A/N: Wow. I am so happy with the reviews you guys sent back! Thanks for all the creative criticism and for the blurbs…it's almost addicting. I'm probably pushing the line between conceited and an FB junkie, but it's such a warm, fuzzy feeling. In this chapter, its mostly dialogue, but you will be able to learn a little more of Hermione's feelings towards Harry, as seen by Vittorio the butler. Enjoy!

CHAPTER FIVE

The market was bustling with life, from the smallest kid running about with a kite trailing after him to the group of old men sitting around a chessboard, shouting directions at the pieces. The vendors shouted in different volumes and tones of Italian, hawking their wares and bargaining with their customers over the prices. Everywhere Harry looked, there always seemed to be something special to look at, vegetable or fruit. Large baskets overflowing with rich red tomatoes were situated near tarps with moist brown taro roots laid out on it. Fruits were dangling from every sort of container imaginable, and they were not your average apple or banana. More exotic fruits lined the stalls, with sweet-smelling peaches and tart tangerines coloring the wooden stalls or the raffia baskets they were sold in. There were eggplants, large and purple; radishes that seemed to be longer than the hands that waved them about. The Italian market was probably one of the most interesting places he had ever been in.

"Sir, keep your eyes about you. There are many pickpockets in this market; one would not want his wallet stolen." Vittorio chided over choosing ripe pears. Harry automatically patted his back pocket, and sighed in relief when he felt his wallet still there. It had been awhile since he had done that; when he and Hermione had gone out around town, people there were so friendly and charming that he hadn't had to worry about his wallet. And besides, in a tiny town like that, everyone already knew each other. "It's still there Vittorio, don't worry. Hey, are you sure you won't let me pick out anything?" Harry asked. Vittorio's upper lip stiffened. "I take this business of choosing food very seriously sir. I'm positive." He answered. Harry snickered inwardly at his mischievous streak.

Hermione had been busy that day, and Vittorio had announced that he would go to the market and do his shopping there. He also needed to run a couple of errands, and he asked if Harry wanted to come. Wanting to see more of Italy, Harry jumped at the chance. So far, all Vittorio had allowed Harry to do was choose the peaches. But Harry was okay with just glancing around the place and looking at the knickknacks and ends, and of course, dodging curious glances from the stall keepers. Only that part of the whole vacation hadn't changed. He was feeling happier and more optimistic than ever, and he wasn't missing Quidditch as much as he had anticipated. He looked forward to the company of Hermione, and to the daily outings they had been sharing for the past week. Sometimes she'd take him somewhere new, or he'd just tag along on her regular errands, like doing the groceries or paying her bills.

At the thought of Hermione, Harry let out a sigh. She always was to him a too-smart geek who didn't know how to let loose and associate with people. Her sheer intelligence and obsession with grades left him intimidated at first, but as time passed by, he found that she had a loving heart that dispensed good, sensible advice whenever he needed it. She was also the one who taught him how to deal with his crushes or heartaches and also comforted him when the girls he was after let him down. Yet he never really saw Hermione with another guy. She and Viktor Krum had gone their separate ways, he to his Quidditch team, and she to university. Suddenly, he became curious. He glanced around him and saw that he had unconsciously followed Vittorio around to the exit of the market towards the car.

"Hey Vittorio. How long have you known Hermione?" he asked. Vittorio looked at him, then replied, "I've known her since she interned at the Villa. And when she was made General Manager, I've been looking after her ever since. Why do you ask?" he asked, opening the back seat and setting his purchases inside. "Well, I don't know. I haven't seen her for nearly five years now. I just want to know what she's been up to." Harry shrugged. When they both got into the car, Vittorio started the engine and started driving back to the Villa. "As you might very well know, Signore Granger is probably the most hardworking manager we have ever seen. She works very hard, and we're starting to get a bit more publicity now. We all admire and respect her, if we're not intimidated by her." Vittorio said in a soft voice.

Harry chuckled. "That's how we used to feel about her back at school. She always topped the year when it came to grades, and all the teachers would always pressure us to be more like her. It kind of got on our nerves, but she grows on you." He said. Vittorio didn't laugh. Instead he nodded with much solemnity. "I know that sir. It's almost demeaning to us males when she starts opening her mouth and giving us instructions. But in the end, we have all developed a certain degree of affection for Signore. But on a strictly professional level, I assure you. " He answered. Harry inwardly sighed, but he didn't quite understand why that was such a relief. "I assume that you and Signore have a…past?" he asked. Somehow, the question made Harry squirm. It was hard to imagine Hermione as anything more than a sister, although these last few days had made him reconsider slightly the current state of their relationship.

"No Vittorio. We're just very good friends, that's all. I probably would never have stood a chance against all these good-looking Italian men who flock around her." He said, trying to disguise the faint note of resentment in his voice. Vittorio let out a snort. "Signore…she works too hard for any man to stick with her. How can a man fully love her for who she is if she does not stand still long enough for them to appreciate her? She has always been the passionate type of woman, but it is heartbreaking to see her break up with one boyfriend after another." Harry was struck with this news. Never before had he heard about this problem she was having, because she never mentioned it in her letters.

"Is that so?" he breathed, unwilling to believe this. Vittorio solemnly nodded. "That was the trend until about a year ago. There was a special man, his name was Alex. He came to see her everyday, and he would take her out for dinner. They were on for a year, until he broke up with her. Ever since, Signore has never been the same. She keeps a discreet distance between her and men, and graciously turns them down if they hint at any signs of permanency." He explained. Harry had a hard time getting a breath in. He knew that Hermione was something of a control freak-cum-workaholic, but he felt that that could be overlooked if the right guy came along.

"But I tell you this in full confidence sir. I trust that you will not tell her what I have been telling you." He said, shooting him with a straight-on look. Harry nearly cowered in his seat; damn, but there was something strange about this man that made him want to shrink into a ball. "Alright Vittorio, I promise. Please, just don't give me that look again." He nervously laughed. Vittorio's attention was now focused on the wheel and the road. "I guess that now I've started, I feel that you should know this as well. She has an extreme fixation on the National Quidditch team of England. She has your monthly magazines owled in straight from the publishing company. Yet I've never known her to get tickets for a game or place bets on an outcome or anything. In fact, were it not for the magazines, one would never guess she was a fan. Why is that?" he asked. Harry was once again, amazed. It was startling how much information this man could derive from just observing people. "I guess I won't know the answer as well as you will. She's never had a thing for Quidditch, not even at school." He shrugged, leaning back into the seat. Vittorio gave an odd glance towards Harry. "Hmm. Curious." He said to himself, taking a turn back into the city.

Hermione was sitting at her desk, sifting through the papers she had to file and organize. She had been working nonstop since that morning, and she found that she was missing Harry more than she expected. Ever since they spent the day in the countryside, they had always gone out together. She enjoyed his company, and even the goofy way he tried to speak in Italian was charming as well as it was endearing.

Just then, a tapping sound came from the window. She looked and saw a familiar snowy-white owl with a letter tied to its leg. When she stood up and let the owl in, it let out a soft hoot of recognition and came to rest on the edge of her desk, holding its leg out. "Hedwig! How nice to see you again!" she exclaimed, patting the owl on the head. It burrowed into her palm affectionately, and then she untied the letter. "This is from Harry, I'll suppose." She spoke to herself more than to Hedwig. The letter read:

Hermione,

May I request the pleasure of your company tomorrow night at dinner? I will be waiting for you at the restaurant of the hotel at around seven o'clock in a tux. See you there?

Harry

The letter made Hermione's heart jump, so she reached for a pen and quickly wrote a reply, then tied the note back onto Hedwig's leg. After one last hoot of thanks, Hedwig flew out the open window.

Harry,

I would be glad to. I'll see you tomorrow night then.

Hermione.

A/N: Thanks for the words by the way guys; you'll definitely be seeing them more in the next chapters. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed typing it. Although I wish there was more that I could say about Hermione's dating history…but we'll get that bit fixed up, I promise. Thanks you guys!