Thestrals, why Harry only seeing them in book 5

Here's some Thestrals and why Harry did not see them before

• About the thestrals, many people wonder why Harry didn't see them before, because he saw his parents die, I think that the explenation to that is easy, maybe he didn't actually see them die, he actually just saw a flash of green light. But something many haven't been thinking about is that he saw Cedric Diggory die at the end of the fourth year. Wouldn't he have seen the thestrals when he took a carriage to the train station on his way from Hogwarts. I don't think that J. K. Rowling has written anywhere that they take carriages back to the trainstation, but isn't that kind of obvious? I mean, why shouldn't they? PS: Chapter 4: "...Hermione turned away, smiling at the horseless carriages which were now trundling towards them up the drive..." (Azar B)

• I think that Harry either did not see his parents get killed or that his parents did not die at all. The reason for this is that if he did see his parents die then he would have been able to see the Thestrals pulling the school carriages since his first year at Hogwarts. But this is not the case. I presume that he can see the Thestrals in 5th year because he saw Cedric Diggory die at the end of 4th year.(Adam)

• We learn about them in book 5 (thanks to Hagrid) and how that you can only see them if you have seen death. The first time Harry sees them is in book 5 but didn't he see death at the age of one when his parents died. if so, why can't he see them in his first year? and then he sees Quirrel die at the end of book 1. does he see them in books 2, 3 or 4? No. unless harry blinked and missed them snuff it (which is very unlikely) that meansTHESE PEOPLE AREN'T DEAD!!!!!!!!!! The death harry saw to enable him to see thestrals is that of Cedrics. (Hsmiles)

•Of course Harry's parents are dead, how else would Harry have seen their echoes out of Voldemorts wand? and how would Sirius have seen their bodies? Harry was a baby and probably he didn't see Voldemort killing Lily and James. James had ran out of the room and it's likely Lily had hidden Harry where Voldemort couldn't find him. Harry didn't see Quirrel die- he had passed out. Harry only saw the Thestrals after Cedric's death had sunk in- that happened during the holidays. at the end of 4th year Harry hadn't been able to accept it yet, it had only just happened that's why he didn't see them. (Hannah)

•I do not agree with the speculations saying that if Harry didn't see the thestrals before it means that his parents are alive. First of all, I believe that is not enough just to SEE someone die, I think that you need to FEEL that death, the pain or the horror it causes. Since Harry's parents were killed when he was only a baby, it was impossible for him to feel pain or suffering, he was one year old!!. As for Quirrel, his death put him out of danger, seeing him die did not cause him any sort of pain or sorrow it was a relief!.. (Andrea Wright)

•Well, I think the answer to this is pretty simple.. My guess would be that JKR first made up the Thestral's in book 5, and had forgotten alll about the fourth book? Its just very 'not incredible vice hidden hint' , And JKR usually gives us small hints? But in this case, im pretty sure that she first made them up in the end of the book 5 in the wood whith Herm and Dolores .. And then i think she just rewrote some chapters, and made sure that Hagrid presents them, and Harry sees them in the start of the book (Sarah)

•About the thestrals, many people wonder why Harry didn't see them before, because he saw his parents die, -The death didnt sink in cause he was just a baby and didnt understand. And he saw Cedric Diggory die at the end of the fourth year. He wouldn't have seen the thestrals when he took a carriage to the train station on his way from Hogwarts cause it was to soon after it happend- It has to sink in.. J. K. Rowling has said somthing about death having to sink in.(Anja)