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OCTOBER WAS BEGINNING TO FADE INTO NOVEMBER. Cassiopeia and Ron had recovered from their little quarrel. Their tutor lessons were going well and the two were starting to get to know each other better. Cassiopeia learned a lot about Ron's home life. He told a lot of stories from when Fred and George used to pull pranks and get into trouble when they were younger, which didn't surprise her.
He told her about the time when they got him to eat an Acid Pop that burnt a hole through his tongue and about the time when they filled Percy's pillowcase with Filibuster Fireworks and their mother scolded them for ages. Cassiopeia found it comforting to know that Fred and George were always mischievous, even in their youth, and that it wasn't just some weird teenage phase.
"And once Dad found us, he yanked Fred away from me and pulled them both out of the room by their ears," Ron laughed as walked up the stairs of the Astronomy Tower. He was currently telling Cassiopeia about the time Fred and George were almost successful in getting Ron to make an Unbreakable Vow. "I have never, ever seen Dad look so angry. Ever since then, Fred's claimed that his left buttock has never been the same."
Cassiopeia let a small laugh escape her lips at his words. Ron looked at her for a moment in slight shock. It had just occurred to him that he had never heard her laugh before. He had seen her snicker with her friends and mockingly laugh at other students but he had never heard her genuinely laugh.
It was a bit strange to hear Cassiopeia laugh since she was always so cold and emotionless. Her laugh was soft and joyous, unlike anything Ron had ever heard from her before. Ron also found out that her laugh was very contagious as he soon found himself laughing too.
"What?" Cassiopeia asked once she realized Ron had been staring at her for quite some time.
"It's just... I've never heard you laugh before. I would've thought that this was the first time in your whole life you've actually laughed."
Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, "I have laughed before. Only certain people get the privilege to hear it."
Ron smirked, "So, I'm one of those certain people?"
"I suppose so, Weasley."
The two rounded the corner and Cassiopeia unlocked the door to the Astronomy Tower before they ventured up the dark, winding staircase. Ron carried on telling more stories about all the things Fred and George did to him when they were younger and continued making Cassiopeia laugh.
Ron liked hearing her laugh and seeing her smile. It was a vast difference from her usual curt tone and snarl. It was nice to know that Cassiopeia could smile and laugh and that she wasn't the cold, emotionless person she wanted everyone to think she was.
Her laughs echoed through the stone staircase but soon stopped as rapid footsteps were coming towards them. Professor Sinistra suddenly appeared in front of them, carrying a brightly lit lantern in her hand and a frantic expression on her face. She wearily smiled at the pair, "Cassiopeia, Ron. I'm afraid you can't use the Astronomy Tower for tutoring tonight."
