Harry can see thestrals after Cedric dies. So, many fans asked JK why he couldn't see them anyway after his parents were killed. To which she replied that he didn't actually see Lily killed as he was in his cot at the time. But after reading GoF for the umpteenth time I realised that Harry has his eyes closed as Cedric is killed. Why then can he see the thestrals? Surely this is the same principal as with his parents - he was there but did not actually see it happen.

Any ideas?

This is strictly my opinion after reading the books and seeing the movie, as I also thought the same question when I first read about that in the fifth book. I when his parents were killed he was only a baby, so while he may have surpressed memories of the episode as seen in the third book, he did not actually conciously remember it. In the fourth book, weather his eyes were closed or not, Harry knew what was happening to Cedric and then he also saw the results of said death.

With the Thestrals, I personally think that a persons perception of them (or possibly there perception of you?) is almost entirely on a conscious level. Harrys parents murder is in the deepest subconcious form (which only dementors can bring out), where as Cedric's death Harry simply cannot get out of his mind even if he wanted it to be out.

Hopefully this offers some further insight?

I agree with what Hermione Rampant said, and something I want to add is that when Cedric died Harry understood what was happening. When he was just a wee tot all I think he noticed was that his mum was upset and that there was green light. He didn't really understand death and its consequences.

Adding on to something else Hermione Rampant said I think that seeing thestrals might also have to do with their perception of you. Maybe if they can sense that you have been closely exposed to death they show themselves. I mean in HP nothing is ever written in stone. lol
So we'll probably never know exactly what has to happen in order to able to see thestrals.

Good points on both posts there. I hadn't thought that maybe it's also a case of the thestrals permissing someone to see them. I think now, maybe it is your perception of death and according to Jo it is definately a case of accepting death.

What my opinion regarding this topic is that Harry when he was a baby didn't actually see Lily get killed or either he did not remember the exact scene but that is why I think that when Cedric got killed he knew it was going to happen when he heard Voldemort saying to Peter "Kill the spare" then Harry dreaded what was going to happen and then he saw Cedric's cold and dead body lay on the ground, he knew it happened. So I want to express my opinion that Harry could only start seeing the Thestrals after Cedric's death not his mother's

I was shocked to stumble upon this thread. I had no clue about this little detail. You guys say that he didn't see cedric die. Well remember this Harry has a piece of Voldemorts soul in him. So maybe Harry can see them becuase Voldemort watches deaths everyday. Somehow Harry has seen these deaths through Voldemorts eyes in Harrys dreams. But just can't remember them. We all have that happen to us were we can't remember a dream but you know it scared you. This topic is very interesting. I can't wait to read the other comments. Have a wonderful day everyone!

J.K. said that in order to see the thestrals it "needs to sink in" as in you have to remember it and really know what happened. Plus you have to have felt the pain.

Well, harryjpotter, I think Harry should've seen them even before Cedric's death. But as fcdxsza123 said it needs to sink in, so that can explain why he could see them after seeing Cedric die. He had nightmares month after this tragic event, he was really sad and disappointed he couldn't help, so that seems to fit together. What do you think?