The Scenery on the Other Side

"I lay in my dream, unwilling to wake. Beside me was a wonderful song, sung from the throat of a bird with silver-white eyes. At last I opened my eyes and saw a woman run past. Her hair was like both ravens and the night, covered by a silver net that sparkled like stars. I heard the joyful laughter of children, and there was a fine well in my family's courtyard. I looked toward the well, wanting to grasp that dream, but they had all vanished. I was still a little boatman, and worse still, my well had run dry."

The sea mist had not yet dispersed, and the orange morning sun shone softly upon the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute.

A young man sat on the stone steps before the church, singing to the rhythmic sound of The Waves striking the shore.

The public boats had not begun operating yet that morning. There was only a single lonely boat at the dock, and aside from him and the seagulls, there was no one else on shore.

When Pomona and Severus Apparated to the church entrance, Alessandro noticed them at once. He stopped singing and rose to his feet, looking somewhat nervous.

"I'd wanted to come early and fool around with you," Severus said as he looked at the boy in the white shirt. "Just like we used to at school, before the people attending the meeting arrived... Ow!"

Pomona pinched him hard.

"I will not fool around with you here!" She spat, as if making a venomous oath.

He did not take her words seriously at all.

"Ciao!" Severus said in Italian, in a fine mood.

"Good morning," Alessandro said nervously.

"Where's your cousin?" Pomona looked around for Monica.

"She's across the water." Alessandro glanced back in the