Lily's sacrifice may not be what we think it is... (very long)

[rubyxkelly]

No: HPFGUIDX 95662

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jdr0918" <jdr0918 at h...> wrote:
> <<<In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arielock2001" (who really hopes 
> the locked room in the MoM contains Karma) wrote:...another post that 
> belongs in The Quibbler, I can't help but wonder, as Lily was very 
> powerful, if she had had her wand that evening, might Lily Potter 
> have been known as The Woman Who Lived?
> So, what do you all think?>>>
> 
> The Sergeant Majorette says
> 
> I think that works for me. "Love is the answer" as a theory makes me 
> more than faintly queasy. Karma, though, I can deal with, if we can 
> give the concept a more British name. Maybe work in a phrase 
> like "reap what you sow," or "beauty is as beauty does" delivered in 
> Gran Longbottom's stern voice...
> 
> --JDR

It's an interesting idea-but the main problem with it (IMO) is that any "experimental charm" by Lily doesn't account for the "ancient magic" LV forgot, which was referred to by DD. I can't help but wonder if it is indeed some form of "wandless" magic, and perhaps one that is accessible to all people-both Magicals and Muggles, and used in a extraodinarily dangerous/hopeless etc. situation..perhaps something tapped in an unconcious way. 
I've also wondered about the whole "love" as the "power LV knows not" being an explanation. I don't think LV doesn't neccesarily know or has ever experienced love; however, what I think he has never eperienced is the willingness to SACRIFICE himself for the good of another. Considering the interview JKR did finally discussing her religious beliefs as a Church of Scotland member, coupled with her statement that she didn't want to talk about that whole issue previously because it might "give too much away", I can't help but think of SELF-SACRIFICE as being the "ancient magic" used by Lily.
I also lean towards the possibility that Peter was in love with Lily, and that the reason LV might have been willing to spare her had something to do with that. (Another reason might be that Lily was related in some way to LV, possibly through his mother as a distant cousin. Since he seems to have only ever have had feelings towards her, he may possibly have been reluctant to kill someone he knew to be a magical relation of his mother's-even a distant one...but not one involved in The Prophecy).
Just a thought - 
Kat/rxk