Author's Note; Hey everyone!!! First of all, yeah, I begin dealing with Italy in this chapter, but like I said, I've just never been there so I don't know a great deal about the place. I keep thinking I should have made Hermione's relatives live in Spain, because I at least can speak the language there, but whatever. The internet isn't exactly telling me what I want to know about Italy, so for this chapter, I'm just trying to be fairly generic and am basing the surroundings on pictures I found from a certain website : anthonyjhicks.com
If you want to check out the pictures I was lookin' at, once you get into the website go to the button that says, PICTURES, and then in that section, click on the link that says, LAKE COME, ITALY. Besides that, if you have any information on civilian life whatsoever in Italy, PLEEEAAASSSEEE send it to me! It's difficult writing this story on the seat of my pants. Questions I'm asking would be, Can you swim in Lake Como? Or is it... I don't know, restricted? Contaminated? Just cheesy questions like that. Also, these people are going to have a vineyard. I read in my Geography book that Lake Como is surrounded by vineyards and things, so... yeah.
Okay, here are my reviewer thanks. I love you guys, and the response I got from you all concerning chapter 6 was just... sooo wonderful! I've sorta had a lack of confidence lately and it's been affecting my writing. Although, I finally got my new story out, "Hurt Me Now, Mend Me Later," and I haven't gotten a real big amount of reviews, but the ones I have got are pretty good. Please check the story out! Well, whatever, I hope you like this chapter. MWA!!! Here are your names, and I'm sorry if I miss some of you, just some of the reviews don't get to my inbox, and then I'll see them later on that new little reviews link that ff.net has put up next to every story title, and be like, "Oh my gosh! I didn't thank that person!"
lurker
labrisa
Lady Grey
Bunny
cosmo-queen
PhoenixFeather7; Don't worry, I didn't mean to make Sev _that_ much younger, just to about 33 years opposed to his 35 years like J. K. has said he has. Or, since we're in sixth year, it'd probably be 37 years.
Narcissa
Alice
Lana Riddle
Gwendellen Snape
Mage Kitty
God of Fire; (Silindro), I am sooo sorry I didn't thank you in ch. 6, but it's just as I said, some of the reviews don't make it to my inbox. Please forgive me. You have brilliant ideas that fit perfectly with the story. Mind if I use them? Hermione, our cats are fornicating! Hahahaha!
Harmony : Silver*Angel; I'm very sorry for not thanking you in ch. 6, but the problem was the same as Silindro's, above. Please forgive me.
Slim-Shady's-Modeling-Baby
Piggie; Thanks for the tips on English currency, I just didn't understand it that well. I guess it's because I didn't grow up with it, but it was nice to have someone try to help me get it, instead of just saying, "Hey, that's not what we use here, you dolt!"
Flame
Innocent Dreamer
Bellus Lupus
Feria Nymph
tomzgurl77
Lily of the Shadow
silver-eagle; Thank you for the tips on euros and lira, but could you compare their value to American money for me? It'd help a lot. Also, do you have any more info on Italy that you could help me with?
The Great Green; The author of "Into the Dark" is MidnightSun
Florcence Weasley Snape
DiOsA4u, a. k. a Nez; Hey, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not Mexican. I mean, I speak Spanish and all, (well, I'm learning) but that's because I live in a mostly Latin oriented community, and most of my friends are from either Mexico or Argentina. I told my best friend about your review, and she was all "Oh, ask her if she's been to Guadalajara for me!" because that's where she grew up. So, here I am asking, what part of Mexico are you from? I'm from the U.S.
THEPRINCESS04
Whoa, that was a _very_ long author's note. I'm trying to keep them shorter, but my fingers just want to keep typing! Anyways, on with the story finally...
How Much You Never Knew
Chapter 7; That thing's enormous!
After an hour or so, Severus glanced over at Hermione, who had said not a word to him since grabbing his magazine. Occasionally, he would peak at whichever article she was reading intensely out of the corner of his eye, but it did him no good as he never understood exactly what the articles were talking about anyways. The page she was on now dedicated itself to information about 'Liquid Silicone Injections.' From the pictures he was seeing, it looked to be a pretty dodgy process.
On the next page, there was a large ad about something called the Nuvaring. It seemed to be a ... whoa! No, no, no.
"Nuvaring is the first clear, flexible vaginal ring that continuously releases a low dose of hormones. It's easy to insert, and you're conveniently protected all month long." NOW YOU CAN THINK ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL JUST ONCE A MONTH!
Severus' eyebrows were bunched together. Ladies, if you want protection, just take a potion for cryin' out loud! As if these muggle women didn't have enough trouble to deal with already, thinking about everything else in the magazine. When would they draw the line?
Just then a dignified voice came over the loud speakers in their section of the plane.
"Please fasten your safety belts as we will be arriving in Italy shortly." Everyone did as they were told and waited patiently for the plane to descend. It was quite a bumpy ride, but in a matter of minutes they had landed and all movement had stopped.
Severus followed Hermione out of the plane, and into another airport where he felt a strange sense of deja vu wash over him. They were repeating the same type of process they had in the last airport, except this time in reverse with large Labradors frisking them along the way. A good point was when they got their luggage back.
Hermione noted that Professor Snape had practically run out of the building in search of some deserted area or other so that he might check on Tes. The whole idea just made her want to break into another fit of giggles. They were standing behind a row of telephone booths with Snape on his knees, peering into his trunk.
"Are they okay?" she asked, inquiring on their cats.
"Everything seems to be fine. Come and see for yourself." Hermione knelt down next to him. The scene inside the trunk was actually quite cute. Tes had draped herself over Crookshanks' stretched out feet, and he was currently cleaning her forehead.
"I guess they've become friends, Professor," she said smiling.
"Yes, it certainly looks that way." Snape once again clasped the opening shut, and they stood up to squint in the darkness. "What are we doing now, Hermione?"
"Well," she said, looking at her watch, "It's pretty late. I'm almost thinking we should just call the Knight Bus to take us the rest of the way. It'd be quicker, and if I'm not mistaken, more convenient. Does that sound okay?"
Snape almost snorted. "I believe that's the best idea you've had all day. Shall we?" He pulled out his wand, and turning away from the few muggles that inhabited the small street they were on, he muttered an incantation under his breath. A light, almost transparent stream of green smoke slid carefully out of the tip of his wand and floated down the street, settling beneath the noses of everyone around, including Hermione.
"Professor," she asked with a hand over her face like a shield, "How exactly will a stink spell call the Knight Bus?" The smell found its way between her fingers and the impression of ammonia filled her nostrils.
"It won't. This is merely for clearing the muggles out. We don't want them in the way." And just as he was speaking, their neighbors left them one by one to find fresh air. Then, holding his wand up above his head, Snape cast a very dim glow over the street with a 'Lumos' charm, and they waited for the bus in silence.
Hermione took this break to look around. She had seen this particular area so many times before, that the lack of light didn't phase her. She could remember the large stone buildings nearby perfectly, and though some were on the verge of crumbling, she doubted their beauty had faded even in the slightest since the year each of them were built.
Snape, however, did not appear to be even remotely interested in the scenery. Not that there was much for him to see in the dark, but he could've at least been curious. But no, he seemed intent on only one thing, and that was to finally get to the villa, and put an end to this bothersome traveling. He wasn't exactly hiding his dislike for the activity.
Suddenly, there was a loud 'BANG!' and a large, purple bus came hurtling into view. It stopped inches from the first pay phone booth, and a chubby, little dwarf-like man jumped out. Hermione wondered briefly what had happened to Stan, but wasn't able to ask about it as the man began to chatter rapidly. His voice was high pitched and hoarse.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Wolly Jakins and I'll be your conductor this evening." This was all said in a few seconds of course. "What are your names?"
"I'm Professor Snape, and this is Miss Granger. We wish to go to Bellagio. Can you take us there?"
The little man straightened up. "At your service, Sir. That'll be twenty two sickles between the both of you." Snape reached into his pockets and pulled out a few dozen silver coins.
"Professor, it's all right. I can pay for myself. You don't have to--."
"I want to, Hermione. You took care of our muggle transportation, and this is the last thing I'll be able to do to make us even before we get to your relative's house."
Hermione backed down. "Er... okay. Thank you, Professor."
Snape ignored her thanks and stepped onto the bus after Wolly. Hermione followed, sighing. Since when did 'You're welcome' go out of style? Inside, beds had replaced the seats she remembered from her last trip on the Knight Bus. Ernie Prang was still driving, and he sat hunched over in his squishy armchair, leaning on the steering wheel. He turned to them, his hair whiter than before.
"Sorry it took us longer 'n usual to pick ya'll up. Italy's further 'n what we're used to."
"Oh, that's okay," said Hermione reassuringly, while picking a bed to set her trunk on.
"Say, where ya headed in Bellagio anyway? I may need directions once we get there, which should be any second."
"Around the coast of Lake Como. Um... here, let me show you."
Severus watched as she sat next to Ernie, pointing out streets to turn on and such. He sat on a bed close to the door, and checked to see how much money he had left. Paying for her! Ugh, what was I thinking? She could've paid for herself. He was in the middle of mentally slapping himself when there was another loud 'BANG!' and his trunk went tumbling off of the bed. There were several muffled Meow's from within, and he hastily steadied it on his knee. Hermione turned around smiling.
"We're here, Professor."
His throat went dry, and he nodded subtly. His mind seemed to have turned off completely and he felt as though he were in a state of numbness. We're _here_ Professor. Picking up the trunk, he stepped off the bus with Hermione, and watched it drive out of sight. It seemed strangely as though his escape route was abandoning him. He stared up the street it had left on for several minutes, until Hermione brought him back to the reality of it all.
"Professor? Er... Professor, are you okay?" she asked cautiously. She bit her bottom lip in concern, shifting her weight from foot to foot, and waited for him to answer.
He said nothing. "Look, I know this is different, but I'm sure it won't be _that_ bad. My family's a great bunch of people, and I can't imagine them treating you differently than they do the best of friends."
Reluctantly, he picked his suitcase up out of the dirt and gazed out over their surroundings. The only things he could see were silhouettes of big clumps in rows and rows all around them, where in the middle of everything was a small light coming from some sort of a lamp next to what must've been their very large villa.
"Is that the house?" he asked.
"Yeah, come on. Everyone will love you." She set off between a row of what Severus guessed were trees, and he couldn't help but think that she had sounded a tad fake during her last sentence. He, himself had actually imagined the looks of horror everyone would cast upon him, once getting the feel of his surely aura. He doubted that his first impression would be a positive experience. Trudging on close to Hermione, he stopped when a faint padding sound reached his ears.
"Stop, what is that noise?" he asked, a hand on Hermione's shoulder. It was getting steadily louder as they stood there.
"I... I don't know," she whispered over her shoulder. "It sounds like someone's footsteps, but I can't imagine who would be out this late at--."
"Shhh." He could here it right in front of them, running at them. On instinct, he took out his wand, shoved Hermione behind him, and shouted "Stupefy!" There was a muffled yelp, and a loud thud. "Lumos." Shining the light from his wand onto whatever it was that had been about to attack them, Hermione gasped,
"YOU STUNNED MY DOG!" She rushed over to the furry lump, mumbling, "Oh, you poor puppy," and rubbed the fur along its back.
"Puppy? That thing's enormous! You didn't tell me you had a dog here waiting to pounce on us the moment we entered the grounds."
She released the spell and the large Husky jumped up excitedly, trying to lick her face. She laughed at the dog's enthusiasm. "I didn't know she'd be here. I thought for sure my parents had taken her with them to Zaire. Oooh, this is great!" The dog was now running in circles around Hermione, barking loudly, and Severus was sure he could've thought of a more accurate word for this situation than 'great.' "Professor Snape," she said smiling profusely, "this is my husky, Keila." She stood up and brought the dog over to him. "Keila, this is Professor Snape. You have to be nice to him, okay." Keila let out another loud bark and jumped up on him. The dog looked as though she was wearing a smile, which for some reason, almost annoyed him. "I think she likes you," Hermione said happily, and then patting her legs and running down the isle with her trunk, Keila chased after her, her tail swinging in a seemingly never ending wag.
Severus had no choice but to catch up with them.
Author's Note; Okay, how was it? Was I accurate with the whole Bellagio thing? I hope so. If not, notify me and I'll correct it. Besides that, I know this chapter was really short and boring, but I already know _exactly_ what'll be happening in chapter 8, so that should be up soon. I won't say a date, because I always seem to miss them, but this time I had a good reason. I just moved a few towns and didn't have a computer during the first week of July. Please forgive me. Need Feedback!
