Thestrals and seeing death (was: Deaths at Hogwarts?)

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 81059

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Fred Uloth <prof_uloth at h...> 
wrote:
 
> You've covered all their arrivals, but what about departures? He 
should 
> have seen them at the end of book four after they said bye to Krum 
and 
> Fluer. What is the anti-Flint argument there? Harry hadn't come to 
terms 
> with the death?  

This is exactly JKR's explanation. The death has to sink it. She also 
explained, that the real reason for him not seeing the Thestrals was, 
that she couldn't make him see the horses and then let it completely 
unexplained until book 5. Imagine our reaction, if Harry suddenly has 
seen mysterious creatures in the very last chapter. I know it would 
have annoyed me, and I am satisfied with JKR's explanation. The only 
thing I am not happy with, is, that she explained it in an interview, 
and not in the book.

Hickengruendler