Arithmancy

Arithmancy is a magical discipline that included predicting the future with numbers and numerology.

Those who practiced Arithmancy were called Arithmancers. Bridget Wenlock, a famous Arithmancer, first discovered the magical properties of the number seven in the 13th century.

Arithmancy was an elective subject offered from the third year on at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Septima Vector was the professor during the 1990s. Homework assignments, which included writing essays, required the consultation and/or composition of complex number charts.

To do Arithmancy, you first start with someone name, like Hermione Granger. In Arithmancy, each letter coresponds with a number from 1-9, according to the chart below:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

a b c d e f g h i

j k l m n o p q r

s t u v w x y z

Then, you translate eanach letter in a person's name, this case it being Hermione's, and add up the letters to get a Character number: the number of a person's basic personality. Hermione's number would be 94, but since it has to be from 1-9, you would do 9+4=13, and 1+3=4. Next, you would do the Heart number, which is only the vowels. The Heart number specifies people's hopes, fears, or lives. Hermione's Heart number is also 4. After that you do the Social number, which is the consanants, that tells what the person acts like. Hermione's is a 9. Here are the number's meanings:

1 - This is the number of the individual, the solitary unit. Ones are independent, focused, and determined. They set a goal and stick to it. They are leaders and inventors. Ones find it difficult to work with others and don't like to take orders. They can be self-centered, egotistical, and domineering. They are often loners.

2 - Two represents interaction, two-way communication, cooperation, and balance. Twos are imaginative, creative, and sweet natured. Peace, harmony, commitment, loyalty, and fairness are characteristic. But two also introduces the idea of conflict, opposing forces, and the contrasting sides of things: night and day, good and evil. Twos can be withdrawn, moody, self-conscious and indecisive.

3 - Three represents the idea of completeness or wholeness, as in the threesomes past-present-future and mind-body-spirit. Three indicates talent, energy, an artistic nature, humor, and social ease. Threes are often lucky, easygoing, and highly successful, but they can also be unfocused, easily offended, and superficial.

4 - Like a table that rests solidly on four legs, four indicates stability and firmness. Fours enjoy hard work. They are practical, reliable and down to earth; they prefer logic and reason to flights of fancy. They are good at organization and getting things done. Like the cycle of the four seasons, they are also predictable. They can be stubborn, suspicious, overly practical and prone to angry outbursts. The conflicts possible in "two" are doubled in four.

5 - Five is the number of instability and imbalance, indicating change and uncertainty. Fives are drawn to many things at once but commit to none. They are adventurous, energetic and willing to take risks. They enjoy travel and meeting new people but may not stay in one place very long. Fives can be conceited, irresponsible, quick-tempered and impatient.

6 - Six represents harmony, friendship, and family life. Sixes are loyal, reliable, and loving. They adapt easily. They do well in teaching and the arts, but are often unsuccessful in business. They are sometimes prone to gossip and complacency.

7 - Perceptive, understanding, and bright, sevens enjoy hard work and challenges. They are often serious, scholarly, and interested in all things mysterious. Originality and imagination are more important than money and material possessions. Sevens can also be pessimistic, sarcastic, and insecure.

8 - Eight indicates the possibility of great success in business, finance, and politics. Eights are practical, ambitious, committed, and hard working. They can also be jealous, greedy, domineering, and power-hungry. Eight is said to be the most unpredictable of numbers and can indicate the pinnacle of success or the depths of failure; the potential to go either way is present from the beginning.

9 - Represents completion and achievement to the fullest degree (as it is the complete number, three, expressed three times). Nines dedicate themselves to service, often as teachers, scientists, and humanitarians. Strongly determined, they work tirelessly and are an inspiration to others. However, they can also be arrogant and conceited when things don't go their way.

Arithmancy not only tells of people's personalities, but also their lives and relationships. For example, Remus Lupin's Heart and Social number is a 2, which specifies a split personality, and Lupin is a werewolf. Also, James Potter and Sirius Black were best friends, and both their Character numbers are 7's. Though, just because people have the same numbers, it doesn't always mean that they'll be friends. Hermione is a 4 in Character, but Ron and Harry are both 2's. Sometimes it does work. For example, if you do Godric Helga Rowena Salazar, the four founders of Hogwarts, you will find that the Character, Heart, and Social number are 9, which is said to be the most "complete" number. If you don't want to do the math yourself, you can also open the Arithmancy calculator.

Books on Arithmancy included Numerology and Grammatica, a third year textbook at Hogwarts, and New Theory of Numerology, which Harry Potter gave to Hermione Granger for Christmas in 1995.