Harry and Thestrals

[earendil_fr]

No: HPFGUIDX 92816

Is anyone other than I intrigued by the fact that Harry can suddenly 
see Thestrals in Order of the Phoenix?

Thestrals are invisible unless you've had a close contact with death 
(I can't seem to find the quote in the books, does someone remember 
in which chapter Hagrid's lesson with the Thestrals takes place?), 
but Cedric's death isn't Harry's first contact with death. His 
parents' death is his first: he probably saw his mother die. So why 
doesn't he see the Thestrals all along?

Maybe since he was too young to understand what was going on and to 
really be aware of it, he still can't see the Thestrals. But then 
why would Neville be able to see them? Neville was very young too 
when his parents were tortured to madness, and he probably didn't 
realise until he grew up a bit. And it still wasn't a contact 
with 'death' itself. And when it happened, Neville was most 
certainly not there to witness it.

So have I forgotten some details or is it some kind of plothole? Can 
someone think of another explanation? Or is it just me thinking way 
too much?


Earendil.