A/N: The last chapter shows a more languid, relaxed Harry, as opposed to the ones we see in the first two chapters. He's slowly learning to loosen up as he takes in the beauty of Italy around him. Many thanks to the wonderful reviewers; I could not have constructed this next chapter without your advice and critiques. Any suggestions would be nice…and if anyone can send me some basic Italian phrases that would be very nice. Just use the subject title 'Italian words'. Enjoy this next chapter!

CHAPTER FOUR

Hermione drove through the modern part of the city to the more bucolic edge of it. Rolling farmlands started to appear more frequently than buildings, and the fresh smell of grass and flowers replaced the scent of the city. "Hermione, you're not planning to kidnap me are you?" Harry teased, lightly elbowing her. "Maybe Harry. But we're almost there. Why don't you try counting the cows or something?" she suggested, not taking her eyes off the road. "Nah…why don't you tell me about what you've been up to lately?" he asked, reclining his seat back a little and turning his head to glance at Hermione.

"There's nothing much to tell Harry. I just went to college where they taught how to manage a restaurant or a hotel, and when I interned in the Villa for a few months, they decided to hire me right after I graduated. Ever since then, I've been working there. Mom and Dad wanted me to become a dentist, just like them. It was a bit of a surprise when I said that I wanted to go into the hotel business, but they let me do it anyway." She said, taking a turn into a small dirt road. "Hermione, you just missed the main road; where are you now?" Harry pointed out. She drove for a little while longer before stopping in front of a farm with a sprawling vineyard behind it. "Harry, I know that you've abstained from alcohol for the past few years, but I'm telling you; you haven't gone to Italy if you haven't helped make wine." She grinned, turning off the car engine. Much to her relief, Harry didn't look offended. On the contrary, he looked rather pleased. "Wow…you don't see this back at home." He said, vaulting out of the car.

They both walked up to the house in front where an old, skinny gentleman sat with a newspaper sat on the loggia. "Good morning sir! It's me, Hermione!" Hermione near shouted at the old man. "Eh? What's wrong with your knee?" the old man asked, lowering the newspaper and looking at them. "Oh, Hermione! Good to see you again. And who's your friend?" he asked, peering at Harry with sharp brown eyes.

"Harry, this is Mr. Giatonni, the leading vintner for miles around. He's probably the only one who makes wine the old way. Mr. Giatonni, this is Harry. He's come to visit from London." She introduced. "Buon giorno Harold. The rains just came in time this year, so we harvested our grapes last week. We are all ready now for pressing!" Mr. Giatonni said, standing up and sweeping them into his house. Hermione pulled Harry's shirttail from behind, and gestured to his feet. Harry looked down and saw that Hermione was slipping off her sandals. Harry shucked his loafers off and toed off his socks. Hermione inwardly smiled at him, and then let him proceed inside the building.

"This is a very old building Harold. My great-grandpapa, Lorenzo Giatonni built it with his two sons and three nephews. Mama Giatonni planted the vineyards by herself. Now, we have this beautiful vineyard that makes good wine." Mr. Giatonni rattled off, almost by rote. Harry tagged behind Hermione, following her lead as she disinfected her feet in a footbath near a large oak door. Then they put their feet in some fluffy white slippers and passed through the door where large wooden vats were sitting. Each of the vats had to be at least five feet tall with a ladder attached to the sides. "Well, what are you waiting for eh? Get in!" Mr. Giatonni said, giving Harry a small shove towards one of the vats. Harry scrambled towards the nearest one and helped Hermione clamber into it. He followed after her, and when they were both settled in amongst the mass of grapes, Mr. Giatonni shouted from below, "Just follow Hermione, she'll know what to do!"

Harry looked at Hermione, obviously puzzled. She smiled at him, "Just step on the grapes and try not to fall in. Roll up your pants if it helps." She said, holding on the hooks dangling above her head and trampling on the grapes. Harry did the same, and soon, they were both having a good time with the grapes. Whatever stress Harry had left over completely vanished, as a happy flush spread across his cheeks. A dimple appeared near his mouth and he was actually smiling now. Hermione felt a rush of affection. They trampled on them until they were mostly a greeny-white pulp, and then they both got off the vats and wiped their feet on the foot towel near their shoes.

They did a couple more of the vats until lunchtime, and around then Harry was covered in pulp and juice from the thigh down. His shirt was speckled with some of the juice and the skin, and he was feeling extremely happy and worked out. Hermione was just as messy as Harry, and upon seeing the look on Harry's face, she felt like her heart would burst. Traces of the Harry she once knew and had always loved were starting to come back to her. She could not have wished for anything more.

Once they had cleaned up a little, they thanked Mr. Giatonni, who looked ecstatic at the number of vats they had done. "Thank you Hermione and Harvey; you did an old man plenty of good." He smiled, bowing them off his front porch. On the way to the car, Harry was grinning from ear to ear. "That beats an hour of running on the treadmill any day Hermione, that was great. Where are we going next?" he asked. "I thought that we should visit my friend Maria who lives not too far from here. I always go to her house and help out with the chores after here." Hermione said, getting into the car.

"Maria? Isn't she the one you told me about? The one who has one niece and owns a snippy old cow who doesn't let anything with a bucket near her?" Harry asked. Hermione grinned. "Well, you remember that letter. Yeah that's her. So maybe we can have lunch with her and help her out after. It's a fair bit of farm work, but it's good for you."

"No problem. As long as we can get something to eat for it." Harry said, reclining backwards in his seat. Hermione ruffled his chest with a smile. Obviously Harry's enormous appetite was setting in.

They drove further on until they reached a wide expanse of farmland with different kinds of plots arranged strategically around the house. All kinds of plants seemed to grow there, from corn to pumpkins and an exotic kind of flower Harry had never seen before. "Wow Hermione, your friend is probably running for agriculturist of the year. Are you sure she won't mind that I'm covered in grape skins?" Harry asked, obviously awed at the sight. Hermione looked him over. I know I wouldn't mind Harry. Not a bit. Hermione shook off the thought, but that couldn't keep the smile off her face "I'm sure Harry. Maria won't mind."

They made their way to a cozy cottage where a large stack of firewood was standing by the door with an axe embedded in a tree stump near a water pump. Chickens clucked angrily as they passed by, and an old cow mooed her discontent. A tall woman, about fifty-two years old sat on the lanai snapping beans into a metal tub. Her eyes didn't miss a thing; the minute she saw Hermione walking with Harry, she waved her wand at the stack of beans next to her, and they began snapping themselves. "Well, Hermione. It's been awhile since you've come to visit." She said in a sweetly lilting voice. Hermione grinned and hugged the lady tightly. "We just came back from Signore Giatonni's vineyard. Is there anything we can do for you here? I brought a friend by the way. Harry, this is Maria." Hermione introduced. Harry shook Maria's hand, but she insisted on kissing him on both cheeks. "Ciao Harry. Well, he's a sturdy one. He won't faint at the fields today. We need to get the soil turned over near the pumpkin patch. The potatoes won't grow as well. Surely you won't mind doing that yes?" she asked, patting his arm affectionately. Harry gave her his most charming grin. "Not at all ma'am. " he replied, giving her his most charming smile.

Maria fed them both a substantial lunch of crostini and sundried tomatoes, accompanied with a light grappa. Her ten year old niece Giulia watched them shyly, keeping more to herself than talking. Harry kept her amused though, by showing her magic tricks and joking with her. The sight of the two of them together filled Hermione's heart with tenderness. Watching Harry play with such a shy girl when he was little more than a kid himself was such a treat. His dimples showed themselves to no limit, and knowing that he was happy made Hermione feel even better.

After about an hour after lunch, Maria handed Hermione a spare set of clothes to work in (a pair of Bermuda shorts, a loose shirt and a pair of flip-flops) and to Harry, she simply looked him up and down and said, "There's an extra pair of shorts by the plow. You can change into that." Harry looked at Hermione, who stifled a giggle, then the girls shooed him out of the house so they could change. Once Harry was out of the house, Maria turned to Hermione with her hands on her hips and shot her a teasing scowl. "You never told me Harry Potter was coming to visit. And that he's so good-looking." Hermione blushed as she changed out of her sticky blouse and into the shirt. "I like him Hermione. He's funny and he made coins come out of my ears." Giulia solemnly said. Hermione smiled at the little girl. "He's a very funny guy Giulia. Did you have fun during lunchtime?" she asked. Giulia nodded energetically. Maria laughed at the two of them. "I am willing to wager that you like him too?" she hinted.

Hermione's hands stalled as she was putting on the shorts. "Um, well, he's one of my closest friends. But nothing personal you see." Yeah right. And James Bond drives a pink army tank. With multi-colored polka dots. Maria gave her a look. "Okay then. But mind, if nobody's after him…you know who to call." She winked. Giulia tugged on her aunt's skirt. "Auntie, don't you think we should be going now? Harry's already outside."

Hermione yanked her shirt on and shoved her flip-flops on before running out the door. Harry was still in his grape-stained shirt, but his shorts and loafers fit the outfit well. "My Harry. You could do as a farm hand any day. Come on, I'll show you how to get the plow attached and going." Maria said, taking Harry by the arm and leading him to the plow. "I'll get the hayloft started!" Hermione shouted, starting towards a large stack of straw inside the barn. A pitchfork was situated near the watering trough, and the horses nickered in greeting. She plunged the fork into the straw and pitched it into the loft that was just above her head. Fragments of the strands floated down, illuminated by the ray of sunshine that filtered through a crack in the rafters. It was hard work, but that kept her thinking about the uproar her feelings had set about in her.

She had half the stack down when Maria bustled in. "Darling! You HAVE to take a look at this." Hermione looked over her shoulder and wondered at the blush her friend had on her face. "Whoa. What?" she asked. Maria took the pitchfork from her hands and steered her to the edge of the door. "Look. Over there." She whispered, in a stage voice. Hermione took a peek, and her heart began hammering again. Harry was working the plow with Giulia riding behind the handlebars. Without a shirt. Sweat glistened on his muscles, and the muscles in his arms and chest bunched as he pushed the plow through the soil. The shorts rode low on his hips, and his shirt was tied around his head to keep the sweat out of his eyes.

Oh, but this sight was a treat on her eyes, and Hermione didn't know her jaw had fallen slack until Maria prodded her. But funny though. Despite the physical changes Harry had gone through, it had not changed the love she felt for him. It just went to show how much she deserved Harry. "Look Hermione. Suppose you tell me what's going on. " Hermione turned around and leaned her back against the door. "I've been in love with him for the longest time. And even if I thought time would somehow change it, I was wrong. Now that he's back, I don't suppose I have a chance with him anymore. He's got a whole new lifestyle, one that I don't fit in." she sighed, the memories coming back to her.

Maria patted her shoulder. "That was the biggest pile of chicken doo that I have ever heard. Anyone can see that you two were meant for each other, particularly because you seem to have something he needs. Hermione, I don't know what happened to make you think this way, but all I can tell you is this: don't let him get away. He's one in a million." She said.

Hermione glanced once more. "I did that once. I'm not going to let it happen again."

A/N: I know. I knoooww! I HAD to turn Harry into this hardbody hunk because, well, it somehow shows that even if the physical side of Harry was completely different, she still wanted him, shirt on or off. But wait until you guys see Ron…if you thought Harry was good-looking, Ron is…uh…you'll see. Ciao for now!