Harry Potter question: Why couldn't Harry see the thestrals until Order of the Phoenix?

how much does a one year old remember? this is what i thought when this came up.

I thought that part was not consistent.

Maybe it’s just a plot hole. I think there are plenty of other inconsistencies, but it’s not really a big deal.

Maybe he didn’t see her die. Its established that he heard her die (and that’s what he relives with the dementors), but not that he saw it.

From Harry Potter Wiki, reason why Harry didn’t see thestrals until after Cedric’s death: “Harry never saw his mother die as he was inside the cot, unable to see anything outside it, nor Quirrell, because he passed out before Quirrell’s death.”

@avvooooooo and @jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities are correct. Harry heard his mother’s death, but did not see it. He passed out before Quirrell died. Harry watching Cedric die was his first witness of a death.

Ha, and that was off the top of my head!

JRo has answered this question!

@MacBean thanks for the link GA

I agree with @faye, how much does a one year old really remember? Our long term memory isn’t something that fully establishes until at least age two or three.

@veronasgirl Might want to check on that one before making that pronouncement.

It is mentioned that one cannot see a thestral unless the death that you witnessed of someone (dear/who you knew i think) has sunk in and is accepted/understood. Harry never really got the chance for his parents death to sink in, her was too young to comprehend it. But Cedric’s was different, he was fully aware of what was happening and had understood the ordeal.

I honestly don’t know know if a word of that made sense