A strident ring of a telephone interrupted the conversation. Adam looked apologetically at Severus, walked to his cluttered desk in the far corner of the living room and answered the call.
"Hello?" said Adam in a harried voice.
"Well MacLeod, what can I do for you?" he asked picking up a letter opener from the desk and using it to tap an impatient staccato against the black desk mat. "No no I'm fine. Nothing to worry about Mac...just a friend of an old friend dropping by for a visit."
"No not that type of old friend. Honestly can't anyone go about their own business without Nanny Joe and the boyscout jumping to conclusions." Severus watched as Adam stabbed the letter opener against the mat to make his point. "Really I'm fine. Yes, mother I'll be careful. You know MacLeod contrary to popular opinion I can take care of myself. I've been at this a very long time."
Seveus heard the caller mumble a reply and what sounded like a question. "He's staying with me for a couple of weeks okay." Adam waved his hand around in a circle in front of him as if to say 'get to the point.' Ten he slouched in defeat. "Yes yes, we'll be by this afternoon. Happy? I'm starting to think you don't like me having other friends."
"No need for sarcasm. I get it. Like I said we'll be by around one. You can check him out then." Said Adam with an unpleasant smile plastered onto his face. "And Macleod, I'm sure he's just your type all dark and broody."
Severus winced as he heard the receiver being banged down onto the cradle. Adam came back to the table muttering a stream of obscenities that would have made a multinational crew of sailors blush. Needless to say Severus was impressed.
As Adam sat down, Severus raised his right eyebrow in silent question. Adam signed and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "That was just my annoying friend MacLeod the younger. He's just calling to make sure that you haven't killed me yet." Severus looked at Adam in confusion. "He seems to think that anyone forced to spend an entire night with me will eventually harbor homicidal thoughts."
"Knows you quite well does he?" Chuckled Severus.
"You don't want to know."
"Does he and the other muggle know what you are?" asked Severus changing the subject hoping to get a more straight forward answers than he received last night.
"What? Oh you mean about the magic?"
Seveus nodded but kept quiet.
"No. It's none of their business really. It confuses most non-magical people, so I don't normally go into it." Adam shrugged, "it's not like I use it much anyway."
"But the power..."
"Yeah well, it's not all what it's cracked up to be. Besides I like life as a muggle. The books are better; the music is fantastic and the speed of progress more than make up for the minor inconvenience of not using magic. Nintendo alone is enough to make me give up my wand."
"Speaking of wands, I noticed last night that you didn't use one."
"Damn I didn't think you spotted that." Adam massaged the bridge of his nose. He looked up and met Severus' gaze. "I guess since Albus praises you to high heaven..."
"The headmaster is a trusting fool." Said Severus without missing a beat.
"Yes, well be that as it may," sighed Adam, "he trusts you."
"Look you need not tell me anything." Said Severus giving Adam an out.
"No Albus feels that it is important for you to know. I trust Albus and therefore I trust you."
Severus' eyes widened at Adam's declaration. The man in front of him was one that clearly did not give trust easily. Even his closest friends did not know all his secrets. Severus felt honored beyond words. He simply replied, "Thank you."
"Only Albus know the entire story. It's dangerous knowledge to posses. Are you sure you want to know?" Adam asked. Severus met Adams stare and nodded once.
"I am the last of the mage."
"Hello?" said Adam in a harried voice.
"Well MacLeod, what can I do for you?" he asked picking up a letter opener from the desk and using it to tap an impatient staccato against the black desk mat. "No no I'm fine. Nothing to worry about Mac...just a friend of an old friend dropping by for a visit."
"No not that type of old friend. Honestly can't anyone go about their own business without Nanny Joe and the boyscout jumping to conclusions." Severus watched as Adam stabbed the letter opener against the mat to make his point. "Really I'm fine. Yes, mother I'll be careful. You know MacLeod contrary to popular opinion I can take care of myself. I've been at this a very long time."
Seveus heard the caller mumble a reply and what sounded like a question. "He's staying with me for a couple of weeks okay." Adam waved his hand around in a circle in front of him as if to say 'get to the point.' Ten he slouched in defeat. "Yes yes, we'll be by this afternoon. Happy? I'm starting to think you don't like me having other friends."
"No need for sarcasm. I get it. Like I said we'll be by around one. You can check him out then." Said Adam with an unpleasant smile plastered onto his face. "And Macleod, I'm sure he's just your type all dark and broody."
Severus winced as he heard the receiver being banged down onto the cradle. Adam came back to the table muttering a stream of obscenities that would have made a multinational crew of sailors blush. Needless to say Severus was impressed.
As Adam sat down, Severus raised his right eyebrow in silent question. Adam signed and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "That was just my annoying friend MacLeod the younger. He's just calling to make sure that you haven't killed me yet." Severus looked at Adam in confusion. "He seems to think that anyone forced to spend an entire night with me will eventually harbor homicidal thoughts."
"Knows you quite well does he?" Chuckled Severus.
"You don't want to know."
"Does he and the other muggle know what you are?" asked Severus changing the subject hoping to get a more straight forward answers than he received last night.
"What? Oh you mean about the magic?"
Seveus nodded but kept quiet.
"No. It's none of their business really. It confuses most non-magical people, so I don't normally go into it." Adam shrugged, "it's not like I use it much anyway."
"But the power..."
"Yeah well, it's not all what it's cracked up to be. Besides I like life as a muggle. The books are better; the music is fantastic and the speed of progress more than make up for the minor inconvenience of not using magic. Nintendo alone is enough to make me give up my wand."
"Speaking of wands, I noticed last night that you didn't use one."
"Damn I didn't think you spotted that." Adam massaged the bridge of his nose. He looked up and met Severus' gaze. "I guess since Albus praises you to high heaven..."
"The headmaster is a trusting fool." Said Severus without missing a beat.
"Yes, well be that as it may," sighed Adam, "he trusts you."
"Look you need not tell me anything." Said Severus giving Adam an out.
"No Albus feels that it is important for you to know. I trust Albus and therefore I trust you."
Severus' eyes widened at Adam's declaration. The man in front of him was one that clearly did not give trust easily. Even his closest friends did not know all his secrets. Severus felt honored beyond words. He simply replied, "Thank you."
"Only Albus know the entire story. It's dangerous knowledge to posses. Are you sure you want to know?" Adam asked. Severus met Adams stare and nodded once.
"I am the last of the mage."