Why did Lily marry James ? / Snapes other worst memory

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 67279

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Meliss9900 at a... wrote:
> In a message dated 7/2/2003 10:01:06 AM Central Standard Time, 
> melclaros at y... writes:
> 
> > Any man would do that! Snape would have done that! That's 
> > protecting "your own". You don't have to shed arrogance and 
bravado 
> > to be "the type" that will try to save your own flesh and blood 
from 
> > being murdered in front of you. The question is, would James 
have 
> > tried to save...oh...say Severus' son if the situation had been 
> > reversed?
> > 
> 
> I don't for a minute believe that any man would do that for his 
family.  It 
> takes a certain *something* in the person . .bravery . . . . 
recklessness . .or 
> maybe just plain ol'  love to sacrifice yourself. 
> 
> I can't quite see Lucius doing it Draco and Narcissa but based on 
the little 
> we saw of Phineas (especially his reaction to Sirius) I can see 
him making 
> that sacrifice.
> 
I must say I agree with Melissa here[ but you knew I would didn't 
you :-b ].
I think it *is* a bit bold to assume that *any* man would stand in 
the line of fire to protect his family. It may be accurate to 
describe a *lot* of men this way but certainly not all, I expect.

In the case of James I believe we do have reason to asume that 
James' love for his wife and child would be above any fear that he 
would feel. 
I do recall his arrogance was pertinent in declaring that he lacked 
fear of danger. Albeit that it was arrogance, a boastful vice as 
opposed to a virtue. 
His best friend, Sirius, also spoke for him on this account in POA, 
not to be disregarded, and finally I make mention of his cavorting 
with a dangerous beast because his friend needed someone to 
accompany him in his loneliest and darkest times.

In short, love above fear was a virtue of James Potter. 

I suppose, because this thread is also on the topic, that in the 
case of him saving Snape from the werewolf, James possessed another 
virtue.