James' death WAS: Lily had a chance to live thanks to Snape WAS :Re: Did Harry

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 182882

Carol:
<HUGE SNIP>
Even though I knew that it was Lily's sacrifice that saved Harry (and
vaporized Voldemort and all the rest), I didn't want James's death to
be the meaningless murder that it was depicted in this scene. I wanted
him to show the heroism that we'd been led to expect of him. I thought
that you felt the same way
<HUGE SNIP>

Alla:

Did I feel same way? Not quite. I commented in the past that from the 
first glance I totally see James' not having a wand versus what we 
hear in the past about GH as inconsistent. Having said that, James 
putting up courageous fight is coming only from Voldemort's mouth, 
isn't it? I think take Harry and run absolutely does not contradict 
James' being without a wand.

So, Pippin and Zara convinced me why Voldemort could have lied second 
time. 

Now am I absolutely sure that JKR meant to portray James without a 
wand? NO, of course not. Somebody said in the past something along 
the lines that we can explain away any inconsistency in the book, but 
that is happening too many times. So, while I love Pippin's 
explanation, I really would not put  past JKR to just not check what 
she wrote and forget about it, sorry, love the books and think that 
it is really a shame if she goofed that much in one of the pivotal 
scenes, but I would not put it past her.

So, basically since I cannot read JKR's mind I accept as two equal 
possibilities what Pippin said and that she goofed up.

But if I accept that she knew what she was doing in that scene, do I 
regret in any way that she did not portray James' without a wand? And 
the answer would be – no way.

I think his death makes me hurt so much more **as it was portrayed in 
book 7**, his death makes me sad so much more **as it was portrayed 
in book 7**. Twenty one year old who plays with his son and trusts in 
his friends too much and still tries to make sure his wife and his 
son will escape. Would I mind seeing James trying to curse Voldemort 
with the wand? No, of course not.

But I think that one of the points that books make is to show that 
old magic, magic of the heart, magic of love is so much stronger than 
any fighting magic, any complicated curse, you know?

So, no I do not see James' death as meaningless murder at all. I see 
it as full of poignancy portrayal of death of innocence, both 
figuratively and literally. I do not need to see him with a wand to 
like him better, if anything I like him more after that scene.

I hope that JKR knew what she was doing here, I really do.