Time-turning (was: Snape and DADA)

[twobeaglegirl]

No: HPFGUIDX 112435

<snip>
> SSSusan:
> Hannah, PK, and Tylerswaxlion all seemed to agree that I *had* 
> gotten it right as to JKR's version of TT:  that the past doesn't
> CHANGE as a result of TT, but that the two time-threads co-existed
> all along, only one of the two "versions" of a person wasn't aware
> of the 2nd "version" being present.  Yet here we have others saying
> that's NOT the way JKR is doing it--that she IS using TT to change 
> time/events/the past.
>
> I've explained several times to my 8-year-old daughter about how 
> Buckbeak never did die.  But in her mind, he DID, and Harry & 
> Hermione simply went back and CHANGED THE PAST so that he didn't 
> die the second time.  Now, THAT much of TT I understand--that she 
> is wrong about Beaky--but I can't seem to find the language to help
> her grasp it.

<snipping>


2beagles now:
Okay, this subject fascinates me, but it also hurts my brain.  :>
Here is the part that always throws me off--there always has to be a 
*very first event* that occurs before the *time-turning*.  In other 
words, if Buckbeak *never* died, how did he survive the *very* first 
time.  H & H had to go through the first set of events first before 
they could ever go back the second time to provide the explanation.  

So if the two events are happening at once, then the second set of 
events would have to proceed the first.  Here is another way to look 
at it--they had to get to the hospital ward the first time before 
they ever went back and created this circle of events.  Right?  That 
is the problem I could not seem to get past.  However...

I was listening to NPR recently and they had a scientist on who was 
talking about time-travel.  He said that if a time machine were 
ever invented, and he believed it was possible, then the traveler 
could never go forward, or go back BEYOND the point that the machine 
was invented.  This was because it would have to exist in the first 
place.  

So, let's say that a time machine were invented today.  Every event 
that happened from here forward would include any events that would 
potentially be *altered*.  So that helps me to understand it a 
little bit more, but I still get caught up in the initial set of 
events.

I'm sure this is a very confusing post.

--2beagels