"Slughorn excepted then?" Severus Snape asked a satisfied looking Dumbledore.
"With a little persuasion, yes." Dumbledore answered looking across his desk at Snape. "Which means you will finally be able to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Snape shifted uncomfortably under the headmaster's stare. "And you still won't tell me why it's so important that Slughorn returns to Hogwarts?"
Dumbledore smiled. "No, I think not. I have said all I'm going to say on the subject of Professor Slughorn."
Snape sat in a sullen silence for a moment before Dumbledore suddenly spoke again.
"Come, come, Severus. You have wanted this job for seventeen years, and now that you have it, you have nothing to say?"
Snape frowned, "for seventeen years we have discussed the position and all its... quirks, in great detail, I hardly see the point of repeating what has already been said. Especially considering that whether or not I am the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor I will most definitely be leaving Hogwarts at the end of this year."
Dumbledore smiled again. "Not necessarily, though my death and the curse will certainly mean you won't be returning to Hogwarts as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher or Potions Master, Lord Voldemort may yet have need of you here."
Snape raised an eyebrow, but Dumbledore waved his hand dismissively.
"That however, is a different conversation for a different time. For now, what I wish to discuss is your N.E.W.T. class."
"My N.E.W.T. class?" Snape asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore answered. "I'm afraid that unless you plan on taking only one new student this year, you will have to allow those who only achieved Exceeds Expectations in their Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.s."
"One student got an Outstanding?" Snape asked in surprise, then a sneer crossed his face. "Miss Granger, but of course. Very well Headmaster I will do as you say."
"Good, good." said Dumbledore in a dismissive tone, his eyes dropping to some letters on his desk. Snape stood up to leave, nodding to the Headmaster before striding across the office to the door to the spiral staircase. His hand was on the knob when Dumbledore spoke up.
"Oh, and Severus?" Dumbledore said without looking up from his desk. "Miss Granger, sadly, did not receive an Outstanding on her Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.."
"No?" asked Snape. "Then who?"
"I think you know the answer to that, Severus." said Dumbledore smiling slightly.
Snape looked sullen. "Yes Headmaster." he said and then quickly left.
As Snape descended the spiral staircase, he muttered angrily under his breath, "Potter."