I believe it was a method of predicting the future using math (such as adding values of letters of people’s names).
Wait—then why doesn’t Hermione ever explicitly predict the future in canon?
That’s what it’s supposed to be in reality, but as a subject at Hogwart’s, that’s far from clear.
ETA: Maybe my use of the phrase “this universe” was ambiguous? I meant the fic universe, not the universe I’m currently existing in.
In an interview, JKR confirmed that arithmancy at Hogwarts is as it is in real life. Only I would imagine that it actually works—otherwise there would be no basis to Hermione’s claim that it’s more robust and trustworthy than divination.
Awesome. Thanks!
I believe it was a method of predicting the future using math (such as adding values of letters of people’s names).
Wait—then why doesn’t Hermione ever explicitly predict the future in canon?
That’s what it’s supposed to be in reality, but as a subject at Hogwart’s, that’s far from clear.
ETA: Maybe my use of the phrase “this universe” was ambiguous? I meant the fic universe, not the universe I’m currently existing in.
In an interview, JKR confirmed that arithmancy at Hogwarts is as it is in real life. Only I would imagine that it actually works—otherwise there would be no basis to Hermione’s claim that it’s more robust and trustworthy than divination.
Awesome. Thanks!