Chapter 4 - Chapter One: Poojay

Chapter One: Poojay
The change in the weather was intense. The cold wetness of the England farm made the heat of India even more sticky and Draco was sweaty at once. They were standing in the middle of an empty street, save for some stray animals here and there. Draco took in the sights and the smells.

"Up this way," Snape tugged at Draco's arm and they where off down the street. The houses here looked expensive, this clearly must be a very rich neighborhood, which was also clearly a muggle neighborhood.

They reached a two story house with wide windows from which light flew into the semi darkness of twilight. The name on the house read Khan. Snape led them through the large white brick gate and around the back. They came to what must have been the kitchen door.

Before they knocked, Snape turned to Draco. "There are three things you must be sure never to mention in this house," he said sternly. "The first is the fact that they live in a muggle city and do most of their things in as non-magical a way as possible. There are very few witches or wizards in India and even fewer wizarding communities. They have to live this way and you will not upset them with your high nose.

"The second is anything to do with the death eaters or the Dark Lord. This family knows as little about those affairs as I can help. I will not have you leaking any information to them, for their own good, and yours.

"Lastly, you are never to ask about the father of this house. He has long since left this family for a new life and it is a topic of great
heartach to the woman and her daughter. So never bring it up and only talk about it if they start to first. Even then, don't say much or ask to many questions. Do you understand?"

Draco nodded. "Yes, I do. No comments about the muggle lifestyle, no comments about the Dark Lord, and nothing about the father."

Snape nodded and knocked on the door.

From inside Draco could here someone moving and speaking in Indi. The door flew open and from the light in the kitchen Draco could make out the woman. She was tall, about 5'9". Her hair was long and gray. This hair was pulled into a messy bun. Her brown eyes flashed with a wisdom and power. She was hardly dressed but had a shaw wraped round the top of her dressing gown. She reminded Draco of a meaner Professor McGonagall.

When the woman saw Snape, she smiled slowly, the smile of a woman who found little to smile about. She nodded to Snape and spoke a few words in Indi that Draco did not understand, but Snape clearly did. For five minutes they spoke in this way, Draco only guessing as to what they were saying.

Then Snape looked down at Draco. "This is Poojay. Poojay, this is the one I told you about, Draco."

Poojay nodded slowly. "Yes of course," she said then something else in Indi to Snape. "Well," she said, "You should come in. Snape, I will see you soon, then?"

Snape nodded. "With any lucky I'll be back here by Wednesday."

Poojay held up her arm and crossed her fingers. Snape smiled a knowing smile.

Draco blinked. "What? You are leaving? Just like that?" He didn't want to be here alone. For all he knew this witch was crazy.

Snape nodded. "I have to. He is already angry. I need to appease him as much as I can if you ever have any hope of coming out of hiding. You will stay here and out of trouble." He turned his eyes once again on Poojay. "Tell Priya I shall see her then."

Poojay nodded. "I will. Good luck," and she and Snape crossed their fingers again. Then, just like that, Snape was gone. "Come, lets get you inside."

Draco followed her inside. The kitchen was warm and smelled of something spicy. It was dimly lit and full of signs of life. The oven was on, the dishes where soaking in the sink, and there was ingrediants for something laying on the countertop. It remind Draco very much of the kitchen in Hogwarts he'd managed to sneek into one or five times.

"I imagine you are tired, correct?" Poojay was whiping her hands on a paper towel. "Come along, I'll show you to your room."

Draco didn't question, nor answer her. He followed her through a door that led into a large living space. The lights were off, but he could see the large sofas. They turned sharply and were met by a flight of stairs. They moved up and then turned down a hall. Draco took notice of all the doors and paintings on the wall. Most of them where modern and a few depicted a girl who grew up with the pictures until at last they became Poojay herself only slightly younger.

"Here we are then," Poojay stopped in front of the second to last door on the left. She opened the door and stepped in, switching on the lights. "I hope you like it. We didn't have much notice, you see."

Draco walked in, expecting the worst. What he found, however, was not half so bad as he had thought. It was a large, white room with a desk, a trunk, a wardrobe, and a large, fluffy white bed that had more pillows on it then Draco had ever seen in one place. There was also a large window with a window seat. There was a door that lead to a bathroom, as well.

"It's fine." He said, forcing his voice to stay calm, but Poojay smiled a knowing smile.

"Sleep well. I'll wake you up if you sleep past noon," she headed for the door. "Don't let the bed bugs bite," she warned sternly before closing the door.

Draco could only guess if she was serious or joking. "Snape, where did you send me?"

He sighed and walked over to the trunk, flipping it open. Somehow, a lot of his own clothes were in here. He rolled his eyes. "He's been planning this. He knew I would fail." He at first was angry at the thought then he calmed down slightly. At least he wasn't dead, thanks to Snape. But why had Snape hidden him and his mother? Why would he do that instead of turning him in?
Draco walked over to the window and flung the shades open. The warm twilight air met him. He sank down into the window seat and leaned his head on the wall. What was Snape doing now? Was he being killed for helping him? What about his mother? Was she safe? And... and what about the others at the school? Did they all already know what he almost did? Did they all know it was his fault? No, it wasn't his fault. It was his fathers. It was the first time Draco had been truly angry at his father for doing anything. Sure, his father wasn't perfect, but he had never caused such a horrible thing to fall upon his own wife and son.

"Thanks, dad." Draco hissed, closing the windows tightly. He took off his shoes and shirt and fell into the warm and fluffy bed. He closed his eyes and sighed. He was tired... he hadn't noticed until just now. He felt like he could sleep for a year.

As he finally began to fall asleep, one thought drifted through his mind:

"Am I going to die?"

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