Winifred was becoming quite concerned over the health of her cat. Lord Fluffybutt had been quite fat and grumpy looking as a kitten, but as a kitten that was cute. Now that he was getting older, and his impending marriage to Imogen's cat Duchess was getting ever closer, Winifred decided it was time to do something about her cat's weight. She had already been careful about not overfeeding him, and since it was a relatively nice day out (it wasn't raining, at least), the young Hufflepuff girl decided that it was time to take the cat out for a walk.

She had written home to her father about sending a leash and harness for her cat. He told her it was silly, that she would get scratched up, but Winifred insisted. She had tried it a few times. Surprisingly, the cat wasn't particularly offended by either. Mostly he became offended when he wanted to rest and Winifred insisted he get up and walk. Perhaps she should have asked for a muzzle. Or some mittens for his paws so that she could avoid getting scratched up.

Either way...

Winifred slipped the harness over her cat, his fur getting smashed down in odd places. Then she attached the leash to it. With that, Winifred carried her cat down from the dormitory to the grounds. She set him down at the bottom of the stairs and he happily followed her for a little while. But after walking along for about ten minutes, Lord Fluffybutt decided he was done with the walk and curled up in the grass.

Winifred groaned. "Come now, Fluffy!" she said, nudging him gently with her foot. "You really must get some exercise! You'll be a fat tom cat and then Duchess won't marry you! She is going to be just like Imogen, and she might find a better and more compatible cat to marry!" Even though Winifred was recently fifteen years old, she still behaved like a child at times. Her flights of fancy had not waned. Though her interest in cute boys had doubled- perhaps tripled- in the last month.

They day was grey and dreary, as it often was this time of year.  The wind blew in gentle gusts, carrying with it the slight chill of oncoming winter.  Katy lifted her face to it and closed her eyes with relief.  Her body was sore and stiff, having just come off the quidditch pitch from her lonesome practice.  She'd done better this week than last week but her body hurt.  At the end of it all she'd really wanted to do was crawl back into bed with a good book.  But that nippy air reminded her that soon the snow would fall and she'd hole up in the castle to stay warm.  She should enjoy the outdoors while it was less than miserable out.

This is why Katy was making her way down the front walk towards the lake, freshly showered and changed into her uniform skirt and a warm sweater.  It never occurred to her to wear her own clothing on the weekends or in the afternoon.  Her uniform was comfortable and functional, just as the rest of her pitiable wardrobe.  Katy hitched her bag further onto her shoulder and slowed as she came upon her housemate and her cat.

"Hello Winnie," Katy said, making her presence known.  Her gaze flicked down at the fat cat sprawled indolently in the grass.  He was wearing some kind of harness and leash, like you'd put on a dog.  Winnie would try to walk that cat.  Katy had once told her to stop feeding the thing, then maybe he'd make himself useful by catching mice or some such.  The vegetable garden would certainly benefit from it.  And now Winnie was prepping him for some kind of marriage, ridiculous. 

Winifred looked up, and smiled at her fellow fourth year. "Hello Katy!" she greeted enthusiastically, before looking back down at the cat who was refusing to move. Winifred bent down, picked him up, and set him back on all fours. "Did you see the new leash and harness my father sent me for Lord Fluffybutt?" Winifred asked, motioning toward the cat who was now sitting on its rear licking itself.

"Dad thought that the black would look best with his fur." Lord Fluffybutt was a long haired calico, after all. "I agree. I think it probably makes him less self conscious about wearing the thing, it isn't very fashionable. Not at all like the rest of his wardrobe." Yes, her cat did have a wardrobe. She ordered him clothes from a catalog. Though he was getting too big to fit into most of the things she had bought him. Especially as he had quickly out-grown being a kitten. Winifred had considered learning how to sew so that she could make Lord Fluffybutt clothes which actually fit. But, she figured, if all else failed she could just order him dog clothes. They were bigger than cat clothes, after all.

"I don't suppose you'd know how to make the cat walk?" she asked. "Dogs just walk when you take them out. I thought cats would do the same. Apparently not." The cat had sprawled out again, and was lazily pawing at some high grass.

Katy didn't care about the cat's wardrobe.  She didn't even care about her own as long as it functioned properly and kept her covered and protected from the elements.  So the fact that the harness was black, that her dad picked it special, and that it matched his fur was all a moot point.  Still, she was quiet as Winnie went on about it. 

Fluffybutt, being lazy and horrendously overweight, just flopped back onto the grass after Winnie put him back on his feet.  He licked himself, on hind leg stretched all the way out.  His tail lay on the grass, flicking idly.

"I don't suppose you'd know how to make the cat walk?"

Katy's eyebrow twitched.  She knew one way.  She whipped out her wand and sent a stinging hex towards the grass.  She missed the cat on purpose and struck the grass less than an inch away from his luxurious tail.  With a resounding pfft, bits of dirt and grass sprayed up.  The cat leaped up and ran away until he reached the end of his leash.  He was pulled  up short with an ungraceful jerk.