[HPforGrownups] A new Lily Theory: The ancient magic witch

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42033

Grey Wolf writes:

> powerful (but strangely, that didn't bother Voldemort, and neither she
> nor James tried even a single spell on V - Harry at least fights back,

Do we really know that James didn't try?  He could've had wand out, ready to
do battle and been AK'd before he got half a spell out of his mouth.  From
PoA (Harry's third flash back while practicing the Patronus Charm) James did
tell Lily to "Take Harry and go!  It's him!  Go!  Run!  I'll hold him off--"
followed by the sound of a door bursting open and a cackle of high pitched
laughter.  I hardly think James' idea of holding off Voldemort was offering
him tea.  More likely he simply didn't have time to get anything out.  But
from Voldemort himself in SS/PS we have "I killed your father first, and he
put up a courageous fight."  Which means he had to at least stand up and do
something or else Voldemort wouldn've said it was courageous.

As for Lily, she's the one who had time to do something.  While Voldemort
was busy telling her to stand aside.  But then, what should she do?  If she
AK's him, then she's no better than he is.  Since it is the unforgivable
curse.  So if she did indeed know this ancient magic that just maybe Harry
could be spared if she sacrificed herself than she did do something.  But if
she didn't know, I guess she was willing to sacrifice herself to allow her
baby a few more seconds of life.  Which would be the greatest sacrifice of
all if she allowed herself to die not truly believing it would save him.
Perhaps that is the ancient magic?  A love so truly unselfish that you would
die to allow another to live only seconds longer?

Richelle