A/N: Usual disclaimer I own some character names and the plot. Nothing else.

Happy Birthday to me!!! -Dances around-

Main Harry Potter characters coming in this chapter. I PROMISE!!!

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Chapter 5: Wow an American!

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Ashley awoke on the first day of term, full of nerves for the first day teaching at Hogwarts. She needed something to calm her so she cut on her magical CD player and amplified the sound. Ashley stared up at the ceiling listening to Josh Groban; mumbling music counts in her head, and practicing her conducting patterns. "1-2-3-4" is what she kept on saying over and over to herself as she swayed back and forth, to the beat of Josh Groban.

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That night, Ashley sat at the Head Table, in the Great Hall, and looked down at the students already assembled for the Sorting and the feast. She looked down and all of the professors gave her approving smiles or nods. Dumbledore looked over at her and mouthed "You'll be fine."

Ashley was sitting next to Professor Snape and Professor Fltiwick. Professor Fltiwick looked at her. "Are you nervous?" He squeaked. His question caught Ashley off guard.

"Well I am a little bit, I have always been a little nervous on the first day."

"No need to be nervous here. Dumbledore has high expectations of you, you know?"

"Yes, I do, I just hope that I live up to them."

"Don't worry, you will, I mean graduating with honors from one of the best music schools in the United States, what was it called again?"

"Oh, right that, I graduated from the School of Music and Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. It is an all muggle school but I think that it did me good." Ashley said with a smile. Next to her she heard Snape give a rather sarcastic snort. "Excuse me?" She asked and Snape just glared at her.

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Harry Potter sat down at the Gryffindor table, next to his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. "Wow I wonder why we had to buy A Beginners Guide to Music Theory?" Neville Longbottom asked Hermione.

"I don't know, maybe Dumbledore is starting a music class that we all have to take. I hope so; I have always wanted to learn how to play an instrument. I tried teaching myself the clarinet once; maybe I can learn how to play it properly this year." Hermione answered hopefully.

"A music class, I wonder who Dumbledore got to teach that." Harry said, glancing to the Head Table.

"I think that it is that woman, over there, sitting next to Fltiwick and Snape." Ron said motioning to the Head Table.

At about that time, the new first years walked into the Great Hall; all of them looked nervous and awe-struck at their first sight of the Great Hall. After the first years were sorted, Dumbledore stood up.

"I'd like to welcome all of you back to another year at Hogwarts. I would like to remind you that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. I also have the pleasure of introducing two new teachers this year. As some of you know, I have decided to start a new music program here at Hogwarts. Our first new teacher is Hogwarts first ever music Professor, she has traveled all the way from the United States to teach here, please welcome Professor Hammock." Ashley was greeted with a nice and cheerful round of applause. Most of the students were also mouthing to their friends, "Wow; an American came to teach us."

After the applause died down, Dumbledore continued on. "Our next professor is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, please welcome Professor Lupin." There was a scattered applause that mostly came from the Gryffindor table. Snape glared past Dumbledore at Remus Lupin. After the applause died down for Professor Lupin, Dumbledore looked around and said. "Let the feast begin."

After everybody had eaten his or her fill, Dumbledore stood and called the feast to an end. As everybody stood up to go to their dormitories, Harry, Ron and Hermione went up to the Head Table to talk to Professor Lupin.

Professor Lupin was talking with Professor Hammock apparently about which words were different in America. Lupin looked and smiled at Harry. "How was your holiday Harry? Ron? Hermione?" Lupin asked politely. They all said that they had a wonderful holiday and how nice it was to see him again. "Oh, Professor Hammock, I would like you to meet some sixth year Gryffindors, this is Hermione Granger." Ashley shook Hermione's hand. "This is Ron Weasley." Ashley smiled and shook his hand. "And this is Harry Potter." Ashley looked at him for a minute; her eyes quickly dashed to his forehead and then shook his hand.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione said their good-byes and left toward their dormitories, anxious for lessons to begin tomorrow. Secretly, most, if not all of the students were hoping to have music on their first day. Just so they could see what it was like to have an American for a teacher.

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A/N: Well, another chapter done. I promise more to come soon. Please send me some ideas on instruments that the students could play.

Looks like I have answered what year Harry is in..... 6th. And what instrument Hermione is going to play...clarinet.

Thanks for all of the reviews and suggestions for instruments. I really like reading them. Some of them make me laugh.

Jovelovesash: Thanks for always being there for me. I love you to the end of the earth and beyond.

Isis-Neptune: I am trying to relax. I think I need some sleep or something.