Why didn't Lily have to die?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 93552

> Kimberly wrote:
> > It is quite uncharacteristic [ of LV] but, looking at it from a 
flip
> side... in order for Harry to have the protective bond of Lily's
> sacrifice, she had to die to protect him.   Now, naturally Lily 
didn't
> know this and certainly Voldemort didn't but JKR did.  
 

> Carol repsonded:
> I think Lily *did* know that she had to die for the "ancient 
magic" to
> work. (We've discussed the possibility in earlier threads that she
> herself placed a protective charm on Harry that could only work if 
she
> died to save him.) If I'm right, she could not step aside (even if 
she
> wanted to, which few mothers would) and she couldn't allow herself 
to
> be pushed aside, either: she had to be killed to activate the
> protection. That's why (IMO) she kept screaming, "Don't kill Harry!
> Kill me instead!" <snip> 


Jen: Yes, Lily must have known she had to die in order to activate 
the ancient magic. Not that she wouldn't fight for her baby anyway. 
But I don't think James knew about this part. Notice he tells 
Lily, "take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run!..." then James proceeds 
to "put up a courageous fight" which indicates at least a margin of 
time for Lily to run if that was the plan. Instead, Lily stays 
around while LV and James battle, then faces LV herself.