...question about book III ending - Being Seen

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 176195

--- "Katie" <anigrrrl2 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "Dale" <stittdale@> wrote:
> >
> > > ***Katie:
> > <snip>
> >> So, basically, a plot device, but a well-supported
> >> one, seeing as it was very clear that H/H from the
> >> future "cannot be seen!!", according to Dumbledore.
> >> This is, incidentally, usually a component of any
> >> time-travel story = messing too much with the past
> >> can have grave consequences.
> > 
> > Dale:
> > I agree on the plot device aspect.  But they were 
> > seen.  Harry saw himself and that actually saved 
> > him.
> >
> ***Katie again:
> That's very true. However, that was something that 
> could not have been foreseen before they used the 
> Time-Turner to go back. Even Harry didn't realize it
> at first. ... The fact that Harry *was* seen by 
> himself was only excused by the fact that the Harry
> from the past *thought* he was seeing his father. 
> ...

bboyminn:

Katie touched on it, but didn't really expand on the
key issue. It is not about being seen, it is about
the /consequences/ of being seen. Just as it is not
about changing time, which you likely can do, it is
about the /consequences/ of changing time.

The consequences of your actions in some way altering
time can set up unresolvable time loops and paradoxes.
If Harry and Hermione has gone back in time and 
resolved their need to go back in time, then they 
would not go back in time, which means the problem
they solved would no longer be solved, which in 
turn would necessitate them going back in time to
solve it, and around and around it goes. 

The classic unresolvable time loop is going back in
time and killing your father. 

When Harry saw himself, nothing actually changed.
There were no consequences of that action. Yes, 
Harry saved himself, but from the perspective of 
normal!Harry, it was his father who saved him. 
>From the perspective of TimeTravel!Harry we see 
the truth and realize what actually happened. Again,
this doesn't create an unresolvable time loop or
paradox. So, everything is OK relative to the rules
of time travel. 

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn