Why didn't it happen this way? (a missing scene from HP)

[mary_j_59]

I've said over on Snapedom that, if Lily was the be-all and end-all for young Sev, she should have been the be-all and end-all. So why couldn't he have joined the Death Eaters specifically to protect her? I do know the answer to that, of course: we couldn't have a scene that might make him more sympathetic. But why did Rowling also have to diminish James and Lily? Consider Voldemort's attack:

James hears something at the door and yells to his wife: "Lily, take Harry and run! I'll hold him off!" He picks up his wand and runs to the door, shouting, "Expelliarmus! Stupefy!" Spells ricochet off the walls of the small house, and eventually the young man falls. Voldemort steps over his body and strides up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, he meets Lily.

Voldemort: "Put the brat down and stand aside, girl."
Lily: (Turning so that she shelters Harry with her body and backing away) "No! Not Harry! Please, not Harry! I'll do anything-"
voldemort: "Stand aside, or you will die."
Lily: (She turns slightly toward Voldemort, still sheltering Harry in her arms). "If I join you, will you let Harry live?"
Voldemort: "You will join the Death Eaters?"
Lily: "Yes, I will, if you only let Harry live! I'll brew for you. I'll teach Harry to honor you (gulps as she says this, gasps, and goes on), I'll do anything you ask. Only let Harry live!"
Voldemort: (smiles cruelly) Very well, girl. I accept. Now set the child down.
Lily: "You promise? You will let him live?"
Voldemort: "I promise. Now set him down."
Lily: (looks doubtful, but carries Harry back into the bedroom and sets him in his crib.)
Voldemort: "Now stand aside, girl"
Lily: (steps to one side, her eyes wide and fearful)
Voldemort: (draws his wand and aims at Harry, beginning to pronounce) Avada-
Lily: (shrieks and darts in front of Voldemort's wand) No! Not Harry! You promised! (the beam of light hits her and she dies.)
Voldemort: "Foolish girl!" (he steps forward and aims at Harry again, saying, "Avada Kedavra". The curse rebounds and destroys him. His last feeling is fury that he could have been outwitted by a Muggleborn girl and her half-blood lover, who'd urged her usefulness and probably arranged the trap with her.)

Why couldn't have Rowling done it this way? Why couldn't she have shown Lily and James to have some smarts and competence? Just my two cents, as always.

Comments

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Obviously, as Sionna says below, he wouldn't agree. He had already agreed with young Severus to spare Lily, and I'm quite sure the boy made a pitch about the girl's potential usefulness. But there was no way, of course, that he would have spared Harry. The point is - why wouldn't Lily even try to manipulate Voldemort? Why wouldn't she lie to him for Harry's sake? As it is, I am left with more respect for Narcissa Malfoy (who lies to the Dark Lord for her son's sake) than for Lily Potter, our putative heroine (who does nothing but flail frantically, even though I think that line "I'll do anything" is actually canon.)

Don't get me wrong - I'd be flailing frantically, too, but I am no quick-witted, near-Slytherin (according to Slughorn) heroine. And wouldn't a mother lie, steal, manipulate - do anything to save her helpless baby?

Some people probably would think less of her for trying to bargain, but I think it would make her more heroic, not less.