James an Auror? and James-Remus Switch

[Phyllis]

No: HPFGUIDX 59438

I originally wrote that I do not believe James was once an Auror 
because, based on what Harry hears when practicing the Patronus 
Charm, James did not attempt to fight Voldemort when he attacked 
their home in Godric's Hollow.  To which Peggy responded:

> Do we actually know that who he heard was James? I know Harry 
> believes it was James, but Lupin seemed surprised that Harry 
> thought that he heard James's voice.

Now me:

Lupin's voice is described as "strange" when he asks Harry: "You 
heard James?"  I think "strange" can be (and has been!) interpreted 
in various ways.  It could mean surprised, as Peggy suggested, which 
could mean that Lupin knows Harry is mistaken in thinking it is 
James' voice.  Or it could mean what Harry takes it to mean – that 
Lupin once knew his father.  Or (as I think) it could be a reflection 
of Lupin's guilt that he knows Sirius is an animagus but isn't 
telling anyone because it would implicate himself.

I think that, while I recognize that the two times Harry has heard 
his father's voice (when he's practicing the Patronus Charm and in 
the graveyard), the voice hasn't been crystal-clear, I still think 
Harry would have noticed if they didn't sound the same.  If I had 
only heard my father's voice once since I was a baby, I would 
treasure that sound, and I think Harry did as well.

Merlin wrote:

> Or could all the clues about switching spells that J.K. Rowling is 
> throwing out through all four of the books so far be telling us 
> that maybe it was James body but not actually James.

Me again:

I really don't believe James and Remus changed bodies.  JKR has said 
that readers like to be "tricked, not conned," (see:
http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/magazine/Rowling3.htm) and I would 
view a James-Remus switching spell as a con.  

Tom wrote:

> In that light, Auror!James might not have wanted to use the 
> Unforgivables if there was another alternative. Indeed, he might 
> have exhausted all the alternatives to avoid using, say, Avada 
> Kedavra on Voldemort.

Me again:

This is an excellent point.  I think one of the points JKR is trying 
to make in this series is that intentional killing is wrong, even if 
you are defending yourself against someone who is trying to kill 
you.  I agree that if James was an Auror, he would have tried not to 
use the AK or any of the other curses if he was able to.  However, I 
still think the lack of James using any defensive spell at all (such 
as "Expelliarmus") when Voldemort attacks is revealing.  Also, James 
and Lily went into hiding when they learned that Voldemort was after 
them – James didn't go seeking Voldemort.  I think if James were an 
Auror, he would have been trying to hunt Voldemort down rather than 
hiding from him.

~Phyllis
who has spent the entire week writing three memos that haven't gone 
anywhere, and is trying to work up the motivation to start on a fourth