A/N sorry you had to wait, but I am terribly busy. I'd love to write more.
I'd love to read your reviews, too.
THREE: THE ANCIENT BOOKS
Pola heard a knock on the door and shouted from upstairs.
'It's open, Remus, come in!'
Lupin entered the house and saw a completely different interior. Now it was visible that it was a witch, who occupied the house. He saw colourful pillows lying everywhere, many strange objects (such as the hex reader, or spell-finder, widely used in Archaeology). Also the house smelled differently: a wonderful scent of cinnamon and other herbs was spread around the house. Also some charms books were lying here and there.
'Where are you, Pola?' he asked, he couldn't find her downstairs.
'Upstairs, in my room! Come here.' She answered. He directed to the wooden staircase and walked up. He found himself standing in the corridor surrounded by few doors.
One of them was opened, but it was a bathroom (he glanced inside, quite a huge room, he wished his living room was so spacious). But then he didn't know where to move. He tried one door: wrong, a broom closet. Another: a wardrobe, Pola had lots of clothes, what the hell she needed that for? Another.
It was her bedroom. Painted green, with wide windows and nice furniture. And a very nice bed (double, really large 4-poster bed, covered with smooth, green and white sheets). And there were so many pillows, Lupin smiled to himself. He didn't know why, but he expected Praise to use thousands of them.
He stood a longer while, and Pola's sudden shout had to awake him.
'Remus, are you lost in this labyrinth?' she entered the bedroom and smiled at him. 'C'mon. My office is at the end of the corridor.'
They left and Pola showed him the last chamber in her house. Many schools and offices dreamed about such library: book shelves reaching the high ceiling, a narrow staircase that led downstairs (Lupin was quite sure that it ended in the living room, but he didn't see it there). Pola had also a large, black, wooden desk, carefully sculpted (Remus noticed dragon legs that looked real).
'Wow!' he said.
'It's just a room, Remus' Pola kidded, but smiled with pride. She also loved it. He didn't answer but came closer to the shelves and watched them amazed. Really amazed.
'Heaven.'
'I know, do you want to help me?'
'What?' he was shocked. Of course? 'And I could touch all of these?'
'Well, maybe sometimes even read. Oh, do you wanna see the results of my excavations. The ancient protecting hexes were really perfect, that's why I wanted to dig that temple. Well, it was not me who finished it, but I got my stuff.'
He smiled and listened. When she talked about archaeology, ancient magic or other thing she enjoyed her eyes were gleaming and shining like sapphires (yes, he realized she had dark, mysterious green eyes), her cheeks went red and she looked taller. And happy.
'Now I am working on the protecting hexes for Dumbledore. Still, the best way to save single place is Fidelius Charm. Unfortunately, it works only on small, widely not known places. We need something different for big, popular places, like Hogwarts. And they, I mean these protecting charms, were very popular in the Ancient times. Wizards helped and served the people but kept their secrets hidden. Do you want some tea? You know, I should have begun in ages ago, they're so many materials about this matter, I hardly know.' Lupin only nodded and listened. He didn't want to interrupt. Pola's voice was beautiful, calm and silent but like a soft music. And she talked and talked. At the beginning he found it difficult to make her talk, in fact the only subject that she seemed interested in was (surprise) archaeology. Well, now she also talked about it (a part of it) but in a different way: she shared with him her thoughts and ideas. He was getting involved in her work; he thought he would love it. Maybe a talk with Dumbledore would make their co-operation possible?
'.and these are the maps, I know I should pay attention to the localization, I should concentrate on the protection, but. Look, the breaking spells were used only in the Northern England and in Spain. Spain is.'
Pola didn't finish. Flames appeared in the fire place (small, but elegant, made of marble and dark oak) and in the flames they saw a head of the Albus Dumbledore.
'Hello, Pola' blue flames were dancing around the head that spoke 'Remus, how nice and unexpected to see you here' his voice was amused and he was smiling widely.
'Now' he continued. 'Could you both drop in here, for a while. I have a break after the lunch, hope we won't be interrupted, the tournament isn't on yet and. Oh, so, let's say about 4pm, OK?'
'Yes, Professor, but' Remus wanted to say but the head disappeared with a silent 'pop'. 'Pola, what's going on?'
'Well' she answered slowly, still considering Dumbledore's invitation: they were to go together, why, as far as she knew only she was working for him right now. 'He wants us to go there?' she asked quickly in an unnatural high voice.
'But, Pola, Why???' he asked though he knew she couldn't know that: her shocked face showed it too precisely. What the hell was Albus trying to do? 'I mean we have to go' TOGETHER, he wanted to shout, but he didn't. 'Have you any slightest idea why?'
'Nope' her answer was short and she turned to her books. After a while (Remus said nothing, now he was really shocked) she threw them away and began a talk.
'He was to contact me here, he promised. And since the summer I've received one letter! I really wanted to discuss things with him, but he never asked me to come. Now I guess he does. But I don't know why he wants you there too, maybe because you're friends??'
'You know, he usually has better reasons.'
** ** * ** ** * ** **
Punctually at 4pm Pola Praise and Remus Lupin arrived by Floo-network at Dumbledore's office. The portraits on the wall looked surprised, but avoided any comments. Dumbledore, however, smiled and asked them to sit down. Then he spoke.
'I am so glad that you get to know each other. Without my help, of course. Pola, you needed help, here he is. Remus, you wanted me to find you constructive job: I am sure Pola will welcome your helpful hand. Tea?'
There was a longer silence and then Lupin said.
'Well, I am also really happy that I can help, and I know we will enjoy the work, but.'
He couldn't finish because Pola interrupted him roughly. She didn't use to talk like that before. Was she angry?
'But why didn't you tell us this before? I was "recommended" that area because of Remus, right? You could have told us.'
'Pola' Dumbledore's voice was calm but his eyes were drilling Pola's so she had to place her gaze on her cup. 'You don't like strangers, do you? How would you react if I told you to work with a person you do not know or like? We both know you need friends to work with. I believe you would become friends even if I didn't ask you to settle there.'
'But still.'
'OK, I will be honest. I wanted to have an efficient crew, Pola, and I know you need to trust to be so. I could have told you, both of you. But isn't this nicer?'
Remus looked amused. He was really entertaining the whole situation: Dumbledore's decisions and influence on others were unpredictable. He always had the last word. Remus only hoped that it wouldn't change. However, Pola's sad reaction worried him. He felt so perfect because they were friends and she didn't seem to like the cause of their friendship? Or maybe she was embarrassed because of wide Dumbledore's knowledge of her?
'It's really nice to me' he said to break the silence. Albus' eyes turned to him. 'But what am I to do?'
'You know Pola has lots of work and a colleague would help. We have a special Order account at Gringott's, so I will be able to pay you. And don't look at me like that unless you prefer house-cleaning until the end of your life.'
Remus smiled slightly, of course he would love to do this, this was so interesting, and he could be useful at last, but, still, Pola got no money for her work, she could afford it. No man would feel right in such situation. Well, he decided to sacrifice his male pride and go for it.
He wanted to ask the Headmaster few more questions, but Pola spoke as if she was continuing their previous discussion.
'On what should we now concentrate? Breaking hexes? I mean, I know they're important but.'
'But blockade charms and detecting tools are more appropriate, right you are Pola' finished Dumbledore, but Remus soon realized that it didn't calm Praise. Though he knew what she did, he wasn't told yet the purpose, the real aim of her work. She had to find, discover the charms that were used in ancient times, but..
'What next? You know I can only do the researches, but afterwards we will need someone to create a strategy for ordinary members, Aurors, I can't do this I told you. Do you think you could find time to do this all? Professor.?'
Albus allowed her to talk, he knew she needed it. When she was finished he spoke.
'Firstly you shouldn't be worried by a fact that you can't prepare the strategy of defense. It's not your job. You do enough, I don't know when you sleep, Pola. And you're of course right, I don't have time to take care of the generalship of the Order. That's why I asked several friends to join the Order before the official renovation. Just like I called you. Miss Coleman was kind enough to take care of this part of our work. She moved back to England.'
Then came the silence. Professor gazed at Pola and Remus, who didn't know who was Albus talking about, also only watched Praise's reaction. After a while Pola looked up into Dumbledore's eyes and asked weakly.
'Jill is here?'
** ** ** ** **
A/N This chapter will be longer, but I can't write anymore right now. I would like you to read it and write what you think. Oh, and at last we meet (or we mention) the bitter, mocking Jill Coleman. Please, review!!!! Ilara Zadlo.
THREE: THE ANCIENT BOOKS
Pola heard a knock on the door and shouted from upstairs.
'It's open, Remus, come in!'
Lupin entered the house and saw a completely different interior. Now it was visible that it was a witch, who occupied the house. He saw colourful pillows lying everywhere, many strange objects (such as the hex reader, or spell-finder, widely used in Archaeology). Also the house smelled differently: a wonderful scent of cinnamon and other herbs was spread around the house. Also some charms books were lying here and there.
'Where are you, Pola?' he asked, he couldn't find her downstairs.
'Upstairs, in my room! Come here.' She answered. He directed to the wooden staircase and walked up. He found himself standing in the corridor surrounded by few doors.
One of them was opened, but it was a bathroom (he glanced inside, quite a huge room, he wished his living room was so spacious). But then he didn't know where to move. He tried one door: wrong, a broom closet. Another: a wardrobe, Pola had lots of clothes, what the hell she needed that for? Another.
It was her bedroom. Painted green, with wide windows and nice furniture. And a very nice bed (double, really large 4-poster bed, covered with smooth, green and white sheets). And there were so many pillows, Lupin smiled to himself. He didn't know why, but he expected Praise to use thousands of them.
He stood a longer while, and Pola's sudden shout had to awake him.
'Remus, are you lost in this labyrinth?' she entered the bedroom and smiled at him. 'C'mon. My office is at the end of the corridor.'
They left and Pola showed him the last chamber in her house. Many schools and offices dreamed about such library: book shelves reaching the high ceiling, a narrow staircase that led downstairs (Lupin was quite sure that it ended in the living room, but he didn't see it there). Pola had also a large, black, wooden desk, carefully sculpted (Remus noticed dragon legs that looked real).
'Wow!' he said.
'It's just a room, Remus' Pola kidded, but smiled with pride. She also loved it. He didn't answer but came closer to the shelves and watched them amazed. Really amazed.
'Heaven.'
'I know, do you want to help me?'
'What?' he was shocked. Of course? 'And I could touch all of these?'
'Well, maybe sometimes even read. Oh, do you wanna see the results of my excavations. The ancient protecting hexes were really perfect, that's why I wanted to dig that temple. Well, it was not me who finished it, but I got my stuff.'
He smiled and listened. When she talked about archaeology, ancient magic or other thing she enjoyed her eyes were gleaming and shining like sapphires (yes, he realized she had dark, mysterious green eyes), her cheeks went red and she looked taller. And happy.
'Now I am working on the protecting hexes for Dumbledore. Still, the best way to save single place is Fidelius Charm. Unfortunately, it works only on small, widely not known places. We need something different for big, popular places, like Hogwarts. And they, I mean these protecting charms, were very popular in the Ancient times. Wizards helped and served the people but kept their secrets hidden. Do you want some tea? You know, I should have begun in ages ago, they're so many materials about this matter, I hardly know.' Lupin only nodded and listened. He didn't want to interrupt. Pola's voice was beautiful, calm and silent but like a soft music. And she talked and talked. At the beginning he found it difficult to make her talk, in fact the only subject that she seemed interested in was (surprise) archaeology. Well, now she also talked about it (a part of it) but in a different way: she shared with him her thoughts and ideas. He was getting involved in her work; he thought he would love it. Maybe a talk with Dumbledore would make their co-operation possible?
'.and these are the maps, I know I should pay attention to the localization, I should concentrate on the protection, but. Look, the breaking spells were used only in the Northern England and in Spain. Spain is.'
Pola didn't finish. Flames appeared in the fire place (small, but elegant, made of marble and dark oak) and in the flames they saw a head of the Albus Dumbledore.
'Hello, Pola' blue flames were dancing around the head that spoke 'Remus, how nice and unexpected to see you here' his voice was amused and he was smiling widely.
'Now' he continued. 'Could you both drop in here, for a while. I have a break after the lunch, hope we won't be interrupted, the tournament isn't on yet and. Oh, so, let's say about 4pm, OK?'
'Yes, Professor, but' Remus wanted to say but the head disappeared with a silent 'pop'. 'Pola, what's going on?'
'Well' she answered slowly, still considering Dumbledore's invitation: they were to go together, why, as far as she knew only she was working for him right now. 'He wants us to go there?' she asked quickly in an unnatural high voice.
'But, Pola, Why???' he asked though he knew she couldn't know that: her shocked face showed it too precisely. What the hell was Albus trying to do? 'I mean we have to go' TOGETHER, he wanted to shout, but he didn't. 'Have you any slightest idea why?'
'Nope' her answer was short and she turned to her books. After a while (Remus said nothing, now he was really shocked) she threw them away and began a talk.
'He was to contact me here, he promised. And since the summer I've received one letter! I really wanted to discuss things with him, but he never asked me to come. Now I guess he does. But I don't know why he wants you there too, maybe because you're friends??'
'You know, he usually has better reasons.'
** ** * ** ** * ** **
Punctually at 4pm Pola Praise and Remus Lupin arrived by Floo-network at Dumbledore's office. The portraits on the wall looked surprised, but avoided any comments. Dumbledore, however, smiled and asked them to sit down. Then he spoke.
'I am so glad that you get to know each other. Without my help, of course. Pola, you needed help, here he is. Remus, you wanted me to find you constructive job: I am sure Pola will welcome your helpful hand. Tea?'
There was a longer silence and then Lupin said.
'Well, I am also really happy that I can help, and I know we will enjoy the work, but.'
He couldn't finish because Pola interrupted him roughly. She didn't use to talk like that before. Was she angry?
'But why didn't you tell us this before? I was "recommended" that area because of Remus, right? You could have told us.'
'Pola' Dumbledore's voice was calm but his eyes were drilling Pola's so she had to place her gaze on her cup. 'You don't like strangers, do you? How would you react if I told you to work with a person you do not know or like? We both know you need friends to work with. I believe you would become friends even if I didn't ask you to settle there.'
'But still.'
'OK, I will be honest. I wanted to have an efficient crew, Pola, and I know you need to trust to be so. I could have told you, both of you. But isn't this nicer?'
Remus looked amused. He was really entertaining the whole situation: Dumbledore's decisions and influence on others were unpredictable. He always had the last word. Remus only hoped that it wouldn't change. However, Pola's sad reaction worried him. He felt so perfect because they were friends and she didn't seem to like the cause of their friendship? Or maybe she was embarrassed because of wide Dumbledore's knowledge of her?
'It's really nice to me' he said to break the silence. Albus' eyes turned to him. 'But what am I to do?'
'You know Pola has lots of work and a colleague would help. We have a special Order account at Gringott's, so I will be able to pay you. And don't look at me like that unless you prefer house-cleaning until the end of your life.'
Remus smiled slightly, of course he would love to do this, this was so interesting, and he could be useful at last, but, still, Pola got no money for her work, she could afford it. No man would feel right in such situation. Well, he decided to sacrifice his male pride and go for it.
He wanted to ask the Headmaster few more questions, but Pola spoke as if she was continuing their previous discussion.
'On what should we now concentrate? Breaking hexes? I mean, I know they're important but.'
'But blockade charms and detecting tools are more appropriate, right you are Pola' finished Dumbledore, but Remus soon realized that it didn't calm Praise. Though he knew what she did, he wasn't told yet the purpose, the real aim of her work. She had to find, discover the charms that were used in ancient times, but..
'What next? You know I can only do the researches, but afterwards we will need someone to create a strategy for ordinary members, Aurors, I can't do this I told you. Do you think you could find time to do this all? Professor.?'
Albus allowed her to talk, he knew she needed it. When she was finished he spoke.
'Firstly you shouldn't be worried by a fact that you can't prepare the strategy of defense. It's not your job. You do enough, I don't know when you sleep, Pola. And you're of course right, I don't have time to take care of the generalship of the Order. That's why I asked several friends to join the Order before the official renovation. Just like I called you. Miss Coleman was kind enough to take care of this part of our work. She moved back to England.'
Then came the silence. Professor gazed at Pola and Remus, who didn't know who was Albus talking about, also only watched Praise's reaction. After a while Pola looked up into Dumbledore's eyes and asked weakly.
'Jill is here?'
** ** ** ** **
A/N This chapter will be longer, but I can't write anymore right now. I would like you to read it and write what you think. Oh, and at last we meet (or we mention) the bitter, mocking Jill Coleman. Please, review!!!! Ilara Zadlo.