A/N: Usual disclaimer. I own some names and the plot, nothing else.

Thanks for the reviews. I will try and update when I can. I got a new job, I am now working at a movie theater and they are making me work some long hours. So, I will update when I can. For those of you wondering, I have seen the HP 3 trailer so many times and yet Snape still makes me go weak in the knees. I have got it bad, I know.

On with the next chapter.

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Chapter 13: Get a Man

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Ashley grumbled as yet another woodwind player squeaked while playing scales. She silenced them with a quick hand signal. "Miss Granger! If you feel yourself getting ready to squeak then DO NOT PLAY AT ALL! I expect excellence, this goes for all of you! Excellence is my STANDARD, NOT my goal! Again! Circle of Fifths, we will not stop until every single one of you get it right, not just Weasley, Potter, and Malfoy! GOT IT! GOOD! AGAIN!" She counted them off as they went through the scales.

After the sixth time, they all got it right. Professor Hammock plopped down in her chair. "Finally. That was good, now why can't you do that all the time? I know you don't want to hear a lecture but now y'all need one, really bad." She looked around her class as they grumbled in disgust. "I take this very seriously. They way that some of you are acting, makes me wonder why I came all this way to teach you. Some of you seem to have an attitude towards music that is utterly disgusting. Music is not just some blank ink on paper. That it just one part of it. Music is a mixture of notes and feeling. I expect each and every one of you to play with feeling. If just one of y'all don't, it will stick out like a sore thumb. You have never experienced what it is like to compete with your peers in music. So I don't expect you to have the kind of passion that I have for music... yet." She paused as she gazed around her class. Hermione Granger raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Well, why don't you let us compete with our peers in music?"

"Great question. Well most judges think at your age, you should be playing at least at a grade IV level of music. I have plenty of grade IV, V, and even grade VI if you wish to try them out now. Before you even ask, grade levels are determined by the length, meter changes, key signature, range, and dynamic contrast. Y'all have been playing a grade III for a while now so, why don't we try some grade IV or V."

Ashley got up and rummaged through her desk and picked up a folder of music. It was titled "Hook Medley" written by John Williams and arranged by Ashley Hammock. "Alright flutes, please pass this out. Harry you will be on mallet percussion, Dean snare drum, the rest of the percussion parts can be covered by the rest of you." She pointed at the percussionists in the back. "Lead trumpet will be... you Mr. Weasley." She stood over her podium as she looked over the score. About three minutes later, everybody had their parts. "Alright, let me tell you a bit about the music. It is written by John Williams and arranged by me. I arranged this when I was 16 years old. It is a grade V piece, originally written for the soundtrack of the movie called 'Hook'. There are some weird meter changes in it but a fairly easy key signature, just watch out for the accidentals. Lets try it out and see how you do. Watch me for the tempo." Ashley counted off four beats and went into a steady conducting pattern until she stopped to tell her students about the time signature change and tempo change. After an hour of working on it, they were done.

"That was a grade V piece. You handled it very well. Any questions at all about the piece?" Ashley looked around at her students who were looking very tried and winded from all of the difficult playing. "None, then you are dismissed."

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Dumbledore sat at his desk, looking at his newest staff member. "Are you sure that they are ready to compete?"

"Yes, with some time and practice, I am positive that they would get an excellent rating, if not a superior rating." Ashley said while slightly swelling with pride.

"Alright you can do it but I want all of the years to be able to part-take in this."

"Ok. I'm sure that I can do that. I also want to have equal representation by instruments as well, which means that I will have to conduct an audition. Will that be fine?"

"Sure, I will get Mr. Filch to post a flyer outside of the Great Hall."

"Thanks, I will get to work with finding the pieces and have recording sent to you, if you want."

"That would be great. Have a good day Ashley." Ashley stood and walked out of the Headmaster's office, trying not to think of the daunting task that was now set before her. She walked back to her office. She looked around noticing its emptyness. She sighed and walked into her quarters as she looked at the vacant dog beds. Sometimes she hated the week of dog shows that left her feeling very alone on the week of her birthday.

Her rooms were decorated slightly different than we she first arrived. Now every space was covered in birthday cards, most from her numerous relatives and friends. Ashley walked over to one side of her bed and giggled as she saw her Clumber Spaniel puppy, fast asleep on top of a very pregnant Great Dane by the name of Jazz.

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The next morning, everybody in the Great Hall was chatting, waiting for the time that they could go to Hogsmeade. Ashley sat there in silence as she munched on her bacon. She looked up hopefully at the sound of the owls coming in the deliver the post. She noticed a huge Eagle Owl soaring towards her head. She thought hopefully "Please stop, please, please." The owl didn't and smacked her hard as it hit her shoulder. The owl fell onto her plate as Ashley grabbed the envelope out of its mouth. Ashley thought "Lovely, wonder what wonderful words of wisdom my mom has to say about me turning 27?" She gave the owl her bacon and talked to it softly "Bubba, I think you enjoy smacking into my bad shoulder on purpose, just to see me wince."

She opened the envelope. It contained a card, American money, and some pictures. The card was the usual corny "To my daughter on your birthday type." It always contained a wonderful message at the end like "Have a good day.", but this year it was "Find a man." Ashley smacked her head hard. Snape looked over at her, wondering what she had gotten. Ashley pocketed the card and the money. She looked at the pictures and smiled, they were of Thanksgiving. Each picture had tons of people waving in them while trying to eat tons of food. Ashley groaned at the sight of all the food.

Snape arched an eyebrow, "Do I want to know why you are making all the comotion?"

"I missed Thanksgiving and my mom felt like pictures would be the perfect birthday present. How thoughtful of her."

Snape looked at her, at her way to pull off sarcasm, "Is today your birthday?"

"Yup, I have been getting cards all week. Most have had witty messages but this one tops them all." Ashley mocked her mom's slight accent in a higher pitched voice when saying the phrase "Get a man."

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A/N: Well I hope that you enjoyed that chapter. That little fit in the beginning will be considered "mild" for the time being. The hear my arragnement of Hook (yes it actually exsists) go to http://www.geocities.com/hippyskaterclassof2004/music.html

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Thanks to all of my reviewers, yall rock!