What triggered ancient magic? WAS: Re: James and Intent

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 187010

> Montavilla47:
> <SNIP>
> We see other mothers protecting their children without Voldemort getting
> vaporized. The sacrifice that James made in protecting his family did not
> trigger the magic, either.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Actually, while I am sure mothers died protecting their children, could you tell me where else in the book we see mothers sacrificing their lives for their children? It seems to me that while any mother could have been in Lily's shoes, what she did was indeed pretty unique on pages.
> 
> But sure, I know that James' sacrifice did not trigger the magic.

Montavilla47:

We see Narcissa *risking* her life for simply the chance to see her
son again.  

Do you believe that she wouldn't have made the same choice Lily 
did had she been in the same circumstances?  Do you believe that
she, or Petunia, wouldn't have refused the choice to step aside so
that Voldemort could kill her son?  Did you see that mother in
Bulgaria step aside to save herself and leave her children vulnerable?

> 
> Montavilla47:
> The thing that distinguishes Lily's sacrifice is that she was given a choice
> and she chose to protect her child.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Yes.
> 
> Montavilla47:
> So, I'm not saying that it was Snape and Voldemort who triggered the
> special blood protection. It was Snape's request, *plus* Voldemort's
> agreement to that request, *plus* Lily's refusal to step aside, *plus*
> Voldemort's breaking his word to Snape that triggered the magic.
> 
> Alla:
> 
> If you are using triggered as meaning Snape and Voldemort contributing to the set of circumstances that led to magic, I agree. Snape gave Voldemort the prophecy and then came to beg for Lily's life.  If you are using triggered as started the magic, I do not agree. In my opinion we are not shown for sure what started the magic besides Lily's sacrifice.
> 

Montavilla47:
I agree that we don't know what triggered the magic.  I'll agree that it
could have been Lily's choice alone.  But she would not have had that
choice if the other events hadn't occurred.  

Alla:
> I do not know that  any other reason for giving Lily a choice to step aside would not have made magic possible. 

Montavilla47:
Yes, but I don't see that it really matters.  It didn't happen a 
different way.  It happened the way that it happened.  And
the way that it happened happened because of both Snape's
and Voldemort's choices.  Without those choices, it would
not have happened.

Whether the trigger included the broken promise (in which
case Snape's and Voldemort's choices contributed *more) or
it didn't (in which case they contribute less), is splitting hairs.

This isn't a story in which Lily is offered the choice to step
aside because she has information Voldemort wants or 
because she's so darn pretty he'd like to take her away to 
his lair.  It's a story in which Lily is offered the choice because
her childhood friend still loves her even though he's 
supposed to hate her.  

Which brings it all back to Love.  With a capital Luh.