Why did James have to die but not Lily?

[frumenta]

No: HPFGUIDX 71429

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Susan Smith" 
<atroposgryffin at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
> <bard7696 at a...> wrote:
><snip> > 
> > 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
> 
<snip>

It is true, Voldemort could have stunned Lily or whatever (and that 
sudden chivalry to a Muggleborn, no less is a bit surprising). What 
if she fell right in front of the first AK he threw to kill Harry 
and she died instead? That way we have Voldie not intending to kill 
her and her sacrificing herself to give Harry her protection, etc.

But why spare Lily in the first place? I hope we will find out 
eventually.

Mim