Why James, Not Lily? (WAS: The Ultimate Snape Theory)

[rachaelmcadams]

No: HPFGUIDX 135571

Geoff wrote: 
> LV is not evil in the sense that he likes to do evil deeds: he goes
> for gain. Having parents suffer because they suffer is not what
makes
> him tick. There is no gain for him in it. In PS his mindset is given
> beautifully by Quirrel, who tells Harry that LV has made him
> understand that there is no good or evil, but only those with power
> and those who are powerless. I am, just as lots of others very
curious
> why Lily did not have to die (and James did, apparently) but I'm
sure
> the reason for it was one that was beneficial in one way or another
> for LV himself. What I find especially interesting about it, is that
> Lily is muggleborn and therefore the kind of witch the DE's
despise...

Rachael now:

So I guess what we really need to think about is: what did Voldemort 
think he would gain by killing James, but wouldn't gain by killing 
Lily?  Or what did he think he would he lose by killing Lily, but 
wouldn't lose by killing James?
Did he think killing James would give him some extra power that
killing Lily wouldn't?

Rachael
who obsessively caught up with all the post-HBP posts before she
wrote this and is sorry if this has been discussed before