Paint ↬ 『 r.w. 』

Chapter 2

Cassie had never had so many memories rush into her head. She remembered back at Hogwarts, she used to buy some of the Weasley twins' products, sometimes for pranks, sometimes for herself. She remembered her friend, Kimberly Anderson -who was paralyzed below the waist and used a wheelchair- and how she and Cassie would play jokes on their other friends using the products they bought. 

Cassie wondered where Kimberly was now. Last time she saw her, she was seventeen years old and was about to be on the run with the rest of the mugglerborns who had formed a group to protect themselves and each other during the war.

Cassie shook her head, putting the nostalgia in the back of her head. She entered the joke shop, a little bell going off as she moved the door. Her eyes danced around the shop in amazement. She hadn't been here since she was in sixth year at Hogwarts, and that was only once. 

It was so colourful and full of life, Cassie had to wonder why hadn't been here a while ago. Kids ran around the shop, looking for the magical things they could use for pranks, or just for fun. A few kids ran past her, almost knocking her over.

"Sorry, ma'am!" One of the boys called back as he continued to chase the other two kids. Cassie smiled at him, telling him it was fine.

Cassie then remembered why she was here. She was looking for a job. She looked around, looking for one of the Weasley's, as she assumed some of the twins' family would work here.

It seemed she was not wrong as she spotted Ron Weasley talking to a customer. She waited for a moment until Ron was free. His back was to her as she walked towards him, and tapped him on the shoulder. 

"Excuse me, I was wondering if I could apply for a job here?" 

Ron was having a good day. Which wasn't as usual as it should've been. He didn't know why, but he woke up today feeling happy, as if he knew something great was going to happen that day.

So far, Ron had found a few sickles left on the ground, got a nice home-cooked meal from his mother, and discovered he was getting pretty good at being persuasive, as almost every costumer he had talked to had bought a product.

So Ron was in a pretty good mood.

Until she showed up.

Oh, yes, Ron definitely remembered her from his Hogwarts days. She used to taunt and tease him in the halls from second year to fourth year, using her favourite nickname for him, 'Ginger'. But she had stopped doing it when fifth year rolled around. Ron never bothered to wonder why because of how relieved he had felt.

However, seeing her enter his brother's -and his- shop, he couldn't help but feel a little pissed off, as well as embarrassed. He never really stopped to look at how pretty she was, and how her smile seemed to make the room a whole lot warmer. Ron shook his head at these ridiculous thoughts, thinking he probably took one of the pranking products to think so crazy.

When he saw her turn her head to look at him, he immediately turned away, and started talking to a customer that looked like he needed help. He hoped she would walk away, maybe leave the shop, but unfortunately, she didn't.

His back was turned to her as he sent the customer on his way to the cashier. He tensed up a little as the girl tapped his shoulder.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if I could apply for a job here?" 

Ron span around to face the blonde woman. If he was being honest, Cassie didn't seem to have aged a bit. She looked just like how she used to back in Hogwarts, paint smearing her hands and face and her blonde flowy hair. Except this time, she was wearing casual clothes instead of the usual Ravenclaw tie that Ron usually saw her with.

Ron didn't actually hear what she said as he looked at her with a questioning gaze, silently asking her, what are you doing here?

Cassie cleared her throat as she awkwardly looked around, as if she just remembered the guy she was talking to was the same guy she used to tease back in school. "I, um, I was wondering if I could apply for a job here." She said, her hazel eyes finally meeting Ron's blue ones.

"Why would you want a job here?" Ron asked, a sort of accusing tone in his voice. Cassie didn't have an answer, so instead, Ron said, "Why are you here?"

He knew he was being rude, but he didn't really care. Although he did feel something when he saw Cassie glance down and cross her arms.

"Didn't I say that two times now?" She said, her head suddenly shooting up to meet his eyes. "Or are you too slow to understand that? I'm-here-for-a-job." She said the last part obnoxiously slow, as if Ron were a five year old child. 

Ron's eyes narrowed at her. Of course she didn't change. Both of them were adults now, but acting as childish as ever. It was stupid, really. Ron didn't even know why Cassie had begun to tease him in second year and why she had abruptly stopped in fifth year. Now they were back at square one, with Cassie poking fun at him.

"Well, if you want a job here, you're definitely not doing it right," Ron said. "I'm co-manager, and I don't think you're helping your chances with speaking to me like that."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "Where's George?" She sighed. 

"George is--"

"--right here!" The man in question said, giving the girl a tiny smile. "Hello, Cassie. It's been awhile."

"It sure has," Cassie said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Listen, I've been looking for a job for months now, and assuming from the sign at the entrance, maybe I could be of assistance?"

George glanced at Ron, who was trying to tell him 'no' with his eyes and a subtle shake of his head. But George decided otherwise. 

"Sure, Cassie, it would be great having your help," George said, giving Ron a little smirk. It disappeared quickly, though, and as Cassie opened her mouth to speak, George was gone.

"Great," Cassie sighed happily. Then she turned to Ron. "Do we have to wear the hideous uniforms?"

Ron was very tempted to lie, but as he was wearing his own casual clothing, that didn't seem smart. "No," he grumbled. "It's optional. George and Verity wear it, Verity every now and then, but I never do."

"Okay, then," Cassie said, and put a finger on her chin as she thought of any other questions she might have. "Should I come tomorrow?"

Ron nodded and grumbled out a 'yes'.

Cassie then gave him a tight-lipped smile and a wink that -unfortunately- made Ron's heart flutter. "I'll see you tomorrow, then, Ginger." And the blonde woman strutted out of the shop, looking slightly triumphant. 

Ron wasn't sure if his day got better or worse. 

〰〰〰〰〰

A/N

And that is chapter 2! I hope you enjoyed it! 

Q: What do you think is the reason Cassie began to tease Ron?