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

[twister10_2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 61438

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sayuri" <sayuri_tama at h...> 
wrote:
> !
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> o
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> S
> P
> O
> I
> L
> E
> R
> S
> !
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> v
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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"





In a cover for Rowling, I've come up with an idea.

Perhaps you'll only see Thestrals once you admit to yourself that 
you've seen death. If you go on ignoring the death, than it stands 
to reason, you could go on ignoring the thestrals.

For instance...I cannot remember Cho ever mentioning the thestrals. 
Perhaps she has not admitted/overcome/accepted Cedric's death yet? 
It certainly seems that way by her actions in the book. Her 
interaction with Harry...she wants someone to lean on it seems, 
someone to remind her of Cedric. Not that you could blame the poor 
girl, but still. 

"twister 10_2000"