DISCLAIMER: I decided to take JK's characters out for a stroll... Don't own anything that you recognize

Thanks again to my wonderful beta MoonyNZ!!

Rua tekau ma rima

Hermione paced nervously back and forth in front of the portrait of Gordian the Brave. She still had five minutes before she was supposed to meet them here, but that was still enough time for something to go wrong.

"Stop pacing," a voice said from her right.

Hermione turned to offer Lucius a nervous smile. "Sorry." She turned away from him and looked out one of the windows, whispering softly to herself. She heard Lucius walk right up beside her, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back.

"It's going to be alright, Hermione," he whispered in her ear. "This plan, it's perfect. It's a simple mission, really." He pulled her away from the window. "Stop worrying."

"I always worry," she replied briskly.

"So who is this contact you have?" he asked, sitting on the window ledge. He glanced down the hallway quickly before turning back to look at her. "I don't think we should just be trusting anyone, especially during times like these."

"She's the only one I know that could help us," Hermione answered, starting to pace once more. "And you know her. She went to school with us actually. It's Ashley DeGroot."

Lucius furrowed his brows, seemingly trying to recall the name and yet being unable to place it. "DeGroot…DeGroot," he repeated softly to himself over and over again. "The name sounds familiar but I don't remember who she is."

"Of course you wouldn't," Hermione brushed off impatiently, starting to tap her foot as she watched for the others. "She didn't exactly mingle with your group of friends."

He smirked then, that casual Malfoy smirk that put so many on edge, wondering what was coming next. "Not many dared to." His voice was low as he made that comment, almost as if he was trying to scare her.

She snorted in a very unladylike manner. "Yeah, that had to be it," she drawled sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, while I was working for the Ministry, I ended up Bhutan somehow. Ashley was there working as a liaison from England doing some charm work at a Curse Breaker camp."

"And?"

"Apparently she ended up taking a permanent position there," Hermione finished, shrugging lightly. She settled down onto the window seat beside him. "From the research I've done and what I've read about Caradoc's research, we should find the jaundow plant somewhere near there. Ashley has agreed to give help us."

"Can we trust her though?"

Hermione stared straight ahead for a moment before turning her head up to look at him. "Do we have a choice?" she returned softly.

He was about to respond when they both heard someone coming toward them. Hermione looked up to see Snape bearing down on them, carrying a basket of potions with him. He was scowling a bit. He had been uneasy with the plan when she had first told him about it. It appeared that his feelings hadn't changed.

He thrust the basket out to Lucius who merely took it with that damn smirk of his. Hermione smiled pleasantly, causing Snape to scowl even more. He took a large flask from the basket, holding it out to her.

"The flask contains enough Polyjuice potion to tide for over three days, but no more. I will deny any connection if you lot are caught."

"I knew you cared," Hermione teased, taking the flask before he could pull it away.

Lucius pulled his pocket watch out and looked at the time. He frowned before sliding it back into his pocket. "She's late," he stated, crossing his arms.

"Patience," Hermione chided, poking his shoulder lightly.

"You were the one pacing earlier," he reminded, frowning at her.

She rolled her eyes and turned toward Snape. "Sure you don't want to go with us?"

"Positive," he drawled easily, and then smirked. "Besides, who would keep you in detention if I were not here?"

"And just remember," another voice added, "I won't always be the student." They turned to see Lily walking toward them. She stopped and turned toward Snape, her hands on her hips. "I'll help you stock your potion supplies."

"You may not be," he said, that impious smirk still plastered on his face, "but Hermione is."

"Children," Lucius scolded. He stood and straightened his robes. "We need to hurry this along before some unfortunate student wanders this way." He took the flask from Hermione and held out his hand for a couple strands of her hair. He added it to the mixture and then handed it to Lily. "Bottoms up," he told her.

Lily wrinkled up her nose but took a sip. It only took a few moments for her features to change into that of Hermione's. She smiled, then, and turned to Severus. "That is nasty."

"Of course it is," he scoffed, "now hurry and get her changed."

Lucius withdrew his wand, considering Hermione for a minute. Smirking slightly, he whispered a few incantations and flicked his wand. Hermione's hair grew considerably shorter and shades darker. It fell straight now to her shoulders, while her eyes turned to a light blue colour.

Nodding in satisfaction, Lucius conjured a mirror so she could view the glamour charms he had placed upon her. She nodded in satisfaction. "That'll do," she said, frowning slightly as she noticed the slight change to her voice.

"Voices can be recognized," he answered her unasked question simply.

Hermione shrugged before turning to Lily. "No spying on your children," she told the older woman. "We shouldn't be longer than three days. It probably won't even take us that long actually, but just in case," she withdrew a coin and handed it to her. "I'll send you a message if anything happens."

Lily took the coin and gripped it tightly in her fist. She smiled at the younger girl, her now brown eyes softening as she wrapped her arms around Hermione. "Take care, Hermione," she whispered.

Hermione pulled away from her slowly. She turned to Lucius and allowed him to guide her down the corridor. When they reached then in, she glanced back to see Lily and Severus still looking after them.

AmAyAtHeGrEaTlOvEsApPlEsAuCe

A bead of sweat trickled down between her breasts, the hot sun blaring unmercifully overhead. Hermione pulled her light cotton shirt away from her skin with a huff of irritation. Today was their first actual day of searching and already she longed for the nice rainy days back home.

Lucius, in front of her, looked completely at home in the heat and the breezy cotton outfit Ashley had provided him with the night before when they had first arrived. The outfit suited him amazingly well. Hermione felt a little twang of irritation that anything Lucius donned suited him.

She shielded her eyes as she glanced out in front of them. They had decided to start more toward the Indian border and work their way back toward the central part of Bhutan. Her research showed that plant should be somewhere near.

Lucius turned back to look at her. His steely eyes assessed her for a minute before he settled down onto one of the larger rocks in the area. Patting the space beside him, he said, "Let's rest for a little bit."

Hermione willingly complied, fanning herself as she settled down beside him. He dug around in his pack for the canteen and offered it to her. She took a couple of sips of water while her eyes surveyed the horizon. The mountains were off in the distance; the temperature would be considerably cooler once they were amongst them.

Lucius started to poke at one of the plants with a stick, surveying it with interest when a thick gel oozed from the top of the stem. Hermione cast a casual glance his way, pausing as she caught sight of the plant. In sudden realization, Hermione slapped his hand away, causing him to drop the stick.

"What was that for?" he demanded.

"Don't you realize what that is?" She stood, pulling him up beside her. She turned all the way around, her eyes on the ground. "We've got to get out of here," she told him, picking his pack up from the ground and handing it to him, "and quickly."

"What is wrong with you?" His voice was a tad bit agitated, which may have had something to do with the fact that Hermione was now pulling him along behind her as she hurried down the slope. "Hermione!"

She paused long enough to glance behind him at the ground. "Come on," she urged, grasping his hand tightly in her own. Her other hand went to her leg where her wand was strapped. "We need to get to that copse of trees down there."

She heard Lucius curse under his breath and understood. The copse was a good distance away and she knew they were both tired. Instead of slowing down, she tightened her grip and sped up to a light jog.

When they were finally encased in the safety of the tree's shadows, Hermione stopped, her eyes once more turning back whence they came. Her torso fell forward as she panted, her hands gripping her knees firmly.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" Lucius raved, his breathing slightly laboured.

"You," she bit out angrily, her finger stabbing his chest. "You almost got us killed, you bloody git! Would have served you right if I had just left you back there."

"It was just a plant."

"It was not just a plant," she ground out, clenching her jaw angrily. "I knew I should have brought Severus," she muttered to herself. "He wouldn't have been so stupid."

Lucius' hand shot out and gripped her arm with a growl. She turned quickly and punched his chest, shocking him enough that he let go of her. His narrowed eyes met her glare, neither of them moving.

"Don't touch anything," she hissed finally. "That little plant back there is filled with a poisonous substance that gives nutrition to the noor beetle. And, since I doubt you even know what they are, they could kill us in about ten different ways and very quickly too. You disturb their food supply, they know."

"Doesn't mean they would have killed us," he said, a bit petulantly.

"Oh yes, they would have," she grumbled. "They're very territorial and, oh, did I mention that they also have another food source?" She stood akimbo and glared at him. "Blood. Human blood, actually."

"Okay, so it may have not been the best decision to play with the plant." At her loud snort, he rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, alright, but it's not like I see them all the time."

She turned from him as she settled down on the ground. "Just don't touch anything else unless you know what it is." She opened her pack and withdrew a small pack of bread. Handing him a piece, she took one for herself and bit into it. She turned to look around them, surveying the landscape.

"I think our best bet is going to be in the mountains," Hermione told him, gesturing toward the high peaks. "And, I propose that we set up camp here and stay the night instead of apparating back to Ashley's. If we just show up at night and leave in the morning, we'd draw too much attention to ourselves."

He went to lean against one of the trees and then must have thought better of it for he walked over and settled next to her. "Here? Or do you want to try to make it on to the mountains?" He glanced out toward them. "We might be able to make it there before nightfall."

"But not in time to set up adequate shelter before we become the night meal of one of the creatures that live within them," she rationalized. "We should be safe here."

They continued to eat in silence, every so often exchanging the canteen to allow the other to take a drink. Hermione refilled the canteen with water once before they both stood and started to plan an adequate shelter.

Hermione was walking through the coppice looking for long sturdy branches when she saw the small cave. "Lucius!" She squatted down slightly behind a tree, watching the crevice closely to see if anything was within.

Twigs cracking behind her signalled the arrival of Lucius behind her. She motioned for him to come closer, and then took her wand from its holster. "Think anything is in there?" she asked, turning to glance at him quickly.

"Doesn't look like it." A frown marred his brow, his hand now clutching his own wand. "But looks can be deceiving. Stay behind me."

He stood, taking hold of her elbow to help her stand. He walked cautiously toward the cave's entrance, his eyes alert for anything coming toward them. They were about fifty meters out when he paused. Turning his head left and right, he frowned.

"Do you feel that?"

Hermione frowned and then closed her eyes, concentrating on the surroundings. Her eyes snapped open and flew to meet his. "Magic?"

He nodded. "It's all over the place and it seems to be centring around the cave."

He picked a small stone up from the ground and tossed it toward the cave. Hermione could tell the minute it hit the magical barrier. There was a crackle and a popping sound, magical tendrils sweeping out and toward them.

"Think that sent a message to anyone?" she inquired, putting a faux pleasant note in her voice.

"Let's hope not." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. "If it did, they're sure to come in numbers. We're good, but we have our limits."

She grinned at that and adjusted the pack on her back. "Well, let's test the place for wards and then set up home for the night."

It took them thirty minutes to remove all the wards from around the cave. They were old, though, so that gave them both hope that no one would be arriving to see who disturbed the place.

Lucius decided to play gallant and instructed her to get behind him. She rolled her eyes at that, but let him lead the way in nevertheless. He lit his wand and walked into the cave cautiously. What they found, startled them both.

Hermione let out a low whistled as she looked around the vast space. Holding her lighted wand out, she stepped around a startled Lucius to get a better look around.

"Well, won't be hard to play house in here," she commented with a smile.

"No kidding."

He went over to the small fire pit near the centre of the cave and used a few of the logs lying there to start a fire. It was slightly cooler in the cave and he knew that the temperature would drop considerably during the night.

Meanwhile, Hermione removed her pack and set it down on the cot that sat along one of the walls. "I'm going to put up some wards so we'll be protected tonight," she told him before walking back toward the entrance. She placed a number of spells on the cave, ensuring that they would be alerted should anything or anyone come near the cave.

When she walked back into the cave, Lucius was flipping through a small book. He paused at one of the pages. His eyes met hers and he held the book out to her.

She took the book from his hand and glanced down at the page. A number of illustrations were drawn there along with some notes. In the very bottom corner was a drawing of a small plant. "Lucius," she said slowly, "this is…"

"The jaundow plant," he finished.

She flipped quickly through the book, scanning over the notes and drawings in it. When she reached the end, she stopped. "Lucius, this was Caradoc's." She looked up to smile at him. "We're close, Lucius. Caradoc was here."

A/N: Um..in case you don't remember, in Changing Yesterday, Caradoc was a professor but he also went on a mission for Dumbledore...yada yada. As always, thanks for reading!

MiZZ AmAyA