Why Voldemort Would Have Spared Lily

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 112073

Hannah:
>>why does Lily stand there and plead? She's a talented witch,
as is mentioned several times in the books (can't think of specific
example at the moment). Why doesn't she try using her wand? Even if
she had little hope of it working, surely an 'expelliarmus'
or 'stupefy' at least would have been worth a try. Instead she
pleads with LV, whose reputation as someone who is merciful or
swayed by the pleas of others isn't well known. What makes her
think that pleading could possibly work, or even be a better option
than magic?<<

HunterGreen:
She pleads instead of using her wand because she *wanted* him to kill 
her. Even if she managed an expelliarmus or something else, he 
probably would have still won, or would have escaped and come back 
another time. I doubt she would have got the chance anyway. IMO, the 
only reason he hesitating in killing her is the fact that she was 
standing there without a wand posing no threat. I think the ancient 
magic thing was something she knew about and something she had 
planned as a last-resort. (personally, I think this is one of 
Voldemort's thickest moments, if your enemy is begging you to kill 
them, maybe you *shouldn't*). 
I think the reason he didn't kill her right off is that perhaps AK 
takes a lot of energy and since she was merely in his way, he was 
more interested in Harry than in her. Whether or not he would have 
killed her on the way out is a mystery.