How Much You Never Knew

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?

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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 annoying!" 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.

How Much You Never Knew

Chapter 2; Lemon drops

Hermione trudged up to Dumbledore's office, dreading every step. This summer was going to be very, very exasperating, and it wasn't only because she hated Snape. It was because he also hated her in return, regardless of what Professor McGonagall had said about it earlier. How had he reacted when discussing the situation with Dumbledore? Had he exploded? Had he stayed calm and accepting? Had he laughed with amusement?

Wait---the potions master did _not_ laugh.

Hermione suspected that she was taking longer than strictly necessary to mosey up to Dumbledore's office.

Snape.

If he didn't hate her before, he was certain to hate her now. What was he thinking about all of this? She really hadn't seen him since her final potions lesson of the year which had ended the previous week. Not even at meals. He had most likely stayed in his office grading finals---which was said to be a deathly tedious process. If she could just get one glance at him, just one, she might at least be able _judge_ his reaction concerning the current matter. But no, he had avoided her until now, until this little 'meeting' Dumbledore had set up, and she was sure that she would be late arriving. This probably

wouldn't gain her any respect in Snape's eyes. The more she lacked punctuality, the more childish she became. According to him, anyway.

She stopped in front of the large gargoyle that opened to Dumbledore's office. Her final thought of comfort before whispering the password "Lemon drops," was that even if Snape was ready to kill her once she entered, he couldn't because Dumbledore and McGonagall would be there to protect her. Surely they wouldn't allow any harm to come to her.

But then again, had it not been their idea to permit Snape's stay at the villa.

She gulped.

**********************************

Snape sat in Dumbledore's office trying his best to restrain himself from pacing. Needless to say, he eventually failed. Albus and Minerva simply watched, exchanging glances of amusement every so often.

That Snape.

Not only was he always working, but always pacing as well. He could feel their curious eyes boring into his form, but pretended not to notice. If they wanted to stare like mindless gits, so be it.

Mindless was something Albus Dumbledore would never be. He had been studying Snape, not staring, and right now Severus somewhat resembled a caged lion. Hmm, never had he seen a lion which such a black hide before either. Perhaps he'd better make that a caged panther. Tan wasn't exactly Severus' color. Dumbledore's train of thought was interrupted when a particular Gryffindor slipped into his office. She was late, yet on noticing her pallid face, he didn't inquire on this.

Hermione offered a quick curtsey and mumbled a greeting to the professors, before Dumbledore motioned her to take a seat.

"Tea, Hermione?," he asked politely.

"No, thank you," she muttered. He didn't _seem_ to realize her tardiness, and if he had, he wasn't remarking upon it. Either way, she wasn't about to bring it to his attention. Professor Snape, however, had most definitely realized, and was making it known as well. He did not treat it with the levity that Hermione had actually dared to hope he would.

"What were you trying for, Miss Granger?" He stepped toward her menacingly. "A fashionably late approach?" His sneer was that of nothing gorgeous, and she wished to slap it off his face from the moment it appeared. Her eyes then shot daggers at him. Professor or not, she had been through enough stress this week, and today was absolutely _not_ a day to cross her path.

"Can I control that Professor Sprout held the entire class after to help clean up a rather exuberant party the mandrakes decided to throw during our lesson," she spat. Not only was the unease of the awaiting summer provoking her. The time, being late May, meant that her menstrual cycle should be lurking just a few short days, or hours away.

Naturally she wouldn't speak to any professor of hers (even if it was Snape) with such a lack of formality.

"I wasn't asking for poor excuses Miss Granger," he said silkily, and possibly taken aback that she dared retort to his comment. Sensing the tension, Albus decided that now would be the perfect time to intervene.

"Silence you two! We are here to discuss imperative issues, not bicker," he stated firmly, and commandingly. Hermione stared at her feet in embarrassment, remembering their fragile disposition. Feeling that order had been restored, Dumbledore continued. "Why don't we start at the beginning. Hermione, have you owled your parents about our plans? Or until their approval, I guess I should call it our... ideas?"

"Yes Professor, and they said they'd be elated to assist you with your studies. I've informed my relatives, as well, who've also willingly given their concurrence. The tickets for the airfare should arrive any day now." Albus seemed exultant enough about this, but Severus, however, disparaged.

"Airfare?" he questioned, already having made up his mind that he didn't like this muggle way of traveling. If that's what it was.

"Yes, airfare," Minerva spoke up. A witch she no doubt was, but she had still been wise enough to keep up with the muggle world's current state, due to a need of understanding her muggle born students. "Its a common muggle way of traveling." Snape looked immensely annoyed.

"Minerva, I had figured that already. But how does it work?" He raised his eyebrow at her. Damn that eyebrow, she thought.

"Hermione, child, you might have to explain this one. I'm afraid my memory isn't as reliable as it used to be," she admitted. Severus grunted in accord, and Hermione couldn't resist glaring at him before she began her clarification.

"Well," she began, scrutinizing her hands, "If you travel by airfare, it means you will be riding in a plane. Now, a plane is like...," she stopped, and bit her lip. How would she depict this? "A plane is like a gigantic bird with several large rooms in its interior." Oh, that sounded fairly odd.

A big bird? Surely there were other, more sophisticated way to describe such things as planes and jets. But then, she couldn't use the reference of a jet, because Snape undoubtedly didn't know what that was either. She stole a glance at him, only to find that his eyes exposed a cruel mocking towards her. The temperature in her face began to rise, and she fought hard to mask it. She could not handle him for an entire summer if she became intimidated by the slightest aspect of disdain on his part. Nervously, she tussled to persist. "In the room, there are...many seats for the passengers and...over the seats there are compartments for smaller luggage. Always, of course, there are flight attendants to help the passengers too." Snape raised his eyebrow again at this, obviously not knowing what a flight attendant was either. Hermione suddenly comprehended that the muggle world would take a great deal more of illuminating than she had expected in the beginning of this arrangement, which was an incredibly horrifying thought at the moment, detecting that her emotions had begun to sway even more violently than they had at the start of this convention. How would she endeavor through this?

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Three atrocious hours later, Hermione found herself liberated and on her way back to the sanctuary of her dorm. Oh, how that gathering had seemed positively infinite! An unreadable expression was plastered to her face. During the remainder of that meeting, she had enlightened Professor Snape on absolutely everything necessary for him to be aware of _before_ the two of them set off for Italy. Such things had included muggle forms of travel (obviously), along with its tight security, and also how to use muggle money. Thankfully she would be able explain her relative's customs and rules during the plane ride. Another minute in that office would have detonated her.

They had decided that Snape would be able to wear his usual black robes, due to the fact that all of her relative's knew Hermione was a witch anyway. It wouldn't be entirely odd for them to have a wizard in the house as well, and there would be no use in trying to hide the evident.

Once inside her room, she collapsed onto her bed, only to sit up abruptly. She felt... wet, just as she had predicted she would soon enough. This day could not possibly get any worse. But...once school was out for the year, other days could, and---with Professor Snape---would.

She groaned.

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Albus had remained in his office, conversing quietly with Minerva long after Severus had left to grade more finals. It was peculiar how one's perspective could change so quickly. The perspective belonged to Minerva, who was now positive that this muggle- studying project was the right decision.

"And when did you conclude that, Minerva?" Albus had asked, already knowing she would've reached this solution at once point or another. Her eyes lit up with a rare twinkle that meant she was feeling mischievous, and she exclaimed excitedly:

"Albus, did you not see the way Hermione retorted back at him after his inquiry about her lateness? She acted as though she was not frightened at all by him, unlike the rest of the student body who seems to think he's a vampire, or something of that nature. Truthfully, I think she might be the one to bring him out of his self-imposed shell, and lighten him up a little. Or at least give him a friend of sorts. Oh, Albus, why didn't I see this before?! I know very well that the primal point of this mission is to augment our knowledge concerning muggles and muggle borns, but this is like an added bonus! Don't you agree!"

Albus chuckled. "Oh yes, I do indeed." For another hour or so, they poured over how better-off Severus would be after this experience, and Albus couldn't help but feel that this part of the mission was just as important, if not more, than studying the muggles themselves. He would simply be fascinated on Severus' progress, and certainly, how Hermione dealt with him.

Of course, Albus and Minerva could never tell the two of them about their little... yes, it could officially be called...a scheme.

**********************************

Severus Snape once again sat in his library, not on his sofa, but in a large armchair that had been there even before he himself had. He had been reading to keep his mind off of...other matters, but found that he could delay this process of thought no longer. How would he fair with a 16 year old girl and her silly views for _three_ months!? His slight interest in his female students consisted only of how their potions were coming, and ended once they walked out of his door. Now to have to live with one, with nothing to remind him of his authority over her as a professor. No, she might as well be his equal.

And _that_ was a terrible thought.

No potions, no Dumbledore, and no avoidance of this mess. The only thing he would have as a reminder would be Tes, and what little that would do. So little that he didn't consider it. He stalked over to his bedroom, the need for sleep tugging at him, and just before he drifted off into it, he actually found _some_ good in the situation. There were two things.

One, being that Voldemort had been destroyed, so there would be no need to worry about getting summoned, and two, he could be spending the summer with someone much worse. Like Miss Brown, or Miss Patil.

He shuddered.