A/N: The plot thickens! Enjoy!

5. Two Hours

"Harry, get up! There's no way Neville's bag can knock you over, unless you're Neville, maybe…"

"Ron!" Hermione hissed.

Harry kept his eyes firmly shut, reluctant to accept what was going on. His hand was hurting again, but thankfully not as badly as it had been last time. And he wasn't quite as tired now as he had been for the past...too many hours. He supposed that he had at least gotten some sleep this time around, and that was worth something.

But he had to act immediately. He had to get started telling people what was going on faster, to streamline the process enough so something could eventually be done about it.

"Harry, is there something wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione," Harry began, but he was interrupted.

"Being clumsy again, Longbottom? Five points from Gryffindor for being an unwelcome distraction in the learning environment."

Snape was standing in the threshold of the dungeon door, scowling at the scene before him. Harry was still on the ground, as was Neville. Snape sniffed.

"Class is now starting one minute late," he said. "Another five points from Gryffindor." With that, he glided into the classroom, and the class meekly followed.

Harry's brain raced. He had to do it over again, he had to contact Snape earlier. Telling him the situation hadn't worked the first time. He wondered if perhaps he should pretend to faint again, or if he should create some other kind of scene to get attention. He almost smiled at the irony of the thought that he might have to act in the flamboyant manner in which Snape always accused him of behaving.

Swallowing, Harry decided to be bold and just go to Snape immediately this time. He knew now that this wasn't Snape's fault. He berated himself for not thinking of Voldemort sooner. Of course Snape could help him with this, he was an Order member…and of course Snape wasn't the one doing this to him. What was the point beyond make Harry miserable? Snape was already good enough at doing that.

As the other students settled down in their seats, Harry went up to the front of the classroom to Snape's desk.

"If you will hand forward your essays, please…" Snape said as he turned from his notes to face the room. His eyes fixed on Harry's and narrowed darkly. "What is it, Potter?"

"I need your help, sir," Harry said, looking straight into the cold black gaze. He heard murmurs of confusion and chatter from his classmates behind him.

Snape leaned down toward Harry so their faces were a mere foot apart. "Whatever your problem is today, can it not wait until the end of class?"

"No, it really can't, sir," Harry said. He maintained eye contact, hoping Snape was using his irritating ability now.

Snape's voice was just above a whisper, so only Harry could hear. "I don't care about whatever crisis you think you're in right now, Potter."

"Sir, I really need your help with this."

Snape stared at him. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for your insolence, Potter. Take your seat."

Harry ran a hand through his hair. Why wasn't Snape getting the message in his mind? "I don't care about points, sir, I need you to listen to me."

The people closest to the front of the room, who could hear his last words, let out a collective gasp. Some Slytherins snickered, no doubt thinking Harry was about to be hexed on the spot.

"Detention, Potter."

Harry laughed, a harsh barking sound. "Why do you always give me detention? How is that the outcome every single time? Am I just destined to have detention all the time?"

"If you continue this nonsense, then yes, it will be until the end of term," Snape breathed.

"That's not what I meant," Harry said, leaning forward. He was getting reckless now, the class had gone silent, and he had no care for the consequences, as he knew everything was just going to be erased anyway unless he did something. "Can we talk in your office?"

Snape's face was twitching at this point. He stiffly jerked his head toward the door adjoining the classroom, and Harry nodded his thanks before going to the office. Snape told the class to get started, then followed Harry.

Harry merely blinked as Snape slammed the heavy door behind him. "What is the meaning of this, Potter?"

"I have a problem."

Snape was about to interrupt, but Harry continued quickly, "I've been reliving the same twelve hours over and over again. I don't know how or why, but it keeps happening. I need your help to stop it."

Snape snorted. "That is the most ridiculous lie you have ever uttered in my presence."

"I'm not lying," Harry countered. "Read my mind, if you have to."

"How many times must I tell you Legilimency is not—"

"I don't care!" Harry shouted. "I don't have much time! Just do it and help me!"

"I will not tolerate—"

"Please, Professor!" Harry said, exasperated.

Snape narrowed his eyes and proceeded to stare Harry down. Harry let all his hectic thoughts rise to the surface… I'm stuck…I'm trapped in this hell…You helped me last time…

Some time passed in the office while Snape did his work. Harry was starting to get sick of repeating the same thoughts and trying to focus on just the one subject when Snape blinked, and the black eyes narrowed further. "I know you're too pathetic an Occlumens to lie to me."

"I'm not lying," Harry said, ignoring the barb. "I really need your help. You said Voldemort might be doing something to me."

Snape was silent, for once not lecturing Harry about the usage of the Dark Lord's name. Then, "Go to the Headmaster's office. I have a class to teach."

As if on cue, the sound of an explosion (Neville's cauldron again, Harry mused) and screams came through the door, slightly muffled. Snape turned on a heel and swept out of the musty office, leaving Harry alone without another word.

Harry barely listened to the shouts and chaos from the room. Snape wasn't going to help him this time. He wondered if Snape had even helped him the first time, beyond letting him sleep. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, thinking. Hermione wasn't much help, Snape was being more unpleasant than usual…who else could he go to?

He regretfully decided that going to Dumbledore was his best option right now. Hoping that he would be able to walk the hallways unnoticed, he set off at a brisk pace.

He surfaced from the dungeons, looking carefully around the tall stone corners of the old hallways. If anyone caught him walking around and not in his classes, he might be in trouble. He sincerely wished he had his Invisibility Cloak, but the trip to Dumbledore's office wasn't far from where he was. He walked casually and kept close to the wall.

"Hello, Potter," Professor McGonagall's voice sounded from behind him.

Harry whirled. "Hello, Professor."

McGonagall's thin lips thinned even more as she regarded him thoughtfully. "Aren't you supposed to be in Double Potions right now?"

"Yes," Harry admitted, "But I need to see Professor Dumbledore."

The old Transfiguration professor frowned. "What for, Potter?"

"I'm having a problem," Harry said. Then, "Professor, maybe you can help me."

"I'm very busy, Potter, I was just on my way to my next class…" Professor McGonagall paused. "But maybe I can help. What seems to be the matter?"

"I've been reliving the same twelve hours of my life over and over again," Harry said in a rush.

McGonagall stared, then said, "I'm very sorry, but I have to get back to my classroom now. I don't have time for this."

"Why doesn't anyone believe me?" Harry groaned.

"Because that just sounds insane, Potter," McGonagall informed him.

"I'm not insane," Harry gritted his teeth. "I've been going back in time at the same point in about ten hours from now, so I don't have much time to figure it out before it happens again! And last time Snape said Voldemort might be involved!"

"Keep your voice down!" McGonagall hissed.

Harry quieted down, but inside he felt victorious. That had garnered her attention.

"Potter, I'm sorry, I do have to prepare for my next class," McGonagall said. "But please, continue on to the Headmaster's office. The password is 'Fizzing Whizbee.'"

"Oh," Harry said. He had forgotten about that important detail. "Thanks, Professor!"

Harry made his way to the gargoyle outside of Dumbledore's office without further interruptions. He cleared his throat awkwardly, then said, "Fizzing Whizbee."

The gargoyle leapt aside and the wall parted, revealing the spiral staircase behind. Harry stepped onto the moving spiral, going up.

Harry paused in front of the door with the griffin knocker, wondering how he was going to make his case to Dumbledore. The old wizard wouldn't even look at him, why would he spare a minute or two of his time to help a psycho?

Preparing a few sentences in his mind, he knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

Getting none, he knocked again.

Fifteen minutes later, he leaned against the regal door and let out a deep breath, wondering what to do next. Was Dumbledore ignoring him, or was he gone? What was going on?

Harry pitched forward suddenly, pushed in the back by the door. He tripped over his own feet and fell to the floor, groaning.

"Was somebody knocking on my door?" Dumbledore asked from the doorway.

"Yes, sir," Harry said, picking himself up.

"Ah, hello, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Would you like to come in?"

"Yes, please, sir," Harry said, thankful to be getting somewhere.

Harry sat down across from Dumbledore, and the old man occupied himself with a piece of candy. Harry cleared his throat, and still the headmaster wouldn't look his way. Ignoring this, Harry spoke first.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," Harry began, "I have a problem."

"And what is your problem, Harry?" Dumbledore slowly unwrapped and rewrapped the candy.

"I keep going back in time every twelve hours," Harry said. He was getting sick of this conversation. He sat on the edge of his seat, hoping Dumbledore would believe him.

"I see," Dumbledore said slowly. He still stared at the candy rather than Harry, but Harry was getting used to this treatment by now. "Tell me more."

"It keeps happening in Snape's office," Harry said.

"Professor Snape, Harry," Dumbledore put in gently.

"Right," Harry said. "Well, I keep going back to the beginning of Double Potions, and then I go through the day, and then, a bit past midnight, in Snape's office, I go back to the beginning of Potions."

"Interesting."

"Do you believe me?" Harry said.

"Of course I believe you," Dumbledore said, and Harry felt a huge wave of relief wash over him. "I'm just wondering how this can be possible. Tell me, why are you always in Professor Snape's office past midnight?"

"I keep having detention with him, sir," Harry said sullenly.

Dumbledore nodded at the candy, then unwrapped it fully and popped it into his mouth.

Thwack!

Something heavy went straight into Harry's knees, and he collapsed to the ground. All around him were laughing Slytherins and concerned Gryffindors.

"No," Harry breathed.

"You all right, Harry?" Ron asked, his freckled face directly above him.

Harry brought his wrist to his eyes to check his watch. It was reset again for right before Potions. But how could that be, when he had only gone through maybe two hours in the past loop?

"Being clumsy again, Longbottom? Five points from Gryffindor for being an unwelcome distraction in the learning environment," Snape said from the doorway of the classroom.

"Stop saying that!" Harry shouted, unable to contain himself.

He found he didn't care very much as every pair of eyes in the dungeon corridor turned to him and stared.