[HPforGrownups] Re: POA Prongs Patronus, for Alina and Yuiren

[Mrs.) Lee Storm (God Is The Healing Force]

No: HPFGUIDX 100450

| From: debcip
| Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 8:29 AM
| Thank you both; your answers illustrate exacly what I don't
| understand.  How can Harry, in "real time" (the first time) see
| himself across the water, when he didn't come back and do it yet?
|
| Maybe I just don't understand time travel?

[Lee]:
Okay, in POA, Chapter 21, I quote:

----------BEGIN PASSAGE----------
"No!" said Hermione in a terrified whisper. "Don't you understand? We're
breaking one of the most important wizarding laws! Nobody's supposed to
change time, nobody! You heard Dumbledore, if we're seen--"

     "We'd only be seen by ourselves and Hagrid!"

     "Harry, what do you think you'd do if you saw yourself bursting into
Hagrid's house?" said Hermione.

     "I'd--I'd think I'd gone mad," said Harry, "or I'd think there was some
Dark Magic going on--"

     "Exactly! You wouldn't understand, you might even attack yourself!
Don't you see? Professor McGonagall told me what awful things have happened
when wizards have meddled with time. ... Loads of them ended up killing
their past or future selves by mistake!"

----------END PASSAGE------------

So, in other words, Harry could have been said to break the rules, except
that what the semi-conscious Harry saw was interpreted by him as his father.
After all, what else could it be.

So, the Harry that produced the Patronus was seen by the smitten Harry, but
not interpreted as himself.  The connection comes after he goes back,
produces the Patronus and realizes how the whole puzzle fit together.

Have I confused things even more?

Cheers,

Lee :-)

Do not walk behind me,     | Lee Storm
I may not care to lead;    | N2FGC
Do not walk before me,     | n2fgc at optonline.net (or)
I may not care to follow;  | n2fgc at arrl.net
Walk beside me, and be my friend.