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harry potter - Why did the Time Turner change the events in Prisoner of Azkaban?


When Harry, Ron and Hermione were first trying to complete their task "strange" things kept happening, such as being hit with rocks, saving Buckbeak (whether he was actually killed the first time, or it was just implied, however the wincing look on the trios face upon witnessing the execution would suggest that he was) howling to distract the transformed Prof. Lupin and casting a physical stag Patronus.




It was later revealed that these were in fact caused by their future selves via use of the Time Turner to try and change how events went down.



After using the time turner, the "present" Harry and Hermione (as opposed to their future selves) were now the ones committing these acts. The same disruptions seemingly took place, yet the timeline somehow changed.


How is this possible?



Answer



Nothing changes. You seem to be focussed on the execution of Buckbeak specifically, which I guess the movies portrayed badly? Here's the passage from the book. As you can see, they aren't actually around to see the execution.



Slowly, in a kind of horrified trance, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off silently around Hagrid's house. As they reached the other side, the front door closed with a sharp snap.


"Please, let's hurry," Hermione whispered. "I can't stand it, I can't bear it...."



They started up the sloping lawn toward the castle. The sun was sinking fast now; the sky had turned to a clear, purple-tinged grey, but to the west there was a ruby-red glow.


... (some dialogue about Scabbers removed for length purposes)


They heard a door open behind them and men's voices.


"Oh, Ron, please let's move, they're going to do it!" Hermione breathed.


"Okay -- Scabbers, stay put --"


They walked forward; Harry, like Hermione, was trying not to listen to the rumble of voices behind them. Ron stopped again.


"I can't hold him -- Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us --"


The rat was squealing wildly, but not loudly enough to cover up the sounds drifting from Hagrid's garden. There was a jumble of indistinct male voices, a silence, and then, without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an axe.


Hermione swayed on the spot.


"They did it!" she whispered to Harry. "I d -- don't believe it -- they did it!"




Later we see this scene from the other side, including the swish and thud of the axe. The very fact that the action is described using the exact same words is a clear indication that this is the same event we heard first time round.



"Where is it?" said the reedy voice of the Committee member. "Where is the beast?"


"It was tied here!" said the executioner furiously. I saw it! just here!"


"How extraordinary," said Dumbledore. There was a note of amusement in his voice.


"Beaky!" said Hagrid huskily.


There was a swishing noise, and the thud of an axe. The executioner seemed to have swung it into the fence in anger. And then came the howling, and this time they could hear Hagrid's words through his sobs.



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