumped into Talia, one of his classmates, sat around the chart, "There." 

His bottom was on a level with his head as he reached over, and as he stretched out to try and work out the timings, he realised he'd got confused at it all, and went to sit back, almost sitting on Talia in the process as he'd got carried away concentrating on things.

"Oops! Sorry!" Ambrose apologised, managing to sit down crosslegged again beside Zeta's dormitory fellow. "I was born a couple of minutes past four in the morning, but I've lost how the time bit works. Do you know how to figure out yours?"

Talia was quietly seated at one of the circles.  Her gaze hadn't really lit on anyone in the class, even as they spoke.  Perhaps if she had taken the time to know any of her classmates better she wouldn't still feel so shy around them.  She remained silent even as the other girls began offering up their birthdays.  She supposed that she was lucky.  A good, solid spring birthday in May.  At least she would be if she cared at all about the gifts.  Maybe she did, but mostly she just looked forward to the package of baked goodies Grams would send her in celebration.

Before she knew it, Ambrose was bumping into her.  It wasn't that big of a deal and she wrote it off.  Playing wall flower was an innate skill that she possessed.  To the point of she never thought about it, she just was.  However when he all but sat right there in her lap her face burned scarlet and she muttered a response to his apology.

"Umm, it's fine, no worries," she pretty much just whispered it so who knew if he had even heard her. 

Suddenly all she really wanted was for the floor to open up and swallow her.  It didn't though.  More the pity.  Instead she turned her attention back to the charts and sighed.  Astronomy had just enough math, or numbers in general, involved that it confused her no end.  She knew that she was Taurus but she also knew that she was pretty close to the cusp of Gemini as well.  Just enough that some of the Gemini traits affected her.  Sure she was stubborn and loyal but she was also witty- when she bothered to speak- and indecisive which were both pretty Gemini traits.

"May 18th and pretty early in the morning myself."  This time she was a hair louder and she studied the chart in front of her but realized that she hadn't exactly chosen a good spot to see Taurus or Gemini.  Of course.

Boring, boring, boring... Everything about this class was ridiculous boring and Amara decided she won't be taking it after she was done with her OWLs. If she'd wanted this sort of nonsense she would've signed up for Divination. And why in the name of Morgana were they supposed to sit on the floor? Nevermind that it was unhygienic and ridiculously impolite, how was this supposed to be a conducive environment for learning? Had the entire Hogwarts faculty lost their mind recently? Was it an affliction? Was it infectious? Not that she should worry, mind you. She doubted she could get more... confused than she already was.

Regardless, for some reason she'd found herself in the vicinity of O'Doherty and as off putting as that might be, at least it would spare her further inquiries. She knew his birthday, so with a little purse of her lips she set to her deductions. After a few moments of concentrated focus, scowls, various mutterings and finally an unimpressed stare at the charts she turned to look at Casey with a murderous glare. "Your luminaries, the sun and moon, indicate self-similar fractal qualities within you. There's a—Hmm. A complementarity between the conscious and unconscious contents of your mind" she said conversationally, eyes staring impassively at him.

"The Sun in Capricorn says that you're very persistent and feel happiest when in control or managing something practical. Status and material reward are very important. You're disciplined" she arched a skeptical eyebrow "and ambitious, far-sighted and purposeful and don't mind denying yourself a few comforts while you work toward the goal of success. You enjoy structure and careful planning, prefer a distanced perspective and a cool appraisal." Her quizzical eyebrow remained arched on her face as she continued talking in a more amused tone.

"The Moon Sesquiquadrate Uranus indicates that for you, independence above all. Very much involved with all that is non-traditional and revolutionary, especially when it comes to the domestic scene and ideas of home and family. Original, different and unpredictable when it comes to emotional reactions—" her arched eyebrow was soon joined by the other. "The approach to feelings, moods and the whole psychological gambit is novel. Tends to show emotions suddenly or in unusual ways. Prefers being unconventional and nonconformist. Gets pleasure out of engaging in forbidden or unauthorized behavior" at this she smirked and shook her head a little. truer words have rarely been spoken.

"Mercury in Aquarius says you are original and clever, you thrive mentally on the abstract and dialectical. You are an impartial thinker, democratic to the point of being impersonal, and fascinated by the latest technology. Mercury is very much at home in this sign and it often produces the most innovative thinkers and inventors. Always thinking of the world as a unity, you are idealistic and believe in putting into practice what is preached" she continued, actually snorting a little. "Group-conscious and future-oriented, often witty, quick and chatty, you find it easy to see through large concepts and schemes. When it comes to mind games, others would find it you to be a most worthy opponent" she said gesticulating with her hand at nothing in particular.

"And it goes on and on and on... I'm bored. Did that hit the mark?" she smiled languidly, tilting her head sideways to blink at him, hair spilling over the floor in a silver cascade.

"Here we go again…" Pepper muttered as quietly as he could as Bathory launched into another one of her textbook responses. He didn't mean she was a horror, just that there was no conquering or stopping one, once it had started.

Despairing, and tired, Ambrose rearranged himself to lie on his stomach, propped up on his elbows. But as Amara remarked she was bored, he dropped his forehead gently to the floor and raised a single finger.

"That," he spoke from below them all, "is one thing I wholeheartedly agree with." He raised his head a bit, "the whole lengthly explanation bit I'll take your word for, but the bored bit - entirely on the mark." He sank his head back down.

"Wake me up when the lesson ends, someone who will remain nameless was snoring all night in the dorms. I'd silencio them if I didn't risk them serious injury." The Gryffindor teenager gave a laboured sigh, only glad this lesson wasn't at night, but in the afternoon.

Oh goody, sitting on the floor.  In an astronomy tower, during late winter/early spring.  If Erin was more prone to sarcasm, she would have made a snide remark.  As it was, she simply sat down in a circle.  Apparently, everyone was sprouting birhtdays and trying to come up with something.  Though this did make it slightly easier on her for divination, Erin had the distinct feeling that they had a lesson similar to this not that long ago.  Whatever the course, Erin knew her birthday was December 21st, and sort of read the chart.  Apparently she was a pisces that valued privacy.  Erin did not really know what that was, but figured one of her classmates could sort it out.

After hearing a few mutterings, Erin decided to give Talia's star sign a complete fabrication explanation.

"So May 18th?  So that means your a Taurus.  Traditionally, that means you like the simple things in life, and have a penchant for acquiring what you need?  I'd go further, but I really don't know you that well, and this seems to be as good as any place to start.  Oh, Ambrose's going asleep?  I wonder why people spend so much time sleeping?  It seems like we could get so much more done if we didn't have too?  I wonder if - meh who cares? I'm hungry, want to go eat something?" Erin rambled, not really interested or caring about the subject matter or the person she was talking too.