Why didn't LV die?

[B.G.]

No: HPFGUIDX 128504

Why didn't LV die?  I've been pondering this every since JKR told us 
that is the question we should be asking.  And she told us that 
Harry learned something in Chamber of Secrets that will be useful to 
him.  So here goes:

He learned that seeing the eyes of a basilisk in a reflection can 
save you from the full force of a curse/spell.  Mirrors and 
reflections play a huge role in these books.  And JKR said that the 
director of POA put some things in that foreshadow things that will 
happen in Books 6 & 7.  There were a least two reflection scenes.  

I think that Lily was able to summon help for herself through magic 
but chose to use her power to summon protection for Harry instead 
thus, sacrificing herself.  She used some type of mirror to work a 
charm whereby LV's curse did not hit Harry but rebounded back onto 
LV.  LV did not die because it was reflected and he was not 
petrified because he was using a potion (possibly made with mandrake 
roots).  She thought LV would be petrified and therefore found by 
the OP and his reign of terror would end.  Sacrificing herself Lily 
created a long lasting protection that has kept Harry safe at his 
aunt's home all these years. But what saved both Harry and LV was a 
mirror.