Forgot about the disclaimer before but I think this is obvious that unfortunately I do not own any of JKR heroes, only Jill and Pola are truly mine.

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TWO: TIME IN MAY

Pola and Remus met occasionally during the month. Praise really didn't have lots of acquaintances in England, Remus didn't enjoy people's presence, or, to be frank, usually people didn't enjoy his. A werewolf isn't a creature to trust. He was happy that he could talk to an intelligent person from time to time, but he felt sad, sure that she talked to him, because she was unaware. In fact, she didn't even know he was a wizard.

She told him about her work, he had always found archaeology quite interesting, but the passion with which she was talking about that was amazing. She showed him mysterious parts of the past and he was quite shocked that Muggles also found the ancient fascinating. Yes, he also didn't know she was a witch.

Remus really wanted to see some of the papers Praise was working on, but it never happened. They usually discussed the serious matters standing near the gates or on the path or during their walks by the river. Pola had also never visited Remus at his house. He told her he was a teacher, this was true, sometimes, and that his house is not at all interesting.

'It's very boring, in fact', he laughed as they walked across the valley (filled with colourful flowers that smelled fantastically, and as beautiful as Pola, Remus thought).

'I think it's great, Remus. Small and by the river. And you can see the valley from your window. Gosh, such a view from bedroom! I was really mad when I was told your house was occupied and no chance to get it.'

'If you ever wanna swap, feel free.'

'I don't believe! You don't like your house?'

'Well, to be frank, I prefer yours.'

Pola laughed but glanced carefully into his eyes. She said nothing, just watched. Remus wasn't a shy type of person, but such drilling was intimidating.

'Yeah, I like it too, you know, I need a huge, spacious library. Those lots of books, I don't know when I finish them off!!'

They laughed a while and then Lupin spoke.

'If you ever needed help..'

Pola smiled slightly, oh, she wanted to spend some more time with him, but what sort of help could a Muggle male give her (except thoughts that caused blushes of her cheeks)?

'Thanks, but, you know, I usually work alone on the books', she wondered how she could show him the hexed parchments. 'And I don't think I would find anything when somebody else touched them. But thanks' she added.

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Pola Praise apparated in a small alley nearby the crowded market of the nearest town. She had to do the shopping. She wasn't good in keeping the kitchen and was surprised in the morning when realized that the fridge was empty, no milk, no bread, and no eggs. She was hungry and mad and decided to visit the town. She dressed herself in some Muggle clothes that looked common and left.

The main street (pedestrian zone) was crowded, it was the marked day and farmers from all over the shire came to sell some goods. Pola had to visit several shops and wanted also to buy fruit. She marched quickly across the marked, she really hated such places, with fat women gossiping and men drunk at noon. She wanted so much to be invisible. And unable to be touched.

With a sigh of relief she entered an old teashop, Muggle but well supplied. She wanted to buy some herbals to prepare energizing potions (Muggle herbal industry always surprised her, they knew lots of magical stuff, but were so sure it's pure nature). The room was dark and few candles lightened tables that were still not occupied. By the counter stood a client and a middle aged lady, the shopkeeper. Pola wasn't surprised (though she didn't know why) that the client was Remus.

'Oh, hello, Pola' he smiled as he paid for his shopping.

'Hello Remus, Good morning Mrs. Haycock. Feeling sick?' she asked him.

'A little' he waited when Pola passed the list of needed teas to the shopkeeper.

'I haven't seen you lately.'

'I was ill' his answer was short and firm. Pola laughed in mind. Did he feel offended? 'Are you finished? Wanna walk home?'

Pola paid and went with him outside. The bright sun dazzled them. Praise carried her bags and gazed at Remus, oh, his company was nice, but such a long walk. She wanted to do this quickly.

'We will have to walk so long.' she thought complaining would be the best solution. She wanted to walk with him, but this was to help her dragging the shopping. All way long, home, no magic. She wondered, how Muggles cope with that.

'And what did you want to do? Take a broom or something?' he kidded and she gazed at him, amused. She loved his solution.

'Yes, a small, collapsible, perfect for small shopping excursions' Pola mocked and Remus laughed.

'Give me your pack, I'll do some magic and carry it for you.'

'No, Remus, you look really ill and have your own bags. I can do it myself.'

Praise hid her bags in a rucksack. She moved her wad inside, so nobody could notice it and it became lighter. At last happy she stood up and said briskly.

'Let's go!'

They left the town in silence. Pola was wondering how long did they have to walk. Remus was enjoying moments with her. She was like a mystery to him: calm, but they could laugh together, intelligent and self-confident, but shy. And because of that her shyness he was proud she talked to him.

'So, how did you get involved in archaeology. Sorry, I have to ask, I still think this is an unusual profession.'

'The past is fascinating, we can learn so much from our ancestors, you know. World would be different if we listened to them. I am especially interested in Celts and their religion, rituals, character. They were cleverer than we usually think!'

'So, they were not only the warriors with plaits and swords?' Lupin smiled.

'Oh, of course not. Think about the druids, think about wonderful sites that we excavate now!'

'So why aren't you on excavations?'

'I was. You know this year I was at last allowed to dig in Vellazay in France, on a temple. Great results. Hmm, but a friend of mine asked me to move HERE to do some researches, well, gather information about all Celtic and older sites in Britain.'

'And you moved just like that?' he asked suspiciously.

'Well, there are friends for whom you would do almost everything. Or everything.'

'I know what you mean.'

'I always wanted to write a book that would sum up the results of years of excavations and researches in England. So, it wasn't a request. It was a gift, sometimes friends know better what we want than ourselves.' She was mad at the ease with which she laid. Well, she tried to excuse herself, she really wanted to do all those things. That was not her fault she was there for something completely different.

'I hope you will write it' he said. That girl fascinated Remus. A Muggle, but so open-minded, her talk was so serious, Muggles usually don't pay attention to the sensitive parts of ancient history.

'Well, we're here' they reached her gate. 'Would you like to come in and have lunch with me? I must frankly admit that I can't cook, but thanks to my archaeological education I do perfect instant food.'

He laughed. Oh, yes, he wanted to spend some more time with her.

'You wanted to say you're capable of boiling water. Impressive achievement at the age of.' he didn't know how old she was, she seemed young, too young for him, but the way she spoke, she looked as if she did archaeology since ages!

'The age of a woman should be a mystery to a man' she said uncannily and showed him the way to the house. They stood in high hall, with wooden, elegant staircase and few doors on the ground floor. 'I wonder where you should go.'

'Why' he asked. 'A mess or thousands of orbs, potions' ingredients and dead bodies of former lovers.'

Pola glanced at him. The second time today he joked about magic. Was it because her loneliness and that this fact could tell Muggles she was a witch. Or because he knew. Finally she decided to answer.

'Both, and don't forget about books with charms, Remus. We can get in here, this should be my living room.' She showed him door on the left. 'Make yourself comfortable, I'll prepare the food.' Pola grimaced at the last words and left Remus alone in the room.

It was a nice piece of home. The walls were vanilla in colour and the nice furniture made it warm and homey. In the middle stood a small table, surrounded by nice, colourful armchairs and a couch. The windows were huge and near them stood black pianoforte. He wanted to sit and rest, but a sight of high bookcase changed his decision. He looked at the titles. Most of them were connected with archaeology, but not all of them scientific. There stood a collection of V. G. Childe works. He was a famous archaeologist and wrote many interesting works about European prehistory, but he killed himself somewhere in Australia. How nice, Remus thought. Other books were also dedicated to archaeologists that committed suicide or got killed in uncanny circumstances. Pola had strange interests. He didn't find anything else, some piano notes and old archaeological magazines. Nothing special (well, everything was special, he doubted whether anyone in England had such a library; he was sure it was just a small part of it). Also her papers (he saw "The guardian" lying on the shelf) ensured him she was just a special Muggle. God, she could joke with him so easily.

'I'll be there in a minute, sorry about the mess' Pola shouted from the kitchen. Mess, thought Remus, few books, notes lying here and there weren't a mess.

'Do you mind if I helped you?' he asked and directed to the kitchen.

'No, it's OK, I'm just..'

He came in and saw her behind the table, placing cups and plates on a green, wooden tray.

'I'll take it' he offered. Pola relieved.

'Thanks, I am very slow in the kitchen, I had more kitchen accidents than whole England put together.'

Remus laughed and wanted to answer but saw a long piece of wood (mahogany, with silver spots) lying on the worktop. He gazed at it. A wand? Wand? Wand????

'And what do you use it for' he examined her right now. Pola didn't know what to look at. She bit her lower lip and tried to smile. 'Blending? Mixing?'

Very funny, she thought, but smiled with relief.

'Yeah. Something like that.'

'Because' he continued as if she hadn't spoken. 'it looks similar to mine wand, you know mine is also made of mahogany.'

He waited, Pola glanced at him quickly. What? HIS wand? Remus laughed loudly, he found that situation amusing. Pola joined him, yes, it was funny.

'Gosh, Remus, we could pretend being Muggles till death.'

'Yeah, we were quite good in it.'

They left the kitchen. By the time they reached the living room Remus was enlightened by a sudden idea.

'God, Praise? Pola Praise, as in P. E. Praise?'

'Yes' now she was very amused, she always signed her works only by initials. And was used to fact that men never believed she was a woman. P. E. could mean Paul Everett or Peter Emerson. She laughed.

'I thought.'

'P. E. Praise was or is a man. Gosh, all men do. I know I'm good.'

'But, really.' Remus began, but stopped, Pola's eyes were malicious and full of irony. 'OK, I was impressed by them, now I am even more impressed by you.'

'Thank you' she said crisply. But after a while laughed. 'you know what? You impressed me too. People usually do not read scientific serious magazines, especially those connected with archaeology and ancient art: most of them think it's bullshit.'

'I used to teach DADA, you know, so it was my job to read it, a teacher should know all the news. I loved stuff about protecting places, complicated charms and ancient ways of defense.'

'I know what you mean, that's my field, my beloved. But let's eat, Remus, I won't be brave enough to warm it once again.'

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So, what do you think, write, please, thanks in advance!!!!!