Cat Party! PV Group

If someone had said to Mikey that his Saturday was going to involve sneaking a ferret across the courtyard in a costume that made it look like a cat, Mikey would have laughed and thought they were making it all up. He just could not imagine himself doing something like that. Mikey would have thought it was a funny joke.

So, there he was, sneaking a ferret in a knitted cat costume across the courtyard. He was standing outside the archway of the courtyard. He was a little crouched down with one hand holding the little ball of brown and cream fur that was pushed up against his chest. KodoPodos tiny pink nose was sticking out from under his bigger felt ears. His whiskers were moving fast, like he knew that this whole thing was not good for his dignity. “You got this,” Mikey said quietly to the ferret while fixing the costume so it would not fall down again. “This is very important, please do not bite anyone who's important.” He thought for a moment then spoke again. “Actually, let's just not bite anyone, ok?”

The ferret tried to climb up his sleeve. Mikey let out a sigh, then he stood up straight and walked into the courtyard. The decorations initially surprised him, but then he remembered that Avery was hosting this event. She seemed to excel at anything she set her mind to. There were tables, treats, and toys everywhere. Then he saw the cats. There were two cats so far, but he was sure more would be here any minute. He spotted Avery near the tables, laughing softly as a cat chased a toy across the snow dusted stones and talking to another girl. The sight of Avery made something warm settle in his chest… immediately followed by a familiar, faint awkwardness. Nothing bad, just that strange, careful feeling of wanting to do everything right.

He walked over, stopping a few steps short, not wanting to interrupt the conversation. As if on cue, KodoPodo wriggled free just enough to pop his head out completely, the tiny costume ears flopping and letting out a tiny, indignant squeak. “We’ll grab a corner and try not to cause an incident between species from the jump.” Mikey responded as if the “cat” could understand him.

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Tatiana arrived without spectacle, which in itself was something of a statement. The courtyard had been transformed into something more softer than usual, less stone and spire, and more warmth and domestic ease. There were tables that were neatly arranged, laden with treats that were for both feline and human alike, and scattered toys that created a gentle disorder across the snow-dusted ground—the girl took this in with a brief, assessing glance.

Cradled against her dark coat was Fantôme, a baby feline she had bought not so long ago in company with her voyages at Hogwarts. The cat himself was a striking thing—with midnight-black fur that seemed to absorb the winter light rather than reflect it, and with eyes pale and alert as moonwash. Fantôme carried himself with an air of quiet awareness, his tail flicking once as his gaze tracked movement across the courtyard. Tatiana’s hold was steady and practiced, her fingers resting just so at his shoulder blades. He did not struggle; for he never did.

She paused at the edge of the gathering, for she wanted to allow the scene to settle before stepping fully into it. Avery Gray was immediately recognisable at the centre of things—clearly she was the architect of the event. Her attention was split between her own cat and the growing trickle of attendees. Tatiana noted the careful placement of the tables, the abundance of choice, the thoughtful separation between treats and toys. Efficient and considerate. The kind of planning she quietly respected.

Her attention drifted next, unavoidably, to Aurelia Valentine. Tatiana recognised her before she heard her, recognised the cadence of her voice, the theatrical lilt even in what appeared to be a private reprimand delivered aloud. The black cat in Aurelia’s arms was hard to miss, both for its colour and its bearing. Tatiana’s gaze lingered, analytical rather than judgmental, watching the way the animal’s posture shifted in response to its owner’s tone. There was a connection there—complicated, perhaps strained, but real.

Fantôme’s ears then twitched, his attention snapping elsewhere. Tatiana followed his line of sight and found, with a faint flicker of curiosity, a boy entering the courtyard with what was very clearly not a cat. The disguise was… ambitious. Ineffective, but ambitious. Tatiana did not react outwardly, no raised brow, no visible amusement—but there was a subtle pause in her step, a recalibration as she registered the situation. The ferret’s movements were too sharp, too restless to be convincingly feline. Still, she said nothing. There was no rule posted against creative interpretation, after all.

She moved closer to the tables at last, boots crunching softly against the melting snow. Fantôme shifted in her arms, eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the other animals present. Tatiana lowered him carefully to the ground, loosening her grip but not withdrawing entirely until she was certain of his balance and focus.

Fantôme did not immediately run. Instead, he sat.

His tail wrapped neatly around his paws, he surveyed the gathering with the cool patience of something accustomed to observation rather than participation. Tatiana straightened, gloved hands folding behind her back as she watched.

For now, she was content to let the party unfold on its own terms.

@Angel O'Connor, @Ellie Randensmith, @Aurelia Valentine, @Avery Gray, @Mikey Forville, @Lindsey Bliss, @Amelia Lerelle

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Angel is coming into the party holding Blaze. The music is becoming very loud. People are laughing all around her. The lights in the room are shining on all the decorated things. It seems like everybody is really excited. Blaze's ears are shifting. His big golden eyes are following the people that are moving across the room.Before Angel could say a word, Blaze wriggled out of her arms and hit the floor with a thump. After that, Blaze moved forward at a great speed with his bright orange and white fur making a contrast, and his tail was pointing straight up because he was extremely proud of himself. Angel is still there, looking at Blaze as he makes his rounds at the party. The party is still up with the music and the laughing, and Blaze is there, right, in the middle of it all being his energetic self, Blaze.Blaze goes to the cats that are by the window. He gets down on the floor and starts to play with them. He tries to get the cats with his paw. They all run away.The cats slide across the floor and run around the furniture. Blaze is very happy and makes a loud noise. He hits the cats' tails and rolls onto his back.The other cats are happy too. They were sleepy before. Now they are running around and playing with Blaze. Blaze likes to play with the cats, and they like to play with him.The cats are full of energy now. They are very curious. Blaze and the cats are having a lot of fun together.Angel was smiling while she watched the whole thing. She looked quite pleased with herself. She rubbed off some cat hair from her sleeve. Then she adjusted her jacket. She looked around the room. She saw Avery standing near the table. Avery was holding a drink. She was watching the crazy things happening around her. Angel decided to walk over to Avery. She was going to be careful and make sure she didn't hit a cushion that was on the floor. She laughed a little when she saw Blaze running fast past her feet.Angel spots Avery all of a sudden and approaches her.

"Hey Avery, it's good to see you again."

Angel is watching the cats playing.

"It seems like someone's made some new friends, haven't they?"

@Ellie Randensmith, @Aurelia Valentine, @Avery Gray, @Mikey Forville, @Lindsey Bliss, @Amelia Lerelle,
@Tatiana Contraire

WC: 399

Lindsey adjusted her yellow scarf, her heart racing with excitement as she stepped into the festive room. She had heard whispers of the "Cat Party" in the Hufflepuff common room, and she knew she couldn't miss it. Tucked securely—and quite comfortably—under her arm was Pancakes, her chubby ginger tabby who seemed entirely unfazed by the sudden influx of feline energy.
"Look at all the friends you're going to make, Pancakes!" Lindsey whispered, her eyes widening at the sight of cats of all shapes and sizes lounging on velvet cushions and batting at enchanted feathers.
Pancakes let out a low, vibrating purr, his big amber eyes scanning the room for the nearest snack table rather than a playmate. Lindsey giggled, carefully setting him down on a soft, hand-woven rug. "Now, be a gentleman. No stealing other people's treats," she teased, though she knew her cat's appetite was already legendary back in the first-year girls' dormitory.
She took a seat nearby, smoothing out her robes and watching with a bright smile as her fluffy companion began his slow, confident waddle toward a group of other kittens. Being a first year was overwhelming, but with Pancakes by her side, Lindsey felt right at home.