Chapter 2

The sustaining power of music (I wanted to prove)

Saturday, 9th of July, 1994


As Ron walked through the door of Willowgreen Records, he took in the quaint little shop. Record displays were lining the walls, the short aisles barely past head height, sorting between genres and artists, and the record player that sat on the counter towards the back, an unfamiliar tune playing softly as the disk spun around.

Although Ron had done this plenty of times today, it didn't stop him from feeling a little bit nervous. He moved towards the counter, peeking his head around to look for the shopkeep. When no one came through the door on the right, or down the stairs on the left, he looked down and rang the bell next to the record player. Looking back at the stairs, he realized the owners must live in the flat above the shop, meaning that it was a family shop. He hoped that the owner needed some help around the place, unlike the bloke at the chip shop.

Ron rang the bell again, patience never being his strong suit. From the door behind the counter, he heard a deep and tired northern dialect shouted.

"I'm comin, I'm comin"

The door burst open, and a bald, fierce-looking man with dark skin came through, holding a large cardboard box. Putting the box down on the counter, he gave Ron a warm and friendly smile, which somewhat contrasting the leather jacket and the tattoos Ron could spot on the man's hand.

"What can I do for ya son?"

Ron decided to get right to it.

"Actually sir, I was wondering if you needed a hand around the shop this summer" he stammered out. Mercifully, the man didn't address his nervousness, deciding to simply look Ron up and down.

"Aye, might do lad"

Ron waited for the man to elaborate, but when it became clear that he wouldn't, he introduced himself.

"I'm Ron, Ron Weasley," he said, holding out his hand.

"Martin," said the man, shaking it.

"Weasley ay? Recognize the name, reckon I spoke to yeh dad down at the pub at some point"

"Was his name Arthur?" Ron sighed. The last thing he needed was for his dad to go around scaring potential employers by sneaking out to the Muggle pub.

"Yeah, that'll be him, comes round some Sundays, nice fella"

Ron gave a small smile. Trust his dad to be making friends with muggles behind mum's back. Martin seemed to be contemplating and coming to a decision.

"Tell ya what mate, I just got a delivery today, so if you help me out with it, I'll see about getting you some paying work this summer."

Ron grinned, it wasn't a guarantee but it was a start.

"Awesome, thank you sir"

"Aye, none of this sir business son, I'm not some bougie twat," Martin said, smirking at his own joke. Ron didn't know what 'Bougie' meant, but he supposed it must be a bit like 'stuck-up'. He made a mental note to ask Hermione about it later.

"Alright, thanks Martin".

"No worries lad. Come through the back, we got plenty of boxes to sort and shelves to stock, And I might need you to deliver a few orders for me to some people in the village."

"Sounds good, where should I start?"


Ron was just getting through the boxes when he heard a shout from the shop entrance reverberate down to the storeroom.

"Dad, I got lunch!" called the voice.

Ron supposed this was the daughter that Martin mentioned, the one who plays Football. Next, to him, Martin put down a box and called back.

"Alright Ollie, we're on our way."

Ollie? Thought Ron, was it a bloke? His question was answered, as Martin gestured for him to follow. He stepped through the doorway to see two girls. The first was short, with mousy-brown hair and big blue eyes. Her curious stare and shy smile reminded him of Harry when they first met. The other girl was around about his age, with brown skin like her father, and extremely curly hair that barely went down to her neck.

He couldn't help but find her quite attractive. She was quite the opposite to Hermione, who was bookish are rarely physical. This girl, however, seemed tough and sporty. While Ron briefly mused his reasoning for comparing every pretty girl he meets to one of his best friends, Martin had asked how the sporty girls game was. It was at this point that Ron realized she was staring at him too. The smaller girl looked at the two of them, before answering for the footballer.

"It was brilliant Martin," Eddie answered. "She blocked a free kick with a header so that the other side couldn't score in the last minute"

"And who said strikers get all the glory" Cracked martin with a grin.

Ron understood very little of what was just said, but it sounded similar to when Seekers and Chasers getting all the attention while other positions (like keeper) are just as important. The pretty girl snapped her head towards her father and responded.

"It was nothing really, just got lucky" she said, softly.

Although Ron wouldn't know this about himself until he was far more mature, it was exactly the same sort of mindless self-effacing he displays whenever anyone points out his achievements.

Martin seemed to think this was the right time to introduce him.

"This is Ron Weasley. He lives up in the hills just outside of town, and has been looking for a summer job so…"

"So you have him helping out then?'

Ron was still looking at her (wondering if the trepidation she seemed to be displaying was because of something he did) when the small girl walked up to him, displaying a frightening amount of confidence for someone her age, and held out her hand.

"I'm Eddie"

Ron's hands were a still a little clammy (the back room was more than a little humid), but he reached in and shook her hand.

"Ron" he replied.

"I'm Olivia".

"Nice to meet you Olivia".


After a short lunch, Olivia went upstairs and had a shower. When she got back, Martin left with Eddie upstairs, instructing Olivia to teach Ron how to stack the shelves. Ron helped her carry the boxes then stacked the shelves with her, making sure to follow her instructions about how to sort the music. He learned quickly that the Cassette tapes and CD's had their own sections in each back corner of the shop, while the Vinyl was sorted by genre, and then by artist in alphabetical order. Before long, Olivia was able to go to the counter and sort out smaller packages of records.

Often a customer would come in and browse for a while, before settling on a choice and taking it to Olivia in the front counter, making short small talk as they purchased it. Some customers left without purchasing (usually groups of people his age), and once or twice a customer would come in, walk directly to the Olivia to buy a record that they had ordered in. Usually, these customers talked more to Olivia, so Ron assumed they were regulars.

As Ron put a small stack of albums named 'Modern life is Rubbish' in with the other records by 'Blur' as the last customer walked out of the shop. Olivia sighed and walked up to him.

"Do ya mind if I put a bit of music on do ya?"

"Not at all Olivia", He replied, trying to seem as polite as possible.

"Call me Ollie, I fuckin hate when people call me Olivia"

Ron felt his ears blush slightly before responding.

"Sure thing Ollie".

She nodded, pursing her lips together in an awkward fashion as she moved toward the counter.

"You ever heard of Oasis?" she called back, in a tone which told Ron that if he were a muggle, he would definitely know what she was talking about.

"What's that?"

She absentmindedly removed the record that was playing, resulting in a sudden quiet in the shop that felt slightly unnatural to Ron.

"New band, they've had a couple of singles out this year. Britpop, I think".

'That sounds alright" he said, not having the faintest clue what Britpop was. Ron's heard of American Pop before, and he didn't like it too much.

The song Ollie played was nothing like American Pop, it sounded old-fashioned almost, its electric guitar and drums playing a melancholy tune, alongside other instruments that Ron couldn't identify.

After a moment, the song started to pick up, the guitar strums getting faster, and Ron was already hooked. He didn't know much about the muggle music that muggles his age listened, but at this point, he was sure he would like it. Then, the singers strangely grainy voice started singing.

I'd like to be somebody else and not know where I've been
I'd like to build myself a house out of plasticine

Ron's head started moving to the drum beat, which seemed to finally find its footing. As he moved his head slightly he noticed Ollie, who was looking at him with a curious and expectant expression on her face. She wanted to know what he thought. When he gave her a thumbs up, she beamed at him, which made his face blush and his ears twitch.

Ah, shake along with me

Ollie seemed not to notice the blush as she mouthed the words to the song.

Ah, shake along with me
I've been driving in my car with my friend Mister Soft

By now, Ollie was singing the song quietly, and Ron couldn't help but notice how lovely her singing voice was.

Mister Clean and Mister Ben are living in my loft
Ah, shake along with me

And now Ollie was practically chanting the song, imitating the singer's voice in an over-the-top fashion. Ron gave her a wide grin and started laughing. Now it was her turn to blush, but she never stopped singing loudly and obnoxiously. Apparently, making him laugh was her intention.

Ah, shake along with me

I'm sorry but I just don't know
I know I said I told you so
When you're happy and you're feeling fine
Then you'll know it's the right time
Then you'll know that it's the right time

To shake along with me

Ron plucked up his nerve and started singing loudly along with her. Ollie seemed to find this very amusing, her giggling mixing with her singing, which in turn set Ron off, as he tried to sing the few words he did know through uncontrollable laughter.

Shake along with me
Shake along with me
Shake along with me

Ron started to mumble instead of sing then lyrics he didn't know, prompting Ollie to sing even louder.

Mister Sifter sold me songs
When I was just sixteen
Now he stops at traffic lights
But only when they're green

She was practically shouting at this point, and Ron now had the opportunity to try to be louder.

Ah, shake along with me
Ah, shake along with me
Ah, shake along with me
Ah, shake along with me

They were singing in tandem now, facing each other and getting closer to each other.

Shake along with me
Shake along with me
Shake along with me
Shake along with them
Shake along with me
Shake along with them

While the "them' shook him off, he was able to adapt quickly, and they shouted the last line at the absolute top of their lungs as the song drew to a close.

Shake along with me

"Hello!"

"I said Hello!"

Ron and Ollie snapped their heads to the origin of the sound. Standing halfway through the store was an angry looking man, wearing a long coat and a fashionable hat. Even Ron could tell that by muggle standards, he was probably quite well-off.

"I've been standing here for over ten minutes young lady," He said, with a hoity voice that reminded Ron of his brother Percy. Ollie was quick to reply.

"Well, the songs only been on for five mate, so I don't see how that possible".

The man looked a little flustered at being caught out, and Ron was certain he had been waiting only for a very short time.

"Well, either way, I won't be spoken to that way"

Ollie sighed, obviously used to customers like this.

"Have you got something I can help you with mate?"

"Why yes actually you can."

Olivia started leading him to the counter as he began explaining what kind of music he was looking for, making certain to let Olivia know that he would rather be buying in one of the 'much nicer' shops in London, but he needed a last-minute birthday present.

Ron slowly tuned their conversation out, finishing the stacking and sorting of the music as Ollie dealt with the time consuming and abrasive customer.


Around an hour later, Ron was just about finished the last box, leaving the entire shop stocked for the week. Ollie had already gone upstairs, at the request of Eddie, who wanted her to give a piano lesson. Coming down the stairs with a toothy grin on his face, accompanied by soft piano notes as he opened the door, Martin entered the shop.

"Getting good isn't she?"

Ron couldn't help but agree, Eddie may need her sister to help sometimes, but she could really carry a tune.

"Yeah, she's great at it".

Martin nodded proudly, and changed the subject.

"Good day then Ron?"

"Yeah Martin, it was a lot more fun than I thought it would be" replied Ron thoughtfully.

"That's good mate, wouldn't want you gettin bored on your first day" he laughed.

Ron's eyes lit up.

"Does that mean I get to work here this summer?"

"Eye, you did a good job today, speaking of which,"

Martin fumbles through his pockets and pulls out a large leather wallet. Ron tries not to look too eager while he thinks about the money he made today.

"Ah, here we go" Martin said, as he pulled out two paper notes from the wallet.

"That, is for you".

Martin hands the money to Ron, as he looks at the numbers on the notes. Thirty pounds. Ron has thirty pounds in his hand, around six Galleons, and it's more money than he's ever held in his life. He knows his eyes are slightly wide, but he swallows and turns back to his new boss.

"Thanks Martin-"

"No need to thank me son, you earned it". At this, Ron shifted uncomfortably. Ron usually shrugged off the few compliments he got, but he thinks it would probably seem rude just now.

"Right" he muttered awkwardly.

Martin didn't seem disgruntled at all, he actually looked a little amused at Ron.

"I'm hoping you'll work weekends for me, starting a little earlier on Saturdays for the delivery".

Ron smiled brightly at this. Sixty pounds a week, and he still had most of his summer free.

"That sounds great Martin".


Stepping through the doorway of the burrow, his back slightly bent forward, Ron realized that he had just completed his first day's work. With thirty quid in his pocket, he felt proud of himself. Maybe, if he saved up, he might be able to buy a decent birthday present for his friends this year, he didn't like to getting Harry sweets and Hermione books every year.

When he looked towards the kitchen, he was happy to see that his mother was stirring a pot of gravy on the stove, as the smell of roast meat wafted out of the oven. His father was already a the dinner table, engrossed in his evening prophet. Percy was next to him with his own copy, but rather than seeming mature and wise like dad, Percy just looked like a bit of a posh twat.

"Ahh, Ronnie dear. Had a good day in the village dear?" His mother spoke, seemingly radiating with warmth.

"Yes mum, it was fine" He didn't want to seem grumpy, but he was quite tired from the walk home.

"Well I hope you didn't spend all your money now, that's all you've got for the summer" she said, with a frown on her face.

Ron felt the two notes in his pocket and smiled at his mother.

"Don't worry mum, I've got plenty of money to spare".


Authors note

Yeah so the lyric part is pretty self indulgent, and I'm not sure weather to edit it away or not. I'm fairly certain I'm not going to write another scene like it.