[Oop Spoiler!] Intriguing creatures: Mystery or Discrepancy?

[Sayuri]

No: HPFGUIDX 61399

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Just a quick post about an intriguing to creature Rowling has put in
her new book -- the Thestrals, and what I think is either a mystery or
a discrepancy about their appearance (Haven't decided which yet, and
hopefully someone here can help). 

The Thestrals, as we may recall, are only visible to those "who have
seen death" (OoP, 394). Harry, returning to Hogwarts in fifth year, is
able to see these  creatures pulling the Hogwarts "horseless
carriages" for the first time--presumably due to his experience in the
graveyard during the Triwizard tournament, where he  saw Voldemort
murder Cedric Diggory.

However, this is an apparent inconsistancy, as in previous books we
are led to believe that Harry has seen death before, when his mother
died, protecting him as a baby. Would it not stand to reason, then,
that Harry should have always seen the Thestrals? Or is this Rowling's
way of subtely telling us that Harry had not witnessed her death, and
Cedric was the first person he actually saw die?

As much as I'd like to speculate on that theory, it doesn't seem hold
up from what we know of the rest of the books. Harry saw Quirrel die
at the end of Philosopher's Stone...or did he? In Philosopher's Stone,
at the final showdown between Harry and Quirrel, Harry "caught Quirrel
by the arm" (PS, 214) and hung on tight; however, it is very clear at
the end of that same paragraph that he blacked out before he knew
Quirrel was dead. This is a possible explanation for his not "seeing" 
the death--he was unconscious when it actually happened. 

Now then, what about Lily? Did Harry actually see her die? Was he in
the same room as her when Voldemort killed her? What about the "green
light" he remembers seeing? If she was in the same room with him when
she died "protecting him", why couldn't Harry see the Thestrals before
now?

Any thoughts?

"Sayuri"