Susan Proudfoot
Soo-Jin winced. It had been her grandmother that had registered her for the magical school, she knew, and the woman had always insisted on using her Christian name. Still, the eleven-year-old had not expected to have her proper identity not exist in the school records!
Quietly and dispassionately, the girl made her way to the stool. To say Soo-Jin was not thrilled to be on display for all to see was something of an understatement, but the young witch was eager to find out just where in this overwhelming castle and still overwhelming society she belonged.
Which house would you like to be in and why?
I do not wish to be in any house that sees itself as the center of attention, she returned, her thoughts—as always—in her native Korean tongue. Did the Sorting Hat understand different languages? Surely it must, if there were Welsh people and Irish people and Scottish people at Hogwarts.
You catch a fellow student copying your friend's homework in their absence, how do you deal with this situation?
It is none of my business and seemingly a victimless crime, though I would speak the truth if my friend later got into trouble for it.
Centaur, unicorn, kelpie, or abraxan?
Unicorn. Her decision came more easily than she might have expected, but in truth, unicorns were pretty and centaurs more complex. She wasn't sure what a "kelpie" or "abraxan" were, at least not in their English names.
What would you like to do once you leave Hogwarts?
Be happy, she answered simply. Soo-Jin had not yet given much thought to a career—her great grandmother always implied that for her to work would be the worst thing ever, and her English was not good enough to follow in her mother's translation footsteps—but the witch had always been other, at least since arriving in Britain. Her ultimate goal was, thus, to be happy in her future endeavors.
"What do you consider to be your best trait?"
She pondered that one. Granny Juliet often complimented her manners and obedience, while her mother approved of her capability to learn. The man at church complimented her piety in spite of her "obstacles", for everyone seemed to assume that a foreigner could not find religion. But Soo-Jin? She had other priorities.
I am artistic, she answered confidently. Her art, and particularly musical, skills were something she worked hard to cultivate, and something she was proud of.
Soo-Jin winced. It had been her grandmother that had registered her for the magical school, she knew, and the woman had always insisted on using her Christian name. Still, the eleven-year-old had not expected to have her proper identity not exist in the school records!
Quietly and dispassionately, the girl made her way to the stool. To say Soo-Jin was not thrilled to be on display for all to see was something of an understatement, but the young witch was eager to find out just where in this overwhelming castle and still overwhelming society she belonged.
I do not wish to be in any house that sees itself as the center of attention, she returned, her thoughts—as always—in her native Korean tongue. Did the Sorting Hat understand different languages? Surely it must, if there were Welsh people and Irish people and Scottish people at Hogwarts.
It is none of my business and seemingly a victimless crime, though I would speak the truth if my friend later got into trouble for it.
Unicorn. Her decision came more easily than she might have expected, but in truth, unicorns were pretty and centaurs more complex. She wasn't sure what a "kelpie" or "abraxan" were, at least not in their English names.
Be happy, she answered simply. Soo-Jin had not yet given much thought to a career—her great grandmother always implied that for her to work would be the worst thing ever, and her English was not good enough to follow in her mother's translation footsteps—but the witch had always been other, at least since arriving in Britain. Her ultimate goal was, thus, to be happy in her future endeavors.
She pondered that one. Granny Juliet often complimented her manners and obedience, while her mother approved of her capability to learn. The man at church complimented her piety in spite of her "obstacles", for everyone seemed to assume that a foreigner could not find religion. But Soo-Jin? She had other priorities.
I am artistic, she answered confidently. Her art, and particularly musical, skills were something she worked hard to cultivate, and something she was proud of.