Disclaimer: Not mine.

I have gotten some comments on Hermione's age. I did not realise she was so much older when I started this and if she was born September and is so much older than Harry shouldn't she have started Hogwarts a year before? So I have her being born September first the same year as Harry, making her a month and a bit younger than him.

In my account Kirallie I have received some rather rude messages from 'Supergirlrules' as well as 2 reviews that had swearing at me and things like that. And like the coward that sort of person is he/she has disabled private messaging once they have sent the horrible messages to me. I mean the person told me to die. How pathetic can you get wasting time reading a story whose warnings are clear and then sending messages like that? If you can't be polite then keep your opinion to yourself. All my slash stories on both accounts are clearly marked so if you don't like then don't read. Sorry for the rant.

Chapter 3

Hermione felt a pang of loneliness as she sat alone at her table to eat, seeing the people around sitting with friends and family. Right then she missed her parents more than ever and found herself fighting tears.

"Are you alright?" The voice so close had her jumping but at least she managed not to draw her wand.

Yoshino looked down at the young woman in concern. She was obviously new to Konoha and she looked so lost and alone. She couldn't sense a developed chakra system so the girl was either a civilian or very good at hiding.

"I'm fine ma'am."

"Come, sit with us. It is always better to have company and make new friends. Do you like children?" Yoshino asked and then saw the aborted protective move. "I see. Well you will soon need the experience." She quickly ushered the girl to their own table where her husband and young son awaited. "This is my husband Nara Shikaku, our son Shikamaru and I am Nara Yoshino." She plopped the four year old into the girls arms, watching as she quickly held him to her safely.

"Granger Hermione." The girl responded to their greeting, such an odd name.

"Welcome to Konoha Granger-san." Shikaku greeted and she smiled at him.

"Thank you sir." Shikamaru reached up with chubby fingers to pull at her braid and she let him play with it.

"When is your little one due?" Yoshino asked as she watched Shikamaru play with Hermione.

"Just under seven months. Hopefully I'll be settled somewhere by then."

"The last thing you want is to go into labour on the road; I've heard so many horror stories about that happening. I made sure I stopped active duty by my fourth month and then stayed around the village for the remainder."

"That would be nice but I only have a month's pass. The doctor I saw yesterday said she is going to try and get it extended until at least the baby is born which is nice of her."

"Do you have a trade or skill that would be useful to the village? That would increase your chances." Shikaku told her even as he lazily reached for some food.

"No sir. I…I was still in school until." She closed her eyes and Yoshino put a hand over her arm.

"Until what dear?" She asked gently, seeing Hermione hug Shikamaru tightly.

"There was a fight, I got cornered and he….I had to leave after that. I won't let him get my baby." Hermione choked out, why was she telling her this? It was one thing to tell the healer….doctor. But this woman and her family were strangers, so why did she feel safe with them?

Yoshino felt sick on Hermione's behalf, the poor girl. So young to be a single mother, at least for a civilian. Her heart when out to her and she knew that her chances for survival and a safe delivery would be very slim on the road. But without someone sponsoring her to stay it wouldn't happen and Yoshino wasn't willing to risk it without knowing her a lot better. The doctors' plea on her behalf may help her but she doubted it would be enough. The only other chance she had was marriage to a citizen but would she ever trust a man enough to marry? She changed the subject to tips on baby care for the rest of the meal and once it was done they insisted on paying for her part. After getting the name of the hotel she was staying in they parted. "What do you think of her?"

"She is keeping a lot of secrets but she seems like a nice girl, this father could be troublesome though."

"Her school was attacked, shinobi?"

"Maybe, could be hired Samurai, thugs or just disgruntled locals." Shikaku pointed out and she nodded. "If the father is shinobi she could be in danger as soon as she leaves."

"Poor girl."

Kakashi paused and tilted his head curiously, something was out of place. Technically he was off duty but he found it easier to relax if he occasionally ran his own patrol of the town at night. But tonight something was off so he turned and leapt from roof to roof as he followed the feeling. It led him to one of the mid-priced hotels and he finally traced it to one of the rooms. He perched on the windowsill and glanced inside. At first nothing seemed out of place but then he felt it and saw the furniture beginning to float. What the hell was a 'witch' doing in Konoha? He saw the figure on the bed thrashing in their sleep and realised she was leaking magic due to a nightmare. He tapped on the window, trying to wake her without entering. He knew better than to get too close, he'd seen what magic could do and didn't want to end up on the wrong end of it. Eventually he pushed the window up and then shoved a large decorative vase over, letting it smash on the floor. It worked, the girl jerked awake and Kakashi found himself facing a wand for the first time ever. Last time he had run into her kind he had been a simple observer, nothing more. He held his hands up, looking as harmless as possible as the girl shook off the dream. He recognised her as the person he had nearly walked into at the hospital several days before.

"Who are you?" Hermione demanded, wand aimed on the intruder. It was an effort to keep her hand from shaking, unable to push the memories of what had happened away fully.

"Hatake Kakashi. Apologies for startling you but your magic was getting out of control." The silver haired man answered, staying utterly still.

Hermione was shocked, he knew. "You know?"

"Yes. I have been to your world before. So why is a witch in Konoha?"

Hermione stared at the ninja before slowly lowering her wand. "Running." She admitted softly.

Kakashi frowned under his mask, running from what? If it was the law then they should send her right back there but maybe it was something more personal. But he should tell the Hokage they had a possible threat in the village? "From what?"

"None of your business."

"It is or I go straight to the Hokage and tell him there's a threat in the village." He countered and she looked away. "Well?"

"From a war. I have two friends who lost their parents to the last ones, I won't let my baby grow up an orphan too." She finally answered defiantly and Kakashi stretched out his senses, finally picking up the fluctuation in her chakra and the presence of a new life. So now what should he do?

TBC…..