Why did James have to die but not Lily?

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 71278

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lily_paige_delaney" 
<lily_paige_delaney at y...> wrote:
> I was reading the end of Philosopher's Stone last night and was 
> struck by something Voldemort told Harry.  Voldemort says James 
> fought a brave battle but Lily didn't have to die - as we know she 
> died protecting Harry.  


I think the source has to be considered here. V-Mort was trying to 
get Harry to give up the Stone and was trying to persuade him using 
any means necessary. And V-Mort is hardly the most credible font of 
information.

This debate has gone on before, and I keep returning to one stark 
fact.

Had V-Mort wanted to spare Lily, he could have spared Lily. There are 
at least a dozen other non-fatal spells that can be used to move one 
person to one side of the room and out of the way. My preferred 
method would be to use those handy chains that Snape used on Lupin in 
PoA. Petrificus Totalis works well too.

Darrin