James' use of AK?

[Rosebeth C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 59951

>From: "Tom Wall" <thomasmwall at yahoo.com>
>
>I, Tom, wrote previously:
> > After all, Dumbledore confirms in PoA that James likely would have
> > spared Pettigrew the same way Harry did. So, I interpret this as an
> > indication of James' character - he *could* have killed, but
> > probably wouldn't have wanted to.
>
>Rosebeth replied:
>Tom, while I agree with quite a bit of your post I have to disagree
>with the idea that James wouldn't use the AK on LV. There has been a
>lot of discussion lately about a mothers love for her child. Why not
>the same for a father's love?
>
>I (Tom) respond:
>I see where you're coming from. Please, let me clarify, and we'll see
>if we agree. ;-)

Me again (Rosebeth):
I believe there is more here that we agree on then we disagree on.

>
>I wasn't trying to dispute James' love for Harry and Lily  I was
>trying to ponder more specifically whether or not a) James would be
>willing to kill for them (which I think he would be willing to do,)
>and b) whether or not that would be his first choice for attack.
>
>On the question of (b,) I'm not sure that the first thing James would
>try to do would be to use an Unforgivable Curse. Rather, I think
>that, as you kind of suggest in the next part of your reply, that
>James would be more likely to use an Unforgivable as a matter of last
>choice, in a gunfight-style situation.
>
>
>On that note, Rosebeth also wrote:
>It's my belief that James is going to try to whatever he can to save
>them, and if that means an Unforgivable Curse, then so be it. Like a
>gunfight in the old west LV was just faster.
>
>Tom replies:
>Yeah, I know what you mean.
>
>I have no doubt that in the last resort, his family on the line,
>James would probably have no issues using an Unforgivable Curse on
>the Voldemort. I wasn't trying to suggest that James wouldn't *ever*
>use an Unforgivable in this kind of situation, rather, I was trying
>to figure out whether or not he'd think to use, say, `Avada Kedavra'
>right away.
>
>In the case of that latter question, `would James use an Unforgivable
>Curse first,' I think that the answer is `no.'
>
>IMHO, like Moody, and his son, I'm thinking that James was probably a
>man of impeccable character. Such a person probably wouldn't select
>an Unforgivable Curse as a matter of first choice simply due to the
>moral nature of their personality.
>
>I'm not saying that he'd have reservations using it in a last-ditch
>effort, but rather that a person of Harry's, and Moody's character
>(and so, James' character) probably would have naturally selected
>something less lethal than an Unforgivable. For instance, I can see
>James trying to `stupefy' Voldemort before killing him outright.
>
>-Tom
>
>Me again (Rosebeth):

I have no doubt that James is of high moral character.  I'm not sure we 
disagree.  James knew what LV intended or else they wouldn't have gone into 
hiding and performed the complicated Fidelius Charm.   Hagrid tells Harry in 
PS/SS The Keper of the Keys, that "No one ever lived after he [LV] decided 
to kill 'em, no one, except you, an' he'd killed some o' the best witches 
an' wizards of the age . . ."  It stands to reason that James knew this.

So, here we have LV coming in the front door and young James faced with his 
own death as well as Lily and Harry's.  There is LV who has dedicated his 
life to evil and is a powerful wizard.  At the same time, as smart and 
talented James is, he's still only about 20 years old.   He knows he's got 
to try to save his family and that he's got to use the strongest magic he 
can.  The thing is, that a person of high moral characther may actually 
choose an Unforgiveable in this particular situation.  If James had met LV 
under any other conditions, your right, he would have tried something 
different.  But this is it.  It's all or nothing and James knows that he if 
he fails he's going to die.  That's powerful motivation.

Now, maybe your right.  Maybe he tried to a spell similar to 'stupefy' and 
it didn't work and LV AK'd him.  Maybe he tried something stronger.  Maybe 
he didn't get an opportunity to even say anything when he was killed.  If 
James did try the AK curse, would I think any less of his character.  No! 
Without a doubt.

So there you have it.  I hope it makes sense, it's late.

Rosebeth

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