A/N: Usual disclaimer! I own the plot and some character names nothing else!

Also, if anybody has any questions about showing and what some of the things that are said within this chapter, please feel free to ask on a review or via email. Longer chapter than usual, all of the details cannot be left out. Thanks to the reviews.....me want more. I want to read some funny reviews.

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Chapter 8: Dog Show

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Ashley,

I heard through the grapevine that you are in England. Your mom gave me the address so I decided to write a little letter. Plus I think you need some company. I mean how much fun can you have there with only Joey. That can't be much fun. Wow maybe for you but not for me. So I guess you are having some kind of fun, but not the kind to run home and brag to mom and dad about. Oh well. You need to have some real fun, without Joey. I mean go out guy spotting and everything. Plus a certain frog is missing your lovely company. Also, I think your dogs need to have some fun too. Which means I want to bring Belle. I think she could keep everybody on his or her toes for sure. I would love to come this weekend. Your mom told me that you have a show that weekend too. That should be fun. It will give me some time to catch up on my reading. Then you can ditch Joey and let him take care of the dogs while we find a nice cozy bar to make fun of people in. See you then.



Aelanna

P.S. I probably cannot come to the show, since my flight won't get in until 5pm. Your mom told me how to get to Hogwarts and I will be waiting for you when you come back from the show.

That was Ashley's one surprise of the day. The Mignallione family owl soaring towards her and biting her hard on the nose, announcing that it has a letter. Just what she needed for the weekend, Aelanna dropping in to watch her, Joey, and Severus Snape show dogs. Oh joy, how delightful. Plus she is bringing the real psycho dog from Hell, Belle, the nutso Redbone Coonhound. Ashley didn't feel like getting into another mental battle with herself again. Plus she knew that she was going to lose either way. So she got up from her usual spot at the table and headed off to train at least one of the dogs before her mid-day class.

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Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing in front of Hagrid, listening to one of his little talks about what they are going to be doing today in Care of Magical Creatures when he stopped abruptly. "Look there, the great oaf forgot what he was going to say." Draco said to his group of Slytherins, who chuckled evilly.

"Hagrid, what? What's up? Why did you stop?" Harry asked, looking very concerned.

"Oh, sorry. Everyone, get into groups of three and begin to work with the Clabbert." Hagrid said, recovering rather smoothly.

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked over and began working with their Clabbert, also keeping an eye on Hagrid. Mostly, Hagrid sat on the steps of his house, scratching Fang behind the ears, looking at something near the lake. Then Harry saw what had got Hagrid's attention before, Professor Hammock was doing something with her dog, and it looked like she was training it but Harry wasn't sure. She was standing about three feet in front of her large dog, holding one finger in the air as the dog stood perfectly still. Harry walked over to Hagrid and stood in front of him.

"Hagrid, what is she doing?"

"Oh, I think she is training him right now. She mentioned something about dog shows."

"I hope she is better than my Aunt Marge. She has these bulldogs that are just flat out mean."

Just then, Professor Hammock turned the Great Dane around and headed back into the castle. Harry then went back to work with Ron and Hermione. Hagrid just sat there, still scratching Fang behind the ears.

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Saturday morning came and Severus Snape was sitting in Professor Hammock's office wearing blue jeans, a button-up black shirt, and some back boots. Snape thought, "Why the hell am I here? Oh yeah, because I had to open my big mouth, lovely. Now I have to spend a whole day with Ashley and her boyfriend. Why? Why? Why? Note to self, never make a stupid comment again." Ashley walked out into her office, wearing black pants, a form-fitted white shirt, a leather jacket that was nearly knee length, and black boots. She threw a thin dog leash at Snape. "You'll need that."

"Who am I showing by the way?"

"I'm not sure yet, it all depends on the kind of competition that is present."

"Right. Why so early though."

"Well this is an all day thing. Plus I have to do some grooming which means we need to leave now. Joey already has the dogs at the show grounds and has arranged for a portkey to be on the outskirts of Hogsmeade." Ashley went over to her desk and picked up a bag full of meat and a jar of peanut butter. "Let's go." They got up and Snape lead Ashley to one of the tunnels that lead directly into Hogsmeade. They arrived at Hogsmeade and found the portkey and waited for it to transport them to the show grounds. Ashley stood there, holding a deflated basketball, humming along to her "Theme Song" which was currently trapped inside of her head.

"What's that you're humming?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Sure. Whatever you say."

"Ok, it is my favorite song. It is a country song that I was addicted to when I was a teenager called 'I'm from the Country'. Kind of a silly song really but it is very catchy."

"I bet."

"Not much longer now." Ashley looked at her watch, only three more seconds left. Now two seconds left and now one second left. Whoosh. Ashley and Severus held on to the basketball for dear life when they arrived behind a building.

"Here we are." Ashley said, walking inside and taking in all the sights of her favorite past time, dog shows. Joey came walking up to Ashley with a beagle in his arms. "Hey, is Shiloh done?"

"Hey, no. She won't let me chalk her at all."

"Ok. I'll do it. Where did you set up?"

Joey pointed to a spot not three feet away. Ashley followed him, with Severus following behind her, looking around at what he thought was mass confusion. Joey put the beagle down on the grooming table and attached the loop around her head. Ashley grabbed the white chalk and tried to chalk her, but she wouldn't stay still.

"I know, Joey here take the peanut butter and let her lick some off. That should distract her a bit." Sure enough, it worked. Ashley and Joey finished grooming all of the dogs, while Snape sat in a chair, munching on popcorn.

"Come on Severus, you are coming with me. We need to check something out." Ashley said, handing Severus a beagle.

"Ok. Like what? I wonder."

"I need to see how the judges work before I take the dogs in the ring. Also it will give you a good chance to see how people show dogs before you show."

"Oh right. Have you decided yet?

"Mars is too easy to show, Shiloh is my girl and won't respond to anybody but me. Nina cannot be shown until he pups are whelped. Jazz, Dolly, and Jamie are Joey's, that leaves Newton and Magi. They are fairly easy to show but they can be a handful at times. I think that it would be best for you to show Newton."

"Ok, which one is Newton?" Severus said, pointing at the beagle at his side.

"Newton is on my left, he has the white spot in between his shoulder blades." Ashley said pointing to the beagle that was checking out everything in his path. They arrived at the ring and watched people showing some Dachshunds. Severus watched intently as the handlers walked around and placed the dogs on the table. Ashley kept her eyes focused on the judge, watching his every move. Joey arrived about twenty minutes later, with Jamie at his side. Ashley checked with the ring steward and the steward presented her with her dogs' identification numbers.

"Joey, here is Magi's number. Severus you take this, this is Newton's number." Severus mimicked Ashley in putting on the number. Joey picked up Jamie's number from the same steward and placed over the other number. The judge finished judging the Dachshunds and announced for the Clumber Spaniels to enter in the ring. Joey set up Jamie perfectly as the judge walked past him. The judge then ordered all the dogs to move around the ring and stop. Everybody around the ring clapped approvingly as they came to a halt. Jamie was first in line, the judge stepped back and looked at his outline, then came forward to examine him. He bent down and lifted up the Clumber's lips and checked his bite, then moved his hands down his front then to his back, and finally the rear. The judge checked the length of the tail and checked to make sure that everything was "in tact" in the rear area. He then stepped back and ordered Joey to move him in a diagonal down and back. He did and self stacked Jamie perfectly, then preceded to the end of the line.

"That is all you have to do with Newton." Ashley commented.

"Do I have to pick him up or anything?"

"Yes, all you have to do for that is pick him, up by one hand in between his forelegs and the other hand in between his hind legs, and lift him on the table. I'll show you." Ashley bent down and picked up Newton and placed him on a spare table outside of the ring and set him up. "See that is all you have to do, make sure he stands just like this, if he doesn't do it at first then put each leg in its proper place, like this. If he drops his tail then lift it up and hold it in place. " As Ashley finished explaining, the judge was finishing up the judging of this class. He still had Jamie out in front as he ordered the dogs to move around again. He pointed his finger at Jamie, making him the winner of the dog CC and Best of Breed. Joey walked out of the ring smiling. Ashley ran to him and instead of kissing him, she bent down and gave Jamie a big kiss. Which Jamie happily licked her nose. Now it was time for the beagles to enter in the ring.

The male puppies went first. Ashley told Severus that he didn't go in until the Open Dog division. So, Ashley began to practice with Shiloh and Joey did the same with Magi. The judge finished with the puppies and announced for the open dogs to enter in the ring. Severus entered in the ring, Ashley and Joey stopped practicing and watched. Severus was second in line and set up Newton as good as any professional. The judge had all the dogs go around the ring and stop. Severus stopped just behind the table as the first person put their dog up on the table. They finished and Severus put Newton on the table and arranged him into the proper stance. The judge proceeded just like he had done with the others dogs and watched as Severus leaded Newton in a perfect down and back. Severus even tried to get Newton into a self-stack that wasn't perfect but it wasn't terrible. The judge finished with the other dogs and asked Severus to move to the front of the line and awarded him first place. Severus walked out of the ring with blue ribbon in hand.

"Nice job, couldn't have done it better myself." Ashley commented. "Now you have to go back in the ring in a bit, after the champion dogs compete. More than likely the judge will have you walk around a bit and then will make a decision on which dogs gets to move on to Best of Breed." The champions finished and Severus went back into the ring and sure enough, the judge made them walk around the ring. Then the judge pointed... the crowd burst into applause, Severus had won. Ashley couldn't believe it, Newton with a CC, Severus Snape had shown him to that CC, and Newton beat out a champion! Severus walked out of the ring with another ribbon in hand as the other people congratulated him.

"Wow. Nice job." Ashley said, beaming at him. She picked up Newton who was baying happily. "Now after the females compete, you will go back in for the Best of Breed competition."

"Are you sure you don't want to show him during that?"

"No, why break up a winning team right now? You can show him."

The female puppies went in the ring to compete as Ashley and Joey waited for the Open Bitches to compete. The puppies finished and Joey handed Jamie to Severus as they both entered the ring. Ashley was out in front and Joey was behind her. Ashley didn't lay a hand on Shiloh as she went into a perfect self-stack. The judge passed by Ashley then by Joey and went down the line. He walked towards Ashley and told everyone to move his or her dogs around the ring and stop. Ashley placed Shiloh on the table and waited for the judge to examine her. The judge began to examine Shiloh and then he commented to Ashley about how well trained she is. Ashley then moved her down and back, with a beautiful self-stack. The judge finished judging everyone, he had Ashley in front, Joey in second and he moved a dog from the back into third. To everyone's surprise, the judge called out Ashley and Joey and ordered them to go back to back in a face off. Shiloh stood perfectly still, hardly breathing and Magi fidgeted slightly. The judge pointed and Ashley was awarded first place. There weren't any female champions so Ashley stayed in the ring as the puppy winner was placed behind. The judge didn't even move them he pointed at Ashley and awarded her the CC.

Severus walked back into the ring with Newton for Best of Breed competition. Ashley looked at Severus, "I'm not going easy on you. You know what you are doing." The judge ordered Ashley to walk Shiloh around the ring and stop. He then ordered Severus to do the same. They both placed their dogs into a stack. Newton caught a slight glimpse of what Ashley was giving to Shiloh, to keep her attention, he began to twitch slightly. The judge kept on glancing at each dog, trying to make a decision. Newton however was now pawing at the ground and trying to break away from Severus' tight grip, which gave him the appearance of a bobble-head doll. The judge pointed at Shiloh, awarding her Best of Breed. Severus stood behind Ashley as she got the Best of Breed ribbon, Newton had gone from bobble-head doll to miniature kangaroo and was now bouncing up and down, trying to get in Ashley's back pocket.

The photographer arrived and took the pictures. Ashley checked her watch and realised that they needed to be in the ring in less than twenty minutes. So, they hurried back and crated the dogs. Ashley and Joey uncrated the Great Danes and prepared to go back in the ring. "Severus, if you want, you can go explore. You can take a dog out if you want. Be back in an hour."

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An hour passed and Severus had finished "exploring", as Ashley so nicely put it over a half an hour ago. Sure enough, Ashley and Joey came back exactly an hour later, the were both wearing scowls. Apparently, they didn't do half as good in the Great Dane ring as they did with the Clumbers and Beagles. They didn't get not one single first or second place.

Ashley and Joey went down and competed in the group competition. They didn't win or get a placement. After that, Joey packed up everything and told Ashley that he would drop it off later on that night. Joey handed Ashley the portkey, and she and Severus walked out and went back to Hogwarts.

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A/N: Well there ya go. Wow this was a long chapter but I needed to have all of those details. Those of you who are seriously lost please give me a review about it ot email me and I will explain. New chapter coming soon. New character being introduced in the next chapter too. Now onto my reviewers.

La Pamplemousse: Yes I am BACK!! I am sorry if I scarred you, I did that chapter in the Karaoke contest as a dare.

Felicity Jones: Thankie....this is a much more serious story than my other one for sure.

Iggytheicyiguana: Thanks. I just might use that idea.