Perfect Lily (Re: But DID James listen?)

[juli17ptf]

No: HPFGUIDX 150104

Sandy wrote:
>  
> 
> Since I am running hopelessly behind, as per usual, someone may 
have already 
> answered this, but I'm going to anyway. Lily's sacrifice was 
greater because 
> she was given the option to stand aside and live. Voldemort gave 
her the choice 
> to stand aside. James was not given that choice. Yes, James 
sacrificed his 
> life to protect his family, but as Jo states, he was going to die 
anyway, he was 
> not given a choice. Lily was, therefore her sacrifice was greater. 
She chose 
> to die to protect her child when she could have lived. And Jo is 
quite adamant 
> about the fact that if Lily had accepted Voldemort's offer to stand 
aside he 
> would have let her live. I am hoping to find out why that is in 
book 7.


Julie:
But did James *know* he was going to die? If he didn't then he also 
chose to die rather than to run (and maybe live). It is a little 
different than Voldemort actually saying "If you step aside, I'll let 
you live" but only in the sense that he didn't have as much time to 
think about it as Lily, and to prepare. If Lily did know something 
about the ancient magic that might save Harry, this time might haved 
aided her in protecting her child. Whereas James couldn't protect 
Harry any further than dying to give him a bit more time. 

I do see a distinction between their situations in the eventual 
effect on Harry--magical protection versus no magical protection. But 
I don't see a distinction in their individual willingness to die 
rather than give Voldemort unimpeded access to their infant son. To 
me James was just as courageous and noble as Lily, and I'm also 
certain if their situations had been reversed, James would have 
refused an offer to stand aside and live. Really, neither sacrifice 
was greater (what can be greater than your life) even though they 
each death brought about different effects. 

Julie 
(Who wonders if James and Lily might have worked this worst-case 
scenario out beforehand--"You're good with ancient magic, Lily. If 
Voldemort comes I'll hold him off as long as I can while you prepare 
to protect Harry.")