Who was witness to the killing of James and Lily?

[tmarends]

No: HPFGUIDX 42212

Pip wrote:
> 
> My bet would be that the voice Harry heard telling Lily to run 
wasn't 
> James [we do not see James die in That Which Must Not Be Mentioned, 
> and that particular scene was specifically approved by JKR so it 
> would fit in with as yet unrevealed plotlines] - and this is why 
> Lupin was so surprised (PoA p. 178 UK hardback) when Harry told him 
> he heard James. James probably died somewhere outside the house; it 
> was Someone Else inside the house that Harry heard.
> 
> Whoever the Someone Else was, they survived and were able to 
contact 
> Dumbledore and tell him what happened.
> 
> My current theory is 'it wuz Snape' - though the problem with this 
is 
> the question of why Harry wouldn't have recognised Snape's voice. 
> However, 'it wuz Snape' is the simplest solution to several other 
> problems.
> 

Now me:

Although an interesting theory, I have reason to doubt it was Snape 
who could have been in the house when Lily was killed and the AK on 
Harry backfired.  Assuming it wasn't James and he died elsewhere, I 
have a different theory on who could have been in the house.  Peter 
Petigrew.  He was the secret keeper.  He was in cahoots with 
Voldemort.  Harry heard "Lily, take Harry and go!  It's him!  Go!  
I'll hold him off---" (POA, pg 240 US/hb) while learning the patronus 
with the boggart.  Harry assumed it was his father, but it could have 
been anybody on Voldemort's side whom the Potter's trusted.  That's 
why I think if it wasn't James' voice he heard, it must have been 
Peter's.

Tim A.