Thestrals again.

[Kirstini]

No: HPFGUIDX 71378

<snip> Lee on the GoF/OoP Thestral problem.

This one has done the rounds a lot recently. Am I correct in 
thinking that JKR herself explained this in the Albert Hall 
interview? That to "see" death means to have witnessed, processed, 
and understood death. Harry was experiencing shock at the end of 
GoF, and it's only with the distance of the holidays that he can 
even begin to come to terms with what happened to Cedric. I don't 
think that the Thestrals are a Flint, as those carriages have been 
specifically "horseless" since CoS, which leads me to believe she's 
always had a big plan for them. Although the incomplete entry in FB 
is rather disappointing.
On another note, isn't it interesting that magical animals (owls, 
Thestrals) have an innate knowledge of the magical world? Magical 
owls appear to have an in-built, world wide version of the 
Marauder's Map, and Thestrals an atlas of Wizarding Britain, 
detailed to the last telephone box.
Kirstini