Why did James have to die but not Lily?

[Susan Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 71387

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
<bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> --- 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

<A.G.>  Lily had to die for all other events to fall into place.  
Otherwise the old magic of her blood protecting Harry would not be 
there; Quirrel would not have been harmed by Harry's touch; Harry's 
blood would not have been used by V. in GOF; Harry and V. would not 
have any mental link (or other), yada, yada.  So, in essence the 
story dies if Lily does not.

A.G.