James, Lily, Harry's protection

[entropymail]

No: HPFGUIDX 106686

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dcgmck" <dolis5657 at y...> wrote:
> In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "entropymail" <entropymail at y...> 
> wrote:
> > Somehow, James and Lily realize that Voldemort has found out where
> > they are hiding. Knowing that there is no way out of this, Lily
> > decides to perform a protection charm on Harry, using her knowledge 
> of
> > Ancient Magic. She performs the charm and Lily tricks Voldemort into
> > killing her first, before Harry ("No, not Harry! Kill me instead!").
> > With this sacrifice of her own life, Harry's protection charm is
> > sealed. A rune of protection (eihwaz) is formed on Harry's forehead.



> dcgmck:
> On the positive side, I like the idea that the charm Lily sets on 
> Harry is a multi-part protection culminating in her death.  It is 
> reminiscent of the concept behind moat and castle construction.  
> Additionally, it follows the model Dumbledore invokes on the Dursley 
> household, which is sealed when Petunia accepts the onus of caretaker 
> for her nephew.  Thus each sister completes a magic ritual of 
> protection through active acceptance of the responsibility and its 
> attendant consequences.
> 
> If you think about ancient magic that way, there is even a parallel 
> in Voldemort's resurrection potion, which requires the bloody 
> sacrifice of a willing volunteer:  Wormtail's hand.

I've just read this bit, and love the way it fits in with the theory
of Lily's Protection Charm.  The "ancient magic" that Dumbledore talks
about seems to follow a particular pattern, or have  certain
requirements.  This may also explain why "ancient magic"  has largely
been forgotten, and is not used lightly by common witches and wizards.
 The costs are so high  that the circumstances would have to be quite
dire for the average  person in the WW to want to attempt it. 

:: Entropy ::