In defense of time travel in PoA

[Allyse]

No: HPFGUIDX 27624

Coming in a bit late on this one, I know. It's one of the drawbacks to 
getting digest posts to wade through, but I don't want 70+ posts arriving 
daily in my in-box!

Rather than quoting here and there, I will merely summarize and say that 
several people have grumbled at Jo's use of time travel in POA as an 
unsatisfactory plot device. Since I find Jo's use of the Time-Turner 
delightfully well-plotted, I am going to step out of my usual lurkdom and 
natter away at you all. :)

There seem to be two basic objections to the Time-Turner:

1. If time-travel is so risky, why is Hermione allowed to use it at all?

2. If time-travel is *not* so risky, why is Hermione only permitted to use 
it for her classes? Why wasn't it used to save Harry's parents, Cedric in 
the graveyard, and any other tragedy that occurs in the wizarding world?

Those of you of a more scientific bent than me can actually name the 
following theory, which I can only describe: Time travel, parallel 
universes, what-have-you can be compared to a cat locked in a box. A single 
bullet is fired at the box. Is the cat inside dead? Is it wounded? Did the 
bullet miss it entirely? Once you open the box (and get very, very 
scratched), you'll know; but until then, all those possibilities exist.

It seems to me that Jo's usage of time-travel fits that theory. Until the 
"box" is opened - Buckbeak's death witnessed, Sirius' soul sucked - the 
possibility exists that the outcome can be different. That's why the time 
window for action is so compressed. Actually, Dumbledore *does* already 
know that Buckbeak escaped; the box is closed for Hermione and Harry, but 
not for him. Perhaps that's what made him realize that Harry and Hermione 
*need* to go back in time and do what they've already done.

Which leads me to the second time travel theory that is employed here, and 
my personal favorite in regards to PoA: You can't change the past with time 
travel, because if you have, it's already happened. Hoist on your own 
petard, and all that. Jo uses this so tightly that it makes me grin every 
time I read it. The first time Harry and Hermione go through those three 
hours, the changes they will make when they go back in time already exist.

Some are more obvious than others, of course. The Patronus springs rather 
strongly to mind. :) But as another example, one I've used before (and how 
I wish the original thought was mine!):

First round: "They skulked in an empty chamber off the entrance hall, 
listening, until they were sure it was deserted. They heard a last pair of 
people hurrying across the hall and a door slamming."

Second round: "'In here!' Hermione seized Harry's arm and dragged him 
across the hall to the door of a broom closet; she opened it, pushed him 
inside among the buckets and mops, then slammed the door behind them.

'Shh! Listen! Someone's coming! I think -- I think it might be us!' 
Hermione had her ear pressed against the cupboard door. 'Footsteps across 
the hall... yes, I think it's us going down to Hagrid's!'"

In other words, the last pair of people hurrying across the hall during the 
"first round" was themselves.

First round: "There was a jumble of indistinct male voices, a silence, and 
then, without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an axe."

"Then, behind them, they heard a wild howling."

Second round: "There was a swishing noise, and the thud of an axe. The 
executioner seemed to have swung it into the fence in anger. And then came 
the howling, and this time they could hear Hagrid's words through his sobs.

'Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he's gone! Musta pulled himself free! 
Beaky, yeh clever boy!'"

Again, the events of the second round were what actually took place during 
the first. The only difference is that the "second round" Hermione and 
Harry, being closer, had a clearer view of what actually took place.

I don't need to do the Patronus one, do I? :)

But to me, it seems beautifully clear. Harry and Hermione could only go 
back in time to change things because, well, they already had. That option 
does not exist for a thirteen year trip back to Godric's Hollow, or even a 
two hour trip back to the center of the maze. The events had already taken 
place; the "box" had been opened. They couldn't be changed, because, well, 
they hadn't been. :)

And I think this answers question one as well. Hermione *could* use the 
Time-Turner for classes, because it was on a very small scale and the 
changes hadn't taken place yet. Anything bigger - anything more dangerous - 
falls prey to the risk of being seen, of blowing the space-time continuum 
out the airlock, or whatever metaphor you care to employ.

I do hope the Time-Turner never shows up again; it was tightly plotted 
here, and well done, but I can easily see it becoming a crutch (can anyone 
say Polyjuice?). For PoA, though, it is highly satisfying to me. And I'm 
sticking by it. :)

Allyse