By Candlelight

Fred Weasly arrived in Etah, India in the summer of 1993. The ground Fred stepped onto as he dismounted the tour bus was dusty. Soon his new white shoes would be coated in the stuff. Isn't that my luck, Fred thought as he tugged at his sweat soaked T-shirt. The city was hot, humid and colorful. This environment wasn't even that superior to the cramped bus from which he had finally emerged from after 7 damned hours. The seats were sticky. The bus smelled faintly of gasoline. The couple directly to his left looked ready to duke it out Jerry Springer style (not that Fred had any idea who Jerry Springer was, anyway.) All in all the bus ride was not exemplary and now, landed in this dust-filled town, Fred was not that optimistic about his new post.

3 weeks ago.

Finally. Fred and George Weasly were being treated as adults for the first time in their lives and damn, it felt good. Despite their mother's profuse objections, they were now official members of the Order of the Phoenix. And this was their first meeting.

"And so we come to the question of our young friends..." Mad Eye said as he eyed the twins in a predatory fashion.

"Absolutely not!" said Molly. "They may be members, but they are still too young for assignments."

"Mum, we're ol- ," George started to protest.

"Molly, they have been adults for nearly 2 years. Don't you think it's time to let them start acting that way?" Lupin interrupted.

"Am I the only one with eyes? Look at these boys! They could barely manage to avoid expulsion and you want to let them volunteer their lives!"

"Molly..." Arthur murmured as he moved his hand to rest on his wife's arm. "They aren't little boys anymore."

A tear escaped from Molly's eyes. "I know..." She sighed and rested her hand in her hand as she closed her teary eyes.

Severus Snape cleared his throat without the slightest bit of awkwardness after that emotional display. "Perhaps I can convince the Dark Lord that one is ready to serve as a Death Eater." Molly swallowed quickly and willed herself to keep silent.

"A bit dangerous for a first mission, isn't it?" asked Sirius from the head of the table. "Perhaps something less delicate would be more appropriate."

"We could always use a spy in Hogsmead. Dumbledore's brother isn't always that helpful." suggested Tonks.

"That will work," said Arthur. "I'll arrange a position as busboy with Rosemarietta for. . . George."

"You're separating us?" asked Fred.

"Yes. We've given this some thought and two Weaslys anywhere would attract too much attention. What can I say? We're notorious blood traitors." Arthur told his son with a grin.

"Fred, we'll station you at a little hotel in Etah, India. After all, this war is global and Severus knows of some Etah mercenaries Voldemort's hired. It's not that much pressure, this job. You're a traveling magician, trying your luck on a new continent. Just poke your head around under that guise and let us know what you find." Mad Eye said.

"Can't we go together?" asked George.

"We've thought this through well and a separation would be best."

"Really, we'll work better as a team." prompted Fred.

"I wouldn't know the palm of my hand without Fred's to look at," joked George.

Severus sighed. "Molly, it seems you were right. These children could never fight in a war. Too afraid to be all alone." An ugly sneer crept up the twins' former teacher's face.

"No," swallowed Fred. "We can go alone."

present.

Fred navigated through the maze of skinny alleys towards the hotel Lupin had arranged for him. Colorful stalls and shops blurred together as Fred studied the crude map a man on his bus had drawn for him. The man had been sick and the paper smelled like it had been sprayed by a big wet sneeze. "You! You there! Ginger! Want to buy this bird?" Fred ignored the old man who was shouting this at him and holding up a sickly looking parrot. He was busy.

Tonks knew the owner of the hotel. He was aware of Fred's spy status but was unlikely to rat him out as he too was a spy. The hotel owner was a small, heavyset Indian man in his early 50s. He had a large family of small children and a traditional sense of both manners and decor. His children referred to him as Mr. Fred (false names were not needed on a different continent) and Fred's room was full of Hindi nicknacks. When the owner had learned who he was, he had let out a delighted sound half way between a squeal and a yelp and leaned in confidentially to whisper "I've been expecting you."

His real name was Ravi, but he went by Fyodor. As he told Fred this he pulled out a copy of Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

" It's for him," he confided in an excited whisper. "Best author in ze world. . . "

"Hm. Never tried him. More into Goblin Slayer by Horrase Sivleman." Fred replied conversationally.

"Really? Well, you might want to get some sleep, Mr. Magician." Fyodor chuckled.

I think I like him, thought Fred. Could use some help in English and book taste...and decor, but not a bad guy. Not a bad guy at all.

A/N I'm not expecting to get many reviews on this one, but what can you do, eh? Writing's horrible, but I'm tired and I wanted to start this story. It will turn out to be noir and a bit dark, to boot. Obviously this isn't like my other stories, but I'm interested to try it. For all my CI, DKB readers, I am not abandoning them! Just taking a bit of a break. But I'll be back in like 2 weeks. K? Please have a heart and review. As a late Christmas present??

Oh and happy new year! Cheers.