One of the most heart-wrenching moments in the Harry Potter series is when we witness the death of Harry’s parents, Lily and James Potter. Even though their screen time is relatively short, their love and sacrifice for their son resonate throughout the entire series. In the moment preceding her death, Lily Potter said some powerful words to her son that would influence the course of his life.
Lily’s Final Moment
On the 31st of October, 1981, Lily Potter found herself face to face with Lord Voldemort, one of the most powerful dark wizards of all time. Voldemort had come to kill Harry Potter, whom he feared would be the only one able to defeat him in the future. However, in a twist of fate, he gave Lily Potter a chance to stand aside and let him kill the baby. He promised not to harm her if she would move away. But Lily would not budge, she was determined to protect her child, and that’s when she spoke these powerful words:
“Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!” she screamed. “Take me, kill me, instead –”
“This is my last warning,” said Voldemort, “I offer you a choice –”
“You don’t understand!” whined Pettigrew. “They’ll be hunting me now, like her, I’ve got to run, I’ve got to disappear –”
“You will have to give me a little time!” said Voldemort. “You have heard, of course, that the Potters have a son? I saw little Harry Potter before I came here. He could not have been more than a year old. The war will be over, one way or the other, in a few hours. Time is short, and unless you wish to resign yourself to your death, my dear, I would make the most of it …”
“Please –” Lily whispered, her voice breaking, “Please, please, don’t kill him, please –”
“Stand aside – stand aside, girl –”
“He won’t be safe, not while you’re alive –”
Lily was begging Voldemort not to kill Harry, even though it meant sacrificing herself. She pleaded with him, telling him that if he wanted to kill her, he could, but please spare her son. Her bravery and love for Harry is evident in these moments.
What Did Lily Potter Say?
Lily’s final words, “Always be brave,” were not in reference to her imminent death. Instead, her words were a message to Harry about how he should live his life. Lily understood the dangers that awaited Harry and knew that he would face many obstacles in the coming years. She wanted Harry to remember to be brave, even in the darkest of moments.
These powerful words had a tremendous impact on Harry’s life. When Harry learned of his mother’s sacrifice and the love she had for him, he was filled with a sense of purpose. It motivated him to fight against Voldemort, no matter how difficult it might be. Throughout the series, Harry lived up to his mother’s final words and demonstrated bravery in every situation.
Why Did This Moment Matter?
One might say that Lily’s final moment was a turning point in Harry’s life. It was a moment of intense sadness, but also a moment of hope, love, and bravery. Through death, Lily was able to convey her love for Harry and, in doing so, provided him with a sense of purpose.
It also reinforces one of the main themes of the book, that love is the most powerful magic of them all. Lily’s love for Harry is so strong that it defied even the most powerful dark wizard of all time. It saved her child’s life and continues to influence his life even years later.
In Conclusion
Although Lily Potter’s last words are few, they carry an immense amount of emotional weight. They serve as a reminder of the power of love, bravery, and sacrifice. Lily’s act of devotion towards her son motivates Harry to be a brave and selfless hero throughout the series. Her encircling protection surrounding her son in death kept the love for Harry burning in others’ hearts until he himself could understand it and carry it forth.
FAQ
What are some quotes from Lily Potter?
Lily Potter is a beloved character in the Harry Potter series, known for her bravery, kindness, and unwavering love for her family and friends. Though her life was tragically cut short by Voldemort, her legacy lives on through her son Harry and the impact she had on those around her.
When it comes to memorable quotes from Lily, there are a few that stand out as particularly powerful and poignant. Here are just a few examples:
“I don’t need a cloak to become invisible.” This is a line that Lily says to Severus Snape in a flashback scene in “Deathly Hallows.” It speaks to her innate ability to blend in and observe without drawing attention to herself, but also carries a deeper meaning related to her selflessness and willingness to put others before herself.
“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Harry.” Lily speaks these words to her son in a scene from “Philosopher’s Stone” where Harry is looking into the Mirror of Erised and seeing his family for the first time. This quote encapsulates Lily’s unconditional love for her son and the powerful bond between them, even in death.
“I don’t have all of the answers to the world. I don’t know everything about life and marriage and happiness. But I do know what love is. And I do know that when love is real, and when love is in its strongest form, it is the most powerful thing on this earth.” This is a quote from “The Letters of Lily Potter,” a series of letters that Lily wrote to her best friend while she was at Hogwarts. It showcases Lily’s wisdom and insight into the true nature of love, and speaks to her enduring legacy as a symbol of hope and love in the wizarding world.
Lily Potter is a character who is remembered for her courage, kindness, and innate goodness. Her quotes are a testament to the impact she had on the people around her, and the enduring nature of love and hope in the face of darkness.
What spell did Lily put on Harry?
Lily Potter did not necessarily put a specific spell on Harry; instead, her sacrifice protected him from Voldemort. When Lily was given the chance to step aside and let Voldemort kill Harry, she refused, begging for her own life to be taken instead. Voldemort, honoring his promise to spare her if she stepped aside, killed her, which resulted in Lily’s love for Harry acting as a shield for him.
Lily’s protection was a powerful form of magic that manifested itself after her death. Known as the “power of love,” this magic was not a specific spell but rather an unintended consequence of Lily’s sacrifice. In doing so, Lily cast a sacrificial enchantment which caused Voldemort’s killing curse to rebound and strike him instead of Harry. Lily’s love and sacrifice helped to protect Harry from Dark Magic, and Harry was left with a scar, as a physical reminder of what happened that night.
The power of love proved to be highly effective in protecting Harry in future encounters with Voldemort. During his subsequent confrontations with the Dark Lord, Voldemort was unable to successfully harm Harry as long as his mother’s protection was still strong. This protection is why Voldemort was unable to touch Harry throughout the entire seven-book series. Voldemort had to exploit a loophole in the magic of Lily’s protection in order to defeat Harry, known as the Horcrux inside him.
While Lily did not put a specific spell on Harry, her ultimate sacrifice resulted in a powerful form of magic that protected Harry throughout his life. The power of love that Lily enacted through her sacrifice was a key factor in Voldemort’s ultimate defeat and showed the importance of love and sacrifice in the world of magic.
Why did Snape hate Harry if he loved Lily?
Severus Snape is one of the most complex characters in the Harry Potter series. His character arc is layered, painful, and fascinating to follow. His love for Lily Evans, Harry’s mother, is one of the defining features of his life. Despite this love, his relationship with Harry is fraught with tension, hostility, and animosity. The question is, why did Snape hate Harry if he loved Lily?
The answer to this question lies in the complex emotional landscape of Snape’s past. As a child, Snape was bullied, neglected, and abused by his father. This traumatic upbringing left deep emotional scars on his psyche. Lily Evans, a kind and caring girl, was one of the few people who showed him any kindness or compassion. They became close friends and eventually fell in love. However, their relationship was short-lived as Lily chose James Potter, Harry’s father, over Snape.
This rejection left Snape bitter, resentful, and angry. He saw James as a spoiled, arrogant bully who had everything handed to him on a silver platter. He believed that Lily had made a mistake by choosing James and that she would come to regret it. In his mind, Harry represented everything that he hated about James. He saw Harry as a brash, entitled, and spoiled child who was undeserving of Lily’s love.
Furthermore, Snape was forced to work with Harry because of his role as a double agent for Dumbledore. He had to pretend to be on Voldemort’s side while secretly working for the Order of Phoenix. This deception was emotionally taxing for him and made him resent Harry even more. He viewed Harry as an obstacle to his true love for Lily, and as a constant reminder of his own failures and shortcomings.
Snape’S love for Lily was the driving force behind his hatred for Harry. His traumatic childhood and rejection by Lily left him bitter and resentful. He saw James and Harry as the embodiment of everything that he despised and felt that Lily had made a mistake by choosing James. His role as a double agent only exacerbated these feelings, making his relationship with Harry even more complicated and fraught with tension. Despite this, in the end, Snape sacrificed his life to protect Harry, showing that his love for Lily and his true loyalty to Dumbledore and the Order of Phoenix ultimately prevailed over his hatred for Harry.
