Hagrid, Thestrials, and Good Slytherins

[psychodudeneo]

No: HPFGUIDX 69610

Well, I tried posting this twice before, but a bogart must've deleted 
it.  Like so many of my posts here.  

Earwax!  I say, earwax!

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "megalynn44" <megalynn44 at h...> 
wrote:
> Oh so many questions reguarding the Thestrals have been raised. Why 
> keep so many if all they do is pull some carriages a couple times 
of 
> year. 

As stated, they're a useful alternative form of transportation.  
Especially in Hogwarts, when many others are blocked.  Also, in 
emergencys - if Hogwarts was ever attacked - I suppose they might be 
used as a last-resort evacuation system for a number of students.

Frankly, a better reason might be that Hagrid just LIKES them, and 
he's not raising them to pull carriages.  They're pulling carriages 
BECAUSE he's raising them.   He seems awfully proud that he's got a 
tame buncha 'em.

> Why didn't Harry see them at the end of GOF? (well I am 
> standing by JKR's explanation on that one) Who is the thin little 
> Slytherin boy who could see them? Possibly, finally a GOOD 
> Slytherin...

I noticed this too.  It's been a burning question in the back of my 
head.  A friend proposed the idea that this might be the mysterious 
Blaise Zabini, who is thought to be one of the good Slytherins 
because of his positive name, and the fact that we never hear 
anything about him.

I'm sure we'll find out more about whoever this kid is when the four 
houses are forced to unite, as the Sorting Hat reccomended.

This brings to memory an amusing parody of Harry Potter on Cartoon 
Network's "Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy".  Billy and Mandy 
attend a magical summer camp, and are placed into "Wealsethorpe 
House" (Slytherin House).  The other kids at the camp note that 
Weaslethorpe contains only freaks, weirdos, and sociopaths.  Mandy 
then asks the Headmaster why on earth would he keep the house around 
if it has such a bad repuation?
The headmaster's reply?
"So I can blame all our troubles on them!"
I'm beginning to suspect . . .

> 
> Anyways, one more occured to me last night, and it may be so simple 
> that we have already been told, but on my re-reading of the 
Thestral 
> lesson, Hagrid could see them too.  Who has Hagrid seen die? 
> 

Now, here's an interesting thought.  The requirements for seeing a 
Thestral is to have seen death.  It is not specifically stated that 
one must see a HUMAN die.  Hagrid might've seen one of his earlier 
beasties die, thus he would've seen death.  I'm not too sure on this, 
though.  Anyone want to go through cannon and see if a character who 
can't see the Thestrals has also seen an animal or creature die?

- Zeta, who wishes the ListBoggarts would not keep on spiriting away 
his posts and is going through Azkaban to get this one post put up, 
and will problably hang it up again for six months afterwards.