Colorus fulgeo black to green. Tap. Circle right. Circle left.

He practiced the motions slowly, face set in a curious frown as he concentrated.

Colorus fulgeo black to green. Tap. Circle right. Circle left.

Puffing his cheeks out, he picked up his stick, and twirled it round between his fingers. Time to do the spell for real. And cross his fingers that it would work. He wanted an interesting stick.

"Colorus fulgeo black to green," he said dubiously to the stick. Tap, circle, circle. Nothing. His shoulders slumped. Why did magic have to be so complicated and hard? He knew what he wanted it to look like, so why couldn't it just do it! Meh.

Screwing his eyes up in concentration, he visualised the flashing stick in his head. See? That was what he wanted. "Colorus fulgeo black to green!" Tap. Circle left. Circle right.

An eye peeped open. Hang on... The colour. It was changing. Slowlyyyyy, but it still changed. Booyah!Airpunch.

And now to add the number. For this, he'd use his quill. Much easier. Unfortunately he only had black ink, which wouldn't show against the stick when it flashed black, but nevermind. Carefully, he dipped his quill into the ink, and drew the number eight.

The number of legs Matilda had. The units of his birth day. A sideways infinity. All VERY important connotations in Spike's mind.

Riley hadn't gotten up to recieve his own personal stick thing from Professor Hadley yet because he was trying to plan how he was going to decorate it in his mind. One couldn't just rush into things like that and then have to dig out of a huge mess. Standing up, the Gryffindor straightened out the front of his robes and walked over to the Professor and pulled out a stick from the box and then grinned at her as he walked over to his own little work area.

The 6th year pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill and began to work on the number, his Life Path number:

Now that his life path number was correctly calculated he moved his wand in the design of a 3 leaving the number on the side of it.

Jamie finally decided to color the stick a deep purple. On the side of it the number seven was written elegantly in sliver and her name was placed at the other end with her birthday. It was the best she could do. She smiled at the simplicity of her stick. She read over the description in the text book and sighed. That was also pretty accurate. She sighed and flipped though the pages to read.

After getting his Life Path number marked on his stick, the Gryffindor then began to ponder the colors and designs he was going to make. As he thought he pulled his wand out and concentrated. Finally deciding on green he made the wand movements and then said the incantation making the whole stick turn a dark green color.

There was still something missing.

*Writing the number 7 on the stick he got to coloring. Maybe a cool color changing spell would work? But he couldn't remember the spell. Normal bland un changing colors then. Looking over his book he tried to find the pages on numbers on colors.*

Before Riley went any further with his own stick decorating he began to look around the room. Everyone...well almost everyone was doing a good job. He was glad that this class was something fun and easy he could do today, and to think he almost didn't come. The Gryffindor turned back to his own project and went back to work.

Now for the second color and the finishing touch. Touching the tip of his wand to the stick from Professor Hadley, Riley concentrated on the changing colors of green and purple and then said the spell, "Colorus fulgeo green to pruple." and then tapped it, circled right then left, and then the stick began flashing between the two colors. He was finished, now the question was do they get to keep them?

"Alright so a color for number 7 can be..." *Flipping the pages he found it then frowned.*
"Violet and purple..."
*Weren't those girl colors? Matty thought. Oh well. Using his wand he painted the stick purple and violet. Once done it didn't look half bad.*

Raven gave a shyly smile to Professor and say "Thanks Professor for the help.

He need to add the 11 as his destiny number then



"wow, seem a good version of me" Raven say happily.

now what to do, "Err, professor, how do I make that numbered stick" Raven ask weakly

Emily starred around the class and couldn't help but notice everyone was REALLY decorating their stick... she looked down at her own, plain and boring with a whimmering gold 9.
"HHHhhhmmmm", she mumbled as she pulled out her wand again.

After a few more moments work on her stick she stood back to admire it.
It was now a lovely shade of saphire blue with the shimmering gol 9 and lots of miniscule shimmering gold stars.
"Much better", she said to herself as she waited for the next instructions.

Josephina was about to get back to the ickle firstie in his questions about the flashing paint charm when it seemed like he attempted it and did a good first effort at it as well. "Not bad. You'll get there," Hadley said in a hopefully encouraging manner. "But really, you've got the hang of it." Just a few more times practicing, but by next year, he could probably make anything flash colors!


"For this purpose it doesn't matter what number you've put on your stick, but just know that the vibrations associated with the number eight may be uncharacteristically strong within you." Hadley said in response to her inquiries.



Beaming at the older girls as they seemed to have found their mistake, Josephina nodded. "No problem. That's what I'm here for."



And then ... another question. "You can use a coloring charm to color the stick and add decorations to it, but to add the number, I recommend either carving it or painting the number on. Either one works, because it is the next spell that will add the magic to that number and give it the vibrations needed to make it as one of a set of 78 Chien Tung fortune sticks. While we won't be making a complete set, you're welcome to do so if you desire." To that last part, she addressed the whole class.

Now back to number vibrations, because this information may be important for them to properly complete the homework assignment. "Each of the numbers 1 through 9 have definitive and symbolic meanings that correspond to the evolution of a person’s life.

Numbers tell you about your strengths and weaknesses, what you need to work on and how to work with what you have. They can provide insight as to the lessons to be learned and your potential, even your challenges to reach that potential. It's all there in your date of birth and your birth name, or cosmic name. When your name changes, this can either enhance or detract from your ability to fulfill your mission in life, but it can never change those underlying factors that make you uniquely yourself." For some reason, Hadley couldn't help but glance toward Jake as she said that last bit. "Your birth name and present name are therefore taken into account in your readings."

"Some of you mentioned various characteristics about the numbers, but it is important to also note the significance of master numbers. Should these arise in your readings, then they shouldn't be ignored because those numbers have their own meanings and vibrations. Each number has a variety of meanings associated with it, so while the answers may vary slightly by the uniqueness of the individual, they should fall under the same genre as well. For instance, there are differing degrees of independence for the number one. Or you might be 15 and in the beginning, but also 24 and in the same stage. Does this mean you're starting all over again? No, you're just at the beginning of something new in your life, whether it be a new school year, a new job, a new relationship... something. It will change as you age, but like I said, it will always fall under that particular genre. And as you delve further into your Arithmancy studies, then it is up to you to figure out how they all connect."

It may have seemed confusing or daunting now to some of these kids, but Josephina was sure that they'd understand once they started working more with numbers. "Back to those sticks you have all decorated. In a true set, there would be 78 fortune sticks, but as we don't have the time for that, I am just giving you the basics for how to make one. Though I do have several sets available in the lab for those interested, which you will need to borrow if you wish to complete your homework." And certainly they did, because why else would they be taking Arithmancy? Unless they were lazy when it came to assignments... "However, your sticks are missing the magical component that allows them to answer a question when delving into the art of Chieng Tung. In order to activate the magic within the number that you've etched into your sticks, you'll need to trace it with your wand and utter the words 'Fortunus lignum'."

Kurumi picked up her pink and ribbony stick. She was going to get to turn it into something magical! Kurumi felt like bouncing up and down in her seat. Wait, she hardly ever got a spell right on the first try. The object in question always either melted or exploded. "P-P-Professor," Kurumi asked raising her stick holding hand in the air. Oops, that looked silly. She put that hand down and raised her free hand. "Could, could we perhaps practice the spell on an extra stick before performing it on our own?" I'm afraid of blowing mine up.

"Professor, should there actually be 100 in a complete set? Or I mean that's the number I was always brought up with..." Sakura trailed off, realizing that it may seem as if she was questioning her teachers knowledge of the subject. Which she really wasn't trying to do. She just wanted to know if she'd been taught incorrectly while growing up...

Ohhh spell work. She liked spell work. But she was with the other girl about trying it on the stick right away... What if something went wrong? Then they'd have to start all over again.

Emily listened intently and jotted down some notes as she went. Once the Professor had finished adressing then she turned to her stick and took out her wand. Emily was nervous...she hadn't performed the spell before and hoped that nothing would go wrong.
Tracing the shimmering number 9 on her stick she performed the spell, "Fortunus lignum", she said in a clear voice.

Nothing happened... or at least she didn't think anything happened.

"Professor... did I do it right?" she asked uncertainly.

His jaw nearly dropped to the table when he thought they had to do 77 more of these sticks. When the Professor clarified he relaxed and started to breathe easily again. He didnt mind painting-- so long as it was bigger than him and he could live in it.

He evanescoed the messy paint on his desk, and set to work on the new spell. Fortunus lignum he mouthed the spell quietly, repeating it a few times until he was comfortable with it. He then aimed the wand at the silver number 6, tracing it with his wand as he uttered a strong "Fortunus Lignum!"

He peered closely at the slim rod. It doesnt look like its changed much before the spell or after.

"Uh Professor, how do we know if the spell actually worked?"

Jamie pulled out her wand and traced over it while saying, "Fortunus lignum." She didn't know if it had worked but she smiled in triumph anyway.

"How does the stick even know what number we're using. Like... life path or whatever... because the numbers each have different meanings for different... things. Chapters or whatever," Jake pointed out, feeling more like he was talking to himself though he wasn't sure why.

Wait... she'd been LOOKING AT HIM! O:

Oh... never mind. Heh. Jake realised why.

Ugh, she was talking way too much and Jake was completely tuning out. But he got the last part, hence his question a second ago. Whilst he was waiting for an answer, Jake began the spell.

"Fortunus lignum," he cast over the first 4 as he traced it.

And then again...

And again...

To aaaaaaaall the little 4s, making his way down the stick.

Selina looked down at her stick. In her opinion it was quite beautiful and fun, to fit her personality. But now as she looked at the ornate golden gilded number one, her destiny number, she saw that it was missing something. Perhaps the magic element was what it would need.

So Selina drew out her wand and uttered, "Fortunus lignum."

Wha??


Not Magical?

To Patroclus his stick was already magical, it looked like the stars and it was the magical Seven.

But the Professor knew what she was talking about, it was her class after all, so she was probably right.

Taking up his wand, Patroclus began to follow the lines of the Seven that his spell had etched into the wood, as the wand tip hover just above the numeral, the LionBoy pronounced the spell.

"Fortunus Lignum!"

And instantly he saw a change, the stars that had at first appeared to just be painted on, began to twinkle, like the real stars they were representing. "Wow."

Raven used Intaglio spell in his stick, he place the number 11 and 2 separately.



now for the incantation the professor say. Raven trace the number he just finish, "Fortunus Lignum" and the stick glows, the numbers is sparkling as he joyce. Raven spell is a success in a first try. "wow" just "wow" Raven say

"Sure there are some extra sticks in the box at the front of the room," Josephina said, but then shook her head. "This spell is actually relatively harmless though. I'm sure if you just practiced saying it without your wand, then you'd be fine." You know, to like not blow things up.



"78 or a 100 ... there are differing opinions on the correct number depending on the sources," Josephina clarified.



"The spell sounds right, but you'll know if you did it right because the number will glow as a reflection of the colors on your stick for a brief moment before going back to looking ... ordinary." And she probably should have said that before, but she guessed if some of them got the glowing, they'd have figured it out.

"You're saying it right," Josephina nodded.



"Numbers have that curious way about them... the magical properties within the number are present and only sealed in by that Fortunus spell." It wasn't one of those things that could be explained, but just was understood.



"Good," she said nodding at the Gryffindor boys. It seemed many of the students were wrapping things up.

"If you're all set with your decorating, then you're free to leave. Just make sure to grab a copy of your homework assignment on you way out!"




ooc: I'll leave this thread open for another day or two for you to finish up your decorating and whatnot and maximize your class participation =)

Emily sat upright and stared at her stick. Yep, it was still a stick.
"Fortunus lignum!" she said, tracing her number 7.
It glowed black for a moment, then went back to being all glittery. Nice.

"So, can we keep our sticks?" Emily asked raising her hand. She liked hers. And if it helped her gain wisdom, all the better!

Luin thought about her number for awhile after the teacher had replied to her question. She decided to stick with the number 7 and then listened to the next set of instructions about the charm, jotting down in her notes all of the directions given to them. She then traced her number and said, "Fortunus lignum" she smiled, happy that she seemed to have it finished now. She then gathered her things and went up to the front to pick up her homework, she looked at it for a few seconds, it was going to be an interesting assignment, kinda reminded her of divination. She smiled at the teacher and said, "Thank you professor." and then headed out of the classroom.

Sticks. The sticks are going to answer a questions? And....why or how would they do that? Honestly.

"Fortunus lignum," Ellie said tracing her wand along her stick.

Something may or may not have happened. Either way, Ellie wasn't too impressed. She just shrugged it off, though.

Meh.

"If you like, then yes, you get to keep the sticks. As a keepsake of your first experience in dabbling in the art of Chieng Tung." Josephina nodded. "But if you don't want to keep it, then just leave it ..." She paused and conjured an empty box and placed it by the doorway. "in this box here and I'll dispose of it accordingly."

"Thank you and you're welcome," she nodded at the Ravenclaw, before looking toward another one.

This one ... Josephina honestly wasn't sure why the girl was still in the class. Granted Ellie Stone seemed like she was a sweet girl and she was genuinely pleased that Miss Stone WAS sticking with Arithmancy, but Fina was fairly certain that the girl wasn't comprehending much of it.

"Miss Stone?" Hadley approached. "You seem ... perplexed. Is there something I could maybe help you understand?"

You know, because she didn't want Ellie to feel lost and all, being the kind professor she was.

Jamie nodded and said, "Thanks." She copied down the homework and packed up her stuff. "Enjoy the rest of your day Professor." And she left.