*MY* confusion about the Time Turner

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 124016


bboymin wrote:

It was indeed Minerva who told Hermione about time-traveling wizards
killing their past and future selves (Am Ed PB pg 399). However, that
doesn't mean it was true, and in that moment, (McGonagall talks to
Hermione) it doesn't matter if it was true. It was simply a teacher
warning a student of the potential serious consequences of misusing
the Time Turner.

I think it is reasonable for McGonagall to have arrange the Time
Turner for Hermione. Hermione is a very intelligent and responsible
student, who McGonagall reasonably assumed could be trusted with this
responsibility.

In addition, since Hermione signed up for every single available
class, it would be a chance for a Gryffindor to break the record for
most OWLs ever received. McGonagall might be strict, but she is not
above having a healthy dose of Gryffindor pride. So, I buy the idea of
McGonagall convincing the Ministry that the Time Turner would be used
by a responsible student under strict controlling guide lines.

To a point by a previous poster who claimed that time /couldn't/ be
changed. I'm not sure that's true, certainly time SHOULDN'T be change,
and certainly it is against the law to do so (Am Ed PB pg 398). But
the fact that they require a law prohibiting the changing of history,
implies that it is possible to do so; if it /can't/ be changed then
why have a law.

Related to the concept of 'not being seen', I think that is more a
matter of common sense than a hard and fast rule, or an indicator of
disaster.

Take Hermione for example; in the normal course of her day, she is
traveling within a very short span of time. Given that, at any given
time, all existing versions of Hermione understand what is going on,
it wouldn't have been a problem if she had seen herself; both versions
would know and understand what was happening.

However, if she is in a situation that allows her to see herself, that
also puts her in a situation where a third party could see both
version of Hermione, and that could certainly cause problems. That
would equally cause problems if a third party saw the second time
traveling Harry and Hermione skulking about the grounds.

vmonte responds:
I believe that time-travel can change events. And if I'm reading your 
posts correctly you are also saying this. So, why is Hermione wrong 
about wizards killing their past or future self? 

I also think that Dumbledore's warning to Harry and Hermione about 
not being seen is not only with regards to their past selves spotting 
their future selves, but also to be careful about a third party 
spotting both versions. I've posted this before as well. 

I still don't buy that Hermione was given the TT just so that she can 
take extra classes. She was given permission to use it for her 
classes but it gave her several months of training until she got to 
use it for Dumbledore's intended purpose. It's kind of how in CoS the 
right plants just happened to be at the school that would later cure 
petrification.    

Vivian