Many thanks to everyone for being so kind with your reviews. Your encouragement gives me courage. That said my apologies for not updating sooner. I've had writer's block as the characters were being decidedly uncooperative. If anyone knows where I can find or would like to beta please let me know. I'm having some problems with tense and general grammar. Thanks.
Chapter IV
"Look why don't we continue this conversation later." Said Adam getting up from the table. "You've had a stressful morning and we need to be at MacLeod's in," Adam checked his watch, "an hour." Severus nodded. "The bathroom is to your right and the towels are under the sink. Help yourself." Severus made his way towards the bathroom. Perhaps bathing will relieve the incessant throbbing in my head, he thought.
A long hot shower and a toothbrush charm later he returned to the guestroom feeling reasonably human. He frowned at the scrunched pile of dark clothing at the foot of his bed, even from a distance they smelled of cigarettes and cheap beer. He was in the midst of cursing his non-existent talent for laundry charms when Adam bounced into the room with a pile of clothes. "Thought you might want a change." Said Adam wrinkling his nose at the pungent pile. "But you'll have to go commando." Severus lifted an eyebrow in query. "Commando, you know without underwear.
"Oh" Severus found himself blushing.
"Hey, you're a friend of a friend. And mi casa es su casa, but I draw the line at sharing underwear." Said Adam handing Severus a pair of denim trousers, a soft cotton plaid shirt and a worn wool cable knit jumper. An image of McGonagall choking flashed through Severus' mind as he eyed the checkered monstrosity of a shirt.
"Thank you Adam. I'll just transfigure the towel into appropriate undergarments." Said Severus.
"Good, see you in a tick."
Oh well when in Rome, thought Severus. He quickly changed and joined Adam in the living room.
The trip to MacLeod's dojo was quick and relatively painless. The city passed by in a blur and Severus' white knuckle grip on the inside door handle of Adam's ancient Volvo eventually loosened. To Severus' relief Adam was a competent drive; although, if Adam was to be believed all other drivers were asses and not fit to breathe much less to be in charge of an automobile. While Severus found Adam's continuous diatribe peppered with seemingly endless and useless tidbits about the passing scenery amusing, he wondered why Adam drove at all given the amount of grief it seemed to cause him. Why not just apparate, thought Severus. He waited for a break in the monologue to ask but the question slipped from Severus' mind as the gentle roll of the car coupled with the warm heated air and Adam's velvety voice lulled him to sleep. It was the best sleep he had had in years. Severus was disappointed when the ride came to an end.
"Look Severus could you do me a favour?" said Adam looking up at the three story brick warehouse while potion master unfolded himself from the front seat.
"What?"
"When we go inside could you stand close...you know hover. Maybe glower at MacLeod once in a while."
"Why in the world would you want me to do that?"
"Well, MacLeod is a bit of an ass. I just want to shake his world view a bit."
"Yes and what does that have to do with me?"
"Well you're a good looking guy."
Severus looked at Adam in disbelief. "You want me to make him jealous?"
"No, it's not like that."
"Then explain it to me."
"It's just I hate being pegged. Mac seems to thinks that he knows everything about me. I want to mess with his mind."
"I don't know," said Severus fingering the wand tucked up his sleeve. "I have to spend two weeks in this God forsaken hell. And I definitely don't need any enemies."
Adam cocked his head and tensed. "We're being watched," he said leaning in. "Work with me here. I'll make it up to you." He flicked imaginary dust from Severus' shoulder and stoked his lapel. Severus could feel the warmth of Adam's hand even through the thick cashmere of his overcoat. "You know," Adam continued evenly, "Albus hasn't had a good prank pulled on him in years." Severus raised an eyebrow. "If you do this I'll help you pull one over on him."
Before the word "Done" was out of his mouth Severus felt Adams lips graze his cheek. He rolled his eyes in response as Adam smirked and walked away. What had he gotten himself into now, he thought? Still a chance to have one over on the headmaster was far too tempting an offer.
"So what exactly does your MacLeod do?" he asked catching up to Adam as he entered the building.
"He runs a martial arts dojo. At least in this lifetime." Adam shrugged.
"You want me to play lover in front of a man who knows muggle self-defense."
"Well it's not like you're defenseless is it?" Adam said looking down at the wand tip poking out of Severus' right sleeve.
"I suppose not," said Severus shoving the wand back up his sleeve and mentally going through his repertoire of non-life threatening hexes. "I still do not think this is a good idea."
"Come on it'll be fun." Adam pushed the double doors open with a flourish. "MacLeod we're here." He yelled into the room before grabbing Severus' upper arm and dragging him into the gym.
"You're fifteen minutes late, M...Adam." said an irate voice to Severus' left. He whipped around to find himself standing eye to eye with a formidable looking man with intense brown eyes and a rather overdone ponytail. "I was getting worried."
"You worry too much Duncan. We were simply delayed," said Adam waving off Macleod's concern. "Where's Joe."
The brown haired man eyes never left Severus as he responded to Adam. "He said he'd meet us at the bar later." Severus stiffened as Adam's friend checked him out from head to toe. "You must be Adam's friend. I am Duncan MacLeod," the man said warily. Severus could waves of distrust rolling off the man. The man's distrust confused Severus. Why was this man so worried, he thought? You would think that Adam regularly associated with murderers and rapists from the man's response.
"Oh how silly of me. Severus this is Duncan MacLeod. Duncan," Adam touched Severus' arm letting his hand linger. Severus could feel Macleod bristle. "This is Severus Snape. You know the friend of the friend I was talking to you about. We met last night but I've convinced him to stay with me for at least a few weeks."
Why don't you just urinate on me Adam and have done with it, Severus thought. He clamped down an urge to roll his eyes as Adam continued to stroke his arm. MacLeod's eyes flashed in confusion. Adam, Severus thought, you are simply amazing. Even Dumbledore couldn't touch this man's sheer audacity. Severus' mind boggled at the potential for revenge. Maybe Severus would spare the headmaster and get Adam to help him prank Sirius Black or better yet maybe he could talk Adam into pranking them both.
The light pressure from Adam's hand on his lapel brought Severus back from his reverie. Adam smiled and made leaned into Severus' chest. Severus watched as MacLeod's eyes narrowed to slits. To ram home the point Severus dropped his left arm around Adam's shoulders and extended his right hand in greeting to MacLeod. "Very nice to meet you Mr. MacLeod."
"Same Mr. Snape," MacLeod gripped Severus' hand crushing his long fingers like a vise. Urination would have definitely been the less painful option, Severus thought.
Thankfully before any bones could be broken Adam stepped in, "Well now that everyone's friendly, MacLeod, show me what Cassandra sent you."
Chapter IV
"Look why don't we continue this conversation later." Said Adam getting up from the table. "You've had a stressful morning and we need to be at MacLeod's in," Adam checked his watch, "an hour." Severus nodded. "The bathroom is to your right and the towels are under the sink. Help yourself." Severus made his way towards the bathroom. Perhaps bathing will relieve the incessant throbbing in my head, he thought.
A long hot shower and a toothbrush charm later he returned to the guestroom feeling reasonably human. He frowned at the scrunched pile of dark clothing at the foot of his bed, even from a distance they smelled of cigarettes and cheap beer. He was in the midst of cursing his non-existent talent for laundry charms when Adam bounced into the room with a pile of clothes. "Thought you might want a change." Said Adam wrinkling his nose at the pungent pile. "But you'll have to go commando." Severus lifted an eyebrow in query. "Commando, you know without underwear.
"Oh" Severus found himself blushing.
"Hey, you're a friend of a friend. And mi casa es su casa, but I draw the line at sharing underwear." Said Adam handing Severus a pair of denim trousers, a soft cotton plaid shirt and a worn wool cable knit jumper. An image of McGonagall choking flashed through Severus' mind as he eyed the checkered monstrosity of a shirt.
"Thank you Adam. I'll just transfigure the towel into appropriate undergarments." Said Severus.
"Good, see you in a tick."
Oh well when in Rome, thought Severus. He quickly changed and joined Adam in the living room.
The trip to MacLeod's dojo was quick and relatively painless. The city passed by in a blur and Severus' white knuckle grip on the inside door handle of Adam's ancient Volvo eventually loosened. To Severus' relief Adam was a competent drive; although, if Adam was to be believed all other drivers were asses and not fit to breathe much less to be in charge of an automobile. While Severus found Adam's continuous diatribe peppered with seemingly endless and useless tidbits about the passing scenery amusing, he wondered why Adam drove at all given the amount of grief it seemed to cause him. Why not just apparate, thought Severus. He waited for a break in the monologue to ask but the question slipped from Severus' mind as the gentle roll of the car coupled with the warm heated air and Adam's velvety voice lulled him to sleep. It was the best sleep he had had in years. Severus was disappointed when the ride came to an end.
"Look Severus could you do me a favour?" said Adam looking up at the three story brick warehouse while potion master unfolded himself from the front seat.
"What?"
"When we go inside could you stand close...you know hover. Maybe glower at MacLeod once in a while."
"Why in the world would you want me to do that?"
"Well, MacLeod is a bit of an ass. I just want to shake his world view a bit."
"Yes and what does that have to do with me?"
"Well you're a good looking guy."
Severus looked at Adam in disbelief. "You want me to make him jealous?"
"No, it's not like that."
"Then explain it to me."
"It's just I hate being pegged. Mac seems to thinks that he knows everything about me. I want to mess with his mind."
"I don't know," said Severus fingering the wand tucked up his sleeve. "I have to spend two weeks in this God forsaken hell. And I definitely don't need any enemies."
Adam cocked his head and tensed. "We're being watched," he said leaning in. "Work with me here. I'll make it up to you." He flicked imaginary dust from Severus' shoulder and stoked his lapel. Severus could feel the warmth of Adam's hand even through the thick cashmere of his overcoat. "You know," Adam continued evenly, "Albus hasn't had a good prank pulled on him in years." Severus raised an eyebrow. "If you do this I'll help you pull one over on him."
Before the word "Done" was out of his mouth Severus felt Adams lips graze his cheek. He rolled his eyes in response as Adam smirked and walked away. What had he gotten himself into now, he thought? Still a chance to have one over on the headmaster was far too tempting an offer.
"So what exactly does your MacLeod do?" he asked catching up to Adam as he entered the building.
"He runs a martial arts dojo. At least in this lifetime." Adam shrugged.
"You want me to play lover in front of a man who knows muggle self-defense."
"Well it's not like you're defenseless is it?" Adam said looking down at the wand tip poking out of Severus' right sleeve.
"I suppose not," said Severus shoving the wand back up his sleeve and mentally going through his repertoire of non-life threatening hexes. "I still do not think this is a good idea."
"Come on it'll be fun." Adam pushed the double doors open with a flourish. "MacLeod we're here." He yelled into the room before grabbing Severus' upper arm and dragging him into the gym.
"You're fifteen minutes late, M...Adam." said an irate voice to Severus' left. He whipped around to find himself standing eye to eye with a formidable looking man with intense brown eyes and a rather overdone ponytail. "I was getting worried."
"You worry too much Duncan. We were simply delayed," said Adam waving off Macleod's concern. "Where's Joe."
The brown haired man eyes never left Severus as he responded to Adam. "He said he'd meet us at the bar later." Severus stiffened as Adam's friend checked him out from head to toe. "You must be Adam's friend. I am Duncan MacLeod," the man said warily. Severus could waves of distrust rolling off the man. The man's distrust confused Severus. Why was this man so worried, he thought? You would think that Adam regularly associated with murderers and rapists from the man's response.
"Oh how silly of me. Severus this is Duncan MacLeod. Duncan," Adam touched Severus' arm letting his hand linger. Severus could feel Macleod bristle. "This is Severus Snape. You know the friend of the friend I was talking to you about. We met last night but I've convinced him to stay with me for at least a few weeks."
Why don't you just urinate on me Adam and have done with it, Severus thought. He clamped down an urge to roll his eyes as Adam continued to stroke his arm. MacLeod's eyes flashed in confusion. Adam, Severus thought, you are simply amazing. Even Dumbledore couldn't touch this man's sheer audacity. Severus' mind boggled at the potential for revenge. Maybe Severus would spare the headmaster and get Adam to help him prank Sirius Black or better yet maybe he could talk Adam into pranking them both.
The light pressure from Adam's hand on his lapel brought Severus back from his reverie. Adam smiled and made leaned into Severus' chest. Severus watched as MacLeod's eyes narrowed to slits. To ram home the point Severus dropped his left arm around Adam's shoulders and extended his right hand in greeting to MacLeod. "Very nice to meet you Mr. MacLeod."
"Same Mr. Snape," MacLeod gripped Severus' hand crushing his long fingers like a vise. Urination would have definitely been the less painful option, Severus thought.
Thankfully before any bones could be broken Adam stepped in, "Well now that everyone's friendly, MacLeod, show me what Cassandra sent you."