I saw you reblogged that post about angsting over the idea of Severus and Charity Burbage having had a relationship and I'd really like to hear a little fic from you about how they got together

A little quick, but here we go.  :)

“Severus.”  McGonagallpaused, and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Severus, really!”  She watchedhelplessly as the younger man howled with laughter, his head thrown backagainst the staffroom wall.

“That’s quite enough, Severus,” Dumbledore said, sternly,and Snape’s riotous laughter finally abated.

“I do apologise, Headmaster,” he said, a smirk stilladorning his face.  “Professor Quirrell.”  He gave a half nod.

Quirrell scowled, and adjusted the neck of his robes.  “Thank you.  Thank you, my friends.  I am looking forward to this next step in my career.  Of course, I hadexpected some jealousy,” he shot back, “from certain colleagues who have failed to progress themselves, and don’t havethe necessary bravery or courage to…”  Hetrailed off as Snape’s cold black eyes bored into his own, his smirk now but amemory.  “That is, ahem, to say…to say…”

Dumbledore stepped forward, and clasped Quirrell’sshoulder.  “You shall be missed.  I know I speak for both the students and thestaff,” he paused, and inclined his head towards Snape until the Potions Master stopped glaring at Quirrell, “when I say that your work as Muggle Studiesteacher has been exemplary-”

“Exemplary,” Snape echoed, giving a sarcastic round of applause.

“Severus, a word, if I may?”

“As you wish, Headmaster.”

Snape watched as the rest of his colleagues filed out of thestaffroom, all wishing Quirrell well on his impending travels.

“Your reaction to your colleague’s upcoming adventure was…curious.”

“His entire trip is curious,” Snape sneered.  “Practical experience!  What a ridiculous notion – the man can barelyteach Muggle Studies.  It is implausiblethat he’s going to pick up enough practical experience in a year overseas to beable to teach Defence in an adequate manner.”

“Ah.  You think youcould offer more?”

“At Defence, or Muggle Studies?” Snape shot back.

“I would imagine that you were suitably qualified for either.”

Snape gave a soft laugh. “I could just imagine Malfoy’s face if I took on the newly vacated roleof Muggle Studies teacher.”

Dumbledore gave a wry smile. “Now now, let’s not be hasty.  Icould well imagine Lucius Malfoy rubbing his hands together with glee at theidea of having a hand in our Muggle Studies curriculum.”

“Indeed.  On secondthoughts,” Snape smiled back, “perhaps I should put my name forward?”

“I think not,” Dumbledore said quickly.  “I already have an application form from youin my office for the Defence position.”

“Oh…yes.”  Snapepaused.  “Tell me, what did I write thisyear?”

Dumbledore waved his hand. “How you feel that your recent OWL results speak for themselves, andthat you feel you can bring such competency to another subject within theschool.”

“Better than last year’s effort,” Snape nodded curtly.  “Didn’t I apparently witter on about classroomattendance?”

“I believe you did. For four pages.  Including aninsulting illustration.”  Dumbledoresmiled.  “I feel that your applicationswill only improve in quality as the years go by.  Naturally, I already have someone in mind forthe position.”

“Of course.”  Snapefrowned at Dumbledore’s continued silence. “…you’re not actually suggesting I do apply for Muggle Studies, are you?”

“No,” Dumbledore said. “The Defence application is one thing, but it wouldn’t do for you toappear disgruntled within your current role.”

“Then, Headmaster, with all due respect, why did you wish tospeak to me?”  He gave a broad smile in sudden realisation.  “It was because I laughedat him, wasn’t it?  Because I mocked him?”

Dumbledore shook his head. “No.  Well, I would appreciate itif you could curb such…excesses towards your fellow staff members in the future…”

Snape nodded.

“But I wished to ask you to try and welcome our new Muggle Studies teacher withopen arms.”

“Open arms?”

“A friendly face.”

“A friendly face?” Snape’s eyebrows were raised so high, they almost reached his hairline.  “Me? Why not McGonagall?  OrFlitwick?  Or Sprout, she’s always blatheringon about friendship and-”

“Severus, it is important that you appear sufficientlyingratiated into Hogwarts when you return to your Dark Lord.”

“And you suggest I do so by befriending the Muggle Studiesteacher?” Snape scoffed.  “Yes, that willgo down fantastically well!  He’s alwaysbeen so supportive of-”

“-you would do well to prove,” Dumbledore said coldly, “thatyou have his best interests at heart.”

Snape frowned.

“And you do that,” Dumbledore continued, “by doing whateveris required of you, no matter how distasteful the task first appears.”  He gave Snape a sharp look.  “You explain that whilst you have myconfidence, you were curious at how the Muggle Studies teacher had been takenunder my wing.”

“…go on.”

“And that you decided, of your own volition, to see if the informationfiltered back through the Muggle Studies teacher matched with your ownexperiences.”  He peered at the youngerman.  “Are we in agreement?”

“What do you mean, you’ve never been?”

“Oh, and you have?”

Snape barked a laugh. “I cannot believe that you’re teaching Muggle Studies and you’ve neverbeen to the cinema.”

“And I can’t believe that you’re the Head of Slytherin, and youindulge in such Muggle pursuits.”

“…touché.”

She leant forward, her glass clutched in her hands.  “And you don’t even deny it.”  She peered at him.  “What sort of a pureblood are you?”

He gave a wide grin and lowered his voice conspiratorially, leaning forward to whisper.  “The halfblood type.”

Burbage’s peals of laughter were high-pitched and loud.  “Halfblood. Yes!  You’re so obviously ahalfbood.”

“All right,” Snape said, picking up the rapidly emptyingwhisky bottle and refilling their glasses. “There’s no need to gloat.”

“Snape.  Snape, Snape,Snape.  It’s not a pureblood name atall.  It’s just, with you being head of-”

“I have heard this before,” he interrupted smoothly.  “My mother was a pureblood, if that helps.”

“And your father a half?”

“With a name like Snape?”

“He was a Muggle?”

“You don’t need to look scandalised.  You are the Muggle Studies teacher, are you not?  I thought you approved of mixed relations?”

Burbage glanced down apologetically.  “Sorry, it’s just, it’s not every day ahalfblood makes head of-”

“-and certainly not one with a filthy Muggle father.”

“Severus!”  Burbagelooked appalled.

“I’m not referring to his blood.  He himself is the filth,” he quicklyelaborated.  “Well, was.”

“Was?”  She shifteduneasily.  “Well, I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I’m not.”

“Severus!”

He stood, and took a long gulp of his whisky, the harsh liquid burningthe back of his throat.  “Come on then.  We can’t Apparate from the grounds.”

“Apparate?  To where?”

He rolled his eyes, and forcibly removed the glass from herhand, holding out his arm instead.  “Tothe cinema.  Where else?”