It could be about a scientist who builds a time machine and travels back to the dinosaur age. He witnesses their daily lives, like how they hunt and interact. But then his time machine breaks down, and he has to find a way to fix it using the limited resources available in that era.
The plot might involve a group of friends who find an old time machine in an attic. They accidentally activate it and are sent to different historical periods. One goes to the Middle Ages, one to the Industrial Revolution, and one to the 1960s. They have to find each other and the way back home while experiencing the unique cultures and events of those times.
Maybe the story is centered around a person who uses a time machine to go to the future. In the future, the world is very different, with flying cars and buildings that can change their shapes. However, he discovers that humans have lost some important values like kindness and love. So he decides to go back and try to prevent this future from happening.
The plot could be about a scientist who invents a time machine. He travels back to the dinosaur age and has to figure out how to survive among the huge creatures.
Maybe it's about boys using a time machine to go back in time to witness historical events like the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Since we don't know the exact 'the machine short story', it could be a story about a machine that changes the world. It could be a dystopian or utopian scenario. For example, if it's a dystopian story, the machine might be a tool used by an oppressive government to control the population. The characters in the story might be rebels trying to destroy the machine to free society. Or in a utopian setting, the machine could be something that provides all the needs of the people, and the story could be about how the people interact with this wonderful machine and how it shapes their lives.
A young inventor. He has always been fascinated by time and space. He spends years building a time machine in his small workshop. When it's finally ready, he embarks on a journey through time, facing various challenges and learning important lessons along the way.
The main plot is about a time traveler's journey to the future. He sees how human evolution has split into two very different groups. He tries to figure out how this came to be. There are a lot of details about the different lifestyles of the Eloi and the Morlocks. He also tries to get back to his own time while dealing with the perils and mysteries of this future world.
It could be about a robot falling in love with a human. Maybe the robot is designed to assist a person, and during their interactions, it develops emotions that are similar to love.
The plot of The Time Machine involves a time traveler who journeys into the future and discovers a dystopian world with strange social and evolutionary developments.
Maybe the time machine in the fanfic allows Harry to travel to different points in wizarding history. He could end up in the time of the founders of Hogwarts. There, he learns secrets about the four houses that were long forgotten. He might also get involved in the early battles against dark wizards, and bring back some ancient spells or knowledge that helps him in his fight against Voldemort in his own time.
In 'the sound machine', the main plot involves a man who invents a sound machine. This machine can detect sounds that are inaudible to the human ear. He discovers that plants make screaming sounds when they are cut or harmed. It's a rather strange and thought - provoking story about the hidden world of sound and our perception of it.
In my opinion, the interactions with the people from different times would be the most interesting. If you go back to the Renaissance and meet great artists like Leonardo da Vinci, you could have in - depth conversations about art, science, and the worldviews of that time. This kind of cross - time exchange is really fascinating.