Compared with Severus's hometown of Cokeworth, Turin, also an industrial city, had a markedly better environment. Not only was its river water free of industrial wastewater pollution, but the air was much better as well.
The Alps did not have the smog that plagued London. There was only mist and cloud, and once the clouds drifted away or the sun rose, they vanished, restoring clear visibility. From the slopes, one could even see the Muggle town at the foot of the mountains.
China had an idiom: "He who lies down with dogs rises with fleas." It meant that if one stayed around bad people for too long, one would gradually become bad as well.
When she had heard that Severus had secretly opened Petunia's letter to Albus, she had thought him very immoral. Yet now, she was following him on a tour of hell.
When she was little, she had always been alone, apart from Madam Sprout, who took care of her. That was why she had especially wanted a playmate like Pete.
Lily and Severus had been very lucky to find their "own kind." Petunia, however, had been terribly jealous and always called Lily a freak.
They had the same parents, so why was Petunia a Muggle while Lily was a wizard?
When Lily had first awakened her magical powers, strange things had often happened at home. The whole family had been nervous for a long time. Then "Sev" had appeared and explained why Lily was so unusual. From then on, that strange boy wearing his mother's shirt had become a frequent visitor to the Evans family.
Otherwise, how could a well-bred middle-class family have allowed their daughter to play with a boy from the slums?
Later, they went to magic school, where they found more "companions." They were