Time-Turning (was Re: Snape and DADA)

[persephone_kore]

No: HPFGUIDX 112285

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "texaschow"
<flamingstarchows at a...> wrote:
> > Chancie wrote:
> > It doesn't really make since to me that there would be time limits 
> on the TT,  but the only thing about not having limits is, why don't 
> they just use it to kill Tom Riddle when he's a baby so that no one 
> has to suffer from the things that he will do if given the chance.  
> It would seem like the easiest fix for the whole situation.  Harry's 
> parent's would still be alive, Hagrid wouldn't have been framed, and 
> expelled.  Cedric wouldn't have been Killed.  Neville's parent's 
> would still be sane.  Sirius would still be alive....well I think 
> I've made my point.  <snip>
> 
> ~~me~~
> I think that, if possible, your solution would solve all of their 
> problems (though it is unknown what others it might create), the only 
> persons I believe who would be willing to go to such lengths (i.e. 
> kill a defenseless baby/child) would be those of the nature of 
> Voldemort and his followers.  I just can't see any of the "good" guys 
> stooping to such measures.  While Voldemort was certainly willing to 
> kill Harry while an infant (that backfired, didn't it?), I just can't 
> see Dumbledore or any of the others aligned with him ever doing 
> anything of the like.  Fight an adult who can defend him/herself, 
> yes, but not go after an innocent child.
> 
> ~Cathy~

As I just said in another response (unfortunately I forgot to change
the subject line), there is another problem here that isn't moral at
all: JKR does not seem to be writing a universe in which one can
actually change the past. She took considerable pains in PoA to make
it clear that everything Harry and Hermione did after they went back
in time *had in fact already been happening while they lived through
that period for the first time*. 

The line about it being dangerous to meet oneself, and wizards killing
their past and future selves, does seem to confuse the issue --
killing one's future self shouldn't actually present a problem of
feasibility in itself, but killing one's past self should be
impossible. Still, the *actual* use of time travel in PoA supports the
idea that you don't actually change anything when you go back in time.
Aside from the fact that Harry and Hermione *don't*, there's the
moment where Hermione realizes she missed Charms because people have
already observed her not being there -- and therefore she *wasn't*
there and can't fix it. You could argue with *that* one on the grounds
that Hermione doesn't always think of the creative solution, but
combined with the way the more plot-critical time-travel works out, I
think I'm going with the idea they can't change it.

PK