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Chapter 10: Forever Trapped

Hermione was growing tired of this strange time loop she was in. She had gone through the process of events dozens of times and was starting to understand that it was not the amount of time she was in each place, but an event that occurred. In her parents' house, it was as soon as her parents vocally expressed concern for her. She was able to prolong this first 'memory' by acting as normal as possible. She had made it through until the evening the last time, but her mother came in to say goodnight and asked if she was feeling well and away she went.

In the boarded up room, Hermione figured out, very quickly, that she would stay there until she was killed. She tried escaping a couple of times, but there were death eaters waiting outside in the places she had tried so far and apparating was not working either. Using her resources, she had hid behind walls, tables and the like, but was only able to last for about ten minutes before getting hit with a killing curse that she could never see who or where it came from.

She was back in her room.

'I should just rest here. It does not matter anyway.'

"Hermione! It is open in front of your dad on the table! I wish you could hear me…"

"Harry? Where are you?"

No answer.

Hermione knew she heard Harry's voice. She bounded down the stairs and grabbed the book in front of her father.

"Honey, what are you-"

"Sshh," Hermione snapped. "If you love me and are worried, just do not speak until I can read this book. Okay?"

Hermione went straight to reading. She had not made it to this book yet, figuring a book explaining Quidditch wouldn't be able to help her. Although, now seeing that the title was 'From the Ancient World,' she felt foolish for not looking sooner.

'The persuasion Time Loop-

Typically works when cast upon more than one person. Person(s) are convinced of a un-truth and fall into catatonia. Results vary based on number of people involved, un-truth told, gender, magic status and age.

Widely recognized as a form of torture as the victim is trapped in their own mind, leaving their body behind and can be trapped indefinitely.

Breaking this curse requires victim(s) to overcome the un-truth they were told. This can be done through physical contact or telekinesis in the real world of in their mind with the object(s) of un-truth.'

"What un-truth was I convinced of?"

"Hermione, are you sure you are alright?" Hermione's father asked as the dining room faded away.

Harry knew exactly what his un-truth was. Hermione was alive even though he had watched her die countless times over.

'How do I overcome it though?' Harry thought. 'I cannot get out of this room.'

Harry looked around the room again and saw the same thing – no door, no windows and no way to escape. He stretched his neck and twisted his torso.

'I will just make a door.'

He ran at the walls, but the closer he got, the farther away the walls got. He could not even get close enough to touch them with an out-stretched hand. Stretching in frustration, Harry looked up at the ceiling. There was another dome covered table in the middle of the ceiling directly above the one Harry had been looking into. He climbed onto the dome and tried to reach the other to pull it down, but it was much too far away.

"I have to reach it to save Hermione!" Harry exerted.

With that, the dome seemed to move closer.

Tonks had just apparated back with some books from the Hogwarts library mentioning a catatonic state. She passed them out to everyone and they all began reading. Ron was mostly pretending to read until Mad-Eye caught him and threatened to turn him into a pig.

"I am tired of reading," Ron whined. "This is what we had Hermione for. If she does not already know the answer, which is very unlikely, she enjoyed looking for it by reading. Honestly, I am a keeper, not a librarian."

"Ron, you understand that we have no way to find Hermione without Harry, we cannot fight whoever took her without Harry and we cannot wake Harry without reading to find out why he is like this?" Ginny said, shooting Ron a disapproving look. "You can be such a prat sometimes, Ron."

"I know all that. I just thought maybe I could keep shaking him while the rest of you read. I think he responded the last time."

"I found it!" Lupin exclaimed. "'Seto que sorum plu. Here the world lies. Victims are compelled into catatonia by caster after a defeat.' He said he couldn't hear her so he must have given up, right? 'The victim is trapped within their own mind, but is shown a world of lies.'"

"How do we release him?" Dumbledore asked.

"'Victim or victims must realize the lie and overcome it through physical touch or mental touch in the real world or trapped world with the object of objects of the lie.'"

"So, find Hermione and make them touch each other?" Ron asked. "What about the part where we cannot find her without him?"

"I hate to admit it, but Ron has got a point," Tonks said. "How else are we going to find her?"

"We search, carefully and cautiously, and hope we have enough time."

Adelia979: Another short-ish chapter. Now comes the part where I ask the ultimate question. Where are my reviews? Reviews are an essential part to the writing process so I know if I am going in the direction you are interested in or if I am totally losing your interest. Unfortunately, I do not have anyone at home to read this so I am counting on you! Please leave me a review and I will keep writing. =)