Skip to main content

harry potter - How did Hagrid know about the Time-Turners?


In Half-Blood Prince, Hagrid is upset that the trio haven't been to see him and then says they could've used the Time-Turners:



“Ar, I always knew yeh’d find it hard ter squeeze me inter yeh timetables,” he said gruffly, pouring them more tea. “Even if yeh applied fer Time-Turners.”


— Chapter 11 (Hermione’s Helping Hand)



how did he know about them? Is their existence general knowledge to the public or did someone mention it at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban?




Answer



Two theories:




  1. I believe, although I can’t find a reference now, that Hermione’s teachers were told about her Time-Turner. We know that it was definitely for academic purposes:



    “It’s called a Time-Turner,” Hermione whispered, “and I got it from Professor McGonagall on our first day back. I’ve been using it all year to get to all my lessons. Professor McGonagall made me swear I wouldn’t tell anyone. She had to write all sorts of letters to the Ministry of Magic so I could have one. She had to tell them that I was a model student, and that I’d never, ever use it for anything except my studies…. I’ve been turning it back so I could do hours over again, that’s how I’ve been doing several lessons at once, see?”


    Prisoner of Azkaban, chapter 21 (Hermione’s Secret)



    As witnessed by Harry and Ron, it was not unusual for Hermione to appear spontaneously in the middle of the classroom. Her teachers would need to be told, so that they didn’t ask any awkward questions which blew her cover.



    Hagrid was her Care of Magical Creatures teacher, so he would have known about the Time-Turner through this arrangement.




  2. Although Hagrid doesn’t remember reading that the Time-Turners were destroyed, he may have learnt of or recalled knowledge about them from their mention in The Daily Prophet. A recent jogging of his memory like this might prompt his comment.




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...

aliens - Interstellar Zoo story

I vaguely remember this story from my childhood: it was about an interstellar zoo that came to Earth with lots of bizarre and unusual species, and humans would file through and gape at all the crazy looking creatures from other planets. The twist came at the end when the perspective shifted to the other side of the bars and we discovered that the "creatures" were traveling through space on a kind of safari. They thought they were the visitors and we were the animals. Neither side knew that the other side thought they were the zoo creatures. Answer Got it. Zoo, by Edward D. Hoch. Published in 1958. Link to Publication History Link to PDF