Hello! Name's Coral Ruaric. This is my first year at Hogwarts, though my dad's told me all about it. My mum wasn't a wizard, but he was. A Ravenclaw, as he likes to keep reminding me.

I lived in Ireland until I was about eight. Then my mum passed away and my dad decided it would be best if he introduced me to the wizarding world, and we moved here so I could go to Hogwarts.

I'm only Irish on my mum's side. She had red hair and green eyes. My dad's from London. Grew up there, so he managed to pull a few strings to get us a flat here. Small, but otherwise cozy.

Some people call me hot-headed, and that I don't think before rushing into things. Others have called me clever (although I don't think it's ever been a compliment). I don't see why people wait so long to do one thing. Life is short, my mum taught me that. There were so many things she wanted to do. Like learn magic. She always wished she could do magic like my father, and my father said one day he would teach her. "It's never too late," my mum used to say.

I've always wondered why muggles and wizards have to be kept apart. Dad says it's because muggles tried to hunt us down once, years ago, but I don't think that's it. I've seen loads of witches and wizard talking about muggles like one would talk about an annoying fly buzzing around your face. I think it's time we gave them another chance.

Speaking of which, why should pure-bloods be any better than the rest of us. I think I'm rather lucky to be a half-blood. I've been apart of both worlds, and I'll bet I'm better at using a toaster than any pure-blood you'll meet.