Harry saw his parents die. It discribes their death in the book. You know Harry saw it because he has dreams about it. In order to see a Thestal you have to see someone die, Harry saw his parents die so why couldn't he see them the very first time he rode in the carages? He only saw them after he saw Cedric die.
2007-08-21 02:49:08 · 13 answers · asked by Auty 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
You make a very good point there. Never thought of it like that. Maybe, do you have to be aware that a death has taken place? Like you really have to see and think to yourself "Oh My God, I just saw death?" Like you have to understand that death just occured. Look, this is what I got from wikipedia:
"The Thestral is a reptilian winged horse, visible to anyone who has witnessed and accepted a death"
"Harry did not see his parents' deaths, only a flash of green light. This is stated on J.K. Rowlings site.
It should also be noted that Harry first sees the threstrals at the beginning of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". He should have been able to see them at the end of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" as he saw Cedric Diggory die before then, but J. K. Rowling explained this as Harry needed to accept that Cedric was dead before he could see thestrals. Ironically, Harry never actually saw Cedric die, however, as his scar hurt him so much that he fell to the floor and heard Cedric drop after the Avada Kedavra hit Cedric.
Harry was unconscious (or nearly so) when Quirrell was killed. Albus Dumbledore came to Harry's rescue, pulling Harry off of Quirrell while Harry was blacking out due to the pain in his scar. He didn't "see" Professor Quirrell die then."
Remember in Deathly Hallows, he as only a baby and thought his Dad was really Voldemort for a couple of seconds. The rest above is self-explanatory. HIH!
2007-08-21 03:00:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
At the time Harry's parents died, he was jjust a child and could not comprehend death. To see Thestrals you would have to realize what you saw. Since Harry did not see the Thestrals after Cedric's death, he did not notice them until coming back to school in September, it is also possible you have to come to grips with what happened as well which can take time. It would not be possible for a child of 1 to come to grips with death and to understand truely it's meaning. Although Harry, when confronted by a Dementor, could hear his father and mother's last moments, whether he actually saw them die or just heard what was happening is not made clear.
2007-08-21 11:13:34 · answer #2 · answered by Jeff H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thestrals are visible only to those who have witnessed and accepted a death.
Harry never really saw his parents die as he was a baby in his crib. Very few of us can remember when we were babies, so even though his mother died in the same room, it's not likely Harry would be old enough to accept it.
Cedric was the first death Harry had seen. His acceptance of this death didn't come until later, explaining why he didn't see the Thestrals when he left Hogwarts the year of Cedric died.
For further info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thestral
Hope that helps!
Matthew
2007-08-21 10:14:28 · answer #3 · answered by Matthew J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because to see thestrals you have to see death and Harry never really saw someone die before he saw Cedric die. Harry could never remeber seeing his mom die and the only reason he had dreams about it is because his scar connected him with Voldemort who was did see Harry's parents die.
2007-08-21 15:02:11 · answer #4 · answered by JANET B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He also saw Professor Quirrell die in the first book, but he didn't see the thestrels until after Cedric's death.
2007-08-21 10:00:16 · answer #5 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This was answered some where. I think it is on JK's web site.
Harry didn't see his dad die - James was holding off Voldemort so that Lily could flee with Harry.
Lily had put Harry in his crib so he could not see her die all he saw was a flash of green light.
2007-08-21 09:55:06 · answer #6 · answered by tlk0408 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Harry was too young to remember his parent's death but he did see Cedric die and could remember it.
2007-08-21 09:58:09 · answer #7 · answered by Loli M 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
jk rowling answered this in an interview. the person has to feel the affects of death. Harry was to young to understand
2007-08-21 10:37:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think J.K Rowling didn't think it quiet through with all that. It either slipped her mind or she didn't think we would notice.
Maybe he couldn't the thestrals because he was so young and couldn't remember very well. Maybe she just left it unexplained that that was the reason.
But i have thought that myself.
2007-08-21 09:54:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
acc to wat jk has said,u need the death to sink in u.... wen harry's parents died he was only a year old and the death cld hav obviously not sunk in him a such a small age..... so yea i guess dat's y he cldn't see the thestrals bfore he saw ced die.....
2007-08-21 10:40:15 · answer #10 · answered by ^addy92^ 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋