Lying on his back Severus looked up at the girl sat next to him. He almost wanted to pinch himself just to check he was indeed awake. He couldn't take his eyes off her as her hands ran over his body, feeling every imperfect inch of it.

Her hand reached the waistband of his trousers and she giggled slightly. Instead of undoing them she ran her hand over the material feeling the hard lump that tented the material. It promised to be so good.

As her hand ran down the inside of his thigh he gave into animal instinct and put his hand behind her head and pulled her head down. His lips met hers with all the passion and vigour he had intended. She collapsed beside him her tongue seeking his and a frenzied kiss that held every desire she had ever felt.

She promised herself that tonight was going to live up to all expectations, that ache deep inside herself was going to disappear. The longing for a mans touch would finally be realised.

Suddenly she inhaled rather sharply. His hand was a hand on her breast and it was the most exquisite thing she had ever felt. Even when she had touched herself like that it hadn't felt the same. This was like there was an electricity in his blood passing through his fingers and the material of her corset and causing goose bumps on her skin.

Gently he rolled her over so she was lying on her back. She was staring up at him waiting for heaven to finally arrive. And it seemed to be charging towards her at god speed as he bent down and kissed her neck trailing soft kisses down toward her chest where the corset posed a problem. When he reached the offending item he undid it one hook and eye at a time kissing the newly exposed skin.

Soon his head was reeling from the smell of her skin. She smelt of jasmine and although he knew it was a common aphrodisiac he never knew this was the effect it would have had. She seemed to have assaulted every part of him.

Finally after what seemed like a million hours Hermione was free of her corset and Severus was able to drink in her flesh. Every bare inch of her naked breasts thrilled him; he felt his penis throb as he looked longingly at those satin like mounds.

Her eyes had followed him eagerly as he had made his long sensuous journey down her body. She was absorbing the look of desire emanating from his eyes as he kissed her. She found it thrilled her, every one of her fingers were tingling from it.

"My god Severus…." Hermione began before being interrupted by a knocking on her door.

They both looked pained but knew that these doors were easy to open and should someone walk in on them in their current positions there would be more than a little embarrassment for all involved.

"Sorry I won't be a minute" Hermione said as she got up and put on her dressing gown.

She padded into the other room and across to the door. Severus heard her open the door and gasp.

Fearing the worst he jumped up and looked through the doorway. His fears were confirmed, it was Eleanor.

"You little whore! You can't even get your own man!" Eleanor slurred.

Severus knew that this was not like her. She never got drunk at these functions; she only drank in the privacy of her own rooms. She only drank to excess when she was in a state of rage or depression. Somehow he didn't think she was depressed at the thought of losing him.

He stayed hidden at the door, he didn't want to incriminate Hermione and cause more trouble than was needed.

"You spawn of a bitch!" Eleanor shouted at Hermione. "Do you want to ruin my marriage?"

Hermione stood there stunned. She had never had to deal with something like this before now. The worst she had endured was a sniping match with Malfoy and the odd rough and tumble with another Slytherin.

"I …didn't" was all Hermione managed to mutter.

The rage emanating from the woman in front of her was tangible. You could almost see her eyes flashing red and green, it was like watching a demon transformation.

"I will make you pay for this!" Eleanor slurred in a deathly low whisper.

Then in a flash she had raised her hand and brought it down on Hermione's face so hard she was sent reeling. With equal speed Severus had shot from the door to catch her before she hit the floor.

"Get out." Severus growled glaring at Eleanor.

"No you are my husband you're supposed to look after me!" Eleanor screeched.

Severus looked down at Hermione. As he did so Eleanor produced her wand and tried to aim it at him. She was swaying from the effects of the alcohol.

Drunkenly she mumbled a curse and light erupted from the end of her wand. Severus looked up in time to dodge the spell but it hit Hermione instead.

"Get out now!" Severus roared like a raging bull and advanced on the suddenly sober Eleanor.

She didn't like this feeling, being shocked into sobriety. She had never seen Severus like this he had never had much passion in him except for hating the students and even that wasn't real.

She took one look at his blazing eyes and aggressive stance as he headed towards her. She didn't know what he would have done if she had not run at that moment and she was thankful she didn't have to find out. She ran for her life and didn't stop until she reached the main hall and even then her heart was pounding faster than her feet had done moments before.

"So he didn't come crawling back then?" came a silky voice, it was Lucius.

The bells of the school clock started to chime midnight.

DONG!

"No he didn't"

DONG!

"Hermione wake up please"

DONG!

"Well stay the night with me then"

DONG!

"Hermione come on"

DONG!

"You can't give me what I want"

DONG!

"Just open your eyes Hermione"

DONG!

"All you want is money"

DONG!

"Severus…."

DONG!

"I want a child."

DONG!

"I'm here Hermione"

DONG!

"Why his child?"

DONG!

"Happy new year Severus."

"Because Lucius children of the Snape family are the most powerful, and it ensures he will have the best life." Eleanor said. "Not like me"

"Dear Merlin, the ice bitch has a heart." Lucius mocked as he held a hand to help her off the floor.

Almost gratefully she took it. It was true she had a heart and it was true that like Severus she had concealed her heart for many years. She had got everything she ever wanted and it was not from being soft and kind and good. No this way she didn't have to get too attached to anyone. Her mother had done that and they were left penniless and alone in the world and she had sworn from then on she wouldn't let that happen. But she couldn't even stay true to her own promise, because she had fallen in love. But her love wouldn't love her back, not like Severus and Hermione, where you could their deep unspoken affection blazing in the air around them.

That is what had made her hate Hermione so much that she could be loved so much by someone for no reason at all.

"Did you ever find out who your father was?" Lucius asked smirked knowing he was about to drop a bombshell. "I know who he is."

"You know how long have you known?"

"Oh years my sweet."

"Who is it then?" Eleanor implored with big eyes.

Her mind was torn between the joy of knowing her father and the desire to hurt the bastard as much as he had hurt her mother.

"It's my brother. So my dear little niece does incest feel good?"

"YOU BASTARD!" was all Eleanor could scream before launching herself at him but as she reached him she found all her rage had left her. He had caught her in his arms and she was home in his arms. It was hard loving him. She would pretend to herself that she didn't but he had always known she did.

In her rooms Hermione had finally come round.

"Don't worry Severus it wasn't serious, she was too drunk." Hermione said trying to get up. "I think I will just have a bit of a headache for a bit."

"Well happy new year darling." Severus said with irony.

"Yes what a way to bring it in. do you suppose she will be ok? I mean I know it was a loveless marriage but still its probably a huge shock for her."

Severus took Hermione in his arms and held her tight.

"Don't worry; I'll be here for you no matter what." He said and kissed her.

This kiss lasted an eternity and I think would have still been kissing if a noise from the doorway hadn't made them jerk away.