New Years Eve had arrived and Severus was as usual up and about since 8.30am. He had already chosen his evening wear, black as usual. He had cleaned his rooms and changed the sheets on his bed. New Year, new sheets, new start but unfortunately still the same wife, well everything couldn't be fixed now could it? Having done all his chores Severus couldn't decide what else to do to pass the time until he had to ready himself for the party tonight.

He decided that he would wander over to the library. Eleanor had not shown her face for a few and if she did turn up suddenly she was hardly going to go to the library. She hated books, she said they smelt funny and she couldn't be doing with spending hours of time just reading. All in all the activity was as pointless to her as trying to teach a fish to ride a bike was to other people.

As was custom for this time of year the library was silent and the few people that were in there had secluded themselves in secret corners so as not to be seen studying when they might be out having snow fights and such like.

Sure enough in the far corner of the longest wing of the library a familiar figure sat in front of the fire. The top of their head just visible over the chair back. Severus approached them.

"Quiet reading time?" Severus asked laughing slightly as he sat in the armchair opposite.

Hermione nearly choked on the toffee she was eating and dropped her book into her lap.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"Awfully jumpy aren't you?" Severus asked, and indicated to the toffees.

"Oh yes take one. I shouldn't eat them anyway I'm putting on far too much weight." Hermione tried to compose herself.

She was sat in a large comfortable armchair crossed legged with a large tome in her lap. On the table was a box of toffees and a mug of hot chocolate. Usually food and drink was forbidden in the library but she was a teacher and she was hiding them from Madame Pince.

"Are you coming to the party tonight?" Hermione asked trying not to sound concerned about his answer.

"Yes I usually do."

Hermione glowed red with joy but tried to remain calm and unconcerned.

"Well it should be a good party." She said looking at her book to hide her smile of delight.

The party tonight is were she was going to initiate her revenge plan.

"Hermione are you ok?" Severus queried.

"Yes fine why?"

"You look a bit drawn; you seem to have lost a lot of weight in a week. Is this because of Eleanor? Because if it is I think you're being stupid. I told that night that I thought you were lovely just the way you were!" Severus snapped before letting the words pass through his brain properly.

Hermione looked up at him and smiled slightly.

"Thank you Severus."

Somewhat shocked and slightly embarrassed Severus shut up quickly and took a book up from the table and promptly began to read it. He kept feeling Hermione looking at him with a slight smile over the top of her book. After about half an hour of this Hermione ended Severus's misery.

"I have to go Severus. I am booked into the spa in Hogsmeade, just to make sure I look my best when welcoming in the new year." She said getting up and collecting her things ready to leave. "Oh I forgot to ask, will Eleanor be here tonight?"

Severus looked up in shock at the question. Hermione looked perfectly composed and was simply making a polite enquiry.

"Yes, she will. She always attends such functions."

"Well in that case I shall you both at the party this evening." With that Hermione turned and left.

Severus watched her reduced figure walk down the corridor. It was true she had lost a lot of weight quickly, but it only served to make her look ill, not slim.

Hermione adored lying back and enjoying the feeling of having someone rub oils into your body, while at the same time not having to worry about if they thought she was fat, because they had probably seen a lot worse and she didn't want to sleep with them. Apart from the massage she had booked a facial and of course a manicure. She also had an appointment with the hairdresser to do something with this frizzy mess of hair.

If it hadn't been for her revenge plan she would never have done all this for a staff party. But she intended to show Eleanor that not only could she look good and not be a size, but also show Severus that this was one witch he would be sorry to let go of.

Hermione surprised herself in her way of thinking. Never in her life had she planned revenge, unless you counted the time that she was plotting to dye Draco's hair black when she was in her seventh year. But this was revenge not just petty childish payback.

Hair done, body massaged and face smoother than she had ever seen it in her life, Hermione back to her rooms in the castle. She had put a hat one in case she bumped into anyone in the corridors. She didn't want anyone to see the differences just yet she wanted to keep it a surprise for all the staff and not just Severus.

"Are you not even ready yet?"

"No Eleanor I am not!" Severus was beginning to lose patience with this woman.

She had been here all of 10 minutes and already she had moved personal items, pulled books out of bookshelves and left them on various tables around the room and insulted him at least a dozen times. All in all it was a usual visit from frosty the snow bitch. To add to this effect she was wearing an evening dress of pure white. A simply cut flowing dress made of pure white satin with silver brocade along the plunging neckline. She had left her white blonde hair down so it moved as she walked. If you did not know this woman you would swear she was of the purest soul and the sweetest disposition.

"Well Severus we only half an hour until we have to be there."

"It's not going to take half an hour for me to have a shower and put my already laid out clothes on."

"Well what about your hair?"

"What do you mean 'what about my hair'?"

"Well it's sort of lank. Can't you do something with it?"

"Yes hang on I'll just put it in ringlets!" Severus was walking toward the bath room before the ever growing desire to throw something at Eleanor got out of hand.

"I will tie back then!" he barked as he slammed the door.

Severus had never revelled in hot water so much as he did now. It was as if with each drop of water another piece of Eleanor was washed away. That woman seemed to leave a residue on his skin, nothing physical, but he never felt clean when he had been in her presence. It was as if she literally made his skin crawl.

The room in with the party was being held was not the great hall as this year very few students had stayed for New Year. It was large mahogany panelled room behind the great hall, always used for staff functions. Decorations were everywhere and were even grander than those from Christmas. About 50 or 60 people were invited, professors and their kin as well as friends of the school. To alleviate strain from the house elves there was no meal, just a buffet. The bar in the far corner boasted a huge array of magical cocktails as well as the usual liquors.

As always this was an incredibly formal affair. Not so much in the way people acted but dress and appearance were essential. Everyone wore evening wear and looked as if they could be a royal ball.

As was also usual for staff functions Hermione was still to arrive, even after the rest of the staff had assembled. Even Remus was on time.

"Good evening Severus." Remus said politely and nodded at Severus.

"And to yourself Remus. I trust you are feeling well."

"Quite well thank you. And yourself?"

"As always I am well."

With this painfully polite exchange completed they stood and looked everywhere around the room but at the person they had just spoken to.

"Your wife is looking lovely." Remus said eventually.

Severus downed the bourbon in his glass before replying, "Yes as always she does." There was no emotion in the remark, no note of esteem, merely a plain statement.

"Come now Severus you could do better than that, I mean she is your wife."

"Not by my choice." Severus stated and gave Remus the slightest hint of a bow. "Excuse me please I think I need another drink."

At the bar Severus acquired double bourbon from the house elf. Eleanor spotted him and detached herself from her conversation with Lucius Malfoy. She made beeline to Severus and with a sweet smile took his hand.

"Severus darling what is the matter?"

She had become a Jekyll and Hyde figure, sweet as honeydukes chocolate when people were around and as bitter as polyjuice potion when in private.

"Eleanor lets not pretend tonight." Severus said plainly taking another sip of his drink. "Take yourself back to Lucius and let's just leave it at that."

Eleanor's eyes flashed fire at him; she pursed her lips and exhaled sharply before turning on her heel and walking back to Lucius. The sweet smile had immediately fixed itself on her face again.

Severus leaned against the bar and surveyed the room. No sign of Hermione yet. He had made an effort in his attire tonight. He looked very much like he was a Victorian nobleman. This was not intentional but his clothes all had a place in history, unfortunately none of them were from this era of fashion. His Canterbury boots were polished and each gilded button of his waistcoat shone. His white shirt was crisp and immaculate and his frock coat gave an aristocratic air. He had tied his hair back with a black ribbon, but some of the shorter pieces at the front had come lose only serving to make him look gothic and alluring. He also wore his black cloak with a 3 layer cape. He looked like he had stepped out of a Dickens novel.

Severus was beginning to bore of the party and started to think about leaving for the quietness of his rooms. As he finished his drink the doors opened and someone walked in. the reaction to the person electric. Whispers, gasps and utter shock on the faces of the room's occupants. The crowd was moving as the mysterious figure walked towards the bar and Severus. As people moved out of the way Severus saw the reason for the commotion. He was stuck to spot his mouth had opened in shock. Hermione stood before like an angel. She too was wearing pure white. A corseted dress with sleeves made of chiffon, a full skirt with what must have been many layers of petticoats underneath with another layer of sheer chiffon on top of it. It made Hermione look ethereal as if she would melt away if she were touch, something not of this earth. He hair was been smoothed into ringlets, falling softly around her face with glowing gold hints as the light hit it. Her face seemed to have a glow of its own as if she shone on her own and need no illumination from lights. She had done it she had become a size 16 beauty, an angel in the eyes of her spectators.

"Good evening Severus." she said coyly as she approached him

Inside she was overcome with lust for the man in front of here. She wanted to leave with him right now and seduce him against the nearest wall, but instead she stuck to her plan.

"Good evening Hermione." Severus throat was dry and he was hoarse as he spoke these words. "Would you like a drink?"

"Yes, thank you Severus. I'll have an Agent Provocateur on the rocks." She smirked at him in a knowing way.

Eleanor had seen this exchange and had to admit Hermione looked good tonight. She couldn't stand the thought of a man wanting Hermione over her. You could almost see the fire and venom in the glare she was giving Hermione.

Severus looked at Hermione and gave her nervous smile before handing her the drink that had appeared on the counter next to his elbow.

"You look very dashing tonight Severus." she smiled sipping her drink. "You should wear your hair like that more often."

Severus gulped down his 4th bourbon and ordered another, this night was going to be interesting.

A/N well that chapter was longer than I expected. Jesus! Will these two not just get it on already? Its not even midnight yet! Characters control the story not the author.