Ella Pixley | First Year | Ravenclaw

Ella Jane Pixley is an English pureblood witch who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 2023. Sorted into Ravenclaw, when historically her family has been sorted into Slytherin provided many unique challenges to her during her early years as a young witch. Overshadowed by her family legacy, Ella strives to forge her own path as a witch while overcoming her social anxiety and fear of failure.

Early Life

Ella was born to a pure-blooded family of fairly reputable legacy as the youngest of three children. Her father, Gareth Pixley is a wealthy business owner of a quill manufacturing corporation, Pixley Quills. Ann Pixley, her mother, is a senior ranking ministry official within the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Being the youngest child and only daughter, she was often overlooked in favor of the accomplishments of her older brothers Benjamin (an Auror at the ministry) and Damian (a fresh graduate of Hogwarts who recently opened his own business as a potion maker). Despite the pressure of following or exceeding in her sibling's footsteps, she had a fairly privileged upbringing while being especially close to her father.

Ella lived in a decent sized estate within the wealthy boroughs of Canterbury in Kent county. As a toddler and young child she was considered very "aloof" and "sheltered". She'd spend her days playing with her large collections of dolls, and toys in solitude; being especially fond of the wooden sculpture models her father would conjure as a hobby. Her interactions with the other witches and wizards her age were very few and far between, as she much preferred being around those already familiar to her. She was especially close to her father and eldest brother, Benjamin as they would frequently treat her most generously, almost condescendingly so. Oftentimes, they would borderline spoil her outright; much to the annoyance of her mother and the second eldest, Damian.

Regardless of the circumstances of her upbringing, Ella did display her potential as a witch throughout her childhood and demonstrated her magical ability at a very early age (earlier than her brothers) at the tender age of 3 years. Her uncle, knowing she had a fondness for wooden crafts and sculptures, gave her a small wooden sculpture of a garden gnome for Christmas (perhaps to spite her intentionally due to the general ugliness of garden gnomes). Unsatisfied with the gift, she threw it into the pool at her family's manor in a tantrum where it suddenly took on the form of a dolphin and began swimming laps around the pool. During her 7th birthday, another notable instance of her magical aptitude occurred when she accidentally caused the quill feathers stored in one of her father's quill dispensaries to burst into a flock of doves while she was fantasizing about flying.

Shortly after this episode, her mother...at the request of her father began tutoring her on the basics of Transfiguration magic; its properties, the basic incantations and spells she'd learn as a first year as well as their practical application. Ann herself was a very accomplished practitioner of transfiguration during her days at Hogwarts, earning her OWLs and NEWTs on the subject matter quite effortlessly (she was particularly adept at conjuration, an advanced form of transfiguration). This development likely was a contributing factor to Ella's lack of social skills as she barely had time to meet other witches and wizards in between lectures and readings.

Hogwarts Years (2023-2029)

Ella, like all young witches and wizards her age attended Hogwarts and boarded the famed Hogwarts Express on 1 September 2023.