Canon is not decideable

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 110758

I was re-reading the transcript from the Edinburgh chat and noticed 
this:

"Q: Apart from Harry, Snape is my favourite character because he is 
so complex and I just love him. Can he see the Thestrals, and if so, 
why? Also, is he a pure blood wizard?

JKR: Snape's ancestry is hinted at. He was a Death Eater, so clearly 
he is no Muggle born, because Muggle borns are not allowed to be 
Death Eaters, except in rare circumstances. You have some information 
about his ancestry there. He can see Thestrals, but in my imagination 
most of the older people at Hogwarts would be able to see them 
because, obviously, as you go through life you do lose people and 
understand what death is."

It's the last sentence that caught my eye:  "in my imagination most 
of the older people at Hogwarts..."

In effect she isn't saying that she knows exactly which individuals 
can see Thestrals, but rather that if she makes the effort she 
imagines something that she considers plausible.

In other words, she answered that question (apart from the bit 
relating specifically to Snape) like a nescient reader, not an 
omniscient author.

Which means that we know there are some canon questions which quite 
simply do not have a clear answer; for example, "Can Madam Pince see 
Thestrals?" may be one.  It may be that if we asked JKR that 
particular question she *could* give a definite answer, but I think 
it virtually certain that a roll-call of all the adults ('older 
people') at Hogwarts would turn up *someone* about whom JKR could 
only say that she thinks it probable.

On top of that, she relativises by saying "in *my* imagination" as if 
to imply that somebody else's imagination might come to a different 
conclusion that is just as valid.  A bit like a HPFGU member 
posting "IMO".  I feel fanfic writers should be able to take 
something from that.

David, feeling like Kurt Gödel