SPOILER ALERT: Couple bits o/Harry Potter Deatly Hallows had me wonder about prior books. Can anyone explain?

Question

1. In Deatly Hallows when Harry, Ron & Hermione figure out that Harry's invisibility cloak is one of the Hallows, it is stressed several times that the wearer is completely invisible to others no matter what magic is used. So how the did Moody's magical eye see Harry thru it, like when he was stuck on the staircase under the cloak?

2. Harry could not see thestrals in the 1st 4 books. I always figured Lily must have been in another room when she died protecting Harry. But in Deathly Hallows (during Voldemort's memory of the deaths) it makes it clear she was standing right in front of the young Harry's crib. So if he saw his mother die, why did Harry not see the thestrals until after he saw Cedric die?

Thanks in advance! =)

Answer 1

I don't know about the first one, but there was something mentioned at one point that you have to be old enough to remember seeing the death, so since Harry was just a baby when he saw his mother die and couldn't remember it, he could only see them after he saw Cedric die.

Answer 2

1) Moody's eye is magical in that it can see through solid objects. Crouch Jr. (as Moody) was able to see Seamus putting his gum under the desk. The cloak is a solid object, that is itself enchanted, but does not put any sort of spell on the wearer. While at King's Cross they talk about how the cloak wouldn't have saved Harry's parents because it is not curse proof. Just as a curse would still affect the wearer as if they were wearing any other cloak, so can Moody's eye. I hope this helps. I'm not sure I would be comfortable around someone with his eye. I wouldn't need a wet white t-shirt to feel exposed. :)

2)Young children don't have an understanding about death the way we do and are therefore not affected by it. A child of about Harry's age when his parents died would just think that his parents were sleeping or what not.

I understand this in terms of my own experience. When I was little, I had visited funerary homes and open casket funerals where I had seen and even touched a dead body (like the death of my great-grandparents). Eventhough I knew what dead meant, there was no sense of loss really. Then, when I was about eight, I visited a funerary home to pay respects with my family for a teacher of mine who died. Something hit me that time that wasn't there before. A different sort of understanding, if you will. I can still recall the sensation in my chest and the realization of that moment. It is a feeling that I get every time I see death now. (not that I see it a lot). But I think this is what needs to happen inside a person...this ignition or spark (for lack of a better term), in order for someone to see the thestrals. For Harry, this did not come until Cedric's death. When the spark is ignited, it flips a switch.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

That's a good point you make about Harry's invisibility cloak. Not only could Mad Eye see him thru it, but didn't the Marauder's Map also show him when he had it. If he was truly invisible, the map shouldn't've been able to see him either. So I can't answer that question...

But for the second question, I think that it has something to do with the fact that when James and Lily died, Harry didn't know/understand death and it wasn't until he saw Cedric die that he truly saw death. That's the only thing I can figure as to why Harry couldn't see the thestrals before.

Answer 4

1. With the clock I think that Moody being about to see thru it, I think was an oversight on Rowlings part. But the main point of the clock was that the charms had never worn off and that it has never been damage. even thought all they put it thought.

2. With the Thestrals, Harry was in the room with Lily when she died. But Rowling said that the death had to sink in. And since Harry doesn't remember seeing his mom die that it doesn't count. When Cedric died, he was deeply effected by it. Haveing nightmares and unable to talk about him and such.

Hope this helps. Good Luck

Answer 5

1) Ah, the Magical Eye was created by the same magic which created the Cloak. This is why one is not impervious to the other.

And, when in doubt, "buy the premise". If you use all your time taking apart the story and finding themistakes, y ou won't enjoy it. Let your mind take in the fact of what is said without question...to 'BUY' it lock stock and barrel, "buy the premise" means to just take it as written, and dont' question, less it make the story less enjoyable.

And 2) Read carefully and you will see that all Harry saw was the green light. The light was so bright that he did not see Lily actually die. Add to that the concept of death being out of his grasp at that age, and you see why the effect of the death did not register until Cedric's death.

Answer 6

No idea about the first question, but a very good point...I'm guessing he had a special, ultra-magical eye?
As to the second question: the answer is in one of the last 3 books-or maybe i read it on a website that had a jk rowling interview....not sure which , it says that harry was too young to understand let alone remember what happened-kids don't usually start making memories that last long-term until about the age of 3. So his first true memory and sight of death would have been in book 4- cedric's.

Answer 7

1.Moody's eye was used against the dark arts right? well in that case it wasn't used that way but its supposed to be used for that right? what if the cloak was hiding a dark wizard or something? Well the eye did the trick. The eye is able to see through dillusionment charms. THe eye is very valuble lol =]

2. For that, i have always wondered. Adn i always asked one of my friends why that happened she would always tell me: Lily and James were in other rooms! and harry was asleep! But, i think J.K. Rowling made a mistake, because Harry remembers the green light. IF he remembers it he had to have seen the death! Well, maybe harry was too young to understand what was happening, i mean eh was only 1 year old. MAybe you had to be really young

Answer 8

1. Moody's magical eye was a very valuable and magical thing, possible made by Dumbledore.
2. Harry was to young to understand what had happened (jkr said this) because in order to see the thestrals you don't just have to see someone die, but also know that they have died and at the age of one harry didn't understand that she was dead.

hope this helps

Answer 9

those are very good questions you get a star. I don't know why Harry never saw the threstols in his 3rd and 4th year but he didn't see them in his first year becuase they took boats and he didn't see them in the seciond year becuase of the car incident. But it may have been that harry was to young to rremember it, or he was looking away which doesn't make sence becuase it was just expeiriencing someone death. So it might have been cedric that made him be able o see them.

OMG your first question is so good! it may be becuase, his magical eye has- wait no, um never mind that's such a good question i can't even answer it.

Answer 10

1)
his' foot was seen .,
&& moody's eye is not just magical , it has an ancient spell if i'm not mistaken .,
therefore ., it has surppassed the magical thingys ,,


2)
he cannot remember much of what happened the day his parents was murdered .,
he only knew it throught the pensieve but nevertheless it was different .,
when cedric died , he really is in front of harry , && it's hard for harry to miss it .,