Chapter 4: Let's Jam
Rons lessons with Mitch were going really well, he was learning guitar really fast. Mitch started teaching Ron some beginner songs like Smoke on the Water, Sunshine of your Love, and Sweet Child O' Mine. He plugged in an amp for Ron to play and Ron loved the power that the guitar had when he strummed and played different chords. Ron kept up his part of the deal as he helped Mitch around the store by sweeping, washing windows, and sorting records.
Ron practiced a ton when he was at home. His fingers had built resistance, and he was able to play much longer without getting soreness. He practiced up to 2 hours a day and it was showing. He memorized multiple chords and even played songs that he played with records. His parents were surprised when he came home with the guitar, but were happy that he found a new hobby to do. Fred and George of course joked on him. Whenever he walked by them in the halls, they would step to the side and act like security guards, saying "make way for rockstar Ronald Weasley, he needs to get to his gig." Ron responded to this by telling them to shove off as they ran away laughing.
Ron had spent the last week hanging out with Jack and getting to know him. They both hung around Mitch's store when he wasn't in a lesson or working and talked about their musical interest. Jack was a drummer and loved metal, especially Thrash bands like Metallica and Slayer, but he also loved bands like the Clash, Nirvana, Beatles, as well as Billy Joel since his parents went nuts for him. He also loved Rage which Ron was really happy talked about their favorite albums and music they liked and didn't like. Ron talked about his family and all his siblings, he also talked about Harry and Hermione and Jack was in awe that Ron was really good friends with the boy who lived.
It was currently a saturday afternoon and Ron and Jack were browsing records as usual when Jack suddenly turned around from the record he was looking at and looked at Ron.
"Let's Jam."
"What?" Ron said, confused.
"I mean lets go play music at my house, my drum kits in the basement, and I got a guitar amp that you could use."
"But what about your parents, won't it be noisy." Ron still has not met Jack's parents even though they have hung out for a while. All he knew was that Jack was a half blood and his mother was a wizard and his dad was a muggleborn.
"Don't worry, my parents put a silencing charm on the basement, they can't hear anything, so come on let's go." as he ushered to the door.
"Ok" Ron shrugged as he grabbed his guitar case and headed out the door.
They walked down the street to Jack's house, Jack opened the door to his home and walked inside. The house had a modern look to it, with the walls painted in light colors, furniture around, and pictures on the walls.
"Mom I'm home" Jack called out
"I'm in the kitchen sweetie" a female voice
Ron followed Jack into the kitchen as he saw a woman whispering a spell as the dishes started cleaning themselves. She turned to look at the boys and Ron got a good look at her, she looked about as old as his mother and had long brown hair.
Jack spoke up, "Mom this is my friend Ron, he goes to Hogwarts too, we're gonna play downstairs okay."
"Well it is so wonderful to me you Ron," she said smiling at him. "I hope you boys have fun".
"It's nice meeting you too," Ron replied
They left the kitchen and into a hallway, Jack opened a door and they walked down to the basement. The basement had a couch, some tables, and a mini fridge in the corner. Ron noticed several band posters on the wall of many well known rock and metal bands.
"You can set up over there where the amp is." said Jack pointing to the side wall where the Amp was set up. Ron walked over and took the guitar out of the case and started setting up. As he was setting up, Ron looked at Jack's kit. It had a snare drum, bass drum, hi hat, two toms, a ride cymbal, and two crashes. The wood had a dark blue to it.
"Nice kit", Ron said as he started tuning his guitar with a tuner that Mitch gave to him.
"Thanks dude", Jack replied as he grabbed a pair of sticks that were on top of the
"Why don't we warm up so we can get ready to play together." Jack said as he sat down in his seat.
Ron simply nodded as he plugged into the amp and started going over chords and a few songs. But he was completely taken aback when Jack started going crazy on the drumset, he was playing the beats so fast and smooth. Ron stopped playing to watch him play. Suddenly Ron felt embarrassed, Jack was clearly an advanced player while Ron was still just a beginner. He's going to fail miserably and Jack wouldn't want to play with him again. Jack looked up at Ron and immediately stopped playing. Jack could read Ron's face and understood what he was thinking.
"Dude, don't feel bad that your not as advanced yet, I've been playing drums for years, keep it up and you'll be good in no time"
Ron didn't say anything, Jack speaked again.
"I don't care if you're still a beginner, I want to play with you. You are one of the few people I've met who takes a liking to music as much as me, so lets play some music alright.
Ron simply strummed the guitar with a pick as he gave Jack a big grin.
"That's the spirit Ron"
Over the next 2 hours, Ron and Jack jammed out to many songs. Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Sunshine of your love by Cream, and Lithium by Nirvana. Though they had no singer or Bass player, they were having a blast. Before they knew it, it was the evening and Ron had to go home. He packed up and said goodbye to Jack as well as thanking Mrs. Walker for letting him come over.
Ron and Jack continued to Jam together and had a lot of fun. Ron ended up meeting Jack's father, he was a tall lanky man with brown hair that was starting to turn grey. He had such enthusiasm over the fact that Jack now had someone to play with. It turns out that Mr Walker was a huge music nerd and got Jack into music in general. He was the one who bought Jack his drum kit for his 8th birthday. Ron even stayed for dinner at their house, Mrs. Walker served them a delicious pasta course as they talked about quidditch, music, and family.
After about a week since Ron and Jack jammed for the first time. Ron was about to head out the door to Ottery St Catchpole when Mrs. Weasley stopped him.
"I want you to invite Jack and his family over for dinner tonight, they sound like very nice people and me and Arthur want to meet them."
"Oh, ok sure mom", Ron shrugged as he headed out the door.
Jack's family happily accepted the offer, so when Ron left that evening after the Jam, the Walkers went along with them. The dinner was great, Mr Weasley and Jack's dad really hit it off. Jack's dad worked in the ministry like his father and Percy, so all 3 talked much about Barty Crouch and Ministry topics. Jack's mom and Mrs Weasley both had a love of gardening and talked much about exotic plants. Jack got to meet all of Ron's siblings, he laughed at Fred and Georges jokes and stories of pranks and was very kind to Ginny.
When they finished eating, Mr Walker stood up.
"I first want to thank Mrs, Weasley for this delicious meal, and the rest of you all for being so welcoming." The Weasley all took the compliments happily as Mr Walker sat back down.
"Now Molly, Arthur, I wanted to ask you something".
The weasley parents looked at him puzzlingly
"I've noticed that both Jack and Ron are both really big fans of the band Rage Against the Machine and." Mr Walker reached into his pocket and pulled out 3 tickets.
"I just so happened to have bought tickets for one of there shows in August to give to Jack as a surprise, I was able to secure an extra 3rd ticket and I was wondering if Ron can join us for the show." he said smiling
Ron and Jack looked at Mr Walker with pure shock on their faces.
"This can't be happening, I'm gonna see Tom Morello live". Ron thought to himself
"The show is about a week after the quidditch world cup, I hope it won't get in the way of any planning."
Mr and Mrs Weasley looked at each other.
"What do you think Arthur?"
"I see no problem Mr Weasley stated simply, I've gotten to know the Walkers and they are a fine family, I trust that Ron will be ok in Mr Walkers hands and it's clear Ron really wants to go."
"Ok then, ….Ron you can go."
Both Jack and Ron jumped out of their chairs and looked at each other, raising their fists high in the air, they shouted.
"WERE GONNA GO SEE RAGE".