A Canon Question, for Your Consideration and Comment

[subversa]

The Baby, age 23, came to me with this last night, and I thought I would throw it open to you lot, who never fail to astound me with your deep thoughts and excellent opinions:

If Lily's death made Harry invulnerable to Voldemort's Killing Curse, why did James' death not confer the same benefit on Lily? Was it a matter of intent? Or because it is

Comments

My Two Cents

[impromptu_mom]

I think it came down to conscious choice. James was defending Lily and Harry, yes, but not with the intent of dying. He was doing battle, with the hopes of defeating Voldy and walking away. Lily, on the other hand, Made the decision to trade her life to save Harry's. She knew that she would die shielding him. In fact, she was given the choice to step away, and she still shielded him. She consciously decided to die, so that he would not. Now, I don't think many mothers would have chosen to stand aside while their child was killed, and some would use this to argue that what Lily did was a natural automatic reaction. But, I think it is the fact that Voldemort told her to step away, that she needn't die, that justifies the plot device in J.K.R.'s mind.

Re: My Two Cents

[subversa]

Now, that's an excellent point, but I have a follow-up question:

Didn't Harry "see" the actual attack? And weren't James and Lily both unarmed when Voldemort came into their house? Voldemort told Harry something about how he should stand straight, like a man, to die, as his father did, but I'm not sure how that jells with the fact that neither of them fought for him--they simply died.

Re: My Two Cents

[ritaskleinewelt]

james grabbed his wand and told lily to get the f*ck out of the house. james voluntarily placed himself between his family and the dark lord. shame he snuffed it a second later.

[darth_kittius]

This isn't very well developed, because I'm on my way out the door... I may have more to say when I get back from my day of wine tasting with other Harry Potter friends... but my initial thought is that JKR has said that she thinks there is something very special about specifically a mother's love of a child. So while James could love Lily and Harry very much; there is something extra about Lily's love of Harry - especially as a baby - because she is his mother.

[subversa]

Somewhere in there is the tie-in with the "ancient magic" of which Dumbledore spoke ...

[ferporcel]

Lily was given a choice. Voldemort gave her an option and she decided to give her life to protect her son. James, on the other hand, was not asked. Besides, he was also protecting his son, ultimately. They were all in hiding because Harry was in danger. So, imo, he couldn't have protected Lily the same way Lily have protected Harry. Another question is the blood bond: James and Lily didn't share any blood with each other, only with Harry.

[subversa]

Ah, Fer, you invoke the blood magic idea, which is fascinating to me - is blood magic = ancient magic that DD talks about? Even Voldie called what Lily did for Harry "ancient magic". Perhaps no incantation is required, only intent.

[subversa]

*glomps you*

*whispers*

Yeah, that's what I thought, too ...

[keladry_lupin]

Works for me!

[hogwartshoney]

I think that whereas James died to protect his family, Lily died to protect Harry specifically, standing up against a specific evil, and perhaps with her force of will, "Not Harry" became intent and... there's the blood tie between them. Mother and child is a huge force, and JKR certainly seems to think so.

[amydmartin]

But Harry claims his death in book 7 protected all those at hogwarts, or at least those in the hall (yet some did die so...) Just saying seems specificity is not the issue. To be honest I think the answer is that JKR never really thought through any of her magical concepts and, thus, they are applies haphazardly and inconsistently.