Why can't they see the thestrals before the fifth Harry Potter book?

Question

I was wondering because Harry sees three people die before the second book, when he first rides to the school in the carriages pulled by thestrals. His parents, and professor Quirrel (sorry if I misspelled that, it's been about six or seven years since I read the first book). While it makes sense that his parents might not count in this, since he was an infant, what about Quirrel, who he kills?

I like the HP books (they aren't my favorite books, but they are pretty good), but this is the most glaring plot error I can picture, and I'm shocked that no one else has noticed it. Most of the time, when you make a mistake that obvious, don't they cut it out in editing?

Answer 1

Kristina G just asked this same question 10 minutes ago. The answer came from Rowling's website. Harry didn't see his parent's death, all he remembers is hearing their voices and seeing a green light. And he was unconcious when Quirrel Died. He actually saw Cedric's death, but needed some time for it to set in.

From the text-only version of her site:
"Why could Harry see the Thestrals 'Order of the Phoenix'?

Shouldn't he have been able to see them much earlier, because he saw his parents/Quirrell/Cedric die?
I’ve been asked this a lot. Harry didn’t see his parents die. He was in his cot at the time (he was just over a year old) and, as I say in ‘Philosopher’s Stone’, all he saw was a flash of green light. He didn’t see Quirrell’s death, either. Harry had passed out before Quirrell died and was only told about it by Dumbledore in the last chapter.

He did, however, witness the murder of Cedric, and it is this that makes him able to see the Thestrals at last. Why couldn’t he see the Thestrals on his trip back to the train station? Well, I didn’t want to start a new mystery, which would not be resolved for a long time, at the very end of the fourth book. I decided, therefore, that until Harry is over the first shock, and really feels what death means (ie, when he fully appreciates that Cedric is gone forever and that he can never come back, which takes time, whatever age you are) he would not be able to see the Thestrals. After two months away from school during which he has dwelled endlessly on his memories of the murder and had nightmares about it, the Thestrals have taken shape and form and he can see them quite clearly."

Answer 2

He did not see his parents die, like you mentioned. Also, he passed out before Quirrell die. In fact, in the book, the reader doesn't find out that Quirrell has died until Harry is in the hospital wing with Dumbledore. Also, in Sorceres Stones (book 1), he rides a little boat to the castle on his first night at Hogwarts. Now in Chamber of Secrets, since the barrier to 9 and 3 quarters is closed when he and Ron attempt to enter; they take the flying Ford Anglia to Hogwarts, missing out of the ride in the carriages. In Prisoner of Azkaban, he is too worried as to why the dementor affected him so badly in the train, that he doesn't pay attention. In Goblet of Fire, he rides the carriage but can't see them yet. In this book, he witnesses the death of Cedric at the end of the book. Cedric gets killed while standing close to Harry. In Order of the Phoenix, he finally sees them, while only Luna and Neville see them as well. This also goes well with the plot, because everyone, except Ron, Neville, Luna, Hermione, and a few others, believe that Harry is lying and making things up. If he had asked someone else that can't see thestrals and not Ron, then this proves that Harry is going crazy.

I actually liked the way things start to change in this book. Also, keep in mind that he is looking into Voldermorts mind, and therefore, Harry might be thinking that he is going mental!

Answer 3

I wondered the same thing, but as others said, I also guessed it was because he was too young for their deaths to really affect him. But why didn't he see the thestrals at the end of the Goblet of Fire, either? It's mentioned at the end, when they're getting ready to leave the castle for the Hogwarts express, that they get into carriages that pull themselves. Harry didn't seem to notice the thestrals then, either, even though he had just witnessed the death of Cedric Diggory. So maybe JK just didn't think of the thestrals until she was writing the fifth book, which is why Harry never noticed. (Not saying anything against her, because she's awesome, but a lot of writers don't come up with certain ideas until later in their stories, and they don't always make a ton of sense with previous information.)

Answer 4

Harry didn't see his parents or Quirrel die. When his mom died, Harry was just a baby in his cot. All he saw was a green flash of light. And Harry passed out before Quirrel died- he was just told about it later by Dumbledore in the Hospital Wing.

So when Cedric died, it was the first person that Harry saw really die.

Answer 5

Simple; Harry hadn't seen anyone die yet. Luna probably saw them because she saw her mom die when she was younger. Harry however hadn't seen anyone die yet. This is debateable however because some say he saw Lilly die, although there is no real proof. He might have had his head turned therefore it didn't count. Any Luna wasn't introduced until the 5th book when Ginny, Harry and Neville sat with her on the train when Ron and Hermione had prefect duties. Understand? Harry saw Cedric die in fourth year during the Graveyard chapter. He was killed right in front of Harry. So, it's logical that he didn't see them until his 5th year because they only go in the 'horseless' carriages during the ride up to Hogwarts.

Answer 6

Long story short, he didnt actually see his parents die, or he could have been too young to remember. With Quirrell, he passed out before Quirrel actually died.

Answer 7

he didnt really see his parents die and he passed out b4 quirrel actually died. cedric is the 1st person he really sees die. dumbledore or somebody explains it in the 5th book.

Answer 8

Harry didn't see his parents die, he was in his crib and didn't see anything.

He also passed out before Quirrel actually died, so he didn't see him die either.

Answer 9

ok, he didn't see his parents die, I think he was in his crib or something.
he passed out or his scar was hurting too much to see Quirrel die.
I thought the same thing, and was like, "how can no one see this?!?!?!??" but then someone told me about it.

Answer 10

someone already asked this question today...but to answer you, Harry was too young to see his parents die && his scar was hurting badly && blinding him when he saw Quirral (sp?) killed && i think he fainted before he died && Harry saw Cedric die in the Goblet of Fire (that's why he saw the thestrals in book 5)