Lily Potter

"*Kidnapped by Albus Dumbledore as a baby, this pureblood witch grew up unaware of her true heritage, and lived her life not knowing who her birth parents were.*"
— Official description

* Adult
* Child

## Biographical information

### Born

30 January, 1960, Wiltshire, England, Great Britain

### Died

31 October, 1980 (aged 20), Godric's Hollow, West Country, England, Great Britain

### Also known as

* Liliana Belle Mia Selwyn (birth name)
* Liliana J. Selwyn-Evans (adopted name)
* Lily
* Lilia

## Relationship information

### Family members

* Michael Selwyn (birth father; deceased)
* Mercedes Selwyn (née Lestrange) (birth mother; deceased)
* Rodolphus Lestrange (maternal uncle)
* Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black) (aunt by marriage)
* Wendy Lestrange (cousin)
* Celosia Lestrange (cousin)
* Rabastan Lestrange (maternal uncle)
* Howard Evans (adopted father; deceased)
* Rose Evans (née Fauna) (adopted mother; deceased)
* Petunia Dursley (née Evans) (adopted older sister)
* James Potter I (husband; deceased)
* Harry Potter (son)
* Ginevra Potter (née Weasley) (daughter-in-law)
* James Potter II (grandson)
* Severus Potter (grandson)
* Liliana Potter II (granddaughter)
* Skye Potter (granddaughter)

### Romances

* Severus Snape (unrequited)
* James Potter (husband; deceased)

## Affiliation

### Loyalty

* Evans family
* Potter family
* Selwyn family
* Order of the Phoenix

**Harry Potter**: "*I forgot. You liked her, didn't you?*"
**Horace Slughorn**: "*Liked her? I don't imagine anyone who met her wouldn’t have liked her... Very brave...Very funny... It was the most horrible thing..."*"
— Horace Slughorn and Harry Potter discussing Liliana

**Liliana Belle Mia** **Potter** (née **Selwyn-Evans**) (30 January, 1960–31 October, 1980), (more commonly known as Lily and Lilia), was an English pure-blood witch. She was the only daughter of Michael and Mercedes Selwyn, the sororal niece of Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, and the paternal cousin of Wendy and Celosia Lestrange. She grew up as the adopted daughter of Howard and Rose Evans, and the younger adopted sister of Petunia Evans, thinking she was a muggle-born witch. Liliana was actually the adopted daughter of Rose and Howard, but in reality she was a pure-blood witch; the only daughter of Michael and Mercedes Selwyn.

She learned of her magical nature as a child, after Severus Prince-Slytherin, (Severus Snape at the time) recognized her as a witch. However, she didn't realize this until she met Severus Snape, who identified her as the 'Missing L.J Selwyn'. He slowly, over time, earned her friendship and told her of the existence of magic. Liliana attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1971-1978. She was Sorted into Gryffindor House and was a member of the Slug Club. In her seventh year she was made Head Girl and began dating James Potter.

Originally born as Liliana Belle Mia Selwyn, the daughter of Michael and Mercedes Selwyn, Liliana was taken from her family as a small infant, only 11 months old, and raised in the Muggle world as the younger sister of Petunia Evans.

After Hogwarts, Liliana married James. Along with their friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, the couple joined the Order of the Phoenix during the First Wizarding War. Liliana and her husband defied Lord Voldemort himself three times and she unlocked her memories of her childhood after her marriage to James Potter and finally realized that all the things he had been trying to tell her over the years were true. But by then, she realized that he was married and pregnant with his baby. Sadness weighing in her heart, Liliana conceded defeat at the fact that she had lost Severus because of her own pride and arrogance.

Shortly afterwards, a month and 15 days after the birth of Severus's daughter, Liliana and James had a son of their own, Harry James Potter, of whom they made Sirius the godfather. However, the family was forced to go into hiding after a prophecy was made concerning Lord Voldemort and their infant son. She and James were betrayed by Dumbledore and thus both were murdered by Voldemort on Hallowe'en night in 1980, while trying to protect their son.

Liliana briefly appeared again through the Resurrection Stone to encourage Harry in his own sacrifice during the Battle of Hogwarts in May 1998. She appeared along with James, Mercedes, Michael, Howard, and Rose. After the end of the Second Wizarding War, Liliana had four grandchildren through her son: James Sirius Potter, Severus Remus Potter, Liliana Mercedes Potter, and Skye Melissa Potter, the third of whom was named in memory of her and her birth mother.

## Biography

### Early life (1960–1971)

Liliana Belle Mia Selwyn was born to Michael and Mercedes Selwyn, two pure-bloods of the Selwyn family, on 30 January, 1960. For 11 months, Lily lived a happy life with her parents, before tragedy struck the family. She was kidnapped as a baby by Albus Dumbledore and given to Howard and Rose Evans to raise as their own alongside their daughter, Petunia.
Her adopted family lived in Cokeworth, England. She had an older adopted sister named Petunia, whom she was quite close to. At the age of nine, Liliana became friends with Severus Snape, who lived down in Spinner's End, which was within walking distance of the Evans' house. However, her family was apparently better off, since Petunia sneered at Snape for coming from that poverty-stricken neighbourhood.

Severus was the first person to tell Liliana that she was a witch, and he went on to teach Liliana a great deal about the wizarding world while the two eagerly awaited the time when they could attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry together. Liliana's magical abilities and friendship with Severus caused problems between the sisters. Envying her sister's abilities, Petunia wrote to Dumbledore, asking if she could attend Hogwarts with Liliana. However, the headmaster kindly refused her petition. The letter was later found by Liliana and Severus.

At the age of eleven, Liliana bought her wand from Ollivanders in Diagon Alley. The wand was 10¼ inches, willow, "*swishy*", and according to Garrick Ollivander, good for charm work. Shortly before her depart to Hogwarts, Liliana and Petunia argued about magic again. Her sister called her a "freak" for possesing that power and said it was better that she went to that school so "normal people" would be safe.

### Hogwarts years (1971–1978)

**Severus Snape**: "*I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just —*"
**Liliana**: "*Slipped out? It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends... You've chosen your way, I've chosen mine.*"
**Severus Snape**: "*You won't even listen to what I have to say! That's it, I give up with you. With friends like you, who needs enemies? Goodbye, Evans.*"
**Liliana**: "*Snape, wait! Come back! I didn't mean-*"
**Severus Snape**: "*No, like you said, it's too late. None of the real friends I made in Slytherin, who treat me like family, understand why I talk to you either. I've defended you against my housemates all these years and you only stepped in at least one for me. If you won't listen to me, why should I listen to you?*"
**Liliana**: "*What have I done?...*"
**Severus Snape**: "*What you did was not ask any questions and let prejudice rule your judgement over years of friendship.*"
— The end of Liliana's friendship with Severus Snape

At the age of eleven, Liliana started attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she was Sorted into Gryffindor house. She became quite skilled at Potions, attracting the attention of Professor Horace Slughorn, who made her a member of his Slug Club for the students that he considered talented and possibly succesful in the future.

        In her fifth year, Liliana stood up for her then best friend, Severus Snape, when he was being bullied by James Potter. Liliana attempted to stop his bullying, addressing James only by his surname and vice versa in this moment. It is implied that such bullying had happened more than once. However, Snape lashed out at her in his humiliation, calling her a "*filthy* *Mudblood*." He then begged for Liliana's forgiveness, but she asked him if he still intended to join the Death Eaters. When he didn't deny this, Liliana realised that Snape did not understand what was wrong with the Death Eaters.

This led to a parting of ways between Liliana and Snape, as the former had already become dismayed by Snape's fascination with the Dark Arts and friendship with his Slytherin house-mates Mulciber and Avery, both of whom she thought were aspiring Death Eaters. But before Liliana could completely sever ties with him, Severus gave up on her and walked away, ignoring her calling after him. Liliana was then, the next day, disowned as his friend and sister in all but blood, which, given that she was just given the harshest friend-zone, shocked her to the core.

By Liliana's fifth year, James had developed a crush on her, but she didn't reciprocate, calling him an "arrogant toerag" because he bullied other students, particularly her former best friend. James's best friend, Sirius Black, later commented that James couldn't resist showing off and making a fool of himself whenever she was around. While she didn't approve of his bullying, she did admire how James stood up for his friends and other people who were cruelly treated by rumored aspiring-Death Eaters.

During their seventh year, James matured somewhat, proving himself to be responsible and brave. However, it is implied that he still had the desire to bully Snape, but was willing to stop actually doing it for Liliana's sake. This led to her agreeing to go out with him; gaining genuine affection for him in the process. Due to their academic achievement, skill, and responsibility, the young couple eventually were chosen to be Head Boy and Head Girl.

In late 1977, Liliana and James had a disastrous first meeting with Petunia and her then-fiancé, Vernon Dursley, which presumably took place over Christmas break, as they were both still at Hogwarts. When Vernon tried to impress James with his car, the wizard in turn boasted of his own material wealth, and a row ensued. The evening ended with both Vernon and Petunia storming out of the restaurant and Liliana bursting into tears, with an ashamed James promising he'd apologise and make it up (which, due to his and Liliana's untimely deaths, never happened). Petunia was married by the end of 1977. Though Liliana and James were invited to the wedding, her sister refused to have Liliana as a bridesmaid, upsetting her deeply. At the reception, Vernon wouldn't talk to James, but described him as "*some magician*" within his earshot.

### First Wizarding War (1978–1981)

#### Marriage and the Order

"*He thinks it means her son, he is going to hunt her down — kill them all —*"
— Regulus warns Dumbledore of the danger to the Potters
    Sometime after graduating from Hogwarts in 1978, Liliana and James married, the wedding took place sometime between the summer of 1978 and the autumn of 1979, with Sirius serving as James' best man. Petunia and Vernon refused to attend the wedding, and Liliana had little contact with her sister from that point on. It was at this point that she regained her memories of her early childhood.
Living off James' family fortune, the Potters became full-time members of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation dedicated to fighting Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, along with their friends Sirius, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. During the war, Liliana and James defied Voldemort on at least three occasions, the first being when they refused to join his cause when he tried to recruit them.
By the time Liliana and James were married, they received news of Severus's wedding to Marvolo and him becoming Lord Consort Prince-Slytherin. This made her angry and somewhat jealous because she thought that Severus had feelings for her.

#### Life in hiding and death

**Liliana**: "*Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead —*"
**Albus Dumbledore**: "*This is my last warning -*"
**Liliana**: "*Not Harry! Please... have mercy... have mercy... Not Harry!* Not Harry! *Please — I'll do anything...*"
— Liliana stands between Albus Dumbledore, under the Imperius, and her son

    Liliana became pregnant in the autumn of 1979 at the same time as Severus. Around the same time, Sybill Trelawney made a prophecy in front of Albus Dumbledore, predicting that "*the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches*" and would be "*born to those who have thrice defied him*". The first part of the prophecy was overheard by a secret admirer of Liliana, Regulus Black, who had become a Death Eater. He loyally reported what he had heard to his master, but became horrified when Voldemort came to believe that Liliana's son was the subject of the prophecy. It was the threat to Liliana that led Regulus to change sides, warning Dumbledore of the Dark Lord's plans, and vowing to do anything to keep the woman he loved safe. It was Regulus's devotion to Liliana, that made Dumbledore certain of his double agent's true loyalties.

    The Potters went into hiding at the same time as the Prince-Slytherins while Liliana and Severus were still pregnant. Their son, Harry James Potter, was born on 31 July, 1980. Due to the danger they were in, Liliana and James chose to keep Harry's christening a "*very hurried, quiet affair*" with Sirius as the only guest. The couple also chose Sirius to be their son's godfather. Liliana sent a birth announcement to Petunia; it was to be the last piece of information she ever sent her sister, though Petunia would later send Liliana a vase for that Christmas.

In a letter to Sirius, Liliana mentioned that the family had a pet cat and relayed a story about Harry flying on the toy broomstick Sirius had given him as a present, in which she shared a tea with Bathilda Bagshot. The Fidelius Charm was placed on their home in Godric's Hollow. Their Secret-Keeper, Albus, was chosen as a less-likely target for the Death Eaters than Sirius, but he betrayed the Potters by telling Voldemort of their whereabouts barely a week later while under the Imperious curse.

#### Attack at Godric's Hollow

*Main article: Attack at Godric's Hollow (1980)*

On 31 October, 1980 Voldemort entered their home. James told Liliana to take Harry and leave while he held him off, although he and his wife were wandless and thus couldn't defend themselves. James was murdered before Liliana and Harry could escape the cottage. Trapping mother and son in Harry's nursery, Voldemort, honouring Snape's request to spare her life, offering Liliana a chance to step aside. However, she steadfastly refused to stop shielding her son, so Voldemort murdered her.

Because Liliana's death was a pure loving sacrifice (she intended to die and wasn't hoping to save herself, despite having the choice to), Harry was marked with the protection of her love and Voldemort's Killing Curse rebounded off the three month old. The rebounded curse destroyed the Dark Lord's body and temporarily defeated him. Harry was left unscathed, except for a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead. Thus, Harry became known as the "Boy Who Lived", and his fate was sealed.

### Post-mortem and legacy (1980–1998)

After Liliana and James were murdered, Petunia (Liliana's adopted sister) was the one to arrange the funeral, as James had no family left. Afterward, she grudgingly cared for her adopted sister's only child.

#### Harry's first year at Hogwarts

However, his mother's death wouldn't be the last Harry would see of her. During his first year at Hogwarts, he happened to stumble upon the Mirror of Erised. In this mirror he saw his parents for the first time, along with his grandparents and other ancestors. Also at the end of Harry's first year, Hagrid gave him a photo album filled with pictures of his family and of himself as an infant.

#### Dementor attacks

In his third year whenever he encountered a Dementor he was forced to relive his parents' deaths, particularly Liliana's.

#### Little Hangleton

In Harry's fourth year, Wormtail had placed Voldemort's rudimentary body into a cauldron containing the nearly finished potion. He added the first two ingredients: his hand and Harry's blood, as Voldemort believed it would make him stronger and make his enemy touchable. This was because he indirectly received Liliana's sacrificial protection. However, this action also bound Harry's life to Voldemort again but inversely: Harry couldn't die as long as Voldemort still lived, which ironically meant he couldn't kill the boy.

During Harry's duel with Voldemort in the Little Hangleton graveyard, they experienced Priori Incantatem. Shades of his mother and father, and others whom Voldemort had murdered came out of Voldemort's wand, encouraging Harry and distracting Voldemort so the younger wizard could escape from the graveyard.

#### Occlumency

In his fifth year, Harry entered Severus Prince-Slytherin's memory of being bullied by James and Sirius via the use of Pensieve, and saw his mother standing up for Severus He also witnessed Severus calling Liliana a Mudblood, which caused the end of their friendship. This, was considered Severus's worst memory

#### Battle of Hogwarts

In 1998, Harry relived that same memory of Severus's, as well as many others containing his mother, in the Pensieve. The memories revealed that she and Snape had been best friends since their childhood and brought to light Severus's brotherly love for Liliana, years after her death.

"*Less substantial than living bodies, but much more than ghosts, they moved toward him. And on each face, there was the same loving smile... Liliana's smile was widest of all. She pushed her long hair back as she drew closer to him, and her green eyes, so like his, searched his face hungrily, as though she would never be able to look at him enough.*"
— Liliana getting a glimpse of Harry through the Resurrection Stone

Finally, during the Battle of Hogwarts, when Harry believed himself to be walking to his own death, he used the Resurrection Stone to bring back the spirits of Liliana, James Potter, Sirius, and Remus. Both James and Liliana told Harry that they were "*so very proud of him*" for his outstanding courage and strength, and assured him that they would stay with him until the very end. Harry described their very presence as his courage, the reason he was able to keep putting one foot in front of the other, with Liliana smiling at him and James nodding encouragingly.

#### After the war

Many years after Liliana died, her son married Ginevra Weasley and fathered four children. Harry's eldest daughter, Liliana Mercedes Potter, was named in memory of her paternal grandmother and great-grandmother.

## Physical appearance

Liliana was a very beautiful woman with thick, dark red hair that fell to her waist, and almond-shaped, bright green eyes. Apparently, her eyes were extremely distinctive, because every person who knew Liliana would always see them in her son, Harry.

When the aged Harry travelled back to the past, he commented that even in the face of death, she was still beautiful.

## Personality and traits

"*Liliana Selwyn-Evans... Vivacious, you know. Charming girl.*"
— Horace Slughorn describing Liliana's personality

Liliana was known for being a vivacious, talented, and popular student. She was a responsible student and leader to be Head Girl in her final year at Hogwarts. Horace Slughorn noted that Liliana was witty and charming. Remus Lupin once described her as an uncommonly kind person with a habit of seeing the best in others, even when they could not see it themselves.

Liliana was a woman of sound moral principles and would stand by them no matter what it cost her, though her actions sometimes were ineffective. On at least one occasion, she called out James Potter and Sirius Black for their bullying of her best friend, Severus Prince-Slytherin (Then Severus Snape). When she thought Snape was devoted to Voldemort's genocidal cause (of which she was a target at the time) and increasingly deep fascination with the Dark Arts, caused her to end her friendship with him permanently, but then he turned the tables on her and had no further contact with her. He did send her a wedding and birth announcement, but that was all.

Though she had a sharp tongue and had no problems in standing up to others when she was in a temper, Liliana was still the type of person who would give others a second chance when they had proven themselves worthy of it. The most notable instance of this quality would be how she finally agreed to date James after he had matured out of his bullying ways, despite the fact that she didn't have a good opinion of him during their early school years.

Liliana's and her husband's most celebrated virtues were their courage and capacity for self-sacrifice: defying Voldemort three times as members of the Order of the Phoenix and even dying to protect their son Harry. It was noted by Sirius that Liliana was very much like her son, especially in strength. Her strength is further commented on by her grandson Albus in that she would understand her fate and the fact that she would never see her son grow up.

## Magical abilities and skills

"*One of the brightest I ever taught... She was a dab hand at Potions, Liliana was!*"
— Professor Slughorn regarding Liliana's talent

Since even Lord Voldemort was willing to overlook Liliana's Muggle-born status and ask her to join him, this is proof that she was a truly powerful and accomplished witch. She was noted for her particular talent in Potion-making and was able to conjure a corporeal doe Patronus, a mark of superior magical ability.

* **Love**: Liliana displayed a tremendous amount of love throughout her life. When she was only 20 years old, she lovingly sacrificed her own life for her only son despite being given the choice to leave him behind and live. It was this very sacrifice that enabled Harry to survive the Killing Curse, which rebounded off him and destroyed Voldemort's body. It protected her son from her murderer for 16 years after her death, especially due to their blood connection.
* **Duelling** Along with her husband James, Liliana was able to defy and escape Lord Voldemort three times, which showcased her remarkable talent in martial magic.
* **Potions**: According to Slughorn, Liliana was an excellent potioneer who impressed him. She had an *"instinctual understanding"* of the subject.
* **Charms**: Liliana excelled in charm-work - her wand was described as being *"nice for Charms work".* She was able to animate teapots to make *"[them] sing"* and effectively conjure a corporeal doe Patronus, which is an incredibly advanced piece of protective magic.
* **Transfiguration**: Liliana was revealed to have been proficient in transfiguration. When home from Hogwarts for the holidays, she *"turned teacups into rats".* She also transfigured a Liliana petal into a fish, which Slughorn described as "*beautiful magic, wondrous to behold*".
* **Control of Underage Magic**: Before attending Hogwarts, Liliana already had a level of control over her magic - once she literally flew into the air after jumping off a swing and subsequently slowed her descent to lightly land on the ground. She also went on to manipulate a flower to open and close its petals like *"some bizarre, many-lipped oyster"*.

## Relationships

### Family

#### Evans family

"*How could you not be, my dratted sister being what she was? Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off to that — that school — and came home every holiday with her pockets full of frog spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the only one who saw her for what she was — a freak! But for my mother and father, oh no, it was Liliana this and Liliana that, they were proud of having a witch in the family!*"
— Petunia's childhood resentment towards Liliana for being a witch

Liliana had a happy home life and a close relationship with her adopted parents. They were very proud to learn that Liliana was a witch and apparently favoured her over her older sister Petunia.

Liliana initially had a close relationship with Petunia, whom she often played with. When Liliana began demonstrating magical ability, Petunia was "*torn between curiosity and disapproval*". Her sister was disdainful of the friendship Liliana struck up with Severus Snape, the poor wizard who had taken to spying on Liliana and informed her that she was a witch. In turn, Snape was quite insulting to Petunia for being a Muggle. When Liliana was invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Petunia wrote to the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, requesting that she be permitted to do the same. Although his refusal was kind, Petunia became very bitter and jealously deemed her sister a "freak", even saying that their separation would be better for her safety.

Their relationship seems to have deteriorated greatly and become distant afterward, especially after they dated and eventually married very different men. Despite the bitterness on Petunia's end, the two sisters appeared to still be in contact when Harry was an infant, was said to have "*smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent [Liliana] for Christmas*". Petunia also grudgingly took her sister's son, Harry in, at Dumbledore's request, after Liliana's death. However, even as an adult, Petunia resented that her parents were proud of Liliana's magical abilities and took out her enmity on Harry.

#### James Potter

**Harry Potter**: "*How come she married him? She hated him!*"
**Sirius Black** : "*Nah, she didn't.*"
**Remus Lupin**: "*She started going out with him in seventh year.*"
— Sirius and Remus telling Harry about his parents

Liliana's relationship with James Potter was initially a volatile one. They first met on the Hogwarts Express just before the start of their first year at Hogwarts, at which time Liliana was angered by James' and Sirius Black's mockery of her best friend, Severus. Although James was a talented Quidditch player and well-liked by most, Liliana considered him an *"arrogant bully toerag"* and treated him with contempt, mostly for his bad habit of hexing innocent students for fun and his hostile relationship with Severus. However, she didn't hate James, admiring how he stood up for his friends and other people who were cruelly treated by aspiring-Death Eaters.

By his fifth year, James started to have romantic feelings for Liliana and would show off to try to impress her, without success. It is not known whether he asked her out more than once. It seems that, by that time, James had "*deflated his head a bit*" and "*stopped hexing people for the fun of it*". However, it is implied that James still had the desire to bully Snape, but was willing to stop actually doing it for Liliana's sake.

By her seventh year, Liliana eventually began going out with James and grew to fall in love with him as well. The two had similar positions in Hogwarts as Head Girl and Head Boy. Shortly after their graduation, Liliana got married and joined Order of the Phoenix with their friends, fighting at his side several times. They eventually had a child, Harry James Potter. Her Patronus took the shape of a doe, while her husband's was a stag.

#### Harry Potter

"*Your father’s coming... Hold on for your father... it will be all right.... hold on...* "
— Liliana's echo to Harry in the Little Hangleton graveyard

On 31 July, 1980, Liliana and James' first and only child, Harry, was born. They loved their son more than anything, hiding for months so he could survive from the prophecy concerning his fate with Lord Voldemort. On Hallowe'en in 1981 they sacrificed themselves at 21 years old in order to save him from when he was just an infant. Albus Dumbledore always maintained that the love his parents had for him (and in return Harry's love for them) was his greatest power. Harry grew to resemble both of his parents greatly, his personality being more similar to Liliana's. He also endured mistreatment from Petunia, though much harsher.

Harry barely knew them, but nevertheless regarded them with great reverence and fiercely defended their memory if anyone spoke ill of them. In 1995, he punched Draco Malfoy for insulting his mother, and he was frequently at odds with Professor Prince-Slytherin, who taunted Harry that James was not the great man others made him out to be. An incident that Snape would have delightfully used as an example was witnessed by Harry in the spring of 1996, when Harry accidentally watched James bullying Severus with no provocation (other than the already-existing animosity between them) in one of Severus's own memories, during his Occlumency lessons. Harry began to question how his mother even came to marry James when she clearly despised him for acting in such a way, though Remus and Sirius later assured Harry that his father had changed his ways, having matured enough to become Head Boy and eventually win Liliana over.

The few times Harry ever saw his parents were in pictures given to him by Rubeus Hagrid, through a vision within the Mirror of Erised, as spectral forms which came out of Voldemort's wand during *Priori Incantatem*, as stored memories within the Pensieve, and again as spectral forms when he "recalled" them during the Battle of Hogwarts, by using the Resurrection Stone. Liliana's spirit was described as looking at Harry as if she couldn't do so enough, and Harry asked his mother to stay close to him as he approached the Death Eaters' camp and certain doom. Both James and Liliana told Harry that they were tremendously proud of him for being so brave and strong despite all the pain and suffering he had endured, and gave him the support he needed to sacrifice himself to Voldemort. Harry later avenged his mother when he killed Voldemort at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Harry eventually named two of his children after his late parents, James Sirius and Liliana Mercedes Potter, whom was named in memory of her.

### Severus Snape

**Liliana**: "*Does it make a difference, being Muggle-born?*"
**Severus Snape**: "*No. It doesn't make any difference.*"
— Severus discussing Liliana's Muggle-born status as children

Severus Prince-Slytherin (formerly Snape) lived near the Evans family when he was a child and soon began spying on Liliana after he noticed that she was a witch. The two became friends when he started telling her about the wizarding world and of her birth heritage, being excited of attending Hogwarts together. They were best friends until their fifth year at Hogwarts, despite being sorted into different houses. Similarly, both Liliana and Severus had a great talent in Potions.

However, Liliana became increasingly dismayed by Severus's friendships with people such as Avery and Mulciber, who were thought to disdain Muggle-borns and who practised the Dark Arts. When Severus called Liliana a "*filthy Mudblood*" in a fit of anger and humiliation when she defended him from his bullies (including James and Sirius), it was the last straw for Liliana. When she later asked him if he still intended to become a Death Eater and he did not deny it, she started to sever all ties with him, but before she could finish, Severus snapped that she never heard him out and stormed off, ignoring her calling after him.

She was left standing in the dark corridor alone with guilt washing over her in waves, questioning what she had just done. After being dropped by Severus as a friend, she was heartbroken. It turns out that Liliana had a secret crush on Severus, who only loved her as a friend and sister. There is no evidence to suggest that Severus reciprocated the romantic feelings felt by Liliana, but he was best friends with her. If Liliana wasn't so against the Dark Arts and didn't start to display a very prejudiced attitude toward pure-bloods, Severus might have considered dating Liliana, rather than just being friends. Liliana's second grandson, Albus Severus, has both Liliana and Harry's eyes and was named in honour of Severus.

### Marauders

**Liliana Evans**: "*Leave him ALONE!*"
**James Potter**: "*All right, Evans?*"
**Liliana Evans**: "*Leave him alone. What’s he done to you?*"
**James Potter**: "*Well, it’s more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean....*"
**Liliana Evans**: "*You think you’re funny. But you’re just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone.*"
— Liliana arguing with James Potter over his bullying of Severus Snape
Liliana met Sirius Black on the Hogwarts Express at the same time she met James. She disliked them both, as they quickly began teasing Severus, Liliana's best friend at the time, though it was Severus who had initiated the argument by mocking the other boys' preference of House. When Liliana and Sirius were both sorted into Gryffindor House she remembered him from the train and turned her back on him when he made room for her at the Gryffindor table.

However, during their later school years, they might have become good friends. Liliana eventually married Sirius's best friend. She, Sirius, and the Marauders became members of the Order of the Phoenix during the First Wizarding War and fought in several battles against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. When Dumbledore casted a Fidelius Charm to hide the Potter family from Voldemort, the couple originally wanted to make Sirius their Secret Keeper, knowing he could be completely and utterly trustworthy. Liliana sent him at least one letter written in a cheerfully tone and a photograph of her family during her time in hiding. However, Sirius had proposed that Albus Dumbledore be made Secret Keeper instead, thinking that Voldemort would not expect someone like Albus to be given a such crucial role. This turned out to be a fatal mistake, as Albus had turned traitor and become a spy for the Death Eaters. Barely a week after the Fidelius Charm was performed, Albus betrayed James and Liliana to Voldemort, leading to them being tragically murdered.

Sirius was deeply devastated for his friends' death; attacking Albus and attempted to kill him. He was godfather to Liliana's son, Harry Potter. They shared an intimate relationship; Harry regarded Sirius as a mixture of friend and older brother, and Sirius viewed Harry as an exceptionally brave and matured adult with rights to knowing difficult truths, fully capable of shouldering burdens that many wizards much older and wiser than he could not.

Liliana's relationship with Remus Lupin is not known in the books, although they are portrayed as friends in movies. When Severus insisted there was something strange about Remus, Liliana answered that she didn't care about what the Marauders did. Most likely, she had also realised that Remus was a werewolf, but didn't care. After graduating from Hogwarts, Remus helped James and Liliana hide, and would have willingly died for his friends rather than betray them to save his own skin. When James and Liliana died, Remus was devastated and initially believed, along the rest of the wizarding world, that Sirius had been a traitor.

Later on, Remus and Isabell grew close to Liliana's son, Harry Potter. Remus taught Harry the Patronus Charm and protected him throughout the Second Wizarding War, while Harry ended up becoming godfather to Isabell's daughter, Maya.

Despite Peter Pettigrew's cowardly nature, Liliana became more friendly with him as she warmed to James, even affectionately referring to Peter as "*Wormy,*" from his nickname "Wormtail." When James and Liliana went into hiding from Lord Voldemort, the couple trusted Albus enough to make him their Secret Keeper, though only at Sirius' suggestion to use someone less obvious than himself for the role. By then, however, Albus had already become a spy for Voldemort and betrayed his dearest friends out of fear for his own life. One time Albus saw Liliana and James while they were in hiding, Liliana noted that he "*seemed down.*"

After Voldemort murdered Liliana and James, it is possible that Dumbledore felt some regret for his treacherous, heartless betrayal. In 1998, Dumbledore unintentionally saved Harry from Lord Voldemort, who was trying to kill the boy through Pettigrew's silver hand, by briefly hesitating when Harry reminded him of his life debt. This one, tiny impulse of mercy, however, led to Pettigrew being killed by the same hand.

### Horace Slughorn

"*Yes, well. You shouldn’t have favourites as a teacher, of course, but she was one of mine. Your mother. Liliana Evans. One of the brightest I ever taught. Vivacious, you know. Charming girl. I used to tell her she ought to have been in my House. Very cheeky answers I used to get back too.*"
— Horace Slughorn discussing his affection for Liliana to Harry Potter

During her time at Hogwarts, Liliana demonstrated extraordinary talent in potions, becoming one of Potions Master Horace Slughorn's "*all-time favourites*" and a member of his Slug Club. He considered her to be one of the brightest students he had ever taught (while being known to also teach students like Tom Riddle) and knew her to be a vivacious, charming, talented, if sometimes cheeky girl. Slughorn even stated, "*I don't imagine anyone who met her wouldn't have liked her...very brave...very funny...*", though he was surprised by her Muggle lineage.

In the films, Liliana gave Slughorn a present, probably as a token of her respect and love for him as her teacher: a bowl of water, on which a petal from a lily floated, and as the petal sank, it transformed into a fish, just before it reached the bottom. He named the fish Francis. When Francis suddenly disappeared one day, Slughorn realised that Liliana had died. Her death haunted him for many years. Her son Harry used Slughorn's sympathy and grief for his mother's death to his advantage while under the effects of Felix Felicis, persuading Slughorn to give him the true memory of Tom Riddle's inquiry about Horcruxes, by encouraging him to be as brave as his mother was and claimed that it would undo whatever great wrong he had done.

### Bathilda Bagshot

Liliana was on close terms with her neighbour and fellow witch Bathilda, by the time the latter was in her older years and herself in hide with her family. Bathilda was the only one to join the Potters during Harry's birthday tea when he turned one year old, doting her son. Bathilda even spoke to the younger woman on the closeness between Grindelwald and Dumbledore, though Liliana remained somewhat sceptical given the strange statement and Bathilda's possible senility.

### Albus Dumbledore

"*I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day. I put my trust, therefore, in your mother’s blood. I delivered you to her sister, her only remaining relative.*"
— Dumbledore explaining to Harry how he sought to uphold Liliana's sacrifice

Albus Dumbledore was Liliana's Headmaster when she was a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Dumbledore invited Liliana to attend Hogwarts, her sister Petunia became jealous and sent a letter to Dumbledore requesting to be enrolled in Hogwarts as well. He answered Petunia that she could not, though in a way Liliana found to be "*very kind*". During Liliana's years at Hogwarts, Dumbledore became very fond of her, seeing her as a talented witch with a pure, kind heart, and eventually appointing her Head Girl.

After Liliana and her friends graduated from Hogwarts, they became members of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation Dumbledore founded and led. When James and Liliana became targets of Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore offered to be their Secret Keeper in an attempt to protect them. This turned out to be the couple's death sentence, as Albus betrayed them to Voldemort, who found them and killed them.

Dumbledore was deeply upset by their deaths and dedicated the rest of his life to keeping their son safe, though he knew what might be necessary to fulfil the Prophecy. He eventually became Harry's mentor, often telling Harry of the love and goodness of his parents and continually insisting that Harry's love for his parents was his greatest strength and a source of incredible power — "*the power the Dark Lord knows not"*.

### Minerva McGonagall

"*Liliana and James... I can't believe it... I don't want to believe it....*"
— McGonagall on hearing about the death of Liliana and James

Minerva McGonagall was the Transfiguration Professor and also the Head of Gryffindor House while Liliana attended Hogwarts. She would have been unable to become Head Girl if she wasn't approved by her Head of House, which implies that McGonagall trusted her. After Liliana left Hogwarts, both she and McGonagall became allies of the first Order of the Phoenix and fought against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

After Voldemort found and killed the Potters, McGonagall was devastated to learn of Liliana and James' death, to which she actually broke down into tears. Professor McGonagall was fond of Liliana's son and protected him as best as she could throughout his time at Hogwarts.

### Order of the Phoenix

During the First Wizarding War, Liliana was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and fought alongside many of its members during the First Wizarding War. She appeared to be friendly with some members, such as Rubeus Hagrid, Elphias Doge, and Marlene McKinnon. She appeared to be very upset when she learned about the McKinnons' death, crying all night.

## Gallery

Liliana and her husband, James Potter, shortly after their weddingLiliana and Severus as childrenLiliana leaving SeverusJames, Liliana, and their son, Harry PotterLiliana being Sorted into GryffindorLiliana as a first-yearLiliana standing up to James PotterJames and Liliana Potter on their wedding dayLiliana and her adopted sister, Petunia as childrenLiliana as a babyLiliana protecting her infant sonThe corpse of Liliana Potter née Selwyn-Evans