Chapter Two
The Sorting Feast went smoothly, and Ginny felt some degree of normalcy return to her while she was eating. Harry, Hermione, and Ron argued over the semantics of using Arithmantic methods of comparing compatibility, which Ginny tuned out for the most part. She chose instead to concentrate on her food, though occasionally slips of conversation would penetrate her bubble of solitude.
"You can't entirely trust that method, because the implications -"
"If it helps you find your soul mate, what does it matter if the process was a little wonky to begin with?"
"It matters, Ronald, because if the process was `wonky,' you'd always have lingering doubts as to whether or not the thing had predicted accurately."
"If you're such a disbeliever in the accuracy of it all, then why are you so keen on taking it?"
"I'm not a disbeliever in the accuracy of it," Hermione snapped crossly. "I just don't think that it was created in order to predict date compatibility."
"Well then, how about an experiment?" Harry suggested.
"What sort of an experiment?" Hermione asked cautiously, wary of the gleam in her friend's eyes.
"We can create a chart to determine compatibility with other students, and then try to date them and see how accurate the chart was."
"That's preposterous," Hermione snorted. "I'm not going to date Merlin only knows how many boys in order to prove a ridiculous point to the both of you."
"So keep it to the three of you, then," Ginny suggested suddenly. The trio turned to gape at her. "If you don't want to date a bunch of different boys, then it only makes sense to do a chart for the three of you."
Hermione's mouth opened and closed, then opened and closed again. Ron and Harry exchanged amused glances, and then turned back to Hermione. It was rare to see her speechless, and it was clear to Ginny that the two boys were enjoying it immensely.
"Well, there you have it," Ron said, grinning cheekily.
"What do you say, Ron? Should we help her start?" Harry asked. Hermione clamped her lips together into a thin line and frowned.
"I'll help you start," Ginny offered. Harry shot a grin at her.
"Excellent. Thanks, Ginny."
"Brilliant idea, Gin," Ron added, his grin widening. "Shall we go now and start?"
"To the library with us," Harry laughed, rising from his chair. Hermione pursed her lips disapprovingly.
"I can't believe you're encouraging them, Ginevra Weasley," Hermione said finally, as they disappeared from the Great Hall.
Once they were seated comfortably (or as comfortably as they could be, given the nature of the high-backed wood chairs) in the library, Ginny pulled some parchment and a quill from her bookbag. Harry handed her a pot of ink from his own bag and waited patiently.
"So you know what you're doing, then?" Ron asked eagerly. Ginny arched an eyebrow at him.
"Of course I know what I'm doing," she said, irritated. "Why else would I have volunteered to help you?"
"Just to make Hermione want to come and do it," Harry offered. Ginny shook her head and wrote Harry's name at the top of the parchment in big, scrawling letters. "What are you doing?"
"I have to figure out your numbers before I can compare you to Hermione and Ron," she explained. Ron pulled a face.
"I don't want you to try and set me up with Harry," he said, disgust evident in his voice. Harry sniggered.
"Come on, Ron," he said, his eyes sparkling. "I'm the catch of Hogwarts, remember?"
"Catch or not, I'm not interested."
"Enough with the naked male insecurity," Ginny laughed, shaking her head. "No one's calling your sexuality into question, Ronald." Harry snorted as Ron's ears turned purple with embarrassment. Ginny began scribbling numbers, which Harry watched with interest.
H A R R Y J A M E S P O T T E R
8 1 9 9 6 1 1 4 5 6 7 6 2 2 5 9
"What does that mean?"
"Those are the numbers for each of the letters in your name," Ginny explained. "Now I have to figure out your character number, heart number, and social number."
"What?" Ron asked, feeling stupid. "What are those?"
"The character number is a basic number that tells what your personality is like. The heart number is supposed to tell what your secret hopes and fears are, and supposedly is the number that best represents your life. The social number is the one that's supposed to tell about the way others see you."
"Is it accurate, do you think?" Harry asked, becoming somewhat nervous. Why couldn't she have started with Ron instead of him?
"In this capacity, I don't know," she admitted. "I've never tried it for the purposes we're intending to use it for. I guess we'll find out, won't we?"
The boys watched intently as Ginny scratched out some figures on the parchment. When she finally sat back, Harry peered at the writing.
"So what do these numbers mean?"
Ginny withdrew her textbook from her bookbag and flipped to a bookmarked page. She looked back and forth between the parchment and the book, and made tiny notations next to Harry's numbers before she tried to explain the results.
"Okay. You got a five as your character number, which means-" She glanced at the book again. "It means instability and imbalance, change and uncertainty. It says that you're attracted to several different things at one time, but you don't commit yourself to any of them. You're adventurous and energetic and you like to take risks."
"Spot on," Ron said, impressed. Harry frowned.
"And it means that you like to travel and meet new people and see new things, but that you won't ever stay in one place for too long. Bad parts of the number five are that they tend to be conceited, irresponsible, quick-tempered, and impatient." She sat back and looked at Harry, whose frown only deepened.
"So not totally spot-on," Ron amended sheepishly.
"Okay, so what do the other numbers mean, then?"
"Your heart number is nine," she said, looking at the book again. "That means-" she laughed.
"What? Is it bad?" Harry asked quickly.
"No, it's just very contradictory," Ginny explained, still giggling a bit.
"Well?" Ron asked. "Are you going to tell us, or are you just going to sit there and laugh at Harry?"
"Fine," she said, clearing her throat. "Nines represent completion and achievement to the fullest degree."
"Sounds like Hermione," Ron interrupted darkly.
"Do you want to hear this or not?" Ginny asked.
"Fine, go ahead."
"Nines dedicate themselves to service, most often as teachers and humanitarians. They are determined, work tirelessly, and are an inspiration to others. They can also be arrogant and conceited when things don't go their way."
"If these numbers say one more bad thing about me-" Harry began ominously. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I wouldn't take everything to heart, Harry. It says that most people with these numbers tend to have these traits, not they that always do." Harry relaxed a bit.
"What's the last number?" Ron asked, pointing to the parchment.
"It's Harry's social number - the way others see him. It's a five, so it means the same as his character number."
"All right, now do me."
"Okay."
R O N A L D B I L I U S W E A S L E Y
9 6 5 1 3 4 2 9 3 9 3 1 5 5 1 1 3 5 7
"Well?"
"Your character number is a one, which means that you're an individual - a solitary person. You are independent, focused, and determined. You set a goal and stick to it."
"Definitely not spot on," Harry said, shaking his head. Ron pulled a face at him and Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Ones are leaders and inventors, they don't work well with others, and they find it hard to take orders. They can be self-centered, egotistical, and domineering."
"I agree with Harry," Ron said, his expression clouding over. "This is ridiculous. Why are we doing this again?"
"I think it's actually pretty accurate in your case, Ron," Ginny said, her voice devoid of humor. "You are pretty focused when you want something, you know. And you don't like taking orders from people."
"Just get on with it," Ron said, his face flushing with pleasure nonetheless.
"Your heart number is a three, which indicates completeness. It gives a list of threesomes in here." Both boys' jaws dropped simultaneously.
"Threesomes?"
"Oh, you perverts," she said, exasperated. "I meant threesomes as in words. You know, like `past-present-future,' or `mind-body-spirit.' Not the perverted kind." The boys relaxed. "No wonder Hermione didn't want to do this," she muttered.
"Ha, ha," Ron snapped. "Keep going."
"It says that threes indicate talent, energy, and artistic nature, humor, and ease. Threes are usually easygoing, lucky, and highly successful."
"Not so bad, then," Ron remarked.
"But they can also be unfocused, easily offended, and superficial."
"Bad, then," Harry said. "Ron and I sound very much alike in some areas."
"Ron's social number is a seven, which indicates perceptiveness, understanding, and they enjoy hard work and challenges."
"Are you sure you're looking at Ron?" Harry asked, his brow furrowing. "And not Hermione?"
"It's Ron's number," Ginny said, double-checking her figures. "Anyway, sevens are serious and scholarly, and interested in all things mysterious."
"She's gone round the twist," Ron whispered loudly to Harry. "That's Hermione for sure."
Ginny ignored them. "Sevens find that originality and imagination are more important than money and material possessions. They can be pessimistic, sarcastic, and insecure."
"That's not me," Ron commented, his cheeks high in color. "That's Hermione, to a T."
"Fine, then let's figure Hermione's numbers," Ginny challenged.
H E R M I O N E J A N E G R A N G E R
8 5 9 4 9 6 5 5 1 1 5 5 7 9 1 5 7 5 9
"Hermione's middle name is Jane?" Ron asked, grinning. Harry grinned back, and Ginny ignored them.
"Okay. It says here that Hermione's character number is a seven, which is the same as the number I just read Ron for his social number." Ron flushed happily, and Harry frowned.
"I told you it was Hermione," he said.
"Her heart number is a one, which is the same as Ron's character number." Harry's frown deepened, and Ginny worried that it might leave permanent lines creased in his forehead. Ron's grin widened.
"Her social number is a six."
"Neither of us has had that number," Harry remarked quietly. "What does it mean?"
"Sixes represent harmony, friendship, and family life. They are loyal, reliable, and loving."
"That's Hermione," Harry said, a faint smile playing about his lips.
"To a T," Ron said, the same wistful smile on his face.
"Sixes adapt easily. They do well in teaching and the arts, but are often unsuccessful in business. Sometimes they are prone to gossip and complacency."
"Okay, that last part isn't Hermione."
"What? The gossiping part?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Hermione's never gossiped in her entire life," Ron said, screwing up his face. "She's just not like that." Ginny noticed that Harry remained silent on the issue, and she wondered how well her brother knew his friend.
"Right," Ginny said, shrugging. "Well, now you know, anyway. I hope it wasn't too boring for you."
She started to rise from her chair, but Harry stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. She gasped and looked down at it in surprise, causing him to withdraw it.
"Can you do one more thing for us before you go?" he asked quietly.
"Er - okay."
"Can you figure up your numbers?" She stared dumbly at him.
"Why?" she blurted. His cheeks turned pink, and Ron just stared at him.
"I'm just - I'm curious, is all."
"I guess I could, but I don't understand-"
"Just do it, Gin," Ron interjected. "I'm curious, too." Ginny glanced between the two boys, then resumed her seat and began figuring her numbers silently.
"Okay," she breathed finally. "My character number is a nine."
"Wasn't that one of Harry's numbers?" Ron pointed out quickly. Harry flushed.
"Yes, it was his heart number." She ignored Ron's triumphant look and continued. "And my heart number is a five."
"Another one the same as Harry."
"Would you shut up, Ron?" Ginny snapped. "And my social number is a four."
"What does that mean?" Harry asked gently.
"Fours indicate stability and firmness and enjoy hard work. They are practical, reliable, and down to earth - they prefer logic and reason to fancy. They are good at organization and getting things done. They are predictable. They can be stubborn, suspicious, overly practical, and prone to angry outbursts."
"That sounds more like Hermione," Ron commented.
"Well, now that you know, I'm going to be heading back to my room," Ginny said, rising from her seat. Her heart was fluttering in her chest in a way that she couldn't explain, and that she wasn't entirely sure that she liked.
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