Christmas had been surprisingly good. Severus had been unsure when Adam had
accepted Joe's invitation to the small get together. But with the magical
binding, Severus had no choice but to agree. Even with the brief
uncomfortable interruption early in the evening by Joe's estranged daughter
Amy the evening had been enjoyable. The large roasted bird had been
succulent, the wine excellent, and Severus particularly liked the caesar's
salad. Now sated and replete Severus relaxed into the corner of Joe's brown
leather sofa and waited for Joe and Adam's return to the front parlor.
The Scot and the ever-beautiful Amanda were good company but Severus was relieved that they had decided to leave early. He wanted to share a private moment with the gray-haired bartender and the sarcastic mage. During his time in exile they had gone to great length to include him in their lives and make him feel welcome and it was now time to return the favor. He fingered the small flask tucked in his breast pocket. There was just enough for the three of them. The bottle had been an unexpected addition to the trunk containing Severus' underwear, some muggle clothes, basic potion ingredients and other sundries that the headmaster had flooed over. How the sneaky old goat had found his hidden stash boggled his mind. Time to worry about that later he thought. Severus was just thankful that old wizard cared enough to include it. It was a silent tradition between them. They never planned it or made mention of it but every Christmas after all the children and staff were asleep he and the old wizard would meet in his dungeon quarters. For a couple of hours they would ignore the world outside and enjoy the simple pleasures of friendship. This year, with the headmaster half way around the world, it seemed appropriate to share his Christmas ritual with his new friends.
"Thanks for the lovely evening Joe," said MacLeod as he and Amanda made ready to leave.
"Was nothing Mac. I'm glad you guys could make it." Severus heard Joe say as the older man clapped the Scot on the shoulder and turned to hug the blond.
"Happy Christmas Joseph," Amanda gently kissed Joe's cheek.
"Happy Christmas. Have a good flight Amanda. And say hello to Nick for me okay." Said Joe returning the peck.
"Definitely. We'll email once we arrive."
"Good I'm counting on it!"
"Gawd, you two still here. Don't you have a plane to catch?" said Adam coming out of the kitchen. He swatted the Scot with a drying cloth and gave Amanda a lingering kiss complete with a dramatic dip.
"Merry Christmas to you too old man," said MacLeod with a tolerant smile.
"Same," said Adam shooing MacLeod and Amanda out the door. The impatient gesture was at odds with the sentimental smile plastered on the mage's face. Amanda laughed as Adam shoved her from behind and closed the front door with a bang.
"Thank the lord the children are now all gone." Said Adam loudly to no one in particular.
"I heard that old man!" A muffled voice snickered from the outside.
Adam and Joe chuckled as they walked back into the living room. Severus watched as Joe maneuvered himself into the seat across from him waiving away Adam's helping hand. The worn brown leather creaked as Joe lowered himself into the chair.
"That was nice wasn't it." Joe said with a sigh. "Hey Adam why don't you go grab us a bottle of the good stuff and a couple of glasses...get this party really started."
"Not a bad idea barkeep. What do you say Severus are you going to join us for a toast?" Adam asked as he walked towards the small dry bar in the corner.
"Yes thank you. But might I suggest something a little more special to celebrate." Severus hunched forward in his seat and reached into his breast pocket.
"You got to love this guy Adam," said Joe eyeing the small silver hip flask in Severus' hand with interest. "He came prepared."
"What have you got there, Sev? Ogden's? You got it in the care package that Albus sent you two days ago didn't you. You naughty boy! You've been holding out on me." Adam tsked tsked his way back to the sofa.
"Ogden's?" Joe asked.
"Ogden's Fire Whiskey, the king of all whiskies and the queen of many of my better nights." Adam said with an exaggerated sigh.
"Never heard of it." Said Joe
"Actually it is not Ogden's."
Adam looked crushed. "Not Ogden's. It'd better not be butterbeer?"
"Definitely not! I am insulted that you would even think that I would offer such an inferior beverage."
"Well what is it then?" Said Adam.
"Something better," Severus said with a smirk.
"What could possibly be better than Ogden's?" said Adam placing three crystal tumblers in front of Severus on Joe's battered oak coffee table. Severus carefully unscrewed the top off the flask and slowly poured two fingers of pale pink liquid into each glass. A faint scent of vanilla and fresh grass wafted through the room.
Adam's eyes widen in understanding. "Is that what I think that is?"
"Yes."
"Oh my."
"What is it?" Joe asked.
"Ambrosia, Joe."
"What?"
"The nectar of the Gods."
"I know what ambrosia is Adam," bristled Joe "Geez give me some credit. So it's the good stuff with a capital G. I get it. I mean it's got be something special if it's got Mr. 'Been there, invented the tee-shirt' all excited."
"Oh Joe you have no idea. Empires have been built, wars fought, lovers abandoned over this liquid. It is more precious than gold and infinitely more rare. It is sign of a true master of the art. And in my long life I have only met two that were pure enough to brew it though many died trying. May I," said Adam. Severus nodded. Adam reverently reached for a tumbler, cradling it between his palms he warmed the glass, closed his eyes and inhaled. "This is sublime. Yours I assume Severus?"
"Yes," replied Severus offering a glass to Joe. Joe thanked him with a nod. Joe mirrored Adam's gesture and sniffed his glass.
"Jesus, Joseph and Mary!" said Joe. Carefully he dipped his index finger into the liquid and brought it to his lips. "Popcorn, mandarin oranges and burnt cinnamon...absolutely delicious. What is this stuff?"
"That's just it Joe. It is what ever you want it to be at this moment in time. It is as pure as driven snow, sweeter than spun sugar and as potent as a dragon. It is pure distilled magic."
Before Adam could continue Severus interrupted. "Gentlemen, if I may. I'd like to make a toast...To peace and new friends."
"Hear! Hear!" chorused Joe and Adam. Each man raised his glass and sipped.
The Scot and the ever-beautiful Amanda were good company but Severus was relieved that they had decided to leave early. He wanted to share a private moment with the gray-haired bartender and the sarcastic mage. During his time in exile they had gone to great length to include him in their lives and make him feel welcome and it was now time to return the favor. He fingered the small flask tucked in his breast pocket. There was just enough for the three of them. The bottle had been an unexpected addition to the trunk containing Severus' underwear, some muggle clothes, basic potion ingredients and other sundries that the headmaster had flooed over. How the sneaky old goat had found his hidden stash boggled his mind. Time to worry about that later he thought. Severus was just thankful that old wizard cared enough to include it. It was a silent tradition between them. They never planned it or made mention of it but every Christmas after all the children and staff were asleep he and the old wizard would meet in his dungeon quarters. For a couple of hours they would ignore the world outside and enjoy the simple pleasures of friendship. This year, with the headmaster half way around the world, it seemed appropriate to share his Christmas ritual with his new friends.
"Thanks for the lovely evening Joe," said MacLeod as he and Amanda made ready to leave.
"Was nothing Mac. I'm glad you guys could make it." Severus heard Joe say as the older man clapped the Scot on the shoulder and turned to hug the blond.
"Happy Christmas Joseph," Amanda gently kissed Joe's cheek.
"Happy Christmas. Have a good flight Amanda. And say hello to Nick for me okay." Said Joe returning the peck.
"Definitely. We'll email once we arrive."
"Good I'm counting on it!"
"Gawd, you two still here. Don't you have a plane to catch?" said Adam coming out of the kitchen. He swatted the Scot with a drying cloth and gave Amanda a lingering kiss complete with a dramatic dip.
"Merry Christmas to you too old man," said MacLeod with a tolerant smile.
"Same," said Adam shooing MacLeod and Amanda out the door. The impatient gesture was at odds with the sentimental smile plastered on the mage's face. Amanda laughed as Adam shoved her from behind and closed the front door with a bang.
"Thank the lord the children are now all gone." Said Adam loudly to no one in particular.
"I heard that old man!" A muffled voice snickered from the outside.
Adam and Joe chuckled as they walked back into the living room. Severus watched as Joe maneuvered himself into the seat across from him waiving away Adam's helping hand. The worn brown leather creaked as Joe lowered himself into the chair.
"That was nice wasn't it." Joe said with a sigh. "Hey Adam why don't you go grab us a bottle of the good stuff and a couple of glasses...get this party really started."
"Not a bad idea barkeep. What do you say Severus are you going to join us for a toast?" Adam asked as he walked towards the small dry bar in the corner.
"Yes thank you. But might I suggest something a little more special to celebrate." Severus hunched forward in his seat and reached into his breast pocket.
"You got to love this guy Adam," said Joe eyeing the small silver hip flask in Severus' hand with interest. "He came prepared."
"What have you got there, Sev? Ogden's? You got it in the care package that Albus sent you two days ago didn't you. You naughty boy! You've been holding out on me." Adam tsked tsked his way back to the sofa.
"Ogden's?" Joe asked.
"Ogden's Fire Whiskey, the king of all whiskies and the queen of many of my better nights." Adam said with an exaggerated sigh.
"Never heard of it." Said Joe
"Actually it is not Ogden's."
Adam looked crushed. "Not Ogden's. It'd better not be butterbeer?"
"Definitely not! I am insulted that you would even think that I would offer such an inferior beverage."
"Well what is it then?" Said Adam.
"Something better," Severus said with a smirk.
"What could possibly be better than Ogden's?" said Adam placing three crystal tumblers in front of Severus on Joe's battered oak coffee table. Severus carefully unscrewed the top off the flask and slowly poured two fingers of pale pink liquid into each glass. A faint scent of vanilla and fresh grass wafted through the room.
Adam's eyes widen in understanding. "Is that what I think that is?"
"Yes."
"Oh my."
"What is it?" Joe asked.
"Ambrosia, Joe."
"What?"
"The nectar of the Gods."
"I know what ambrosia is Adam," bristled Joe "Geez give me some credit. So it's the good stuff with a capital G. I get it. I mean it's got be something special if it's got Mr. 'Been there, invented the tee-shirt' all excited."
"Oh Joe you have no idea. Empires have been built, wars fought, lovers abandoned over this liquid. It is more precious than gold and infinitely more rare. It is sign of a true master of the art. And in my long life I have only met two that were pure enough to brew it though many died trying. May I," said Adam. Severus nodded. Adam reverently reached for a tumbler, cradling it between his palms he warmed the glass, closed his eyes and inhaled. "This is sublime. Yours I assume Severus?"
"Yes," replied Severus offering a glass to Joe. Joe thanked him with a nod. Joe mirrored Adam's gesture and sniffed his glass.
"Jesus, Joseph and Mary!" said Joe. Carefully he dipped his index finger into the liquid and brought it to his lips. "Popcorn, mandarin oranges and burnt cinnamon...absolutely delicious. What is this stuff?"
"That's just it Joe. It is what ever you want it to be at this moment in time. It is as pure as driven snow, sweeter than spun sugar and as potent as a dragon. It is pure distilled magic."
Before Adam could continue Severus interrupted. "Gentlemen, if I may. I'd like to make a toast...To peace and new friends."
"Hear! Hear!" chorused Joe and Adam. Each man raised his glass and sipped.