Freddie Lagowski - Development

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie Lagowski · Character Development

Please feel free to ask more questions! Thank you!!
Freddie's age at the time of writing: 11
Last updated: 18/04/25

PERSONAL QUESTIONS
​

What is his real, birth name? What name does he use?
Wilfred Kenneth Lagowski. He goes strictly by Freddie - although he doesn't actually hate the name Wilfred as much as he pretends to. It's just that he can't really go back on insisting nobody use it.

Does he have a nickname? What is it, and where did he get it?
His family called him Freddo for a while after he developed a bit of a frog obsession when he was seven. His other nicknames are also mostly variants on his name (Wilf, Fredster, Fred, etc.). He really doesn't like nicknames - they make him feel small - so his family avoid using them.

What's his real birth date?
10th of April, 2053.

What one word best describes him?
Determined.

What is his most prized possession? Why does he value it so much?
Freddie's most prized possession is his yellow electric guitar. His aunt bought it for him for Christmas a few years after he started playing. It cost a lot of money, and he's very protective of it - he even kept his cheaper guitar to play more intense pieces on, in case he damaged the yellow one. It's the only truly valuable thing he owns, although its real value is in the joy it brings him.

What does he bring with him everywhere he goes?
A guitar pick. He can fiddle with it in his pocket when he's nervous and nobody can tell.

Besides his wand, what's the most useful thing he owns?
He would probably say his calculator.

What's his good luck charm?
A metal ring engraved with runestones for strength.

What does he like about himself?
It's a little sad, but he's proud of the way he can hide his emotions from people. He thinks it makes him strong. He's also proud of his guitar skills, since they're the result of thousands of hours of practice.

What doesn't he like about himself?
He feels guilty about the fact he's not academically self-disciplined. Both he and his teachers know he's capable of so much more, but he just doesn't try. He wishes he had more drive to do something with his brains, but he gets angry when people (especially adults) try to tell him what to do, which makes school inherently hard for him.

What's the biggest realisation he's had about himself?
That he doesn't really want to be alone, just understood.

What does he need help with most often?
Emotional regulation. He gets worked up incredibly quickly and it can take him a long time to calm down.

What's something nobody knows about him?
He once accidentally started a fire at his elementary school. Nobody was hurt, and they never figured out who it was, so he didn't tell them.

APPEARANCE​

What does he look like? Be as descriptive as possible
Freddie is of average, or slightly below average height. He a squarish face, striking bone structure, hooded, dark blue eyes, and swept-back dark blond hair that can look brown in some lights. He holds himself in an upright, relaxed sort of way, often standing with his hands in his pockets, and tends to be quite still and inexpressive. When sitting, he seems to melt into the chair.

How does he dress most of the time?
Freddie has an eclectic fashion sense; he'll wear whatever feels right in the moment, and somehow, he always manages to look good in it. A casual look might incorporate a button-up shirt (plain or patterned), cable knit sweater or waistcoat, smart trousers or shorts. Yellows, greens, and blues are his go-to colours. He accessorises heavily with rings, bracelets, belts, and scarves.

How does he 'dress up'?
If he had to dress up, he would wear a suit, probably in a bold colour like yellow or dusty blue.

How does he 'dress down'?
He'll wear jeans and crew-neck shirts only if he's working on the farm. If he wanted to be comfortable, he'd just get into pyjamas.

If he didn't care at all what people thought of him, what would he wear?
Much the same as he already wears - he's not self-conscious about his clothes.

Does he care about fashion?
He cares insofar as he wants to look good, and has a good eye for picking outfits, but he doesn't keep up with the latest fashion trends.

What is the most embarrassing piece of clothing he owns?
A frog onesie, bought for him at the height of his frog craze. It would be too small for him now - it's probably stuffed in the back of a wardrobe somewhere, hopefully never to be seen again.

What does he wear when he goes to sleep?
He sleeps in soft pyjamas (it's probably the only time he prioritises comfort over style).

Does he wear any jewellery?
Freddie almost always wears rings, though the number varies between about two and six. They're usually worn on his left hand. Some are metal, some are engraved with runes, some have gems in. He also wears metal bracelets.

In his opinion, what is his best feature?
His hair.

How would he like to look?
He's very young and doesn't really think that hard about his appearance beyond his clothes and haircut. And since he already dresses the way he wants to... he wouldn't change anything about his looks currently.

LIFESTYLE​

Where does he live? Describe it: is it messy, neat, avant-garde, sparse, etc.?
Freddie lives in a barn-conversion with his uncle, aunt, dad, older sister Susie, and younger brother Luke. It's open plan, yet cosy; the furnishing is soft and there's a large stone fireplace in the centre of the space. It could be called rustic. His aunt keeps the place tidy, although around the holidays it can get a bit chaotic. There's a big sense of family about the place. Family photos on the mantelpiece. Artwork on the fridge door. Spare coats hanging up where visitors forgot to take them home. Freddie's room is in the loft space. He decorates it with rock music posters and records and has bean bags and cushions all about the place. There's often socks scattered everywhere and dirty clothes draped over furniture, although his wardrobe is very well-organised.

What is his favourite room in the house? Why?
His bedroom - it's his sanctuary, his escape from his overbearing family. He'd spend all day in there if he wasn't coaxed out for meals and to help on the farm.

Does he own any pets? If not, would he like to?
The Lagowskis have two dogs, but he doesn't have any pets that are specifically his. He doesn't really want one. He enjoys animals, but not the responsibilities attached to them.

Does he like things to be carefully planned or does he just go with the flow?
He doesn't like surprise activities sprung on him by other people, but he's happy to be spontaneous as long as he's in control.

What would be his perfect Saturday?
It would involve at least six hours of guitar practice. He'd get up early, go for a walk in the woods, maybe play there with his siblings for a while, then come home and shut himself in his room and practice for the rest of the day.

Is he a very organised person?
He tends to organise physical things - his records, his clothes, his books. However, he's not an organised person generally. He procrastinates hard.

How often does he stay up past 3 a.m.?
Never. Freddie gets tired early in the evening and wants to be in bed by nine, sometimes sooner.

How does he make himself fall asleep when he can't seem to get to sleep?
He really doesn't have this problem. He can sleep anywhere, at any time.

Where does he spend most of his free time / day?
At Hogwarts, he spends most of his free time in the arts room, or out on the grounds. At home, he'll be in his room.

Can he apparate? How does he prefer to get around?
Not yet, but he's looking forward to learning. In the meantime, he likes to get around via floo or portkey.

Does he tend to save or spend his money? Why?
Freddie isn't really an impulsive person, so he finds it quite easy to save money.

FAMILY​

What is his family like?
Disjointed. His mother disappeared when he was five, and his father has been emotionally absent ever since. His uncle and aunt are now his kinship caregivers. The Lagowski family is enormous - he has several other aunts and uncles, and many cousins - but they all have large personalities, and with few exceptions Freddie doesn't enjoy spending time with them. They're just too loud for him. The only family members he feels close to are his sister Susie and his brother Luke.

Who is his father, and what is he like?
Julian Lagowski is a writer for a popular American wizarding newspaper. He's a quiet, thoughtful man with a razor-sharp wit and a tendency to be much too hard on himself. The pressures of work and life easily overwhelm him, and to spare his family his bad moods, he tends to isolate himself. To Freddie, he might as well be a stranger. Freddie still resents him for dragging the family to America after their mother went missing. He doesn't like his father at all.

More of a father to him is his uncle, Nathaniel Lagowski. Family-oriented, upbeat, and practical, Nathaniel tries his best to support his brother's children and keep up the family morale, but it's exhausting work. He loves his niece and nephews, but he resents having his brother around. Unfortunately, Freddie senses that resentment and blames himself for it. He's a difficult kid, always causing everyone hassle, so it must be his fault, right? This long-standing tension has made it difficult for him to connect with his uncle either.

Who is his mother, and what is she like?
Erin Childs works for the Ministry of Magic in England. Freddie doesn't remember much about her - she was always working long hours, and he was usually in bed before she got home. He remembers that she was argumentative and impersonal, but that's about all. She disappeared when he was five years old. His father claims not to know where she is.

Thalia Lagowski, his aunt, is a warm maternal figure. Supporting her family is her life's calling; she loves nothing more than to be surrounded by her nieces, nephews, children, and grandchildren. She's the sort of person who bakes people their favourite treat when she knows they're coming round, but then gets offended when they don't want to be in the family photograph. Freddie finds her completely smothering. She's the one who pressures him to try harder, who tries to get him to play the guitar for his cousins at Christmas, who tells everybody he's a genius because he's above-average at math. He knows he should be grateful for her, but he wishes she would just leave him alone. She cares, but she never listens. Never understands. Always speaks for him. He's tired of trying to navigate it all.

How does he get along with his siblings?
Freddie loves his elder sister Susie more than anybody else in the world. She's the only person he's ever been able to rely on - the only person who listens, who believes him, who doesn't judge him when he's feeling vulnerable. Sure, like all big sisters, she can be a pain, but he trusts that she would never intentionally do anything to hurt him and that she'll always have his back. She makes him laugh when he's upset and gives him kicks up the backside when he's procrastinating. He really doesn't know what he'd do without her. Consequently, he's fiercely protective of her.

Luke is younger than Freddie by one year, but the age gap seems larger. Maybe it's because Freddie grew up too quickly, or maybe it's because Luke got left behind - either way, he feels like a much older brother than he is. He's not as good as Susie at the whole older-sibling thing, but he's kind to his brother and determined he'll be a better kid than he is.

Where does his family go on holiday?
The Lagowskis take quite a lot of camping trips. Fishing, playing quidditch, hiking up mountains - they're an active bunch. On such trips, Freddie tends to sit on the side-lines.

Has anyone else in his family ever made a strong impact on him?
Yes - his late uncle Reuben's father-in-law, Monty. The Pendletons and the Lagowskis keep in close touch, and Monty and his granddaughters are always invited on the yearly summer camping trip. When Freddie is sitting out of some activity and feeling a bit sorry for himself, it's often Monty who takes a break to come and talk to him. He never seems to expect Freddie to be anything, or do anything, which is unusual. They're not close, but Freddie remembers him for his kindness and always looks forward to seeing him.

CHILDHOOD​

What is Freddie's first memory?

What is his favourite toy?
His Rubik's cube. Freddie is highly dextrous, and when he fidgets, it's usually with his hands. He learned the Rubik's algorithms by heart when he was eight and still occasionally plays with it, just to see if he can still remember them.

What is his favourite game?
Darts - if that counts as a game. He's not a big fan of board games and gets frustrated with anything luck-based, especially. Darts, on the other hand, involves a level of skill, so he's not as annoyed when he loses.

Who was his best friend at elementary school?
He didn't have one. Freddie was always on the fringes of social groups at school. He could join in with people's games if he wanted to, but nobody wanted to spend time with him alone. He was that moody, difficult kid who everybody sort of respected, but only because they thought he'd throw fists if they offended him.

What is his fondest childhood memory?

What is his worst childhood memory?

What's his most embarrassing childhood memory?

MORALITY​

What one act in his past is he most ashamed of?

What one act in his past is he most proud of?

Has he ever been in a real fight before? With whom, over what, and who won?

What does he feel most strongly about?

What values are most important to him?

What does he pretend to feel strongly about, just to impress people?

Who does he go out of his way to be nice to?

How often does he help others? Who does he help? How does he help?

What trait does he find most admirable, and how often does he find it?

Does he have any feelings in general that he is disturbed by? Why do they disturb him?

What's the worst thing he feels can be done to a person? Why?

What's the worst thing he could actually do to someone he hated?

Is he a better leader or follower?

What does he feel is his responsibility to the world, if any? Why does he think that?

What does he do to make the world a better place?

Is it okay for him to cry? When was the last time he cried?

If he couldn't be convicted of any one kind of crime, which criminal charge would he like to be immune to?

When was the last time he was snooping, and found something he wished he hadn't?

When was the last time he yelled at someone?

How often does he curse?

What are some of his vices and bad habits? Which would be the hardest to give up?

What is his definition of evil?