Severus Snape, Potion Master, ex-Death Eater and double agent extrodinaire was hung over. Very hung over. His tongue felt like wet sandpaper, his mouth tasted like a sewer and he was naked. None of these were a good sign. He groaned as he the sound of metal on metal shook his cranium. Just how much had he drunk last night? It couldn't have been that much. There was moment of disorientation as he cracked open his eyes and got his first look at the small bedroom; a single bed, a night table and a small bookcase filled to the brim with cheap paperback novels were all that the room contained. Where the hell was he? Not Hogwarts, it was too sterile. Then he remembered Albus, Adam and his two weeks exile in Seacouver Washington. It had been a strange night and getting pissed drunk, he admitted, had not helped. How the in the bloody hell did he get himself into these messes?
Just as Severus convinced himself that perhaps the next two weeks were best spent in bed, the bedroom door flung open and Adam appeared in front of him hale and hearty. The bugger, thought Severus, the man could have at least had the courtesy to look as bad as Seveus felt. He cautiously rolled his eyes up to meet Adams gaze.
"Not much of a morning person are you," Adam laughed.
"Oh just shut up." Severus clutched at his head in a vain attempt to stop the room from spinning out of control.
"Breakfast is ready," said Adam, and with a wicked smile he added, "if you're up for it." Severus threw Adam the universal finger gesture of disapproval. Adam snickered and sauntered out of the room tossing a light blue bathrobe over Severus' head. Gods kill me now, thought Severus. It was just so unfair. One minute you're looking forward to two weeks of solitude and next you're playing drinking games with the poster boy for Alcoholics Anonymous. To top it all off Seacouver was a hangover-potion free zone. Life was simply too cruel for words.
Twenty minutes later, Severus found himself seated at the kitchen table fingers curled around his second cup of strong black coffee feeling barely human.
"You're sure you don't want any?" asked Adam chewing away at a plate full of scrambled eggs. "It's my special recipe."
"No thank you." Said Severus as wave of nausea hit him.
"Your loss. Look why don't you bring me up-to-date on what's been happening," said Adam buttering a piece of toast.
"What do you know?"
"Oh last time Albus and I spoke, he said something about Harry Potter starting at Hogwarts." Severus sneered. Adam continued,"I know that the boy had something to do with the downfall of Voldemort about ten years ago but that's about it. I really wasn't paying attention to at the time."
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Well I was busy. You know things to do, people to avoid. Voldemort wasn't my problem." Shrugged Adam. "Anyway, there's always some freak that wants to take over the world. If it's not one it's another. I try not to get involved otherwise I'd never get any reading done. You sure you don't want any toast?" Severus shook his head.
"Anyway, I take it Voldemort is back?" asked Adam.
"Yes."
"What does Harry Potter have to do with it?"
"The boy was merely an instrument. From what we have deduced, the Dark Lord used Potter's blood to rise from the ashes and take corporeal form." Severus said with a snarl.
"You don't like the him do you?"
"Who Voldemort? Of course not."
"No Harry Potter."
"Whether I like him or not is of little consequence. He is a lack luster student and stubborn willful child. He does not follow the rules and his thoughtless actions puts others in jeopardy."
"All you youngsters are willful Severus. It is the way of the world." Said Adam rising to get the coffeepot. "Albus seems fond of him."
"Yes the headmaster is blind to Potter's many faults." Said Severus lip curled in distaste. Adam gave Severus an indulgent smile.
"How about we get back to Voldemort. You said he has risen. How?"
"We don't have very many details about ritual. Only what Potter could remember: flesh of a servant, bones of the father and blood of an enemy. Nothing more." Severus sighed. The information was sketchy at best. He had spent almost the entire summer following the Triwizard Tournament researching it but found nothing.
Adam returned to the table with the coffeepot. Filling his mug, he gestured to Severus. Severus declined with a wave but reached out and snagged a piece of toast from the plate in the middle of the table and started to munch.
"Now that he has regained a physical form," Severus continued, "his acolytes are returning to him droves. The Demetors have defected to his side. It is only a matter of time before the reign of terror begins full force. The headmaster is doing all he can to protect the muggleborn and their families but with the Minister of Magic refusing to acknowledge that Voldemort has his hands are tied."
"I see. What else?" asked Adam reaching for the sugar bowl.
"Even more of concern is the rumor is that Voldemort is now immortal."
Just as Severus convinced himself that perhaps the next two weeks were best spent in bed, the bedroom door flung open and Adam appeared in front of him hale and hearty. The bugger, thought Severus, the man could have at least had the courtesy to look as bad as Seveus felt. He cautiously rolled his eyes up to meet Adams gaze.
"Not much of a morning person are you," Adam laughed.
"Oh just shut up." Severus clutched at his head in a vain attempt to stop the room from spinning out of control.
"Breakfast is ready," said Adam, and with a wicked smile he added, "if you're up for it." Severus threw Adam the universal finger gesture of disapproval. Adam snickered and sauntered out of the room tossing a light blue bathrobe over Severus' head. Gods kill me now, thought Severus. It was just so unfair. One minute you're looking forward to two weeks of solitude and next you're playing drinking games with the poster boy for Alcoholics Anonymous. To top it all off Seacouver was a hangover-potion free zone. Life was simply too cruel for words.
Twenty minutes later, Severus found himself seated at the kitchen table fingers curled around his second cup of strong black coffee feeling barely human.
"You're sure you don't want any?" asked Adam chewing away at a plate full of scrambled eggs. "It's my special recipe."
"No thank you." Said Severus as wave of nausea hit him.
"Your loss. Look why don't you bring me up-to-date on what's been happening," said Adam buttering a piece of toast.
"What do you know?"
"Oh last time Albus and I spoke, he said something about Harry Potter starting at Hogwarts." Severus sneered. Adam continued,"I know that the boy had something to do with the downfall of Voldemort about ten years ago but that's about it. I really wasn't paying attention to at the time."
Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Well I was busy. You know things to do, people to avoid. Voldemort wasn't my problem." Shrugged Adam. "Anyway, there's always some freak that wants to take over the world. If it's not one it's another. I try not to get involved otherwise I'd never get any reading done. You sure you don't want any toast?" Severus shook his head.
"Anyway, I take it Voldemort is back?" asked Adam.
"Yes."
"What does Harry Potter have to do with it?"
"The boy was merely an instrument. From what we have deduced, the Dark Lord used Potter's blood to rise from the ashes and take corporeal form." Severus said with a snarl.
"You don't like the him do you?"
"Who Voldemort? Of course not."
"No Harry Potter."
"Whether I like him or not is of little consequence. He is a lack luster student and stubborn willful child. He does not follow the rules and his thoughtless actions puts others in jeopardy."
"All you youngsters are willful Severus. It is the way of the world." Said Adam rising to get the coffeepot. "Albus seems fond of him."
"Yes the headmaster is blind to Potter's many faults." Said Severus lip curled in distaste. Adam gave Severus an indulgent smile.
"How about we get back to Voldemort. You said he has risen. How?"
"We don't have very many details about ritual. Only what Potter could remember: flesh of a servant, bones of the father and blood of an enemy. Nothing more." Severus sighed. The information was sketchy at best. He had spent almost the entire summer following the Triwizard Tournament researching it but found nothing.
Adam returned to the table with the coffeepot. Filling his mug, he gestured to Severus. Severus declined with a wave but reached out and snagged a piece of toast from the plate in the middle of the table and started to munch.
"Now that he has regained a physical form," Severus continued, "his acolytes are returning to him droves. The Demetors have defected to his side. It is only a matter of time before the reign of terror begins full force. The headmaster is doing all he can to protect the muggleborn and their families but with the Minister of Magic refusing to acknowledge that Voldemort has his hands are tied."
"I see. What else?" asked Adam reaching for the sugar bowl.
"Even more of concern is the rumor is that Voldemort is now immortal."