[HPforGrownups] Re: Why not kill Lily?

[zehms at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 142894

In a message dated 11/11/2005 2:38:57 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
va32h at comcast.net writes:
Well, I think Voldemort is a pragmatic killer, not a wanton one. With the exception of his father and grandparents - which were indeed sadistic, vengeance murders, Voldemort seems to have limited his personal murders to those whom he really does need to kill in order to further his plans. Bertha Jorkins, Cedric, Frank Bryce, Hepzibah Smith. 

Certainly, Voldemort is cold and heartless when he performs these 
murders - but that is not quite the same as someone like Bellatrix, or Fenrir, who clearly take pleasure in torturing and killing others. 

Voldemort wanted to kill Harry - he had to kill James because James 
got in his way. If Lily got out of the way, she'd be spared. (I also 
wondered, briefly, if Voldemort just wanted to make sure he killed one of Harry's parents, so they couldn't have another baby "born as the 7th month dies, to parents who have thrice defied him".)

Notice that once Lily is in fact, in the way, Voldemort dispatches her at once. 


szehms:
If this was the reason for giving Lily a 'choice' then why wouldn't JKR tell fans that the 'choice' was not of consequence?

JKR will tell fans when theories are off the mark, when asked she will not lie or purposefully confuse us, she will tell us that a theory is without merit or she won't comment, therefore her "no comments" tell fans that they are onto something important.

In the Mugglenet interview and in other interviews, fans have asked, why was Lily given this unique opportunity to "stand aside", why was Lily allowed to live?  JKR tells Emmerson and Melissa that she cannot comment as to the reason for the choice....therefore, the choice is an important clue whose answer reveals too much of the mystery surrounding book 7.

SO I must conclude that the answer to the question 'why not Lily?' is not as simple as you have stated, were it just that Lily was inconsequential, I think JKR would have said as much.

The fact that JKR evades this question leads me to believe that Lily was of some importance to Voldemort, I am inclined to believe that LV may have been convinced to spare her life by Snape.  JKR would not reveal this detail as the mystery surrounding Snape and Lily's connection is one of the great mysteries that IMO will be revealed in book 7.

szehms