If Harry was created to fight evil, does that affect parental love?

[Tyler Hewitt]

No: HPFGUIDX 49423

jenny from ravenclaw wrote about the theory I posted:

While the gleam in Dumbledore's eye has been
discussed enough that many of us tear our hair out
every time it comes up, your theory is one that I do
not remember hearing before.  It is an interesting
theory, but I can't agree with it for two reasons: one
is that I'd hate to think that all of the nice things
we've heard about James and Lily as parents aren't so
nice after all; that they decided to have Harry not as
a child, but almost as an experiment.  That Dumbledore
might have been involved in such a plan makes it all
the more... sinister.  

The other reason is that it was Lily's love that
protected baby Harry from Voldemort to begin with. 
How much real love would be there if Lily and James
had a baby for the sole reason of defeating an evil
wizard and not because they loved each other and
wanted to start a family?

Who knows, though?  Maybe James and Lily Potter are
not the people we thought they were anyway.  JKR has
been known to pull the rug out from under us before. 
I'd be disappointed if she didn't continue to do so (I
just don't want this theory to be a rug-pulling
event).


I reply:

While I was thinking this theory through and writing
it all down, I kept wondering if this would change the
love James and Lily seem to have felt for Harry. Does
having a child out of necessity change how a parent
would feel about it, or is paternal love stronger than
that? Honestly, I dont know. I dont have children,
and haven't felt paternal love (from a parents
perspective), so I dont really know how that works.
But I have felt love of other sorts, and know that it
can exist in seemingly impossible situations and
between seemingly incompatible people. James and Lily
have been painted as warm, loving people so far. This
leads me to think that even if Harry were created to
defeat evil he would still be loved by his parents. 

Maybe Harry had already been conceived before they had
idea to make him special. Would that change things?
Maybe an existing fetus or infant conceived through a
pure, honest love and desire for a family was one of
the ingredients for the spell. James and Lily might
have had to been talked into going along with it. Or,
maybe the altruistic creation of a savior for the
wizarding community transcends parental love.

Which brings me to anther point: a few days ago
someone (sorry-I forget who) posted a bit from an
interview with JKR wherein she says that if you know
biblical stories you could figure out some plot points
in the remaining books (Im paraphrasing here). This
led to some posts about Harrys possibly dying and
being somehow resurrected. But, doesn't the bible also
say (Im paraphrasing again) that God will send forth
a son to be a savior for the people of earth? Im not
suggesting James and Lily are deity, but the sending
forth a son part does fit.

I guess I didnt see a sinister side to my theory. To
me it was more about being freed from evil. It does
seem a little creepy, maybe, these ulterior motives
bound to what seems like a loving, normal parental
instinct. But, if true, it would mean that the persons
involved had good intentions. If theres only one way
you know for certain will end a powerful, consuming,
evil force, youll work towards making that
happen,even if it means sacrifice. In making Harry an
instrument for fighting evil, James and Lily may have
been faced with a sacrifice that they didnt want to
make, but knew they HAD to make. If this changes my
perception of James and Lily, it only makes them more
loving and giving than they seemed before.

Of course, I could be full of hot air as well! 

Tyler
(amazed at how much time he can waste thinking about
this stuff)
 

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