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

[Taryn Kimel]

No: HPFGUIDX 61454

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Sayuri:
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?

Me:
I like the explanation that you must /maturely/ witness death. Be old enough to see, comprehend, and understand what has happened. Harry did /not/ see Quirrel die, as he was unconscious, and he was only a baby when his parents were killed--if he saw Lily, he wouldn't have been able to really comprehend what was happening.

--Taryn

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