Why was Harry not able to see Thestrals until Order of the Phoenix?
Harry had already witnessed his parents'death. Why was he not able to see the Thestrals (resulting in self-driven carriages) till he witnessed Diggory's death? Also, after he did so, at the end of the fourth part, he still is being carried in a self-driven carriage (at least in the book)?
Best Answer
He may not have witnessed his parent's death. He was a baby, might have been asleep (despite the movies' description where he is directly staring at Voldemort). Another option is that you must remember these deaths, or have their psychological trauma. Since Harry was a baby at the time, he only remembers hearing his parents, and the green light from Voldy's Avada Kedavra at him.
At the end of the fourth part, he might simply not notice the Thestrals pulling the carriages. He had a lot on his mind then, and the books show us his PoV.
Finally, book-related questions would be better on scifi. Check the discussion there.
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Why couldnt Harry see Thestrals after Quirrell?
He didn't see it; he was too young to appreciate it. When you find out about the Thestrals, you find that you can see them only when you really understand death in a broader sense, when you really know what it means. Someone said that Harry saw Quirrell die, but that is not true.Should Harry have always been able to see Thestrals?
Those who propagate this myth often cite the fact that Harry witnessed his mother's murder at the hands of You-Know-Who and therefore, should have always been able to see the Thestrals, much like Luna Lovegood. This mythtery is as out of fashion as a lime-green bowler hat.Why can Harry see Thestrals from the beginning?
The only way to see a Thestral is if you have witnessed a death, so seeing them isn't really a privilege. As mentioned above, the Thestrals were introduced in Order of the Phoenix, where Harry finally saw them and realized they were the ones pulling the carriages.Why Can't Harry See Thestrals until Order of the Phoenix? - Harry Potter Explained
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