Why didn't Lily have to die?

[mad_maxime]

No: HPFGUIDX 93425

greatelderone wrote:
> Just out of curiosity, but why needn't Lily have died on the night 
> when Voldemort attacks the Potter residence. Voldemort himself 
> mentions it first in PS/SS and then later in POA we hear him tell 
> Lily to stand aside. Seeing how he killed James, a pureblood though
> a traitor, why does a ruthless Dark Lord actually show an ounce of 
> mercy to Lily who he considers a mudblood according to his ideology 
> and who probably defied him thrice according to the terms of the 
> prophecy. I mean he could just have systemically slaughtered the 
> whole potter family. Why did he actually try and make an effort in 
> having her stand aside? It's so not like him imo.

Max:

I personally think too much has been made out of Voldemort asking Lily
to stand aside.  I believe he came to Godric's Hollow for one reason -
to kill Harry.  He killed James because he saw him as a possible
threat to his mission. However, in his arrogance ("silly girl"), I
don't believe he saw Lily as a threat at all.

When he entered the room, I think he was simply focused on killing
Harry as quickly as possible.  Whether or not he was planning on
killing Lily afterward is up for grabs.

I'm not saying he wouldn't have wanted to kill James and Lily anyway
as they were aurors and his adversaries.  I just believe on that
particular night, fueled by his knowledge of the Prophecy, he was
mono-focused on killing Harry.