Lilly's Sacrifice, Long

About December 21, Thom Madura wrote



"Lily Potter was clearly a smart person.
When she "gave up her life to protect Harry", she clearly HAD TO KNOW
that it would not protect him. Riddle was going to kill Harry next and
putting her life between was only a delay for him. Especiallly since
James had already died.
I still do not believe that she knew about the ancient magic - because
if she did - the act would not have been as pure and voluntary as it
was
- which is why I believe it worked.
So why would Lily give up her life in this instance when she knew it
would not stop Riddle from going after Harry?"

Because of all the Holiday doings, the worst case of the flue in
history, followed by a case of conjunctivitis, I have not had the
time or the energy to answer you until now Thom, but I totally disagree
with you. I have a theory that Lilly knew exactly what she was doing
and why. It is a theory, but it is grounded in facts from the books,
so I cannot be to far wrong.

I believe Lilly Potter was trying to find a spell that would counter
act the Avada Kedavra
Curse. She told no one but Dumbledore what she was doing because it
would be considered Dark Magic or, because it would prevent death and
thus be unnatural, Forbidden Magic. She found what she was looking for
in old magic (GoF 33 ) that was almost forgotten and only
theoretical because no one had tested it. The protection involved a
potion and a spell to bind it, (GoF 36 ) but it needed a sacrifice to
activate the protection. The sacrifice had to be the life of someone
who loved the intended victim enough to die for him, in other words, a
life for a life. A second part of that magic would continue the
protection, but it involved charms and another sacrifice.

Dumbledore told James and Lilly there was a spy in the Order and they
went into hiding. Because she knew her child was in danger, along with
the Fidelius Charm (PoA 10 ), she invoked this old magic. She gave him
the potion, sealed it with the spell, (GoF 36 ) and hoped for the
best.

As we know, Wormtail told Voldermort where they were, he came to
Godric's Hollow, killed James and then went for Harry. (PoA 12)
Lilly pleaded with him not to do it, (any loving mother would plead for
her child's life) and then offered herself instead. (PoA 9 ) (HBP 22)
In effect, she offered herself as the sacrifice to activate the potion.
Voldermort laughed at her and called her a silly girl. (PoA 9 ) He
knew what she was trying to do. He knew of this old magic and despised
it. (OotP 36 ) He thought it would not work so he killed her and
activated the protection. The curse backfired and Voldermort was
reduced to a spirit. (GoF 36 )

Did Lilly know it would work? Of course she didn't. No one had
tried it before, it was only theory, and in the Muggle Net/Leaky
Cauldron interview, JKR says Lilly didn't know. However, she did it
anyway and so saved Harry's life.

Then Dumbledore took over. Somehow he learned of the tragedy at
Godric's Hollow and sent Hagred to get baby Harry. (PoA 10 ) Hagred
took Harry to Dumbledore who preformed the charms that would continue
the protection Lilly's sacrifice gave him. However, for the charms to
work, another sacrifice was needed, a sacrifice of the blood. This was
the blood of the original sacrifice, in other words, Harry needed to be
cared for by a blood relative of his mother, her sister Petunia
Dursley. Petunia did take him and made the sacrifice of her ordinary
life, and her family's safety and security. As long as she sheltered
Harry, her son was in danger too, but as Dumbledore told Harry, " She
took you. She may have taken you grudgingly, furiously, unwillingly,
bitterly, yet still she took you. Your Mother's sacrifice made the
bond of blood the strongest shield I could give you." (OotP 37)
"She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive
for the past fifteen years." ( OotP 37)

Therefore, I believe Lilly knew what she was doing, did it
deliberately, and hoped her sister would continue the protection.
Petunia did, and so kept Harry alive.

RC

.

Relevant Pages

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