Disclaimer: All of the usual characters from 'Harry Potter' belong to J. K. Rowling, blah, blah, blah, everybody knows this already.
Summary: When Severus visits Italy with Hermione during the summer, he finds that the muggle way of life is a lot more interesting than he would've expected.
How Much You Never Knew
Chapter 1; Are muggles really that important?
Minerva McGonagall sat opposite Albus Dumbledore in his office. They had been discussing important issues all afternoon and had finally come to a decision.
"So, who will we be sending?" Minerva asked. "The majority of us here at Hogwarts would stick out like sore thumbs in the muggle world." Albus nodded.
"Yes, I'm quite aware of that Minerva. This leaves us only one choice."
"But who?"
Albus chuckled. "Severus of course," he stated, smiling. Minerva looked as though her eyes would pop out of her head at any moment.
"Albus, you can't be serious! As much as I respect and care for Severus, well, the man hates muggles. And besides that, he especially isn't fond of Hermione, and she knows this. How would it look if her potions professor showed up on her doorstep requesting to stay with her during the summer vacation while learning about the muggle world? Quite suspicious, I'd think. And more importantly, what would her parents say? Albus, I really do not think that they would approve of the situation." Albus held a hand up.
"Minerva, I've already weighed your concerns in my head, for they were my own concerns as well. Just hear me out, please." Minerva sighed and waved for him to continue. This just didn't seem right. Ever since Hermione had become her personal assistant during 5th year, she had also become like her granddaughter as well, which made Minerva quite protective of her indeed. Albus continued.
"I've taken the liberty of finding out that Hermione's parents will be working with children in Zaire during the summer, due to Africa's obvious shortage in medical care. They are dentists after all. This means that Hermione will be spending the summer at her relative's villa in Italy. What better way to learn about the muggle world than to spend three months celebrating with lively people? Besides, we both know that Severus could afford having something to loosen up about. Why not send him?"
"Albus, I'm not worried about Severus enjoying a few months away on vacation, I'm worried about how he and Hermione will get along. Like I said before, he isn't exactly fond of the poor girl."
"Yes Minerva, I've thought of this as well. I think though, that the environment will be quite suitable for the both of them. A lot of Hermione's relatives live in the villa, and I'm almost positive that they will be so busy asking Severus questions about himself, and wanting to get to know him better, that he and Hermione won't even have to talk to each other if they don't want to."
Minerva pondered this briefly, before another question arose in her mind. "Are you sure they will accept Severus in their house for that long? He isn't exactly the charming type, you know. And are you sure Hermione will want him living there beside her? There is so much to consider, Albus." She was beginning to look slightly worried. Albus put a hand on her shoulder.
"Minerva, I know they don't like each other, but they are also both very willing to do their duties, and this is a duty. I'm sure if we ask them reasonably, they will no doubt be willing to put aside their personal feelings to look at a bigger picture. We need them to do this for us. Don't you agree?" Minerva sighed again.
"Yes Albus, I do agree, and as usual, you are right. I'll go and talk with Hermione."
"And I'll speak with Severus." Minerva was at the door when she turned back to him. "Is there something else?" he asked.
"Albus? We've forgotten one thing. What will her relatives think about this? Surely they wouldn't approve, would they?" He grinned at her.
"Minerva, don't you worry. If Severus accepts the job, we'll surely fix him up a bit before we send him off, and as for Hermione's relatives, Italians love an opportunity to open their home. Of course they'll approve. And if they don't, I'll be turning over in a grave I don't even have." His attitude relaxed her considerably, and with a final smile, she left him to find Hermione.
Oh Hermione, what would she think of all this?
Albus walked down a long corridor in the dungeons. He laughed inwardly, thinking of how many students were terrified of this place, when really, it was one of the most peaceful areas in Hogwarts. Not including his own office.
He stopped at a large oak door, which opened up to Severus's quarters. The door was slightly ajar and Dumbledore could smell various potions that Snape must've been brewing. That Snape, he thought, always working. It was like he never took a break. A small, black cat squeaked through the door and wound itself around Dumbledore's legs, purring madly. "Oh hello, Tes," he said, stroking her silky fur. This gave him another reason to laugh. Of all the animals Severus could have for himself, which included man eating hell hounds and skull crunching bats, he had taken to a harmless, little cat.
Albus pushed open the door to find Snape standing over a boiling cauldron. Angry, red steam poured over the sides and up to the high ceiling. This obviously didn't bother Snape because he kept working, adding more ingredients that looked somewhat like animal intestines. "Severus, how are you feeling this evening?" Albus asked, hoping not to be a disturbance. Snape didn't look up.
"I thought that was you talking with Tes." He gave a small smile into the cauldron. Dumbledore was probably the only one who had seen him smile in the past six years, as sad as it was. "I'm doing fine, just finishing this potion for my insomnia."
"Nightmares again, Severus?"
"No, I've just been restless lately." He stirred his potion briskly for several minutes before pouring it into small bottles that he corked shut. "Well, what's on your mind Albus?" At least he looked up this time, being finished with his work.
"Well, to be frank, it concerns Miss Granger," he stated quietly. Severus raised his eyebrows skeptically, wondering if he really wanted Albus to continue.
"And?" he asked. He had started pacing, and Dumbledore watched him with great amusement.
"What is it that bugs you so about her? She's just a student, after all." Severus rubbed his temples in frustration.
"Just...everything! She's too smart for her own good and I can't stand it." He threw his hands up to emphasize his point. "She always knows the answer, and nothing I teach phases her."
"Do you want to phase her, Severus?"
"Not really, no. I would just like to think that I'm smarter than my students, and next to her, I'm not, and its really… alarming, to say the least!" He paced a few minutes more, and finally regained his composure, turning to Dumbledore. "Well, what is it that concerns her?"
"I have an assignment that I would like you to carry out," he said.
"What kind of assignment, and what does Granger have to do with it?" Severus was getting edgy, and this made Albus wonder if he should even ask him.
"Severus, perhaps we could sit down while we discuss this."
Hermione's eyes were wide as she digested all that professor McGonagall had just informed her of. Professor Snape. With her. All summer at her Grandparent's villa in Italy. Uhhh... this was very... different, she decided. She gulped down a lump that had formed in her throat.
"Professor?" she asked. "Are you sure about this? Snape absolutely despises me, and as much as I'm willing to help everyone receive a clearer picture of what the muggle world is really like, I'm not sure he'll enjoy being there with me." Her concern wore on her face as she spoke. In truth, to say that she was scared of Professor Snape would be an understatement. She loved potions, but only when he wasn't around.
"Hermione," Minerva began, "I know that he's not the friendliest of sorts, but perhaps if you just give him a chance. And remember, he'll be in your territory and you'll be the teacher. That could be interesting." She gave a smile of encouragement while Hermione concentrated on this. It really could be interesting.
"I'll accept this position, and I'm grateful you think I can handle it, but what will Professor Snape think about all this? He still hates me." Minerva wrapped an arm around the girl.
"Oh honey, don't you worry about a thing. Dumbledore is talking with him this very moment, and I'm sure they'll come to some agreement about this all. And no, Snape does not hate you. He's not entirely fond of any of his students, but he'd never hate them. So don't you worry, okay." It was more of an order than a request. Hermione nodded and Minerva got up to leave. "I'll be sure to inform you in greater detail what will happen when the summer draws nearer, but until then, I suggest you write to those relatives of yours about this. Do you really think they'll mind at all?"
"Of course not," Hermione said, laughing. "They'll welcome anyone if it adds to their festivities. They are, after all, quite the partying bunch." Minerva had to laugh too.
"I personally would like to see Snape get out there and dance. Wouldn't that be novel?" With a final grin, she left the Gryffindor common room to once again have a meeting with Albus. She really needed to think about getting a phone.
Severus Snape sat on his black, leather sofa, with Tes on his lap. She was purring rather loudly, and began kneading into his leg with her claws. He grabbed her paw and moved it aside, staring into the lit fireplace. He held a bottle of cognac in one hand, and his wand in the other. He had been drawing shadows on the stone wall of his personal library ever since Dumbledore had left. Why did he think that Snape should do the job? Maybe he looked a bit more... normal than most of the other teachers, but surely he could send Minerva just as well. She wasn't too weird. He groaned and took another swig of his cognac. Three months. Three damn months with that stupid girl and her stupid family. This summer was going to be hell.
