"Hey Sev" the potion master winced as he heard the cheerful voice of the grey-haired barkeep behind him. Professor Severus Snape, potions master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, ex-Deatheater and Order of Merlin First Class had been reduced to being called Sev. He didn't know how it had happened or who started it but when he figured it out it wasn't going to be pretty. Truth be told he rather enjoyed the pet name. It had been a long time since anyone had even bothered but he had a reputation as a bastard to uphold, so on principle, Severus turned and gave Joe his best evil eye, the one that had caused a generation of Hogwarts students to wet themselves in fear. The victim merely smiled.
"You're losing your touch, Sev," Joe said as he pushed a shot of whiskey towards him. Severus gave up his glare and took a sip of the offered drink. "That intimidation crap's not going to work with me bud. Remember I know the old man. You're minor league compared to him." Severus nodded and silently admitted defeat. "And besides," Joe continued, "I've got blackmail material on you."
Severus looked at Joe in confusion and then, as the fragile fragments of last night's debauchery surfaced in his mind, in fear. Dear Merlin, he hadn't had he? Joe met his frightened eyes with a smirk. Crap he had.
"That's right buddy. You, Frank Sinatra, My Way...all on video bud."
"What do you want."
"Who said I wanted anything. Can't a man just enjoy an evening out with friends?" Joe avoided making eye contact by wiping down the counter in front of him.
"Yes well, like you said you're a friend of Adam's. Therefore, you're not to be trusted."
"Awww...that's cold man. I'd like to think you're my friend too." Joe whined.
Severus leveled a stare at the old barkeep and simply waited for the other shoe to drop. Joe continued with a sigh. "Look Mike's called in sick. I need an extra pair of hands behind the bar tonight. Since Adam is going to be here all night doing my books, I thought you could give me a hand."
"But I don't know anything about mug...tending bar."
"Look you're a chemistry teacher right?"
Severus nodded.
"Mixing drinks is just like combining chemicals. There's a recipe book. We've got a few hours to prep you before the hordes descend. So how about it."
"So you'll destroy the video if I help you tonight."
"Sure bud. Scouts honour." Joe held up the two fingers of his right hand. Severus didn't know what a scout was but Joe seemed sincere. A few hours of mixing beverages was small potatoes, thought Severus, compared to the torrent of humiliation that would be heaped on him if that video ever got into the wrong hands.
"Then I guess I have no choice, it's a deal."
"Great...come on and I'll get you an apron." The two men shook hands to seal the agreement.
Severus slowly walked around the end of the counter and followed the barkeep to the staff room.
"Oh and Sev...just to let you know..." Joe stopped just in front of the kitchen door. A shiver of fear went up Severus' spine. "I've also got photos and an audio recording."
"You're losing your touch, Sev," Joe said as he pushed a shot of whiskey towards him. Severus gave up his glare and took a sip of the offered drink. "That intimidation crap's not going to work with me bud. Remember I know the old man. You're minor league compared to him." Severus nodded and silently admitted defeat. "And besides," Joe continued, "I've got blackmail material on you."
Severus looked at Joe in confusion and then, as the fragile fragments of last night's debauchery surfaced in his mind, in fear. Dear Merlin, he hadn't had he? Joe met his frightened eyes with a smirk. Crap he had.
"That's right buddy. You, Frank Sinatra, My Way...all on video bud."
"What do you want."
"Who said I wanted anything. Can't a man just enjoy an evening out with friends?" Joe avoided making eye contact by wiping down the counter in front of him.
"Yes well, like you said you're a friend of Adam's. Therefore, you're not to be trusted."
"Awww...that's cold man. I'd like to think you're my friend too." Joe whined.
Severus leveled a stare at the old barkeep and simply waited for the other shoe to drop. Joe continued with a sigh. "Look Mike's called in sick. I need an extra pair of hands behind the bar tonight. Since Adam is going to be here all night doing my books, I thought you could give me a hand."
"But I don't know anything about mug...tending bar."
"Look you're a chemistry teacher right?"
Severus nodded.
"Mixing drinks is just like combining chemicals. There's a recipe book. We've got a few hours to prep you before the hordes descend. So how about it."
"So you'll destroy the video if I help you tonight."
"Sure bud. Scouts honour." Joe held up the two fingers of his right hand. Severus didn't know what a scout was but Joe seemed sincere. A few hours of mixing beverages was small potatoes, thought Severus, compared to the torrent of humiliation that would be heaped on him if that video ever got into the wrong hands.
"Then I guess I have no choice, it's a deal."
"Great...come on and I'll get you an apron." The two men shook hands to seal the agreement.
Severus slowly walked around the end of the counter and followed the barkeep to the staff room.
"Oh and Sev...just to let you know..." Joe stopped just in front of the kitchen door. A shiver of fear went up Severus' spine. "I've also got photos and an audio recording."