Un Nuovo Inizio

Chapter 4

Translations (in the order they appear):

Cosa posso aiutarti a trovare?-What can I help you find?

Stiamo ampliando il giardino al Prince Vineyard. Abbiamo bisogno di pietra per i sentieri del giardino.-We are expanding the garden at Prince Vineyard. We need stone for the garden paths.

Che cosa?-What?

Questi sono disponibili in pezzi più grandi?-Are these available in larger pieces?

Questo ti eccita?-Does this turn you on?

Perché?-Why?

The two met just outside of the castle gates with their belongings the day after the students had been sent home for the summer. Severus pulled out a small broken quill and offered the other end to Harry. He touched it and with a whispered activation word the two spun off towards Severus's childhood home.

They landed in front of an elaborate wrought iron gate with a cursive P decorating it. Severus smiled as they approached the house.

The house was more of a large cottage than anything. It was on top of a small hill and thick ivy was climbing the stone walls to cover most of it in a lush green blanket. Harry loved it.

"It's not very big, but there's a spare bedroom just down the hall from mine. Come, it'll be cooler inside." They hurried inside to get out of the blistering sun and Harry's jaw dropped. They had walked into a large living room that bled into a huge kitchen with plenty of seats at the island. A spiral staircase led down to somewhere and a hallway jutted off to the side. The back wall was almost entirely made from glass-one huge window overlooking a giant vineyard. There looked to be the remnants of a vegetable garden off to the side as well.

"Severus, this place is amazing!"

Severus was busy glaring at all the dead potted plants that decorated practically every surface.

"It's lost a lot of its luster in the last decade. It would appear they couldn't keep up with the place towards the ends of their lives; however, I haven't exactly had time to care for the place since inheriting it. It needs work."

"Well, I'm happy to help. I'm good with gardens and cleaning, just let me know where you want me to start." Severus smiled and shook his head.

"Put your things away first. You can pick which room you'd rather sleep in, they're both the same layout, just different colours." Harry went and plopped his trunk down in the room decorated in pale lavender before joining Severus in the kitchen.

"We'll have to go shopping, I didn't think to send anyone ahead to stock the cupboards or cold box. Would you like to come with or would you rather stay here? There's an apparition point just outside of town behind the local grocery shop." Harry linked their arms, smiling at the prospect of hearing Severus speak in Italian again.

They landed a few moments later in the sun and Harry followed Severus down the main path. Venders were set up everywhere with tables overflowing with random goods. Severus bypassed them all and entered a small building. Harry followed him so closely that he was surprised he hadn't treaded on Severus's heels.

A small woman was already talking to Severus, words being passed between the two at a rapid pace. Severus was smiling up until her tone changed. If Harry didn't know any better, it looked like he was being chastised.

"Harry, this is Madame Celano. She's rather put out with me at the moment, but she's fiercely loyal to those she cares about. When I was young I'd bring her grapes from the vineyard and she'd give me snacks to take back to my grandparents." They gathered essentials; flour, sugar, coffee, milk, eggs and the like. With their arms full, they apparated back to the kitchen where the two of them started putting things away. It had gotten rather late in the afternoon while they were out and Severus glanced at the clock.