A.N. : So I own nothing. HP world belongs to J.K. Rowling. Reviews would be Totally Awesome.

Snape could not believe that he was doing this. After the fiasco ten years before, he had sworn to himself that he would never set foot at another Post-Start-Of-Term gathering. And really, what was the point of them? A room full of people who they had seen every day for a month already, gossiping about their students and fellow colleagues alike. Yet here he was, walking in a defeated manner towards the staff room, preparing for three hours of forced socializing and babysitting that sniveling Quirrell.

He sighed, how had that pathetic lump gotten the Dark Arts job and not him? Snape was fully qualified for the position, more than fully qualified. Which is why Dumbledore won't let me have it. He thought wryly. He sighed again, seeing the room before him. After pausing for a brief second to collect himself, he pushed the door open and entered the room.

As expected, every other member of the staff was congregated in the magically expanded room, even the reclusive Professor Trelawney. What was completely unexpected was that all talking stopped the moment he walked through the door. Everyone stared for one heartbeat until Dumbledore's voice eschewed from across the room, "Ah, Severus, you came. Good."

There was another brief pause before the talking resumed, but Snape still felt out of place as he moved farther into the room. He had moved past half of his fellow teachers when he felt a hand grab his upper arm and drag him to a stop. He turned to look at the perpetrator, only to find Pomona Sprout, Minerva McGonagall, and Rolanda Hooch standing shoulder to shoulder behind him. He mentally balked at the sight, reminded suddenly of his first year attending this gathering. Where every single person, sans those three and Dumbledore, had pointedly ignored him.

"Professors," He said, nodding in their direction. "What may I do for you?"

McGonagall and Madam Hooch smiled as Pomona reached up and, to his chagrin, patted his cheek in a motherly fashion. "Oh Severus, we are so happy that you came!"

"Yah Snape, did you just forget to come all those other years?" Rolanda laughed in her rough way, causing McGonagall to frown

"Rolanda. You know perfectly well why Severus did not attend any of the past gatherings. And I can certainly understand why he would refrain from doing so." At this her frown deepened. "Such childish behavior I have never before seen from grown men and women!" Her eyes, which had been shooting daggers at the other professors, rested on his again. "But for the life of me, I can not understand what made you finally show up to this one."

Severus, not at all perturbed by her stare or the knowing smile being shared by Pomona and Rolanda, shrugged. "The headmaster asked me to come. Otherwise, I would not be here." He watched as the three women frowned. And then asked, "Have any of you seen Quirrell? I have to inform him of something."

The women's expressions all changed to thoughtfulness before revealing that they had not seen the man in question all night, but not to worry, because they were sure that he would show up sooner or later. Snape edged away from them, looking for either the silly turban of Quirrell, or the identifying white hair of Albus Dumbledore. His search was cut short, however, when a pair of startling green eyes popped up in front of him.

"Severus! I was worried you weren't coming!" Charity Burbage smiled up at him, then grabbed his hand and commenced to pulling him across the room. "Come on. You have to see the layout they've got at the food table! It's incredible."

Snape frowned. He was supposed to be keeping an 'eye on Quirrell' not looking at the way food was spread on a table. Luckily, when they reached said table, Professor Dumbledore was already there, filling his plate with cubed cheese and copious amounts of been dip.

…...

Dumbledore smiled at the two Professors; one looking extremely disheveled, the other thoroughly pleased; and continued to place more dip onto his depressingly small party plate. When he had added enough, he turned to face the other two. "Good evening Severus, Miss. Burbage. Isn't it a shame that Professor Quirrell could not be here tonight?"

He watched as Snape frowned and Charity Burbage's trademark smile turn into a sympathizing one. And, like that, an idea struck him. "Severus, why don't you and our lovely Professor here take a plate to the poor man. No one should miss out on Professor Sprout's delicious bean dip." He looked down at his tiny plate, already filled to the brim, and added "On second though, take two plates."