Why Can't Harry See Thestrals until Order of the Phoenix? - Harry Potter Explained

Hey everyone,

Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. In this video, we’re going to be discussing why on earth Harry Potter couldn’t see Thestrals until, seemingly, the beginning of the Order of the Phoenix.

A thestral is a breed of winged horse with skeletal and reptilian features - they sort of look like an evil pegasus. The following excerpt from the order of the phoenix depicts Harry’s initial reaction to thestrals:
"If he had had to give them a name, he supposed he would have called them horses, though there was something reptilian about them, too. They were completely fleshless, their black coats clinging to their skeletons, of which every bone was visible. Their heads were dragonish, and their pupil-less eyes white and staring. Wings sprouted from each wither — vast, black leathery wings that looked as though they ought to belong to giant bats. Standing still and quiet in the gathering gloom, the creatures looked eerie and sinister."

The ministry of magic considers Thestrals to be dangerous, and they have a bad rap as ‘omens of misfortune’ because they are only visible to those who have seen death- the following exchange between Luna and Harry confirms this:

Luna Lovegood: "They're called Thestrals. They're quite gentle, really... But people avoid them because they're a bit..."
Harry Potter: "Different. But why can't the others see them?"
Luna Lovegood: "They can only be seen by people who've seen death."

Now, before the events of the order of the phoenix we know that Harry witnesses death on numerous occasions, first when his parents died, next when Quirrell died, and lastly, and most recently in this case, when Cedric Diggory died. All of these deaths actually occurred before the end of the Goblet of fire, which is why it’s interesting that Harry still couldn’t see thestrals at that point in time.

At the end of Goblet of Fire, the carriages still appeared horseless to Harry. Page 629 of the Goblet of fire depicts this:

Hermione turned away, smiling at the horseless carriages which were now trundling towards them up the drive, as Krum, looking surprised, but gratified, signed a fragment of parchment for Ron.

Then, on page 178 of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry sees thestrals for the first time:

Here stood the hundred or so horseless stagecoaches that always took the students above first year up to the castle. Harry glanced quickly at them, turned away to keep a lookout for Ron and Hermione, then did a double-take. The coaches were no longer horseless. There were creatures standing between the carriage shafts.

On page 394 of the order of the phoenix, after Harry has actually witnessed the Thestrals, we’re reminded again, in an exchange between Hagrid and students, how it is that you are actually able to see them.

‘Don’ worry, it won’ hurt yeh,’ said Hagrid patiently. ‘Righ’, now, who can tell me why some o’ yeh can see ’em an’ some can’t?’

Hermione raised her hand.

‘Go on then,’ said Hagrid, beaming at her.

‘The only people who can see Thestrals,’ she said, ‘are people who have seen death.’

‘Tha’s exactly right,’ said Hagrid solemnly [...]

As you’ll all remember, during the events of the triwizard tournament cedric diggory was murdered by Peter Pettigrew’s avada kedavra. Harry witnessed this murder first hand. As this transpired a month before the end of the spring term, it’s interesting that Harry could still not see Thestrals at the end of term.
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Видео Why Can't Harry See Thestrals until Order of the Phoenix? - Harry Potter Explained канала Harry Potter Theory