Jessamine Lancaster | Head of Ravenclaw

History/Background Story:
Jessamine was born to two upstanding members of pure-blood society, Cressida and Tarquin Lancaster, on the 28^th of September. She grew up just outside of Pangbourne and had an upbringing that was relatively isolated from the outside world—it was just Jessamine, her tutors and her house-elves, and occasionally her parents when they were not busy. To say she was spoiled would be an understatement; she grew up with everything she could even think to ask for easily given to her—at least, that was the truth for material goods.

In truth, Jessamine had yearned for knowledge. She had read most of the books in her family’s manor from front-to-back countless times, and, bored out of her mind from the lack of stimulation that re-reading brought her, she asked one of her family’s house-elves, Rocky, to take her into town.

He said no.

It was the first time Jessamine had ever not been given something that she asked for. Perhaps surprisingly, the spoiled child had taken it gracefully to Rocky’s face—she had smiled and said, ‘Oh, that’s okay!’. But the next afternoon, when her parents and the house-elves were preparing for a gala later in the evening, she took advantage of the commotion to sneak out. She was back in time to get ready and be the most perfect, poised pure-blooded daughter, but tucked underneath her bed were some Muggle treats and as many books as she had been able to purchase with a wad of quid she’d found dropped at a park.

Thus began Jessamine’s carefully-hidden rebellious streak. Through the books she borrowed, she delved into learning about the wizarding punk rock music scene as well as underground activism movements. She read philosophy books as if they were a lifeline. She even read about Muggle history in addition to the magical history she’d been taught by her tutors. Through learning with an open mind, she learned humility, patience, compassion and acceptance of all, not just pure-bloods. It was a sentiment that would have horrified her parents, though, and out of love for them, she did not let any radical opinions slip at dinners and get-togethers.

At Hogwarts, Jessamine was pleased to have the opportunity to continue learning about the world. Although she was often perceived as snobbish due to her outward demeanour, she prided herself on bringing joy and kindness to the school in small ways—something especially important during her first couple years at the school, which were during and immediately after the events of the Second Wizarding War. Even in that oppressive environment, she made a point to check in on those less likely to be okay with the school’s manner of running, and she began to leave treats, money and notes with positive affirmations around the school, a habit that remained with her until she graduated.

After graduating, Jessamine studied psychology at a graduate programme and worked as a travelling psychotherapist and tutor, that way she could learn more about the world she so dearly loved. Whenever she was back in England, she often met up with some of her friends from school to attend demonstrations or petition the Ministry, to varying effect. It was at a pub after one of those demonstrations where she met Leander Carlton, a fellow pure-blood with a penchant for protecting others. He was whimsical where she was bookish, but their hearts were in the same place, and they hit it off, starting to date soon after. They married in 2014 and moved to Windsor to settle down, and their daughter Camellia Carlton-Lancaster was born in 2016. Their son, Roscoe, was born in 2020.

Leander worked as a teacher for magical homeschooling grounds around Windsor and also worked as a chandler on the side. As such, the Carlton-Lancaster household is often filled with cutely-crafted candles; Jessamine’s favourite is the fish-looking candle on Roscoe’s nightstand. Jessamine continued to work as a psychotherapist, but as she remained in England to be closer to her family, she took up foreign language tutoring in particular to help satiate her urge to travel.

First instance of magic:
Jessamine was not an early bloomer by a long shot. Her parents had been trying to coax a powerful outburst of magic from her starting from the day she turned three, often requesting that the house-elves scare her or otherwise cause her to feel strong emotion. None of it worked.

She was eight, nearly nine, by the time she had her first instance of magic, and it was hardly explosive. She was practising a piano piece for a gala later in the week, and, bored with the repetitive sounds, she tiredly poked at one of the higher keys before slamming her hands onto the keys in exasperation. The sound that came out was not that of a piano, but rather, that of a didgeridoo. Pleased by the change in pace, Jessamine continued to play, this time with a smile on her face.

Although her parents were horrified by what happened to their beloved piano, they were still pleased their daughter had finally shown magic.