Freddie Lagowski - Development

[Freddie Lagowski]

Freddie Lagowski · Character Development

Compiled using questions from here, here, and here.
Please feel free to ask more! Thank you!!
Freddie's age at the time of writing: 11
Last updated: 22/04/25

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?
Having all all-day-long water fight in the garden with Susie and Luke one summer when he was five.

What is his worst childhood memory?
TBC

What's his most embarrassing childhood memory?
TBC

MORALITY​

What one act in his past is he most ashamed of?
Accidentally starting a fire at his old elementary school - although his shame comes from the fact he never owned up to it. He knew that was wrong, but he also knew there would be serious consequences and that nobody would listen to him if he tried to explain how it happened.

What one act in his past is he most proud of?
When he was nine, Freddie helped raise several hundred dollars for charity as part of a math competition between several schools. His team, which he had captained, came second in the competition, and Freddie was allowed to decide where the money went. He donated it to help underserved schools purchase musical instruments and equipment.

Has he ever been in a real fight before? With whom, over what, and who won?
Many. Freddie has a habit of resorting to violence when he feels physically or emotionally threatened. This has led to a few full-on brawls, such as the time he hit a boy for mocking the way he walked (they both came away with bloody noses - it would be hard to say who 'won').

Interestingly, he would never hit a girl no matter how much they provoked him. He angers quickly, but his impulse control is quite strong; if he lashes out, he has made a deliberate choice to do so, detached from emotion. His violence is more an armour than a weapon; he uses it not to inflict pain but to preserve his self-image. Hurting a girl feels very wrong, so his morals would always override his impulses in this case. Girls have historically been nicer to him, anyway.

What is one thing he would never lie about?
Physical pain.

What values are most important to him?
Kindness, empathy, and respect. Freddie has spent so much of his life being dismissed, disbelieved, and dragged around. He wants to be listened to, respected, and allowed to make his own decisions. When he finds these qualities in people, he gets quietly attached to them.

What does he pretend to feel strongly about, just to impress people?
Nothing, really. He doesn't lie just to impress people. It doesn't even cross his mind.

Who does he go out of his way to be nice to?
Honestly, mostly girls who seem upset or need help. It's not that he doesn't want to help boys as well. He's just unfortunately internalised the idea that boys crying is weak and would feel kind of awkward if he had to comfort a boy. Girls feel safer to him.

What trait does he find most admirable, and how often does he find it?
Confidence. Not bravado, but real confidence, the confidence to be unapologetically true to oneself.

Does he have any feelings in general that he is disturbed by? Why do they disturb him?
His anger disturbs him sometimes. His instinct for violence contradicts all the parts of him that want to be kind and good, and he doesn't understand how it's possible to feel both things at once. It's confusing.

What's the worst thing he feels can be done to a person? Why?
To ignore them or dismiss them - because there is no way to retaliate. If someone punches you, you can punch back. If they ignore you, there's not much you can do. It makes you completely powerless (a feeling Freddie can't stand).

What's the worst thing he could actually do to someone he hated?
Nothing much beyond physically fighting them. Again, he doesn't want to inflict pain on people - not even his enemies. He just wants them to stop bothering him.

Is he a better leader or follower?
Freddie is a better leader. He's too independent to follow others.

What does he feel is his responsibility to the world, if any? Why does he think that?
If anything, he strongly feels that he doesn't owe the world anything. Adults often try to press him to develop the skills and qualities that they want to see in him, and because he resents being told what to do, he pushes back by giving nothing (even if he actually wanted to develop said skill originally).

What does he do to make the world a better place?
He stands up to injustice. Over time, he will ideally learn how to do it in a more peaceful and productive way.

Is it okay for him to cry? When was the last time he cried?
It depends. Freddie will not cry in front of anybody, except occasionally Susie - she's the only person he feels emotionally safe with. On his own, usually after he has gone to bed, he cries at least once a week. He holds so much emotion in all day, and crying is an easy stress release. He justifies it this way so that he doesn't feel weak about it.

If he couldn't be convicted of any one kind of crime, which criminal charge would he like to be immune to?
Not sure if it's a crime as such, but he'd like to be able to be immune to being punished for doing under-age magic outside of school.

When was the last time he was snooping, and found something he wished he hadn't?
When Freddie was ten, he snooped through his aunt's letters to try to find and forge her signature for a sick note. He came across a letter from his school principal, describing Freddie's poor behaviour and expressing her concern for his future. Until that moment, he'd felt invulnerable. He hadn't realised the school was documenting every little incident, and seeing it all written down was a punch to the gut. It made him even more angry. People were talking about him like a problem, a project, something to be manipulated into a better shape - yet they never took the time to listen to what he wanted, or how he felt.

When was the last time he yelled at someone?
Probably his little brother, for interrupting him while he was playing the guitar.

How often does he curse?
More often than an eleven-year-old boy should. He avoids cursing around his aunt and uncle, as they have the power to ground him and/or confiscate his guitar, but everywhere else he is a bit of a liability. He doesn't throw curse words into sentences casually - he uses them specifically when he's annoyed with people.

What is his definition of evil?
He has kind of a childish/simple definition of evil at the moment - dark magic, torture, murder, that kind of thing.

INTERESTS & HOBBIES​

What hobbies does he have?
Playing the guitar is his most time-consuming hobby. He often practises upwards of four hours a day. He also enjoys reading (especially thrillers), darts, designing/making his own Halloween costumes, record-collecting, walking, playing pretend, and math puzzles.

What does he find most relaxing? (not as in stress relief, but as something that actually calms him down)
Lying in the sun (his family joke he was a cat in a past life).

What is he interested in that most people his age aren't?
The stock market. He doesn’t have a lot of money to invest, but he keeps track of trends and enjoys trying to predict them and connect them to political events.

What does he think he is much better at than he actually is?
Coordinating group projects. He can get a bit bossy when put in charge. He thinks his ideas are absolutely the best (they’re not) and will sulk if anybody tries to challenge him.

Where does he get his news?
Mostly from the radio, sometimes magazines.

What outdoor activity hasn't he tried, but he'd like to?
Horse-riding

What's his secret talent?
It’s weird, but he’s sure he can smell when people/animals are sick. They just smell different, and he notices.

What topic could he spend hours talking about?
Guitars - different guitar models, playing techniques, his favourite riffs and solos, etc.

Is he very active or does he prefer to relax in his free time?
Freddie loves to nap, but he stays fairly active by going for lots of slow/gentle walks - at least one per day, usually more. He avoids strenuous physical activity.

What is his guilty pleasure?

What does he do to improve his mood when he's in a bad mood?