With a Cat Comes Companionship PV Frederick Buckley Finished

date 06/09/25

word count 647

outfit ⁺₊ ☀︎ ⁺₊

speech #8C2626

mentions @Frederick Buckley

notes help why did i write so much

She giggled at his joke about Daisy May. Buttons sounded sweet, like a beloved old cat. They had come across quite a few of those back home, asleep among the hay bales, only awoken by sounds louder than a thunderstorm.

Lucille smiled at Frederick's eagerness to see the snow. If it wasn't so cold, she'd probably adore it, with its potential to make snowmen and snow angels. She could recall a few exciting winters with her family, spent throwing snowballs at each other and collapsed on the soft ground, sheltered from the cold by thick coats and scarves. That was comfortable, certainly, until it got so cold that you felt it through your gloves and it made you shiver. Lucille had always been the first one indoors, eager to change and bundle up in blankets.

"That part is certainly fun, but I'll probably be indoors the whole time. I think I've had enough of snow to last a lifetime, but I'm eager to see what you think. I imagine there's not exactly loads of open space for snowball fights in the city." Lucille was in no way a city girl. She enjoyed visiting London when she got the chance, but it certainly didn't seem like a pleasant place to live for her. There were far too many people around, and not enough places to go to when you needed a quiet moment. Even if you visited a park and found a secluded spot to sit down, you were bound to be passed by someone every few minutes. It felt constricting, in a way the countryside never did. She was glad Hogwarts was similar in this regard. The castle was crowded, but you could always find a secluded spot in the grounds.

When he asked about Quidditch, a fleeting expression crossed her face. Was it panic? Nervousness? Lucille didn't know a lot about Quidditch, and it often felt as if every wizard she met was born with knowledge of the sport. Despite the fact that her sister adored Quidditch, Lucille had never really understood her stories of the matches. She would tell fast-paced tales of how she had caught the snitch, saving their game, and Lucille was still hung up on the difference between a beater and a chaser. Still, her smile quickly found its way back to her face, as she honestly admitted her ignorance on the subject.

"Quidditch is interesting, but I get so lost watching it. Perhaps it's because I haven't seen a lot of games, but I just find myself so scattered and unable to keep track of it. I still don't fully know the rules. I do enjoy broom racing, though! I think I enjoy watching the flying and the spells. Throw in teamwork and a ball, and I'm struggling to keep up. I have a simple mind, of course," she joked, humor returning. And, it seemed his next words had brought her right back to her confident self.

"Hippogriffs are half eagle, half horse things. You have to be really kind and respectful with them, or else they have no problems fighting you or being aggressive. That's probably the eagle part of them talking. You can ride them, though, if they decide to let you. They're quite picky." Lucille's words were fast, as if recalling from a text. And, truthfully, that wouldn't be so far off. She was trying to remember all the information she had read about them, her eagerness evident in how her words were coming out quickly. Any talk of animals made Lucille excited, magical animals enormously so. "We'll start that class in our third year, although I think we shouldn't have to wait that long. At least, I shouldn't. Don't be surprised if you catch me sneaking into one of the classes." Her voice had taken on a mischievous tone. although she had no intention of doing so.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

| Date: 06/09/25 | Word count: 490 |
────────────────────────────────

Fred’s brows rose in genuine surprise when she confessed she’d rather stay indoors than play in the snow. He tilted his head, his brown hair falling slightly into his eyes as he leaned closer, studying her expression. “Really? You wouldn’t want to come out and play even a little? Does it snow that much where you live?” His voice carried both wonder and disbelief, as if the idea of growing tired of snow was simply beyond him. For Fred, snow was still a promise of magic waiting to happen.

As he spoke, though, a realization crept into his mind. Lucille had asked about his story earlier, and he hadn’t even thought to ask hers. A flicker of guilt warmed his cheeks, and he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. His smile returned, softer now, tinged with curiosity. “By the way… I never asked. What about you? You told me about snow, but… I’d like to hear your story.” His blue eyes searched hers with earnest interest, but he wouldn’t be able to hold it for long. Curiously, he wanted to know more about the girl, but felt a little shy about staring at her for too long. What did that mean?

When the topic turned back to Quidditch, Fred laughed under his breath, shoulders relaxing. “Well, if you ever want to learn more, I could explain it properly. It’s a lot of information at first, but I swear it makes sense once you see it in action.” He leaned back slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting into a crooked grin. “And broom racing is fun too,” he added in a conspiratorial tone, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret, “but it’s not quite as good as Quidditch.”

Her hurried description of hippogriffs, though, drew him in completely. His eyes widened, intent and shining, as if he were hearing about magic for the very first time. Half eagle, half horse... proud, dangerous, and majestic. The idea of flying one made his chest tighten with equal parts excitement and nerves. “Wow… you really do know a lot about magical creatures,” he said, awe unmistakable in his tone. He found himself watching the way she spoke, quick, eager, brimming with enthusiasm, and thinking he could happily listen to her for hours.

When Lucille joked about sneaking into a third-year class, Fred broke into laughter, his voice carrying warmly through the corridor. “I think you’d have to come up with a very good plan not to be noticed in the middle of a third-year group,” he teased, eyes glinting with amusement. He caught the mischievous lilt in her voice, and it made him imagine a thousand foolproof plans, at least in his head, to help the girl with her scheme. His loyalty always stood out in the most adverse situations, as long as Fred considered the person a true friend. It seemed that, within him, a new friendship was being born.

────────────────────────────────────
| Interacting with: @Lucille Rosenhart | Notes: I’m loving all this writing xd |

date 06/09/25

word count 595

outfit ⁺₊ ☀︎ ⁺₊

speech #8C2626

mentions @Frederick Buckley

notes xxx

His enthusiasm at snow made her smile. At least one of them would be enjoying the weather in a couple months. Fred clearly had different opinions on the subject. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle in excitement when he spoke, first in anticipation of snow and then, later on, enthusiastically about Quidditch, continuing on to the hippogriffs and the class. Lucille giggled, but she noticed Fred avoided her eyes after a few seconds. She tilted her head, a bit confused, the expression similar to that of a curious puppy examining something new. As if the subject would make more sense if she looked at it at an angle. Perhaps he was nervous?

He looked away a little, and Lucille noticed the tips of his ears were beginning to redden. Perhaps he was cold? The weather seemed pleasant, not particularly harsh, but what other explanation could there be? Her examination of him came across as blatant staring, and she stayed silent for a few seconds after he was done speaking, intently looking. Finally, done with all her observations, she sat back and began to speak once more, as if she had found something she was looking for and gone back to normal.

"My story, huh? There's not much to say, really, but I suppose growing up in Wiltshire will tell you all you need to know about why I'm so tired of snow. It snows quite a bit back home, and it's so terrible going around the estate in it, but I can't be stuck indoors, so I had to bear it." Her words gave away a little bit about her home, but all she realized with a start was that she was getting off track. She paused, shook her head to clear her thoughts, and then started again. "Sorry, that wasn't the beginning of a good answer. My mother's responsible for the witch genes, but I don't really know her side of the family. There's family drama over there. My dad's a Muggle, and I don't really know his side much either, because most of them live in his homeland. So it's basically just been my siblings and me my whole life. They've graduated, so now it's just Mother, Father, and me at home. Not very many friends back home, either, since I went to a Muggle school and, you know, you can't really talk so openly with them about your life. So it's just been the animals, me, and my siblings." At this, she looked fondly down at Daisy May, her ramble coming to a close. Lucille had certainly volunteered quite a bit of information. She had the tendency to go on and on about every subject she latched onto, specifically her family. Her siblings had been more her mentors, rather than partners-in-crime, but she couldn't imagine having grown up without them either way. In fact, they were probably partly responsible for Lucille being the rule-following, angelic child she had become.

She leaned back, placing her palms on the ground for support, and met eyes with him again. "We should go to a Quidditch match together, then! I'm sure I'll have to go to one eventually; everyone is so crazed about it. Might as well learn what it's all about before then. That is, if we don't get detention for trying to meet a hippogriff first." She giggled at the thought. Lucille had scarcely broken a rule in her life, but the idea was amusing. And, frankly, if it resulted in her meeting a hippogriff, she would consider it to be worth the punishment.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

| Date: 06/09/25 | Word count: 522 |
────────────────────────────────

Fred hadn’t quite expected her to study him the way she did, and for a moment it made his stomach twist in the oddest way. He wasn’t used to people watching him so intently, and when her head tilted like a puzzled puppy, he felt his ears burn even hotter. He shifted where he sat, glancing down at his hands for a second before daring to meet her eyes again. There was no teasing in her look, though, just curiosity. That helped. A little.

As she spoke about Wiltshire and the snow, Fred leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, listening with more focus than he thought he could manage. Her words painted a different picture than his own, a countryside blanketed in white that she had grown tired of. His lips tugged into a small smile at the mention of trudging around the estate despite the cold, the kind of smile that said he found the image endearing even if she had disliked it.

When she shifted to family, though, he straightened slightly, his brows pulling together in quiet concentration. Her tone carried so much honesty, so much openness, that it left him a little startled. Fred’s life back home was far quieter: just him and his parents in their cozy house on the outskirts of Bristol, away from the real bustle of the city. He didn’t have siblings to share things with, though he had a handful of cousins about his age who filled some of that gap when the families met.

“That’s… actually a lot to say,” he replied after a beat, voice gentler than before. His grin flickered back, more boyish this time. “It sounds like your siblings were pretty great, though. I bet it’s fun, having people your age around all the time. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, it’s just me and my parents, but I’ve got a few cousins I see sometimes. Not the same, I guess, but still fun.” He chuckled, glancing down at Daisy May, his tone softening. “And animals and siblings, that doesn’t sound bad at all.”

Her suggestion about a Quidditch match made his face light up in an instant. He sat a little straighter, excitement flaring again in his eyes. “Really? We should! You’ll love it, I promise. Once you see it in person, with all the noise and the colors and the brooms flashing past, it’s impossible not to get caught up in it.” His hands moved as he spoke, as though trying to sketch the energy of a stadium out of thin air.

But her next joke pulled a laugh right out of him, full and unrestrained. “Detention for meeting a hippogriff first?” he repeated, eyes crinkling at the corners. He tilted his head, curiosity sparking behind his grin. “Seriously, you’d take that risk?" Fred sought the girl’s gaze, this time with a doubtful tone and expression, carrying a hint of challenge as well. "Good to know.” He completed before she could reply, his laughter softened into a playful smile, not too wide, but the kind that lingered. He didn’t know Lucille all that well yet, but the idea of someone willing to break a rule or two alongside him… well, that sounded like exactly the kind of friend he’d love to have.

────────────────────────────────────
| Interacting with: @Lucille Rosenhart |

date 06/09/25

word count 414

outfit ⁺₊ ☀︎ ⁺₊

speech #8C2626

mentions @Frederick Buckley

notes xxx

Lucille giggled when he spoke of having people her own age around. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Having grown up in a mostly Muggle area, she could never really befriend the Muggle children as well as she'd like, especially since they seemed to be a little intimidated by her mother. Her mother was certainly a kind woman, but she had a stern demeanor, and it had scared her classmates. "Not quite," she corrected. "They're much older, so it's almost like having another set of parents."

Lucille's eyes followed Fred's gaze towards Daisy May, who seemed quite spent from all the activity she'd just done. The little cat lay among the leaves, watching them with her eyes half closed, fighting sleep. Fred quickly drew her attention back, though, his enthusiasm at Quidditch manifesting in the form of wild hand movements and volume. Lucille looked up, a soft smile appearing on her lips and a little laugh escaping. It had no malice in it, though; she was amused at his gestures. Even if she wasn't sure she agreed about how much she would enjoy a Quidditch match, his enthusiasm was almost endearing. It was akin to how she would get when she spoke of animals and magical creatures.

Lucille looked away a little when he asked if she'd do that. Frankly, she probably wouldn't but the hint of mischief in Fred's eyes told her he believed she would. Lucille was in no way a rulebreaker; in fact, she tended to follow rules that most other people might have forgotten about. Her internal dialogue would reprimand her, and she'd panic at the idea of getting in trouble. She got the feeling Fred wasn't exactly the same way. He seemed like the type of person who would have no problem engaging in pranks and tricks and things, something Lucille could never manage. Before she could clarify, though, he answered his own question, confident in his belief, and Lucille didn't correct him.

"She's getting tired," Lucille commented, looking down at Daisy May again, lowering her voice as if not to wake her, although the sounds from other students in the grounds were much louder as Daisy May remained unbothered. "I should probably get her back in my dorm soon. She'll never sleep out here." Sure enough, the little cat would periodically look around, as if worried she'd miss something interesting if she rested. Lucille reached out to stroke her head, and she closed her eyes, purring contentedly.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

| Date: 06/09/25 | Word count: 392 |
────────────────────────────────

Fred laughed softly when she corrected him, shaking his head. “Right, I got that wrong then,” he admitted with a crooked grin. “Having a few extra parents around doesn’t sound very fun at all.” The image made him chuckle, though the thought that followed sent a small shiver down his spine. He remembered a handful of lectures from his own mum, scoldings about messy rooms, unfinished homework, muddy shoes left at the door. Merlin, having more than one person like that telling him to clean up or put things away? He didn’t think he’d survive it.

He didn’t notice Lucille glancing away. To him, she just looked thoughtful, maybe imagining what her home was like as she spoke. His attention drifted instead toward Daisy May when Lucille mentioned her getting tired. The kneazle was curled up among the leaves, her fur blending with the autumn colors, tail twitching slightly as she fought off sleep. Fred found himself smiling at the sight.

When Lucille said she should take Daisy May back to the dorm, he nodded, his expression softening. He agreed quietly, the easy warmth of the afternoon beginning to fade into a cooler breeze. “Yeah,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, “I should probably get going too. Might walk around the grounds a bit before heading back to the castle.”

He hesitated for half a heartbeat, thinking of offering to walk with her, after all they were both in Gryffindor, but the words stuck somewhere in his throat. Instead, he pushed himself up to his feet in one smooth motion, not bothering to use his hands for balance, and brushed off the dried leaves clinging to his trousers. A few stubborn ones stuck to the fabric, and he grinned, glancing toward her. “Careful with your jumper,” he teased, nodding toward her green wool sweater. “Those leaves look like they’re plotting to hitch a ride back to the tower with you.”

In the same way he had started talking to Lucille, outgoing and playful, he said his goodbyes, the grin still lingering. “See you around, then?” he said, voice light but hopeful. “We should talk again sometime.” And with that, he gave her a friendly wave before turning toward the path that wound through the castle grounds, leaves crunching under his trainers as he went. The thought of having met a nice girl, along with fragments of their conversation, lingering in his mind.

────────────────────────────────────
| Interacting with: @Lucille Rosenhart |