Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Group

Question:

fanshakespeare
fanshakespeare
Student
Graduate School

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, what is a thestral?

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Posted by fanshakespeare on Monday July 9, 2007 at 2:32 PM and tagged with character, harry potter and the order of the phoenix.

Answers:


  1. brendawm Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    A thestral is a horse-like creature with white eyes, wings and leathery skins. They have a very thin, skeletal appearance, but one of the most interesting things about thestrals is that they are the creatures who pull the horseless carriages to and from Hogwarts from Hogsmeade and the beginning of the year.  Perhaps the most interesting thing about the thestrals is that they are only visable to people who have witnessed death.  Harry is able to see them in fifth year because he has witnessed Cedric's murder.  They are also visable to Neville and Luna.

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    Posted by brendawm on Monday July 9, 2007 at 2:40 PM


  2. leaannw1 Teacher
    Middle School

    A thestral is a winged horse like creature. One can only see these creatures if they have witnessed death.  They fly and are used to pull the horseless carriages to Hogwarts each year.  They are invisible to all who have not been seen someone die.  Harry and Luna both can see them as they have both seen someone die.  Luna saw her mother and Harry saw Cedric.

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    Posted by leaannw1 on Friday September 7, 2007 at 4:28 PM


  3. kboyer529 Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    A thestral is the invilible pullers of the carriages that carry Hogwart's students to the castle.  We find out in The Order of the Phoenix that they can be seen by those who have witnessed death.  That is why Harry, Neville, and Luna can see them.  They also provide transportation to the ministry for Harry and the gang in their attempt to save Sirius and the prophecy.

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    Posted by kboyer529 on Friday October 19, 2007 at 10:50 AM


  4. xxalannahxx Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    A thestral is a horse-like creature. They are very thin. They pull the carriages at Hogwarts. Thestrals are only visible to people who have seen death which is why Harry, Luna and Neville can see them. Harry had witnessed Cedric's death, Luna had witnessed her mum's death and Neville had witnessed his grandad's death.

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    Posted by xxalannahxx on Sunday March 29, 2009 at 2:34 PM