A/N: Usual disclaimer. I own the plot and some of the character names, the characters and places from J.K. Rowling's wonderful series are not mine.

The official home of this fanfic: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/severussnapesgirl/

Thanks to all of my reviewers.

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Chapter 15: Southern Customs

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The next day Ashley sat in the Great Hall as the students walked in and glanced around, noticing that she was the only professor there. She ordered them to sit down at their respective tables. "All right. The usual practice is to have two of the judges here to confirm the placement." As Ashley said that, Snape walked in, trying to look formidable. "Ah, right on time Professor Snape. The names are not in an order, but if you here your name called, listen for your chair placement as well. When your name is called please stand. Let's begin." Ashley scanned the Great Hall to make sure she had everybody's attention. Snape handed her a roll of parchment that was inside of his robes.

Ashley looked at the first name and smiled "Ronald Weasley, 1st chair Trumpet". Ron smiled and stood up as the Gryffindors cheered. "Draco Malfoy, 1st chair Tenor Saxophone", Ashley called. Draco stood, rather proudly, as the Slytherins cheered. Ashley darted her eyes to notice that Snape was nodding very smugly. "Seamus Finnegan, 2nd chair Cello", "Hermione Granger, 7th chair Clarinet", "Vincent Crabbe, 1st chair Tuba", "Gregory Goyle, 2nd chair Tuba", "Padama Patil, 1st chair Clarinet", "Cho Chang, 1st chair Violin", "Justin Finch-Fletchly, 1st chair Oboe", "Dennis Creevey, 1st chair French Horn", "Colin Creevey, 1st chair Percussion", "Harry Potter, 1st chair Mallet Percussion and Piano", "Hannah Abbott, 1st chair Viola", "Ginny Weasley, 2nd chair Flute", "Lavender Brown, 1st chair Flute", "Pavarti Patil, 2nd chair Violin", "Blaise Zambini, 1st chair Baritone", "Stewart Ackerley, 3rd chair Clarinet", "Malcolm Baddock, 5th chair Trumpet", "Eleanor Branstone 6th chair Clarinet", "Dean Thomas, 2nd chair Trumpet", Ashley continued to call out names as more people stood up.

"Congratulations to all of you that made it. I will be posting up a practice schedule by next week. Those of you who are involved in quidditch, I will try to work around your practices. That is all, you may now go off to enjoy the rest of your weekend. Thanks." Ashley said as she rolled up the scroll with the names of her 128-member symphony.

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A couple of weeks later, Ashley stormed down to the dungeons to have a nice civil chat with the Head of Slytherin House. Yeah Right. Ashley knocked on his door and waited for a response. He replied with a calm "Come in." Ashley walked in an found him grading papers, he didn't even bother to look up.

Ashley plopped down into a chair in front of his desk. "Look we need to have a talk." Ashley said while trying not to sound too southern.

"About what?" Snape replied coolly, still looking down at the papers that he was grading.

"About one of your students. Draco Malfoy. I have never seen one person be so obsessed about getting laid before. Maybe you telling him to tone down his little perverted mind would sort things out. I have taken house point away but that doesn't affect him. I even gave him a detention for it."

"Yes, believe me, I heard all about it. You forcing him to tune instruments and clean up after your dogs." Snape commented after Ashley's mentioning about Draco's detention.

"I would have made him do more but I couldn't take hearing him say, 'Wait 'til my father hears about this.' It took all of my energy to resist chucking a snare drum at his head if he didn't stop, so I let him leave after only an hour." Ashley glared, recalling the boys whining.

"Fine, I'll talk to him, and if it isn't stopped, inform me immediately." Ashley nodded and walked toward his door. As she stepped towards to door, her ankle popped in protest. Ashley winced and tried to take another step but fell into the door. Snape stood up and looked at her, dumbfounded.

"Look I am fine." Ashley said trying to stand and failing terribly.

"The hell you are, Miss Hammock. You can't even stand."

"So, I am still fine. I can't feel my right foot but I am fine. Nothing out of the normal." Ashley said while wincing slightly.

"Right, I don't believe that. I will get Madame Pomfrey." Snape walked over to his fireplace and called for Madame Pomfrey. "Professor Hammock is down here and just collapsed."

"Collapsed?"

"Yes, she is conscious but complaining about her right foot."

"All right, I will be down in a minute."

A couple minutes passed at Severus paced around his office. Madame Pomfrey came and looked at Ashley who was still lying on the floor. "Ashley, Severus told me that it is your right foot that is the problem."

"Yeah, I over did it today, I think."

"Ok, I will give you something for the pain and inflammation and you should be feeling worlds better after it takes affect. Remember, even with those insoles in, you still have a limit, as much as you want to break it, don't."

"I know. Thanks." Ashley said as she gulped down the potion for pain and inflammation. After it took affect Ashley stood up and Madame Pomfrey left.

"Now that you are better. What was that about?" Snape questioned harshly.

"Well, I went past my five-hour limit today. I should only be on my feet for less that five hours straight. Thanks to my lovely foot condition." Ashley noted Severus' quizzical look and guessed that he didn't know. "I was born with clubfoot, but it was corrected and now I deal with the side effects of it being corrected, weak ankles, fallen arches, and one ugly scar."

Severus looked at her, noting the way her voice changed when she had to explain it all. "I understand."

Ashley walked toward him, "Thanks. I must be going now." She grabbed him and hugged him and planted a kiss on his cheek. Ashley glanced at him. "Sorry, I am southern. Very open and love to hug."

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A/N: Phew. That was hard to write. Now I know what to do next. Mwahahahaa. Me evil. I know.

More updates to come. I promise that I will update sooner. My life has finally settled down to the point that I can write fanfics again. Thank God.

Please read and review.