Thestrals, death (was Re: newbie with questions)

[Carla]

No: HPFGUIDX 159299

  Angelique/mrnmrswatters <mrnmrswatters at ...> wrote:
  > First, I believe it's in the 5th book that the Thestrals
  > are first mentioned. They say that only those who have 
  > witnessed death can see these creatures. ... Why does 
  > he not see the Thestrals until his fifth year?
  
  bboyminn:
  >> <snip> Others have already elaborated on the reason why 
  Harry's parents and Quirrell's deaths did not count, so I 
  won't touch that aspect. As far as Cedric's death, let me 
  diverge for a moment and remind you of the stages of grieving. 
  The first stage is Denial. You brain says, I have this data 
  and I know it to be true, but your heart refuses to accept it. 
  That is the stage Harry is in at the end of Goblet of Fire. He 
  intellectually knows Cedric is dead, but his heart hasn't 
  accepted it yet. <snip> <<
  

Carla:
If I might also venture another explanation.  Harry was a baby 
when his parents died, he has no memory of it.  We also don't 
know if he actually witnessed it.  The confrontation between 
Lily and LV might have been outside of Harry's line of sight.

The death of Quirrell was the death of an enemy.  Harry didn't 
suffer a loss there.  I think the death that must be witnessed 
is that of someone you care about....a friend or relative.  The 
death Luna witnessed was that of her Mother.  It must be a 
personal loss in order to see the Thestrals.  Cedric was his 
friend.  He felt a loss.