Godric's Hollow Scene

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 177873

> zanooda
> 
> Voldemort said it all right, only not in GoF, but in PS/SS. "I 
> killed your father first, and he put up a courageous fight ... but 
> your mother needn't have died ..." (p.294 Am. ed.). Maybe, while 
> writing the first book, JKR intended James to die fighting, but 
> changed her mind later, otherwise I don't know how to explain this 
> inconsistency. LV doesn't have any reason to lie here, IMO. 

Mike:
Just to add on here, Voldemort started off with the lie in PS/SS. 
"They [Harry's parents] died begging me for mercy..." (same pg)
It was after Harry yelled "LIAR" that Voldemort admitted that his 
parents were brave and said what you quoted. So LV did lie then 
changed to the truth, which really mucks things up when we see what 
actually happened, imo.

I can see what Jen said about JKR making James and Lily appear 
as "loving humans" first and foremost. But it still doesn't square 
with what LV said earlier in the series. I can't get my mind 
around "a courageous fight" and James running to the door unarmed. 
What did he do, throw a table lamp at LV? ;)