---

Despite trying her best to find some reasonable chain of class material to use for the end of the year in preparation for a midterm, Myrni eventually decided that it would be futile. Arithmancy was just too dry a subject to really try and make it sexy.

With that in mind, she decided to make the process of midterms as painless as possible.Her 3rd years had a typical exam with questions and answers. But for her 5th-7th year classes, that meant an essay which would be personalized to the individual. Then, each student would be required to turn it in before they left for the break.

Myrni sat at her desk throughout the two class periods as students came in. And once they read what was on the board in her neat scrawl, she dismissed them unless they wanted to work on the assignment in the classroom or consult with her.

---

---

OOC: To get house points, students should post here and either write about or where appropriate post a link to the thread showing you a) seeing the assignment and your initial reactions, b) working on the research or writing it, or c) handing in the essay to Professor Levartian.

In addition, students who do the above will most certainly get an A in the class to this point. Students who do a post that quotes at least a portion of their essay will likely get an E. And Students who go above and beyond with a post that quotes a substantial portion of the essay or the entire thing will likely be getting an O.

Students who do nothing should expect not to do very well this term.

Xavier entered the Arithmancy classroom and was surprised to see that there was barely anyone there. For a moment he thought he had arrived to class too early but with a glance at his watch he knew he was right on time. His attention was then drawn to the blackboard and the empty classroom made sense to him. Apparently Professor Levartian had settled on a mid term assignment for them and was allowing students to go off and work on it however they saw fit once they were certain what the parameters of the assignment were.
 
Deciding that an empty classroom would be much better suited as a working environment Xavier sat down at his usual desk and pulled out quill, parchment and his Arithmancy text. He dipped his quill in his ink well and began scratching out his personal year equation. He decided to do the first option, an essay reflecting on the last year, feeling that looking at what he should be expecting in the next year was too close to Divination for his likings.

May 22nd, 5 + 22 = 27, 2+7 = 9, 2008, 2 +0 +0+ 8 = 10, 1 +0 = 1, 1 + 9 = 10, 1 + 0 = 1
Personal Year Number for 2008 = 1

Xavier opened his text to the explanation of the nine year cycle and quickly scanned the explanation for year one, a new beginning. He sat back in his chair for a moment staring at his text with an awed expression on his face. He had spent the last two years in both Arithmancy and Divination and this was the first time one of the prediction methods actually seemed to pertain to his real life, not just the one he made people think he had.

With a shake of his head he pushed his text aside and dipped his quill once more Putting a header underneath the calculation he had scratched out - My Personal Year Number, 2008. With his tongue clamped between his teeth and his cool grey blue eyes fixed on his parchment Xavier began to write letting his thoughts flow out. He knew it was going to be rough starting out but he always worked this way. He let whatever come to mind flow out first and then he'd go back and edit it accordingly.

After making the appropriate calculations I have determined that for the year of 2008 which is nearly over my personal year number is 1. This marks the beginning of a new nine year cycle. The first year in the cycle is a year of new beginnings, new discoveries and the building of strengths to prepare for the following years to come. This is to be a year to determine new goals for the next cycle and act upon them before the opportunity passes by. The beginning of the nine year cycle is supposed to be an exciting new adventure. It is a time to forget the past and move forward eagerly accepting the challenges ahead.

In reflection of the last year this could not be more accurate. The new adventures and challenges have come across in waves to the point where it feels as if this year I've become a brand new person. With the worries and problems of the past behind me I've been able to start a new and finally take on life as my own person and not the person my family thinks I should be. This past summer I was able to spend time on my own, rebel if you please, and determined how to face a new side of me I wasn't aware was there before. I got a tattoo and made a bunch of new friends in people I normally wouldn't have associated with.

The new school year has definitely brought about new challenges as well. Not just because this is our OWL year either. The unfortunate incident in Madeline Pratt on Halloween has taught me to look at myself in a new way and evaluate how I respond to certain situations. I've been stripping away pieces of myself to create a brand new me. Another new challenge has come in the form of romance. In the past I wasn't one for romance but this year has brought about new feelings, sensations and challenges in that department. I've set goals towards a certain person I want by my side and have pushed myself past certain challenges in order to achieve these goals.

Xavier paused in his writing and took the time to look over what he had written so far. It looked pretty good for now. He knew he had covered most of the topics he wanted to approach in the essay, at least the barest most important issues that he could think of pertaining to the explanation of his Personal Year Number. Now all he had to do was elaborate and reformat to make sure it followed the proper essay format that was expected of him.

Waker perused the instructions carefully, and then read over them a second time, absorbing the information before committing quill to parchment. With the professor's assignment copied carefully beside her on a fresh, flat sheet, she began to write on a blank one, first working out the mathematical process.

Waker Nolan
Ravenclaw
N.E.W.T. level Arithmancy
Midterm Exam

Birth Date: 14th September

09 + 14
___
23

2 + 3
___
5* = Birthday Number

Year: 2008

2 + 0 + 0 + 8
2 + 8
___
10

1+0
___
1* = Year Number

Personal Year: 14th September 2008, Birthday Number + Year Number

5 + 1
___
6* = Personal Year Number

- 1 -

Having worked out the equation, the Ravenclaw pawed open her text with ginger hands, flattening the cool, leather-bound cover onto the wood of her desktop. She found the chapter in question (carefully marked with color-coded magical Stick-It tabs, no less), and raced down the page to her oh-so-lucky number, the digit 6.


Twitching slightly at the uncanniness of the title, before promptly realizing that its accuracy would earn her a decent grade, the Ravenclaw dabbed her quill into her ink bottle, blotted it carefully, and began to scribe her analysis in a detailed essay.

Waker Nolan
Ravenclaw
N.E.W.T. level Arithmancy
Midterm Exam

The Personal Number 6 indicates an individualized preoccupation with relationship-building. This focus on intimate and familial bonding, as well as camaraderie, take the personal focus away from work, material gain, and personal success strategies. While this is, in many respects, a positive growing experience, it can also be a bit unnerving for those who numerical birth dates also provide strong astrological (zodiac) characteristics.

In exploring the accuracy of the Personal Number 6, readers should note that this individual values hard work and strong academic achievement. This year, however, the person in question did, indeed, as the arithmetic suggests, spend more (admittedly much-needed) time developing close relationships with others. In addition to learning to cope with friends whose personalities and morals often prove compromising to the individual's own qualities, the subject also re-evaluated priorities and determined that romantic endeavors were as important-- or more so-- than certain Five Year Plans. The individual foolishly regrets having spent so very long (in past years) not paying apt attention to friends and loved ones, and has decided this year to change that.

With a refocusing on romance and broadening of the individual's comfort zone concerning friendships, the individual has also encountered many hurtles, which have made the days seem much longer and slower than usual. And while the individual heatedly anticipates the new semester and impending graduation (and, of course, final examinations), the individual does note that the year has, indeed, provided a certain restlessness much in tune with the Personal Number Six.

In anticipation for the New Year, 2009, one would change the Year Number to 2 (derivative of 2 + 0 + 0 + 9 = 11; 1 + 1 =2). With the Birthday Number remaining constant at 5, the Personal Number would then change to 7 (Birthday Number + Year Number, or 5 + 2 = 7). The digit 7 representing a more introspective year, it seems that the individual can anticipate once again focusing on professional achievement, while hopefully still maintaining the success of this year.

- 2 -

The assignment on the board was crystal clear about what their mid-term exam would be over. Bellatrix was better at math than her sister and the magical significance of the numbers seemed to calm the darker Dark twin down. She had so far felt confident that this class was going well for her. She'd given it a shot in her third year and enjoyed it ever since, but this year she'd started to fall behind. Regardless, whenever she got to the Arithmancy homework assigned after tedious hours of working on other classes, the calculations and simplicity of it all soothed her frustrations. This work was pleasant to Bellatrix.

Almost ten minutes into the class, the students who remained to work in the classroom had set their quills to work. Bella was no different. She was looming over her parchment taking a tiny nibble here and there between pauses upon the Sugar Quill she was writing with. The sugar helped her to concentrate due to her mind lately being scrambled worse than a breakfast egg! Students were silently whispering to themselves, adding up and reducing the numbers, to further explain their year. Bellatrix could only stare at her blank parchment and the explanation of the personal year of 2008 trying to relate her personal life and the summary of the year.

11/14. 1+1+1+4+2+0+0+8 = 17. 1+7 = ?

'Eight,' she answered her own question mentally.

The scrolling of the personal year didn't take long, but after reading the initial summary of the personal year of 8, Bellatrix frowned. 'Your power and status potential is at a peak of the nine years personal epicycle that concludes at the end of the next year,' it said.

'No,' Bella thought with a harsh tone, 'it was at a peak. My entire reputation is destroyed! How can there be an end next year when it ended this year?'

How ridiculous! She glared at the book fiercely as if it was the book's fault that she had wrought her own reputation's destruction before her eyes dropped to the Personal Year 9.

'You are likely to scrutinize old values, ideals, and the ideas that you thought were important. This should be a time when you become more involved with other's and giving may become more important that merely looking out for yourself.'

It was the start of December, the last month of 2008. She considered the idea of New Years and New Years resolutions. What if she took a vow to try and "scrutinize old values, ideals, and ideas she thought were important"? After a long, complicated thought process that eventually rounded back to her essay, Bellatrix took a long suckle on the Sugar Quill and set off to work.

The year of 2009 will be calculated as the personal year of 9 with my birthday 11/14. 'Reflection and Reaching Out', as the personal year of 9 says, will be my ultimate goal for next year. Certain aspects of my life need re-evaluating, most specifically personal relationships. As a New Year's resolution, I will try to change the way I treat my friends and some family members. I look forward to starting it after the holidays, but I'm not so eager as to go out handing candy to first years. Old values such as keeping up a certain reputation will be transformed into new values like making sure my sister is happy. My goal of working towards keeping up my grades, according to the personal year 9, will come to completion. I'm curious if that means I'll get those good grades or not, but at least I can hope for the best and expect the worst.

Here, Bellatrix paused to read over the parchment, nibbling on her Sugar Quill. She bent over and tried to add as much as she could to make it longer, but ended up disregarding what she had added on. This portion was good enough for Bellatrix Dark. For a good two minutes, she stared at the assignment to proof-read it and make sure she didn't need to edit anything. Satisfied with the completed essay, the Slytherin rose from her seat and handed in her parchment.

[That's the extent of her essay. It's not very long, but that's about as much as Bellatrix writes for her essays.]

Josh was one of the ones that had stayed behind to work on the essay.

Joshua Harcroft
5th year OWL Midterm Exam

Personal Year Number ( 2008): 2+0 =2, 1+2=3, 2+8=10, 1+10=1. 2+3+1=6. Personal year of 6.

Personal Year 6. . . . Love, Family, Home and Responsibility
This is a number 6 Personal Year for you. A personal year 6 tends to bring on increasing responsibilities and a deepening concern for family, loved ones, and close friends. It may be a year when you are called on to make some adjustments in your life, or sacrifices for those in your family or close circle of friends. This is not really a year for major accomplishments, but rather a time to handle those adjustments to your plans that may be necessary or required, and for finishing projects started earlier. Endeavors will seem to be moving so very slowly throughout this year. You should expect to have a very good year so far as family, domestic, and romantic matters are concerned. Your emotional interchange with those who are close to you should be at its very best during this particular year. The important thing is to be willing to accept a slower pace and be sure to enjoy the peace and harmony that the personal year number 6 will bring.

This is certainly an interesting prediction, since this past year has certainly been one of great change regarding my family, with my younger brother being one of the incoming first-years. However, it is only partially correct, since i definitely haven't had any significant luck in romance this year. Unless the prediction is saying I will have some truly amazing luck between now and the end of the year, I guess.

2009: 2009 would be a  personal year 7.

Personal Year 7. . . . a time for analysis and understanding
A 7 personal year promises to be a very introspective year, a period of some pause and reflection between very active years in your life. This year should provide you with some time for gaining some understanding of yourself, and you are apt to spend a good bit of time in contemplation. It will be good for you to spend time alone or in quiet activities, as free from outside responsibilities as possible. You should try to get away from business pressures. This is a good year to reflect on the past and plan for the future. This will not tend to be a year of action, but rather a year of waiting and development. One of the most profitable activities in with to engage during a personal year 7 is that of study and writing, for your ability to think clearly, analyze, and integrate your thoughts is peaked now. Your capacity for research and understanding is at its very best. It would not be unusual for you to take on an appearance of coolness and detachment during a 7 year. Certainly, it is best for you to focus your attention on your talents and your skills in an effort to use the time you have now to refine them. Perhaps you can find the time to gain more education, or simply spend free time in reflection and meditation.

so if this is accurate, i will be cool and detached during 2009. At a guess, this would mean that next year I concentrate on improving in Quidditch and the skills I will need to become an Auror, sharpening my ability to fight magically, studying even harder than i do for school subjects and making sure I stay in shape.

Josh wrote on the parchment. while he did have an idea about more that the personal year 7 could refer to, hhe dared not write it down, since it was to do with SAWS. Finishing, therefore, he submitted the essay and hoped he would get a decent grade.

Excellent work, Bella and Josh! House points and E's for you both.

Arithmancy simply wasn't Leon's best subject. However, after some gruesome studying, he felt quite ready for the midterm. It was merely a midterm. But after getting an E on his OWLs... Well... Leon felt like jumping off a bridge. His NEWTs would be so goshdarn impressive, people's minds would be blown. He read over the instructions, breathed slowly, and set his freshly sharpened quill on his completely wrinkle-free parchment. The perfect conditions for the perfect test.

Leon Othello Monroe December 8th, 2008 Ravenclaw, NEWT Level Arithmancy Midterm

First and foremost, my personal year;

Birthday: August 19th, 1991.

I must reduce my birth month and birth day until it is a single digit.
8+19=27
2+7=9

I do the same with the current year I am calculating.
The year 2008 = 2+8=10, 1+0=1

Next, to get my personal year, I must add my birthday digit to the current year digit and reduce it until I get a single digit.
9+1=10, 1+0=1

My personal year number will thus be one.

Next was the essay. Leon had already gotten past all the strange math that made no sense. This was good. He understood what he was doing... Sort of. He opened his book carefully and eyed the pages. He couldn't believe this garbage. He was a realistic boy. He read over year one and... Though he hated to admit it, it sounded exactly like his life. He was definitely beginning a new stage in life... Changing in many ways and getting ready for his future...

But that didn't mean the class wasn't bloody bonkers. He slowly but surely found his quill back onto his long parchment. He was halfway through this class. He wouldn't have to see it again once he was out of school.

Personal Year One: A New Beginning In Your Life

When, I, Leon Monroe, reminisce on this very year, two-thousand-eight, I must say that my personal year digit is completely, inevitably, correct. For someone like I to have the personal year number one, it means that this year held a lot of promise of a new and exciting chapter in one's life. It means that one would be working harder and working their physical attributes much further and to a larger extent. One would have experienced a major change in their life and may become wary of it, unwilling to accept it. It's a time for change and for shaking off the hardships and problems of the past. Life has started feeling like an adventure and it's time to clarify one's goals and act on them.

To say all of this is correct would be an understatement. I have gone through some major changes, indeed, this past year. I've become Head Boy and Quidditch Captain, first of all. Both very serious jobs that have been pushing me harder both mentally and physically. For example, the other day I had to save a small Ravenclaw girl from the frogs that had been unleashed inside the castle. Though, it definitely pressed my limits on what to accomplish as Head Boy, it really did seem like an adventure and admittedly a large step up from being the innocent, stay-out-of-the-way boy I was last year.

I am, indeed, quite wary of the new changes in my life. But I'm learning to accept it all, just as my personal year says I would. I've learned to take responsibility and remain the best that I can be. Never in my life did I think I would ever have to do barrel-rolls on a broomstick or throw a damsel in distress over my shoulders to save a goal... Or the library from the girl's screaming.

When it says that I must clarify my goals and act on them, it all makes perfect sense. I am a seventh year, after all, and I must get my act together so I know what I will be doing for the future. Not only that, but I must set my goal for what I wish to get on my NEWTs. Of course, I wish to get all 'O's and perhaps own a bookstore or work at a library. Because this new chapter in my life is so fresh, my goals are, too. And I believe they are legit and proper for a boy of my potential.

To conclude, my personal year is indubitably correct and I cannot disagree with it at all. This year was definitely new and was quite the adventure. I've had to step up my leadership skills and I've been changing ever since. Two-thousand-eight was irrefutably a new beginning in my life.

Leon sighed after he set his quill down. He reread it. He reread it again. The whole essay was a load of bologna, but it worked. Leon noticed how all the descriptions in Arithmancy weren't completely detailed, and how anyone can relate to them no matter what they were. They related to everyone. Of course, he wasn't about to start that argument and fail Arithmancy. Leon would rather lie in an essay than fail a whole class.

The Head Boy picked up his belongings, put them back in his bag as neatly as possible, then rose from his seat. He did a good job with his essay, did he not? He handed in his parchment and quietly left the classroom. He would have to get at least an 'E'... Right? How bad did someone have to be to get below that?

When Trent learned that next time he'd be Arithmancy would be his midterm, it was a bit late to study. Considering it was two minutes before he entered the classroom. The boy swore at himself as he sat down in the back, feeling completely unprepared and awful. Lucky for him, Arithmancy was practically the only class he was good at. But Trent was... Well... Trent. So when his eyes landed on the instructions and saw how much they had to write, he swore at himself much more frequently. Everyone around him started their midterms and the boy finally managed to pull out a parchment he was using before for Transfiguration that only had a few lines at the top.

He could do this. He had his book with him... Though it was completely wrecked from when George and Trent wanted to see how hard they had to throw it to make the book bounce (Which, to Trent's surprise, was completely possible). But he could probably still... Manage something.

Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot. Ramsay is hot.

Birthday = October 9th, 1990.

10+9=29 19
1+9=10
1+0=1

2+9=11
1+1=11 1 2

Personal year = 3

Alright, that was done. Now he needed to write an essay. Trent didn't... Do essays. He was probably the best writer in the whole room, but he just couldn't force writing out of himself. But, he wanted to pass with at least an A, so he opened up his trashed book. Lucky for him, Personal Year Three was one of the ones that wasn't ripped out. Well, most of it at least. There was crude drawings of boobs in the margins and what seemed to be some of George's leftover body paint across the title. The boy sighed and pressed his broken quill to the parchment.

Might as well get this over with.

The Personal Year Three is when someone like mysel f wi ll find love or some stuff like that and will get lukcy or something. Which I don't tot ally doubt, because I ha ve a hot girlfrie nd, well kind of. and stuff. Basically, that's what it all says.

I think that this will be easily accomplished, since I am already technically  aman and why am I still in school I mean me and muy friends xhuld tolay dust leave tonw and never look back qt this baldn qwhawdikwefw weiofhpfnkldsf;nh wefiojhfio;q.

"Alright. Let's try that again. This time, let's not sound like a drunk," Trent murmured to himself.

The Personal Year Three is when someone like mysel f wi ll find love or some stuff like that and will get lukcy or something. Which I don't tot ally doubt, because I ha ve a hot girlfrie nd, well kind of. and stuff. Basically, that's what it all says.

I think that this will be easily accomplished, since I am already technically  aman and why am I still in school I mean me and muy friends xhuld tolay dust leave tonw and never look back qt this baldn qwhawdikwefw weiofhpfnkldsf;nh wefiojhfio;q.

Personal Year Three means that I will find love and will expand my social circle. It also means I will suck at life work, which goes to show that every good thing has its consequences. I mean, why the heck can't I bang my girlfriend AND get a successful goddamn job? Then again, I want to be a photographer manly firefighter and I probably won't have the best "financial" success.

Anyways. This will probably describe me perfectly, as I said, because... Why wouldn't I get a whole bunch of love and friends in the future? I mean sheesh. Everyone does. Every year. Also, financial crisis? That's because the Economy is so shitty for people like me, muggleborns. I'm already poor, anyways. So basically this could refer to anyone in this room, this means that I AM EVERYONE.

EVEN MERLIN. I AM MERLIN.

That also means I'm Waker Nolan. Which means I should be allowed to touch her boobs. Well... I'd have to ask Georgie first. But still. If I were Waker Nolan, I'd get plenty of love because she's hot.

Anyways. Yeah. That's how my future will be. Like, one month in the future. So I'm gunna be bangin' babes in like, one month. But I also won't have any money. So I'm getting lucky for FREE. My future is awesome. Thanks to Arithmancy.

Trent stared at his paper for a moment and then shrugged. It was better than any other essay he had written. At least he put some thought into it. Trent slapped his parchment down on the Professor's desk and got out of there as quickly as possible. Perhaps... He shouldn't have added that part about how he was Merlin.

Nahh. That was pretty funny. It's all behind him now. Trent bolted down the hall, feeling free as can be. Was he even suppose to leave class so early? Probably not. But even still.

Megan entered the Arithmancy classroom nervously, since it was finally time for the midterm examinations. he midterms were essentially the last drop before the OWL exams. Of course, there would be other exams, but none of those could portray a student's knowledge as well as the midterm could. In addition, midterms could help the students' confidence to do well on their OWL exams, just as she hoped the exams could improve her self confidence.

With a sigh, Megan sat down and looked up at the board. There, the information on the exam was clearly stated. Professor Levartian allowed the class to either stay to work on the midterm, or leave and hand it in later. Since she already studied, and was in the classroom already for that matter, she figured that it would be best to stay. Besides, there probably wouldn't be any quieter places in the castle. So, it would be best on her own concentration to work on it in the classroom.

Taking out a piece of parchment and her book, Megan started to write her essay:

Megan Ruiz
December 8, 2008
Arithmancy Midterm

My Birthday: April 10
4 + 10
4 + 1 + 0
5

Year: 2008
2 + 0 + 0 + 8
10
1 + 0
1

Birthday + year
5 + 1
6

My Personal Year Number is 6, which falls in the Love, Family, Home, and Responsibility category. I believe that this prediction on this past year is both accurate and inaccurate, since not every characteristic listed came true for my life. Therefore, I would have to judge the overall prediction to be inaccurate.

Since coming to Hogwarts, my friends and family in the muggle world have always been a concern of mine. I don't get to see them during most of the year between Hogwarts and shuffling in and out of the wizarding world. So, this makes me feel like I am neglecting them. This has led me to make some adjustments with the past summer, and the impending winter breaks to spend more time with them whenever possible. With this respect of concern and adjustments, my Personal Year Number is accurate.

This past year has not really given me any major accomplishments. While I cannot predict the future, it remains unlikely that I will accomplish anything major by the end of the year, and I am not seeking to do so for that matter. Mostly everything that I've done this year has been helping out with the clubs that I'm in, Qudditch, and studying. Those are in no way accomplishments. Anything which I'm seeking in the way of major accomplishments from any of these activities wouldn't come until next year anyway. So, my Personal Year Number is accurate for no major accomplishments.

Since I essentially have no romantic life, I have to say that my romantic matters have been a complete failure. For that matter, my romantic matters are completely nonexistent. The only crush that I had at the beginning of the year yielded absolutely nothing on my part, and actually helped lead me to adjust my teamwork principals for Qudditch. I'm pretty sure it is safe to say that I'm not under any impressions that anyone likes me currently. With the respect of my romantic matters, my Personal Year Number is inaccurate.

Between Qudditch, my clubs that I'm involved in, studying not just for midterms but my OWLs as well, and the Winter festival that will be happening soon, my life is anything but slow. Actually, I would characterize my life as chaotic, especially when most of my responsibilities are required of me at the same time, just as it is right now. The balancing act that I perform gives a little stability to my chaotic life, but it doesn't slow it down. My Personal Year Number is inaccurate since my life is far from slowing down.

Since every part of the prediction based on my Personal Year Number is not accurate, I have to judge on the prediction to be overall inaccurate. Predictions have to be fully correct to be accurate, otherwise the prediction will not be reliable. As for the year to come, my Personal Year Number will be changed. While the birthdate number will stay at 5, the year will be 2009, and total to 2. This makes my Personal Year Number for 2009 to be 7, which will be my year to analyze and understand myself. This seems to be more accurate for next year, since OWL exams will be over.

After finishing and editing her midterm, Megan handed her essay to Professor Levartian, and left the classroom.

Ten points for Leon, Travis and Megan. Leon and Megan get O's, and while Professor Levartian commends Trent's effort, with some of his content being questionable, she's going to give him an E. (She won't admit that she laughed quite heartily in an empty classroom while reading it....)

Points will be turned in for this class sometime within the next week or so. Those who haven't posted yet still have time!

Chance Ryker, the 7th year Irish Gryffindor prefect normally acted like he owned this classroom.  It was not that he was cruel or condescending to anyone present.  In fact, the truth was quite the opposite.  Chance was almost always the life of the party, if Arithmancy class could ever be considered a party.  However, something was very noticeably off.  Chance typically held little decorum for the classroom and as such would always send out rather energetic greetings to all those already present, especially Professor Levartian.  Today was different though.

Chance was actually wearing his exact, by the book attire.  For someone known to constantly at least tweak or stretch the dress code to its limits, Chance was peculiarly adhering exactly to the status quo.  If his hair weren't at least smushed into a faux-hawk, then something would have been very obviously wrong.  Chance silently sat down, avoiding eye contact with anyone as he settled into a seat near the rear of the classroom.  The Irishman removed his supplies from his pack and proceeded with his assignment without so much as a word.  Not at all typical Chance Ryker.  Chance began writing immediately.

Chance Ryker
7th Year Gryffindor
Professor Levartian
Arithmancy Midterm
Dec.8, 2008

Birthdate = Oct.1, 1990
Personal Year (a) = 10 + 1
                                1 + 1 = 2
Personal Year (b) = 2008
                                  = 2 + 0 + 0 + 8 = 10
                                  = 1 + 0 = 1
Personal Year = 2 + 1 = 3

Chance had actually studied for this midterm, believe it or not.  He thought he had all the math worked out properly, but now it came time to remember the number and what it stood for.  Luckily, 3 happened to be Chance's second favorite number.  13 was his preference, but of course this made him study 1 and 3 a bit more than all of the other numbers.  He lucked out there it seemed, despite the irony.

     My personal year number for 2008 is 3.  The number 3 here symbolizes social growth and creative successes.  It's supposed to be a happy year, where I'm broadening my horizons and stepping out of my comfort zone to branch out and try new things.  I'm proud to say that I have expanded my social circle this year, starting at one of the most unlikely sources: Grace Eddy.  Most people would say that we'd never be able to stand each other for over 5 minutes and I'd be quick to agree with them at first, but she's a good girl and she's helped me through a lot in a short time actually.  She's driven, but she's kindhearted and well rounded.  She's not just the girl everybody sees on the surface as the perfect, little, prefect princess.  In fact she'd probably clock me one if she knew I called her "princess" again.

     Furthermore, my social outreach has actually mingled with my creative energies into joining S.A.W.S. or Students Against Werewolf Segregation.  I've never been one for any organized causes, because politics typically make me ill and stress me out.  I've always pretty much gone with the flow of things, but now I'm trying to get involved and make a difference somehow.  I've gotten to know a lot of great people much better through joining S.A.W.S., such as Fauna Blake, Astrid O' Malley, and Maddie Pratt.  This being my 7th year at Hogwart's, it actually makes me regret not having gotten to know this group much earlier.  I think I've wasted a lot of my time not really caring about making my time at Hogwart's count, but I'm trying to change so I don't waste any more of the present or my future.

     On the creative side, I've come out of my shell a little bit.  I'm not exactly a shy guy, but I've never been big on joining things, organizing things, etc.  So I volunteered to perform at the Winter Festival concert as well as participating in the kissing booth fundraiser for S.A.W.S.  I've written a letter to The Daily Prophet in regards to the ban on werewolves here at Hogwart's.  I just can't believe some of the things I'm involved in now.

     Just because 2008's coming to a close doesn't mean I'm going to stop traveling the path I've been on.  It's a new road for me and I'm not planning on veering off it any time soon.  2008 may have tossed me a few rotten Quidditch pitches every now and then, but Chance Ryker's never been one to back down from a challenge and I don't plan on making any exceptions.

Chance lifted his head for a moment and reflected quietly on the motivation behind these changes he was writing about.  He put quill to parchment again.

     In the end, I guess I can thank you above everyone else for actually having faith in me and pushing me to do something bigger than I ever imagined I could.  I know it sounds corny, but thanks for believing in me and making me take a shot.

Finally, the first sign of life in Chance's unnaturally green eyes seemed to spark and his lips turned in that mischievous half grin of his.

     So...dinner and a movie over break sound good?