Harry and Thestrals

[cubs99111]

No: HPFGUIDX 92827


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

> 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?

JR:  We Still don't know if Harry actually saw his mother die and as
you have pointed out, he may have been to young to even realize what
was going on.  JKR said in an interview that after witnessing death,
it needs to "sink in a little"  before you see the thestrals which is
why Harry can see them in Book 5.
> 
> 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.
> 
>JR:  Actually, when NEville says that he can see them, Umbridge asks
him who he saw die and he says that he saw his Grandad die.  I hope
this clears some things up for you.


JR
>