Lord Voldemort offered Lily Potter a choice to live, intending to spare her life, because he had made a promise to his loyal Death Eater, Severus Snape, to do so. This act, uncharacteristic of the Dark Lord, stemmed from Snape's deep, unrequited love for Lily.
The Unlikely Promise to Snape
Severus Snape harbored a profound and lifelong love for Lily Evans, even after she married James Potter. When Snape overheard parts of the prophecy foretelling Voldemort's defeat by a child born at the end of July, he understood it referred to Lily's son, Harry. Desperate to save Lily, Snape went to Voldemort and pleaded with him to spare her life. In a rare display of concession, Voldemort agreed to this request, promising to allow Lily to live if she stepped aside.
The Betrayal and the Choice
The tragic events leading to Voldemort's arrival at Godric's Hollow were set in motion by the betrayal of Peter Pettigrew, who, as the Potters' Secret-Keeper under the Fidelius Charm, revealed their location to Voldemort.
Upon confronting Lily Potter, Voldemort presented her with a grim choice, honoring his word to Snape: "Stand aside and let him murder her baby in cold blood, and he would let her live." This offer clearly indicated his willingness to spare her life if she allowed him to kill Harry without resistance.
Lily's Sacrifice and Its Profound Impact
Despite being given a clear opportunity to save herself, Lily Potter adamantly refused to step aside. Driven by an overwhelming mother's love, she bravely placed herself between Voldemort and her infant son, Harry, sacrificing her own life to protect him.
This ultimate act of self-sacrifice, made despite being given a choice to live, invoked powerful ancient magic. Lily's love created a protective charm around Harry, an effect Voldemort, in his arrogance and lack of understanding of such deep magic, could not comprehend. When Voldemort cast the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra, at Harry, the magic of Lily's sacrifice caused the curse to rebound upon him, destroying his physical body and making Harry the only known survivor of the Killing Curse.
Key Figures in Lily's Final Moments
The events leading to Lily Potter's death and Harry's survival involved several pivotal characters, each playing a crucial role:
| Character | Role in Lily's Fate |
|---|---|
| Lord Voldemort | Agreed to spare Lily due to Snape's plea, but ultimately killed her when she chose to protect Harry, leading to his own temporary downfall. |
| Lily Potter | Defied Voldemort's offer to live, sacrificing herself to protect her son, thereby creating the powerful protective magic that saved Harry and defeated Voldemort. |
| Severus Snape | Pleaded with Voldemort to spare Lily's life, securing the promise that offered her a chance to live. His deep, unrequited love for Lily was the catalyst for Voldemort's unusual concession. |
| Peter Pettigrew | Betrayed James and Lily Potter to Voldemort by revealing their secret location, directly leading to Voldemort's arrival at Godric's Hollow. |
