Nervous Breakdowns

Disclaimer; You know the drill.

Author's Notes: In the reviews of the last chapter, a couple people said that they were taking the whole law too well- or at least Hermione was. So here is the chapter where it all falls apart.

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Hermione walked to her the Gryffindor common room and found Harry and Ron waiting for her. She sent them a weary smile.

"How did it go?" Harry asked.

"Not bad... he was at least polite," she replied, sitting between them on the couch.

"Man- I knew I should have petitioned for you sooner..." Ron said.

"Ron, you petitioned for me?" she asked, looking at him.

"Yes, well it was dad's idea," he said, blushing, "He knew about what Lucius was doing and decided that it would be better if you were married to someone that you at least liked. He said that it would make it easier for when you had to- you know..."

"Had to what?" she said.

"Consummate the marriage," he whispered, refusing to look at her.

Hermione's mind went blank. She had completely forgotten about that aspect of the contract.

"Oh gross! I can't even picture that... I DON'T WANT TO PICTURE THAT!" Harry exclaimed, "It's just too bizarre!"

Hermione suddenly stood up and ran out the portrait.

"Shit!" Harry said, smacking himself on the forehead, "I really need to learn how to keep my mouth shut!"

"Should we go get her?" Ron asked.

"No, she needs time to think," Harry replied.

X

Hermione ran through the castle, determined not to cry. Not now. I can't believe this! What the hell have I gotten myself into? All my life I've imagined my first time to be with someone that I love... and now....

She ran faster, tears streaming evenly. She didn't even notice when she ran by two people- didn't care, really. She just kept running. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew it had to be somewhere out of that castle.

Severus and Albus stared after her, bemused. It took only one nod from Dumbledore to have Severus walking swiftly after her.

She burst through the castle doors and ran across the grounds. To her, the Dark Forest seemed like a welcome relief. She ran into the dense coppice, unaware of the slightly alarmed Severus that was following her. She tripped once and simply ignored the pain, getting up and setting off at a somewhat slower run. She tripped again and this time she stayed down, pounding her fist into the ground.

"I hate this stupid law!" she screamed at nobody, "What the hell did I do to deserve this? Nothing, that's what!"

Severus froze, listening.

"If it weren't for all of those stuck up pureblood BASTARDS, I wouldn't be here. If it weren't for the entire wizarding world's stupid pride- and their stupid anti muggle attitude- I would NOT be in this bloody situation, and maybe I could be marrying someone that I chose out of love instead of out of necessity!" she ranted, then, just as suddenly as it started, her crying ceased, "Though I suppose he is the lesser of the evils... and he isn't half bad looking..." She suddenly began laughing.

She's gone completely insane! Severus thought.

"Regardless... I won't stand for this," she sat up, brushing her shirt off, "I have to leave..."

"That would be quite imprudent on your part," Severus said, taking a step toward her.

Her head shot up when she heard that all too familiar voice. "And why is that? Anything's better than this."

"Would that include spending several years in Azkaban?" he asked, and her eyes fell, "Despite whatever brought on your sudden nervous breakdown, I assure you, marriage to me is far better than what you would be subjected to in Azkaban."

She sighed, standing up and walking past him. She looked straight ahead, not meeting his gaze- not even really seeing where she was going. Her mind was once again completely, blissfully blank.

He followed her out of the forest, and, when she remained silent, decided to spark conversation himself.

"Would you care to further elaborate on as to why you threw that little temper tantrum?" he asked.

She turned and shot him a glare that would have any lesser man recoil, but he matched it easily. "Temper tantrum? Is that what you think that was?" she spat, her eyes blazing at him, "If it had been over something little, then- yeah- it might have been a temper tantrum, but not this time! No, this is about something bigger than shoes or some other frivolous thing that I'm sure you're thinking of."

"And exactly what would that be?" he asked.

"Do you really want to know?" her eyes bore into his, "It was about you and the marriage that I'm being forced into and this whole stupid law!!"

"Please do keep your voice down," he said smoothly, "I don't want you going and waking your rather large friend, Hagrid."

"I don't fucking care!" she screamed, "The whole damned castle could wake RIGHT NOW and I wouldn't give a rat's ass! You, sir, are a bastard! You are a cold, heartless, greasy, unfeeling, son of a bitch! Do you hear me? And I don't care if you take away every point Gryffindor has, it is worth it, just to have you know this! You are taking this far too well, and I know precisely why- you think this law terribly convenient, don't you? You're just looking to get laid! Well don't look to me! I'd rather be dead than be tied down to the likes of you!"

"Are you quite finished?" he asked, seemingly unfazed by her outburst.

She screamed in a rather unladylike manner and took off, full sprint, into the castle. He took after her, right on her heels the entire time, making sure she thought she was winning. She finally got tired of their game of cat and mouse and burst into the first room she saw, shutting the door soundly in his face. She locked the door and put up every ward she could think of.

"Miss Granger, open this door this instant," he hissed from just outside the door.

"No. I told you I'd rather be dead than be tied down to you..." she said, "Are there any spells for suicide professor?"

"Do you think I'm going to tell you anything like that?" he asked.

"Oh that's right... I'm your ticket out of celibacy," she said sardonically.

He growled in frustration. "Hermione, please... just open the damn door!"

That almost made her fall over. "What did you say?"

"Open the door?" he said, confused.

"No- you called me by my first name," she said, lowering the wards and unlocking the door.

He opened it, stepping into the room. He shot her the best glare he could manage, but she still stared at him with an utterly vacant expression.

"At least shut your mouth, girl," he said.

She suddenly burst into tears, falling to her knees. His eyes widened and he merely gazed at her, for once in his life he was completely baffled.

"S-stop crying," he said, sounding- even to himself- unsure. He walked over to her, hoisting her up and sitting her on the edge of the desk. "Why the devil are you crying now?"

She looked up suddenly and the next thing he knew there was a stinging sensation on the left side of his face. The little chit had actually smacked him!

"You- you- jerk! One minute you're calling me by my first name, and the next you're back to snide monikers! Why can't you just try to be a little nicer?" she said.

He narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, so he was standing in between her legs. He ran a finger down her jaw. "Is this nice enough for you?"

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So? How was it? I love to give you guys cliffies! I hate reading them, but I love to write them... don't worry... if you all bug me enough, I'll write more soon! TTFN!