Paradox of Time Travel in PoA

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 132125

Davenclaw wrote:
"I think it is logically impossible to say that Harry was ALWAYS saved
by a time-traveling Harry, when Harry didn't get the opportunity to go
back in time until after the encounter with the dementors."

Del replies:
I really don't understand what bothers you in this... The only thing
that matters is that Harry WAS saved. By whom is *irrelevant* to
Normal!Harry (well, technically, I mean). Whether it's someone living
their own life normally, a time traveler from the future, a time
traveler from the past, or an alien from the other side of the
universe is *irrelevant*. All that matters is that Harry is saved, and
can then Time-Turn. And then, oh surprise, it turns out it was himself
who saved him. So what???

Tell me: would you have a problem if it were TT!Hermione who had saved
Harry instead of TT!Harry? 

Davenclaw wrote:
"Perhaps that is the disconnect here: everyone else is describing
events as they are understood within the Potterverse, whereas I am
complaining that we, as outside observers, are left out of the series
of events that were not tampered with."

Del replies:
Nah :-) The disconnect comes from the fact that there IS such a series
of events for you, while there is NO such series of events for us.
There was NEVER any series of events that were not tampered with, for
us, because the events were always tampered with, because H&H always
time-turned.

What we accept and you don't is that the present CAN be modified RIGHT
NOW by what WILL happen in the future and that will influence the
PAST. By time-turning in the future, H&H have landed in the past. They
are here right now. The action of turning the hourglass will take
place in the future, but the result took place in the past. They LEAVE
in the future but they ARRIVE in the past. The consequence comes
before the cause, which means that any argument based on "the cause
must come before the consequence" (as in "Harry must first time-turn
before he can save himself") becomes extremely tricky.

Especially since "Harry time-turns" is NOT a DISCRETE event. It takes
place in 2 places in time at the same time. "Harry leaves" takes place
in the future, but "Harry arrives" takes place in the past. So which
event are you talking about when you say "Harry must first time-turn"?
The future one or the past one? They are BOTH part of "Harry
time-turns"...

Have another headachy night ;-) (not!)

Del