Voledmort's warning to Lily before trying to kill Harry

[c_voth312]

No: HPFGUIDX 45584

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., K-lo <pepsiboy71 at m...> wrote:
> That¹s what he says, but I¹m wondering is why?  The book
doesn¹t go 
into too
> much detail as to how his father died, but I don¹t think
Voldemort 
gave
> James any warning, so why give any to Lily?  Why not just kill her 
outright,
> instead of as a last resort so he could get to Harry?  What was 
important
> about Lily that he gave her a choice to Œstand aside¹?
> 
> -K-Lo
> 
A couple theories:

1) For reasons which have yet to be explained, Voldemort feels 
threatened by Potter bloodline--perhaps a prophecy predicted his 
downfall would come from this lineage, or such.  Since Lily married 
into the family, her death isn't as "necessary" as James' or Harry's.

2) Voldemort is probably sadistic enough to promise to spare Lily, 
then kill Harry right in front of her, after which he might either a) 
kill her anyway or b) turn her over to the DE's for their 
own "amusement."

~Christi