A/N- Geez why is everyone who reads my story too lazy to review? LOL. I just want feedback! My computer is up and running so I'll try to update more frequently to make up for the summer.

Three months had passed since Harry had found out about Hermione's curse mark, and he always seemed to be keeping an eye on her. They had told Ron later that night after he had come home, and his reaction had been about the same as Harry's. Now Hermione had the two top Aurors in the country watching over every move, and it was driving her crazy.

Hermione was in her office packing up her case files when a knock on the door caught her attention. She looked up and raised her eyebrow at Harry who was leaning in the doorway with a grin on his face.

"How long are you going to work today?" he asked.

Hermione scoffed and stuffed another file in her bag. "I'll work for as long as I need to," she snapped. "I lasted three years without you constantly watching my movements, and I can live a while longer."

Harry stepped inside her office and held out his hand. "Let me carry that for you; it looks like it weighs thirty pounds."

"No," Hermione said firmly while she picked up the bulging bag. "I don't need you to babysit me."

"Hermione," Harry sighed. "I don't want to have to 'babysit you' as you put it, but Lucius and some other Death Eaters have been spotted in London and neither Ron nor I want to leave you alone when you're hurt and have a huge target on your back."

Hermione glared at him and stalked out of her office with Harry following right behind her patiently. At Harry's insistence, they apparated to work together, apparated home together, and Harry had even begun to follow her to the market. The only places where Hermione could get a moment to herself was at home or at work.

Once they got to the lobby, Harry grabbed Hermione's arm and held on tightly before turning on the spot and disappearing with a 'crack'. They arrived a moment later in the Grimmauld Place kitchen. As soon as she was steady, Hermione jerked her arm away from Harry drew her hand over the fridge door, and stomped upstairs to her room.

"I'm just doing this to protect you!" Harry called up after her.

Hermione didn't reply, and Harry felt his shoulder's droop a bit. He sighed and began to rummage through the fridge for something to eat. Almost immediately, he noticed that the fridge was empty and that the shopping list on the door was gone.

Is it Ron's turn to shop? Harry thought. He heard footsteps behind him and he turned around to find Kreacher running in the kitchen.

"Hello Kreacher," Harry greeted cheerfully. "Has Ron already gone shopping?"

Kreacher bowed and frowned a little. "Masters Harry and Ron and Mistress Hermione should let Kreacher do the shopping," he said a little scornfully.

Harry laughed lightly. "We like to do the shopping, it's nothing personal Kreacher. Plus Ron knows that I wouldn't give you money for his junk, so the only way Ron gets the food he wants is when he shops."

Kreacher mumbled something under his breath before looking up at Harry with scornful eyes. "Today is not Master Ron's turn to shop. Today is Mistress Hermione's turn."

"What?" Harry asked sharply. Thinking back to when they had apparated in the kitchen, Harry remembered Hermione brushing her hand against the fridge, it would have been easy for her to grab the list without Harry realizing it. "Damm!" Harry cursed loudly, causing Kreacher to jump.

Harry sprinted upstairs and burst into Hermione's room. He felt his stomach drop when he found her room empty.

"Hermione!" he called desperately. When no answer came, Harry drew out his wand, thought of a happy memory, and shouted "Expecto Patronum!" A brilliant silver stag shot out, looked at Harry once, then galloped through the wall to deliver Harry's message to Ron. He anxiously paced in Hermione's room until Ron's silver terrier fazed through the wall a minute later.

"She's not here, mate," said the terrier with Ron's anxious voice. "I'm going to check out the market and the area nearby, but knowing Hermione, she'll be at a different market so we won't find her. Don't worry mate, we'll find her." After delivering its message, the terrier faded away.

Harry clenched his teeth in frustration in a desperate attempt to think of where else she might go to shop. Without even thinking of one, Harry turned on the spot and apparated to a small alley in London. Even if he had to search the whole city, Harry wouldn't stop until he found her.

Hermione walked out of the market with bags full of food. After making sure the coast was clear, she waved her hand over the bags to shrink them, cast a protection bag on her purse and put the shrunken bags inside. Hermione headed to a small alleyway to apparate back home, though she was almost sorry to end her alone time. She felt bad for leaving Grimmauld Place without telling Harry, but she couldn't take another shopping trip with an Auror bodyguard.

I'll get scolded for sure when I get home, but it was worth it to have half an hour to myself, Hermione thought heavily.

Before Hermione could turn on the spot, she heard a swish of a cloak and felt a solid anti-apparition ward block her. She drew her wand from her packet and muttered 'Lumos'. Standing at the very end of the alley that Hermione was standing in, was Lucius Malfoy.

"Good evening Miss Granger," Lucius sneered. Behind him two other cloaked figures shook with what Hermione thought was anticipation to attack.

"What do you want?" Hermione demanded defiantly. Her wand trembled as her shoulder began to sting.

Lucius chuckled and drew his own wand, his companions followed suit. "I want you. Apparently your filthy blood is part of the key I need to gain more power than even the Dark Lord could possess."

Hermione felt like someone had slashed her shoulder open again when the threat truly began to sink in. Thinking fast, she strengthened her Lumos spell until it created a large flash of light right in front of her attackers. They cried out and covered their eyes.

While they were blinded, Hermione called out "Expecto Patronum!" Her silver otter shot out of her wand and raced away to deliver the message.

As soon as her patronus had fled, the light faded and Lucius fired a stunner at Hermione. Quickly, Hermione raised a shield to block the attack. The stunner stopped as soon as it hit the shield, but the shield began to crack when the other two began firing curses.

I can't hold this much longer, Hermione thought despairingly. They'll break through any second now, and I won't see Ron or Harry again.

With a smirk, Lucius shouted, "Sectumsempra!" As soon as it hit her shield, it cracked, sending Hermione flying into the wall.

Hermione screamed in pain and clutched her shoulder while tears began to fall down her cheeks. Glaring, she shakily got to her feet and feebly gripped her wand tighter.

I've got one shot to escape, Hermione thought determinedly. And I have to time this right.

Using wandless magic, Hermione summoned up every bit of dirt and dust in the alley. Her attackers cursed and blew the dust cloud away.

Lucius sneered when he saw Hermione running towards the street. He pointed his wand straight at her and with a voice full of malice, yelled, "Crucio!"

Hermione fell to the ground and screamed in agony while her body convulsed. Sweat started to stain her clothes and she struggled to stand.

"Poor little mudblood," Lucius jeered. "Where is your hero? Seems mighty irresponsible of him to let you out by yourself when there's danger afoot. But don't worry; I'll be sure to let him know that you'll be taken care of."

"Get away from her you bastard!"

Lucius looked up just in time to avoid a powerful stunner from behind him. Behind him stood a very angry Harry. Lucius smirked and pointed his wand at Hermione, who was still struggling to stand up.

"Good evening Mr. Potter. You're just in time to watch us take away your little mudblood witch."

Harry raised his wand again and stepped forward. His emerald eyes were blazing in anger and his magic was coming off so strong that it sent chills up Hermione's spine.

"You will not touch her," Harry said in a low, dangerous voice.

Lucius laughed and took another step towards her. "I wouldn't try anything Potter; if you attack me you won't be able to stop my friends here from killing the mudblood. Put your wand away if you don't want me to cast another Unforgivable on your filthy girlfriend."

Harry glared at Lucius and lowered his wand an inch. As soon as his wand began to lower, Lucius aimed his wand at Harry at the same time his two accomplices pointed theirs.

"Avada-"

Before Lucius or his two accomplices could finish their curses, a strong whirlpool of water surrounded Harry, protecting him, and pushed Lucius and the other two back. Once their guard was down, Harry aimed his wand at Lucius, but the water slowed his stunner and the anti-apparition ward was lifted, and Lucius gone before it could hit.

"Damnit!" Harry swore loudly before turning his attention to Hermione. "Hermione are you okay?" he asked desperately. He sprinted over to her and tried to give her a hug, but as soon as he touched her, she vanished melted away into water. "Hermione!"

"I'm safe Harry," Hermione's voice sounded from the alley.

Harry turned around and scanned the alley. "Where are you?"

Suddenly, the water that had shielded him began to flow together into one puddle. Once every drop was there, the water began to take form. Right before Harry's eyes, he saw a puddle of water shape itself into a beautiful, slender blue fox.

The blue fox shook itself and trotted over to Harry and glanced up at him with wide brown eyes.

Harry gasped in shock and knelt down so he could be eye level. "Is that you Hermione?"

"Yes," Hermione answered with her lean muzzle. "I'm so sorry Harry, as much as it pains me to admit it, you were right, I shouldn't have gone out on my own."

"It's okay Hermione," Harry said dazed.

He looked over Hermione and began to appreciate the beauty that she possessed as an Animagus. She had sleek blue for, her chocolate brown eyes, and three tails. There was no way that she was a normal fox.

"What are you Hermione? How can you talk as an Animagus, and how can you turn yourself into water?"

Hermione took a deep breath and shifted back into her human form. She was a little unsteady for a second, but quickly regained her composure. "I'm a Water Kitsune. And I have to find the other elements before our world is destroyed. Voldemort was only the beginning Harry and I have to be on the frontline again for the next stage of this war."

A/N- I'm back baby! Please review! Does anyone have any suggestions for the Earth or Fire Kitsune? I already have one for Air. REVIEW!