The point of Time-Turning (was Paradox of Time Travel in PoA)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 132192

Davenclaw wrote:
"So, in the end, I guess this is just a nitpick: JKR presents us with
a concept of time-travel that conflicts with her characters'
understanding of time-travel.  I am in the "JKR screwed up" camp,
rather than the "McGonnagal lied to Hermione" camp."

Del replies:
Maybe there could be a third camp: "some of the characters REALLY
don't understand how Time-Turning works". We know that Hermione didn't
understand when Harry explained to her how seeing himself cast the
Patronus gave him the little edge he needed to succeed at casting a
real Patronus. So it *could* be that she *really* doesn't understand
how Time-Turning works. As for McGonagall, we don't know whether she
has any experience with it,and whether she understands its principle
at all. If she doesn't understand it, then maybe all her warnings
about wizards killing their past or future selves are just "wizard
legends" (as in urban legends), things she's heard about but that are
not true. Maybe she is just scared of the Time-Turner because she
doesn't understand it, so she told Hermione the scariest stories she'd
heard of just to make sure Hermione would be *exceptionally* careful
in using it. We do know that McGonagall can go a bit overboard when
under stress : just remember her (paraphrase) "Potter, I'll help you
become an Auror if that's the last thing I do!". So maybe all those
rules and stories are just not true, or just overblown versions of
real warnings.

Del