The beta had arrived! Thanks MadameMischief! chapter is reposted!

Chapter 2

"You're bloody nuts! I mean it's a lot of money, but it would be his child. I mean his child, Mioney. Listen, I'll talk to my dad and you can get a job at the Ministry with Harry and me instead. Does that sound good to you?" Ron patted Hermione's hand from across the table they shared at the Three Broomsticks. They had met earlier that day; Hermione had been getting some books about pregnancy and the Wizard law. It was when Ron had knocked over her bag, and the books had fallen out that she had had to tell him about being a surrogate mother for Snape. "It's a good bloody thing its not going to be your child genetically otherwise I would have carted you off to St Mungo's ages ago. I mean you have to have a screw lose to agree to have a child with Snape just for an apprenticeship. I know you like learning and every thing, but it just seems a bit unethical or sumit."

"Thanks Ron." Hermione said huffily sipping from her Butterbeer. "I think I'm doing mankind a favor, maybe Snape will change into a better person when he has a child."

"I just got one question Hermione." Ron took both of her hands in his and looked deeply in her eyes. Hermione held a breath as she waited for his question. "Is that bird over there giving me the eye?"

"Ron!" Hermione cried as she hit him in the arm. "I thought you were going to say something intelligent then."

"Hermione, just don't get hurt will you?" Ron looked concerned as he spoke, even though his concentration was ruined every few seconds as he would look over at the 'bird' smile and nod his head at her. She knew he cared about what she was going to do, but he had a dreadful way of showing it. After he had been grinning and nodding his head at the woman for well over what Hermione called 'a casual glance', she drew back her hand and clipped him one around the ear. "OUCH, what you do that for?"

"Stop staring, you're scaring the poor lass, look at her! She thinks she's got something in her teeth and what's with all the head bobbing? You got a twitch?" Hermione asked raising her eyebrows knowing full well the twitch he had wasn't anywhere near his neck. "Look go buy her a drink, I've got to go anyway and don't go doing that thing."

Looking utterly confused and slightly insulted, even though he didn't know what there was to be insulted about. Ron asked indignantly "What 'thing'."

"Telling her you're the lead singer of some band, and you're looking for a witch who can go 'ooooohhh' really smutty like, and ask her to audition right on the spot." Hermione smiled sweetly as she gathered her bags and moved away from the table. "I'll see you around; I wouldn't be surprised if I was the size of a balloon by then."

"You're still going to do it?" Ron's look of indignantly was quickly replaced with the more well known one of puzzlement.

"Well, I did say I would, but it's not final until I sign, right?" Hermione leaned down and kissed Ron on the cheek before heading towards the doors. She had just short of two weeks left to form a plan, and to find all the loop-holes and options she could. It would have helped if she had the contract to look over. Bloody Snape taking his time. If she could she would shake her fist at him, menacing like too.

So here it was in black and white, her fate. It wasn't as complicated as she expected it. Just a plain piece of parchment with his script on it underlining the aspects of the contract. After passing many spells on it she was unhappy to note that it was a magical contract. Once she signed it, the magic behind it would force her to comply with its requirements and restrictions. Stupid untrusting wizard's, the only way out of the contract was to get Snape to burn it. Hermione read over it, unsure that it was as easy as it said. It read…

I, Hermione Jane Granger, have consented to be the Surrogate Mother to the child of Severus Snape. (He didn't have a middle name, Hermione noticed) The terms of this contract is that the biological mother of the child will never be known to anyone bar from Severus and myself. Once the child is born, I am not to play any role in the up-bring and I console that all rights to the child are Severus' alone.

This is in exchanged for a three year apprenticeship and the sum of a thousand Gallons. The terms of this contract will start from the 1st of September 2000 till 22nd of June 2003. The contract however will be legal from the 1st of September on, unless Severus Snape should decide to nullify it by burning it.

X (This, Hermione surmised was where she was meant to sign.)

Looking over it, Hermione hoped that Snape felt like a dick writing it in her words and referring to himself as Severus. He most likely didn't, but it did make her smile any less.

Hermione had done her research and the contract said she couldn't play a role after the birth, but nothing about during the pregnancy. So legally she was allowed to form a bond before the child was born, and Snape couldn't do anything about it. Plus, if she had read this right, being as the bond was formed before, it was not illegal to keep the bond once the child was born, and gosh her head hurt from all this baffle.

It scared Hermione that here she would be taking such a big risk. If she did connect with the child, she would never be able to call it son or daughter. Never be called mum. And she would have to go through this for two year's. Would she not go insane at having her child so close but not being able to lay any claim to it?

Well, she could always make Snape fall in love with her or at least to rely on her enough to want her around for the rest of his life. If she could make him fall in love with her, she didn't want it to be one-sided. And she did find him handsome and devily smart. During the time when they work together with for the Order before Voldemort's fall, Hermione admitted to herself that she did rather fancy him. But that was from having to spend hours with him making potions and it wasn't like they were going to spend the whole time not talking to each other. They did talk and they debated and even laughed together. Maybe it was the hardship of the times which made her cling onto any thing she could. After the war had ended Hermione hardly saw Snape and soon she forgot about liking him at all.

So could she fall in love with him and make him do the same?

There was only one way to find out. Picking up her quill Hermione signed and then regretted soon afterwards. She had only received it at 8 this morning and it was only just half past 11 now. Hermione hit her head of the desk in her bedroom of her parents' house and cursed her stupidity, and Gryffindor notions of 'liking a challenge'.

Rubbing her head Hermione began writing letters to Harry and the two youngest Weasleys to inform them of her plans for the next three years. Of course leaving out the fact that she was going to be the biological mother of Snape's child. She had until the 1st of September, that left her with nine days. Hermione stood and went to her wardrobe. if she was serious about seducing Snape, a new wardrobe was going to be in order. Changing to go to Hogsmade, Hermione planned to go to her Parents grave later in the day to explain to them what was happening.

Hermione's parents had died a week before the final battle, it was their brutal deaths at the hands of death eaters that made Hermione more determined to kill all those with anything to do with Voldemort. It wasn't until after the battle that Hermione was able to grieve for the parents that were snatched away from her. She had spent three weeks in her bedroom, refusing to deal with the lawyer's. Dumbledore had sent over Professor McGonagall to help her with the dealings of becoming alone. The first time she set foot out of the house was for the ceremony to hand out awards to those who had helped in the defeat of Voldemort. Hermione had received an Order of Merlin, First class. She had never taken the medal out of the presentation box. It lay at the back of her wardrobe in a shoe box filled with stuff from the war. Newspaper clippings from her parents deaths, and many of those who she didn't know were in there. The war was a horrific event that never should have happened. That box was never to be opened.

She had received a medal for the work she did with Snape before, as well as for the medical work, and fighting she had done in the final battle. At the ceremony she had been a mess, not really caring what happened around. She had to walk up the stage with Snape, he looked disgusted at being near her. Hermione had put it down to the way she had looked and smelt. Hermione was very shocked to find out later, that Snape hadn't been disgusted, he was angry at what had happened to her parents. He had been upset to see this happen to Hermione, and to watch her suffer.

Of course when she had asked why, she received the answer that Snape was upset that he was not told the Order of the plan to kill her parents, and he saw himself as a failure. He did not, this was made very clear, care for her in anyway and if she was happy to spend the rest of her life in a ruin, who was he to stop her. It was soon after that Hermione returned to getting on with her life. He was the reason why she was continuing her life. She owed him a lot, Hermione thought. Another reason why she should do this.

Once changed and ready Hermione left the house and headed towards the apparition points a few block's away. She mentally went through what she would need, maternity clothes, work clothes, sexy clothes and did they do sexy underwear for pregnant women? She could leave the maternity clothes until she started showing, then she could get Snape to go shopping with her. That meant buying underwear too, but what if they didn't do sexy underwear for mothers-to-be? She would have a look today and if they didn't she would stock up now, but if they did, well she would just have to leave it until later, Hermione thought with a wicked smile. She was not going to let Snape take her baby, even if he was entitled to, with out a fight.

A/N I love all of your reviews. What do you think of this chapter? I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner. I'm going to send email in reply to review's, I might even reveal information to those who do, so please leave an email address if you're not signed in or if your email address isn't displayed.

Kiie: I'm glad you like and a big thank you for being my first review.

Porcelain Prayer: I want the story to be amusing but yet dramatic in a sense that makes you want to pee yourself. I was abit worried that the character's was a tad OOC. You've now settled my doubt.

SB: I rushed this chapter and I'm not very good with the whole grammar thing. I'm easily confused.

Kiss-of-cuteness: well of course people are bound to notice but this contract being made doesn't mean that Hermione can't say that she's a surrogate mother for Snape. I rushed the chapter. I wanted to get it posted before I went to bed so I know I've skipped a lot of detail.

Severus-Fan: I've never received so many positive feed back for the first chapter. Thanks a lot.

Innogen: I haven't read that fic but I will make sure I do. Hermione has got three weeks to reconsider her options and there's plenty of book read time in between as well.

Anarane Anwamane: Thanks for reviewing, it doesn't matter how long or short a review is, it still inspires people to write more. I still can't believe I've gotten so many reviews!

Pathatlon: An education is worth the world in Gallons. Remember things don't always go to plan.

Slytherin Queen: I know it seems a bit (for lack of a better word) blah but you have the gallons and the free apprenticeship, actually I wont tell you every thing now, but it will be explained more in this chapter.

Celi: Updating right now, I've only got 35mins until desperate housewife's is on but I shall write as much as I can.

SoBe Peach Tea: got to say I love your name.

BabyRuth/15: Keep on reading and you'll find out. I've yet to decide on a happy or sad ending yet.

FlairVerona: I'm glad you like it so far, I'll try to keep up making it interesting.

Snapesepanss: Everyone has there point where they have to say no. Hermione knows hers.

Natsuyori: I'm glad you think it's fantastic. I've never wrote anything that got such a response like this.

I can't believe how many reviews I've got for the first chapter. I might have to turn to email to reply to them though. Don't want the chapter to be just replies now.

Enjoy the chapter and if you haven't reviewed yet, please do so. And if you have do it again, I love hear peoples opinions (even bad) throughout the story.