Why not?

[jointheclub]

You're going through with this, then? My dear boy... I can't impress on you just how much I'd prefer to stay quiet. You shouldn't be taking yourself away from your other characters, in all their different, and quite dreadful, situations.

And don't tempt me with crystallized pineapple and the chance to get to know bright, promising young stars! I know quite a lot already, yes, quite a lot, and trying to trick me like that is naive. Dreadfully naive and shamelessly taking advantage of a poor old man just because you've read a book or two where he plays a not-inconsiderable role.

Which I am not proud of and I'll thank you to forget.

Comments

[jointheclub]

It was one thing to come out of hiding to teach again, it's quite another to have to be put somewhere that's lacking a wizarding population to an indecent degree. I'll barely be able to scrape up enough worthwhile guests for one of our little parties!

You'll come, of course, but what a shame no one from the Ministry will be around to catch up with. I have a few suggestions, that opening in the Goblin Liaison Office, you know. They do quite value my opinion on that sort of thing.

[snarkypotions]

I do not recall agreeing to attend anymore of your 'little parties.'

_{[Unimpressive puffery seems to be all those things are for the most part, though Snape will admit to the occasional noteworthy presence.]}

[jointheclub]

Always a hard one to lure, Severus, but I'm certain once you see the guest list for this summer I'm certain you'll be eager to come. And that's just the ones I know about. Things are looking up, you know, quite interesting students I seem to be scheduled for. Did you know there are unicorns that can talk?

[snarkypotions]

I am certainly not feeling any eagerness at the promise of even more students and talking unicorns, Horace. [Two years at Adstringendum does things to one's expectations of the unusual and interesting.] Don't tell me you are losing your touch.