The Theory of Time and Tea

'Below is the transcript of the historical conversation between one Hermione J. Granger and one Harry J. Potter, which took place on Monday the 3rd of September, 2012 in the Junior Auror's office of the British Ministry of Magic. At the time, Harry J. Potter was being monitored under suspicion of Improper Paperwork Etiquette (an infraction that we at the Department of Records take very seriously), but the topics raised in this short conversation were to cast doubt on a number of past policies, reveal several Important Secrets, and ultimately go on to set in motion the 2019 revolution that shaped the world we now live in. This pivotal conversation had now been released for public perusal and is on display in the Museum of Magical Matters.'

Hermione J. Granger; "Do you know why it is illegal to use a Time Turner without a truly worthwhile cause?"

Harry J. Potter; "Because otherwise a person could meet themselves and kill their future self suspecting dark magic?"

HG; "No, I mean yes, that is an unacceptable risk, but no, that's not the reason."

HP; "Because otherwise failed criminals would just go back and correct their mistakes, leading to the world falling into depravity and destruction?"

HG; "No, because the Aurors could also just go back and stop them."

HP; "But then the criminal would go back again to prevent being stopped, so the Auror would go back to prevent himself being stopped from stopping the criminal, then the criminal would go back, then the Auror and so on and so on in a never ending waste of resources and work force."

HG; "A good point. But did you know that it's not just the public, but that not even Aurors are allowed to use them? No one's quite sure of the Department of Mysteries is allowed to use them because, well, it's the Department of Mysteries."

HP; "We really ought to remove the 'Mysteries' part of that someday – because having a highly intelligent, trained and funded Department which is governed by no law, reviewed by no board, and known by no person really is just leaving the door wide open for a secret dictatorship or cult to form in there."

HG; "We'd never know if we'd exposed them all. But anyway, that is beside the point. The reason Time Turners are so highly illegal is because of the sand they contain. It doesn't just mark the passing of time, it is Time. And every time it passes through the Turner, one grain is lost. By distorting the time line and twisting it to our own means, we are literally losing Time. Already we have lost countless years by frivolous Time Turner use. If we let everyone use them, soon we literally wouldn't have any Time left. It would just run out."

HP; "Huh. So why did they let you have one then?"

-Silence of one minute and forty two seconds-

HP; "Do you want a cup of tea?"