Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?

Question:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?

In OoP (book 5) Harry finally sees the thestrals (animals that have always towed the carriages to the castle), he gets told that only people that have seen someone "snuff it" can see them. Harry witnessed his mother dying, did he not? Why wasn't he able to see the thestrals before?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: That is a good question! I never thought about it myself, but my only conclusion I can think of is that he didn't actually see the murder right in front of his face, he just was there. Whereas, with Cederic Diggory he was actually there, he saw it with his own eyes. That's what I think!! xxx