Mothers and Fathers (was: Re: James gave his life, why no protection from him?)

[Theresa]

No: HPFGUIDX 106948

Wow, Iggy and Sherry both of your post truly touched me. Sherry, your 
dad sounds brilliant. No wonder you are too (you are actually one of 
my favorite posters to read on this list).  I am always amazed when 
fathers are unafraid to show their warm and fuzzy side. I know plenty 
of fathers that show their unconditional love for their children 
quite often - I even married one. 

To get back to canon though...I have always felt it was not 
necessarily the fact that it was a mother's love so to speak that 
protected Harry, but that Lily did something that needed love as 
an "ingredient" so to speak. It just seems too simple for it to just 
be just that she loved Harry. Also, sorry my books are at home and I 
am quickly finishing this at work, but Voldemort mentions something 
about ancient magic he had forgotten while in the graveyard. I think 
Lily being the clever witch that everyone always seems to describe 
somehow transferred some of her love to protect Harry as she died. I 
don't know how but I think she did it as she died and it worked for 
her because she was near Harry and that James being somewhere else in 
the house was unable to do so due to not being near. And he might not 
have been as clever as Lily. I think James and Lily both loved Harry 
dearly and it was NOT merely the simple - 'your mother loved you so 
that protected you' with no ancient magic at all. It is just a theory 
of mine that may be blasted out of the water but it is how I have 
thought since reading the graveyard scene in GOF.

On the flip side - JKR was quite close to her mother so she may very 
well make it Lily's love with no spell or magic simply protected him. 
I just think there is more to it than that.

Theresa