I'm with Vortex - I assumed that wizarding sprogs from central Europe went to Durmstrang and Beauxbatons was for the French.

In somewhat-related news, I just finished a YA book called A School for Sorcery which was not all that great, despite a promising blurb from Joan Aiken. Some original ideas, but strange pacing (three years go by in fits and starts) and the plot gets very confusing towards the end. It's certainly not a patch on A College of Magics.

I just finished a YA book called A School for Sorcery which was not all that great, despite a promising blurb from Joan Aiken. Some original ideas, but strange pacing (three years go by in fits and starts) and the plot gets very confusing towards the end.

that sounds vaguely familiar. is it new?

New-ish; it came out last year.

what is a Squib?

A non-magical child in a magical family. They thought Neville was a Squib until someone threw him out a window and he levitated. Or something. Neville's family is weird.

A friend of mine suggested Flitwick (the goblin professor.)

I'm betting Viktor, the mysterious almost-evil Durmstrang kid. That would explain why the title was considered for Cauldron.

I thought it was Chamber of Secrets she'd almost used it for?

Flitwick's a goblin? Huh. I mean, I know he's small, but I don't think he's a goblin. He's an awfully good-natured one, if that's the case.

I'm assuming that before she finally plotted out what she ended up renaming ... right? Since it has a lack of princeliness. So it could still be Hagrid, or something, and just royalty deferred.

I'm thinking too hard with too little data.

It's making me light-headed.

I think I'd read it was Chamber.

I think that in the same place she said that book was going to have a lot that ends up important in the end. Me? I think it's talking about Neville.

ETA- Although that wouldn't explain why she'd almost used it for Chamber.

Neville would be fascinating, but I thought it was canon that he was pureblood.