OoP Spoiler: Flint? Or not?

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 61745

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Okay, I've gone over and over this.  First I thought the possible Flint was that Harry didn't see the Thestral at the end of GoF.  But now I think it may be either a Flint or a further mystery as to why Harry sees it now.  If it's true that you have had to "see death" to see the Thestral, then Harry shouldn't be seeing them until the *end* of OoP.  Because his eyes were closed when Cedric died.  It specifically says "a blast of green light blazed through Harry's eyelids."  Harry was on the ground retching, for Pete's sake.  At the end of the paragraph it says "terrified of what he was about to see, he opened his stinging eyes."  So, what's the deal?  Do you have to be present at someone's death?  Present and accept it?  Or is this a big mistake that got by with the rushed writing of GoF? Should Harry's eyes have been open, and should he have seen the Thestrals at the end of GoF?  

If "see death" isn't to be taken literally, then Harry should have seen them all along.  Right?

Richelle


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