Comments on: Owl Post Again

By: Todd

Todd — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:58:23 +0000

I like Tealin Raintree’s illustrations for “Prisoner of Azkaban” a lot. They seem almost like drawings or (in the case of the colored pictures) stills from a high-quality animated adaptation.

By: Gerrendus

Gerrendus — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:45:23 +0000

We see in OP that the time turners belong in the Department of Mysteries, and as previously stated we can assume that their use is not uncommon for the reason’s Hermione is using it. Thus, it is very likely that there is an arrangment between the department of mysteries and Dumbledore/McGonnagal (as deputy head). With it being a powerful object, fudge was probably notified, but he probably got it as “Here’s a list of the students at Hogwarts we have approved for time turners this year” and thought nothing of it. While it is true that he takes a keen interest in Harry (as a poster child for the wizarding world and arguably one of the 3 most recognizable people–Fudge, Dumbledore, and Harry), if he simply saw Hermione’s name on a list like I mentioned he might not make that connection.

By: Natasha

Natasha — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:25:37 +0000

Something Else You May Not Have Noticed:
When Dumbledore is talking to Harry he says that Professor Trelawney “brings her total of real predictions up to two”, but Harry never asks what the other true prediction was. Although later we do find out what it was.

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 05:25:00 +0000

Sure, but you’ve also said that it seems like the use of a Time-Turner isn’t all that uncommon, and I agree with you on that, as we’ve already seen several students get 12 OWLs/NEWTs. So even if the Time-Turner is a powerful object, which it is, since they seem to hand them out as much as they do, maybe they thought it wouldn’t be such a security issue? I mean, you have to remember that by your logic, the department that controls the distribution of these Time-Turners, whether it be the Department of Mysteries or some other department, would do all of the work, and then inform the Minister of what’s going on. By the time he hears it, I can just see Fudge shrugging off the information being handed to him, not thinking of what it means, because it seems to happen so often. He’s not exactly the most well-thought out person, and it doesn’t seem like some student getting a Time-Turner would perk his interests at that point. We have to keep in mind of how much of a dunderhead Fudge really is. You’d think that if he was worrying so much about Harry’s safety, he would see that his new DADA professor was a werewolf. All it would take would be a background check on where he’s tried to get employed, as we know Lupin has been unable to find employment all his life, and I’m sure he tried to find work but couldn’t because of his condition. My point is, I think he overlooks quite a bit, and I think the Time-Turner is included in that. If he hadn’t overlooked it, I’d see his reaction as being “don’t give her that Time-Turner” just cause he is direct like that. The less factors the better, I can see him thinking. Less work for him in the end.

By: John Kearns

John Kearns — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 04:57:39 +0000

Perhaps. I think of it more like Little Whinging – remember in Harry’s hearing, when Fudge says that any witches or wizards living in the area have always been “closely monitored, given past events?” Harry wouldn’t have to know about wizards living there for them to affect him, or for it to concern the Ministry. I think the Time-Turner is a similar situation. The Ministry doesn’t need to know that Hermione’s his friend; she’s in his class and his house. And they’re giving her an extremely powerful object, and Harry doesn’t have to know about it for Hermione to potentially be in a position to dramatically affect his life with it. In fact, I’d say the fact that he doesn’t know about it makes it *more* dangerous, not less; and also, the fact that they wouldn’t know Hermione’s his friend would make it *more* important to track (remember, they’re trying to protect Harry at this point). I would bet that the Ministry is keeping a very close eye on all the Time-Turners at Hogwarts, especially those belonging to Gryffindors, and especially the one belonging to a Gryffindor in Harry’s year.

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 04:38:44 +0000

Whoops, typo. I meant “at this point”*. My bad!

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 04:37:15 +0000

Ah, but the Time-Turner didn’t concern Harry, did it? I mean, it’s stated and seen throughout the book that the use of a Time-Turner is a huge deal. Hermione couldn’t tell anybody about it, including Harry. Because of this, I don’t think the fact that she’s using one would be told to Fudge. It had nothing to do with Harry, no matter who his friends are, and as far as the Ministry knows, the fact that she used it was never disclosed to Harry. I think it this point, all Fudge cared about concerning Harry was his safety, and the fact that Hermione had a Time-Turner wouldn’t concern that at all. Then Fudge gets involved with a “simple matter of underage magic” because he wants to be directly involved in anything that could discredit Harry and his word. The trial wasn’t even supposed to involve him at all, but he forcibly inserted himself because by then, he’s “not in his right mind”. He never really was anyway, to tell the truth. Anyway, my point is, I don’t think the Time-Turner being given to Hermione would be seen as something he has to hear about. I doubt the people at the Ministry would even know yet who Harry runs around with. Fudge hadn’t even met Ron or Hermione, or seen Harry with them, until the end of this book. He seems quite unaware of who they even are anyway, when he does see them.

By: John Kearns

John Kearns — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 04:20:07 +0000

Except Casey, remember that in two chapters we’ll see Fudge concerning himself with a “simple matter of underage magic.” I agree that a lot would happen that he’s not aware of in the Ministry, in general. But I’d be pretty surprised if he didn’t have orders out to everyone below him that if something involved Harry Potter, he’d better hear about it.

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 03:28:08 +0000

I agree with you, Grace. I think that Hogwarts hopes that children have been taught enough to get by in regards to English and Math skills by either primary schools (for those growing up in the Muggle world) or their families (for those growing up in the Wizarding world). In fact, I feel like those who grew up in the Muggle world probably have a better grasp on this, as they have to follow a strict school regimen, whereas they leave it up to their families in the Wizarding world and are more likely to come out of it worse for wear (as we see with children such as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle). After they reach eleven, they go to Hogwarts and are taught subjects that will allow them to flourish and build careers in the Wizarding world. Cause if you think about it, the later grades for Muggles really only teach you more into those subjects for certain careers, rather than the basics that are needed (Physics and Trigonometry for construction, or Chemistry and Biology for scientists). Though they teach it to all students up through the introduction levels of college, they’re mainly for career choices. I like to think of Hogwarts as high school for the first four years, and then college from year 5 (the intro courses with a test at the end to see your aptitude) through year 7, where you’re working through your major(s). There’s also possibly specialty schools that we don’t hear about for certain careers after Hogwarts, that teach courses for those looking to educate, or Auror training schools. Obviously there’s no facts to support that, but it makes the most sense to me.

I also feel like Fudge wouldn’t concern himself with who gets Time-Turners and what-not. There’s probably a lot about what goes on in the Ministry that he doesn’t know about/leaves up to the different departments. We’ve seen that he isn’t a very strong leader, and only a great leader would try to concern himself with every aspect of their government.

By: Josiah

Josiah — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 01:20:07 +0000

@Christopher Hobe Morrison I don’t believe they changed a thing, actually. Harry and Hermione just fulfilled what had already been done by their future selves. The theory to this is called the Novikov self-consistency principle. This principle states that there can be no inconsistencies or parodoxes in time travel. A time traveler’s visit, (in this case, Harry and Hermione’s rescue mission), has already happened. It’s a part of history, so there is no option to change it. Any attempts to change the past will fail. I believe time turners and time travel in the Harry Potter universe work off of this logic.