Lily Evans

**Lily** **Evans** (30 January, 1960–31 October, 1981) was an English Muggle-born witch, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs Evans, the younger sister of Petunia Evans. She learned of her magical nature as a child, after Severus Snape recognised her as a witch and told her of the existence of magic. Lily 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 begun dating James Potter.

Along with her friends, she joined the Order of the Phoenix during the First Wizarding War. She and James defied Lord Voldemort himself three times. Shortly afterwards, Lily and James had a son, Harry James Potter, of whom they made Sirius Black the godfather.

However, the family was forced to go into hiding after a prophecy was made concerning Lord Voldemort and their infant son. It referred to a boy who would be born at the end of July in 1980, who had the power to defeat Lord Voldemort. She and James were betrayed by Pettigrew and were murdered by Voldemort on Hallowe'en night in 1981, while trying to protect their son.

Lily 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, Sirius, and Remus. After the end of the Second Wizarding War, Lily had three grandchildren through her son: James Sirius Potter, Albus Severus Potter, and Lily Luna Potter, the last of whom was named in memory of her.

## Biography

### Early life (1960-1971)

Lily Evans was born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, two Muggles of the Evans family, on 30 January, 1960. Her family lived in Cokeworth, England. She had an older sister Petunia, whom she was quite close to. At the age of nine, Lily 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 Lily that she was a witch, and he went on to teach Lily 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. Lily's magical abilities and friendship with Severus caused problems between the Evans sisters. Envying her sister's abilities, Petunia wrote to Dumbledore, asking if she could attend Hogwarts with Lily. However, the headmaster kindly refused her petition. The letter was later found by Lily and Severus.

At the age of eleven, Lily 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, Lily and Petunia argued about magic again. Her sister called her a "freak" for possess that power and said it was better that she went to that school so "normal people" would be safe.

### Hogwarts years (1971-1978)

At the age of eleven, Lily 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. Lily became best friends with fellow Gryffindors, Marlene McKinnon and Mary MacDonald.

In her fifth year, Lily stood up for her then best friend, Severus Snape, when he was being bullied by James Potter. Lily 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 Lily's forgiveness, but she asked him if he still intended to join the Death Eaters. When he didn't deny this, Lily realised that Snape wasn't willing to change for her and didn't understand what was wrong with the Death Eaters. This led to a parting of ways between Lily and Snape, as the former had already become dismayed by Snape's fascination with the Dark Arts and friendship with his Slytherin house-mates Gaige Mulciber and Carter Avery, both of whom were aspiring Death Eaters.

By Lily'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 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.

By their seventh year, James had stopped his efforts in gaining her attention and the two became close friends. Due to their academic achievement, skill, and responsibility, they eventually were chosen to be Head Boy and Head Girl. The two began enjoying each other's company so much and begun dating at the end of the school year.

In late 1977, Lily and James had a disastrous first meeting with Petunia and her then-fiancé, Vernon Dursley, which took place over Christmas break, while they were both still at Hogwarts. When Vernon tried to impress them with his job, James retorded back that he had a flying broom, which made Vernon quite angry. The evening ended with both Vernon and Petunia storming out of the restaurant and Lily bursting into tears.

Petunia was married by the end of 1977. Lily and Willow were invited to the wedding, their sister refused to have either sisters as bridesmaids, which upset Lily deeply. At the reception, Vernon wouldn't talk to Lily's friends, but described them as "*some magicians*" within their earshots.

### First Wizarding War (1978-1981)

> He thinks it means her son, he is going to hunt her down — kill them all —
>
> Snape warns Dumbledore of the danger to the Potters, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

#### Order of the Phoenix

Lily and her friends 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 Willow, James, Sirius, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. During the war, Lily 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.

#### Life in hiding

Lily became unexpectedly pregnant in the autumn of 1979, finding out a few weeks after their breakup. 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 Lily's friend, Snape, who had since become a Death Eater. He loyally reported what he had heard to his master, but became horrified when Voldemort came to believe that Lily's son was the subject of the prophecy.

It was the threat to Lily that led Snape to change sides, warning Dumbledore of the Dark Lord's plans, and vowing to do anything to keep the woman he still loved safe. It was Snape's continuing devotion to Lily, that made Dumbledore certain of his double agent's true loyalties.

James vowed to keep Lily and the child safe despite them not being a couple and they went into hiding while Lily was still pregnant. Their son, Harry James Potter, was born on 31 July, 1980. Due to the danger they were in, Lily and James chose to keep Harry's christening a "*very hurried, quiet affair*" with Sirius and Willow as the only guests. The couple also chose Sirius to be their son's godfather and Willow as the godmother. Lily 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 Lily a vase for that Christmas.

In a letter to Sirius dated around Harry's first birthday in July 1981, Lily 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 birthday 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, Peter, 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.

##### Death

Main article: Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)
On 31 October, 1981 Voldemort entered their home. James told Lily 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 Lily and Harry could escape the cottage. Trapping mother and son in Harry's nursery, Voldemort, honouring Snape's request to spare her life, offering Lily a chance to step aside. However, she steadfastly refused to stop shielding her son, so Voldemort murdered her.

Because Lily'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 one-year 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

> You've been so brave.
>
> Lily addressing her son in the Forbidden Forest, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

After Lily and James were murdered, Willow was the one to arrange the funeral, as James had no family left. It was attended by hundreds, as their deaths and sacrifice marked the end of the First Wizarding War.

#### Harry's first year at Hogwarts

In an attempt to stay hidden from Argus Filch, the school caretaker, Harry stumbled upon the classroom where the mirror was being stored. Upon looking into it, Harry saw his late parents, Lily and James. Over the next few days, Harry proceeded to visit it as often as he could to see his parents' faces. The Mirror also occupied his thoughts beyond anything else, to the extent that he disregarded Ron's warning that he was growing obsessed with it.

Harry only stopped visiting the mirror after Dumbledore found him one night. Dumbledore found Harry and explained what the mirror was all about. Dumbledore told him that the mirror was to be moved and requested that Harry not go looking for it. 1992 was the last time Harry saw his parents faces in the mirror. Later, at the end of Harry's first year, Rubeus Hagrid gave Harry a special photo album containing pictures of his parents.

#### Dementor attacks

In his third year, whenever Harry encountered a Dementor, he was forced to relive his parents' deaths. The death he was particularly forced to relive was Lily's. This could be due to Harry being in the same room as Lily when she died, while James was murdered in the hallway. Therefore, Harry did not witness nor hear James' death.

#### Little Hangleton

> And she came... first her head, then her body... a young woman with long hair, the smoky, shadowy form of Lily Potter blossomed from the end of Voldemort's wand, fell to the ground, and straightened like her husband.
>
> Lily Potter's echo emerges as a result of Priori Incantatem, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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 Lily'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 Snape's memory of being bullied by James, Willow and Sirius via the use of Pensieve, and saw his mother standing up for Snape. He also witnessed Snape calling Lily a Mudblood, which instigated the end of their friendship. This was considered Snape's worst memory.

#### Resurrection Stone

> Less substantial than living bodies, but much more than ghosts, they moved toward him. And on each face, there was the same loving smile... Lily'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.
>
> Lily getting a glimpse of Harry through the Resurrection Stone, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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

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 Lily, James, Sirius, and Remus. Both James and Lily 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 Lily smiling at him and James nodding encouragingly.

#### After the war

Many years after Lily died, her son married Ginevra Weasley and fathered three children. Harry's only daughter, Lily Luna Potter, was named in memory of her paternal grandmother.

## Physical description

Lily was a beautiful woman with thick, dark red hair that fell to her shoulders, and almond-shaped, bright green eyes. Apparently, her eyes were extremely distinctive, because every person who knew Lily 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

> Lily Evans... Vivacious, you know. Charming girl.
>
> Horace Slughorn describing Lily's personality, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Lily 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 Lily 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.

Lily was a woman of sound moral principles and would stand by them no matter what it cost her, though her actions sometimes were ineffective. She frequently called out James Potter, Sirius Black and her own sister, for their bullying of her best friend, Severus Snape. When she realised Snape's devotion 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.

Though she had a sharp tongue and had no problems in standing up to others when she was in a temper, Lily 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.

Lily's most celebrated virtues were her courage and capacity for self-sacrifice: defying Voldemort three times as a member of the Order of the Phoenix and even dying to protect her son Harry. It was noted by Dumbledore that Lily 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, Lily was!
>
> Professor Slughorn regarding Lily's talent, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Since even Lord Voldemort was willing to overlook Lily'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**: Lily displayed a tremendous amount of love throughout her life. When she was only 21 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.
* **Control of Underage Magic**: Before attending Hogwarts, Lily already had a level of control over her magic — once she literally flew into the air after jumping off a swing. She then subsequently slowed her descent and 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"*.
* **Potions**: According to Slughorn, Lily was an excellent potioneer who impressed him. She had an *"instinctual understanding"* of the subject.
* **Charms**: Lily 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**: Lily was revealed to have been proficient in transfiguration. When she came home from Hogwarts for the holidays, she *"turned teacups into rats".*  She also transfigured a lily petal into a fish, which Slughorn described as "*beautiful magic, wondrous to behold*".
* **Duelling**: Along with her husband James, Lily was able to defy and escape Lord Voldemort three times, which showcased her remarkable talent in martial magic.

## Possessions

* **Wand**: Lily's wand was 10¼" long, made of willow, and had an unknown core. The wand was described as "swishy" and "*nice for Charms work*" by Garrick Ollivander.
* **Potters' Cottage**: Lily owned this cottage in Godric's Hollow along with her husband James during the final weeks of the First Wizarding War. This is where she and her husband were murdered and her son Harry was marked as the "Boy Who Lived". The cottage still stands as a reminder of what happened that Hallowe'en night in 1981.
* **Cat**: This was a pet of the Potter family. What happened to it after the attack is unknown.

## 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 Lily this and Lily that, they were proud of having a witch in the family!
>
> Petunia's childhood resentment towards Lily for being a witch, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

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

Lily initially had a close relationship with Petunia, whom she often played with. When Lily began demonstrating magical ability, Petunia was "*torn between curiosity and disapproval*". Her sister was disdainful of the friendship Lily struck up with Severus Snape, the poor wizard who had taken to spying on Lily and informed her that she was a witch. In turn, Snape was quite insulting to Petunia for being a Muggle. When Lily 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 [Lily] for Christmas*". Petunia also grudgingly took her sister's son, Harry in, at Dumbledore's request, after Lily's death. However, even as an adult, Petunia resented that her parents were proud of Lily's magical abilities and took out her enmity on Harry.

Lily and Willow grew up together much in the same way other twins did. Their parents dressed them in the same clothes, gave them the same toys and taught them the same things. They considered themselves best friends from childhood, often leaving Petunia without a playmate. They grew up to be very different, Lily favouring studying, while Willow wanted to play pranks and practice sports. At Hogwarts they always gravitated towards one another when problems arose, but kept at a distance, having different friend groups. Despite all of this, they always made sure to prioritize each other until Lily's death. Lily considered Willow to have been her biggest supporter and once told James Potter that she didn't believe she would have confidence if it wasn't for Willow.

#### James Potter

Lily'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 Lily 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, Lily considered him an *"arrogant bullying toerag"* and treated him with contempt, mostly for his bad habit of hexing innocent students for fun and his hostile relationship with Snape. 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.

James decided in his second year that he had romantic feelings for Lily and would show off to try to impress her, without success. He made it a point to ask her out very frequently. By their sixth year, 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 Lily's sake.

By her seventh year, Lily began to give James a chance and eventually 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, Lily joined Order of the Phoenix with their friends, fighting at James' side several times. They eventually broke up believing the war gave no time for a relationship. But Lily was pregnant at the time and later had their son, Harry James Potter. Her Patronus took the shape of a doe, while James' was a stag.

#### Harry Potter

> Your father's coming... Hold on for your father... it will be all right.... hold on...
>
> Lily's echo to Harry in the Little Hangleton graveyard, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

On 31 July, 1980, Lily 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 Lily'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 Snape, 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 Snape with no provocation (other than the already-existing animosity between them) in one of Snape'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 learned to respect her enough so she fell in love.

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. Lily'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 Lily 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 and godfather, James Sirius and Lily Luna Potter, whom was named in memory of her. When her youngest grandson, Albus, time-traveled to the day before her death he noticed the love in which she placed the blanket over her son and that she clearly treasured and loved her son deeply.

### Severus Snape

Severus Snape lived near the Evans family when he was a child and soon began spying on Lily after he noticed that she was a witch. The two became friends when he started telling her about the wizarding world, being excited of attending Hogwarts together. They were best friends until their fifth year at Hogwarts, despite being sorted into different houses. Similarly, both Lily and Severus were the top students in Potions.

However, Lily became increasingly dismayed by Snape's friendships with people such as Carter Avery and Gaige Mulciber, who disdained Muggle-borns and who practised the Dark Arts. When Snape called Lily a "*filthy Mudblood*" in a fit of anger and humiliation when she defended him from his bullies (including James, Willow and Sirius), it was the last straw for Lily. When she later asked him if he still intended to become a Death Eater and he did not deny it, she expressed feeling betrayal and ended their friendship. Rowling revealed in an interview that Lily reciprocated some romantic feelings for Snape, and if he wasn't so involved in the Dark Arts and hadn't become a Death Eater, Lily likely would have pursued him.

Despite the ending of their friendship, Snape still loved Lily. He had believed that when he joined the Death Eaters, this would impress Lily and she'd want to be with him. When he realised that it was Harry who Voldemort had fixated on as his enemy mentioned in the Prophecy, Snape begged him to spare Lily's life. However, he showed no concern for the life of her son or James. Voldemort agreed to this request and offered Lily several chances to step aside. Her refusal to do so even though she had a choice is what created the magic that protected Harry.

The deep love Snape held for Lily for almost all of his life also influenced his Patronus, which took the form of a silver doe - the same as hers, caused him to spy on Voldemort for Albus Dumbledore. He also protected her son until his own death, where he told Harry "*Look at me*", wishing to see Lily's eyes once more before he died as it was the only part of Harry that resembled his mother, the rest looking very much like his father. Lily's second grandson, Albus Severus, has both Lily and Harry's eyes and was named in honour of Snape.

### Marauders

Lily met Sirius Black on the Hogwarts Express at the same time she met James. She disliked them both, as they quickly began teasing Severus, Lily's best friend at the time, though it was Snape who had initiated the argument by mocking the other boys' preference of House. When Lily 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.

Lily eventually became the girlfriend of 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 James and Lily from Voldemort, the couple originally wanted to make Sirius their Secret Keeper, knowing he could be completely and utterly trustworthy. Lily 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 Peter Pettigrew be made Secret Keeper instead, thinking that Voldemort would not expect a "*weak, talentless thing*" like Peter to be given a such crucial role. This turned out to be a fatal mistake, as Peter had turned traitor and become a spy for the Death Eaters. Barely a week after the Fidelius Charm was performed, Peter betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort, leading to them being tragically murdered.

Sirius was deeply devastated for his friends' death; attacking Peter and attempted to kill him. He was godfather to Lily'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.

Lily's had a great relationship with Remus Lupin, both favouring each other's company, sometimes Remus even preferred being with Lily than his rowdy friends. When Snape insisted there was something strange about Remus, Lily answered that she didn't care about what the Marauders did. She had also realised early on that Remus was a werewolf, but didn't care. After graduating from Hogwarts, Remus helped James and Lily hide, and would have willingly died for his friends rather than betray them to save his own skin. When James and Lily died, Remus was devastated and initially believed, along the rest of the wizarding world, that Sirius had been a traitor. Remus, despite having no money and means to raise Harry, fought to be able to care for him so he wouldn't live with the Dursleys. He was unsuccessful, as Harry needed to be protected through blood magic that only Petunia, as Harry's aunt, could provide. He later taught Harry the Patronus Charm and protected him throughout the Second Wizarding War.

Despite Peter Pettigrew's cowardly nature, Lily became more friendly with him as she warmed to James, even affectionately referring to Peter as "*Wormy,*" from his nickname "Wormtail." When James and Lily went into hiding from Lord Voldemort, they trusted Peter 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, Peter had already become a spy for Voldemort and betrayed his dearest friends out of fear for his own life. One time Peter saw Lily and James while they were in hiding, Lily noted that he "*seemed down.*"

After Voldemort murdered Lily and James, it is possible that Pettigrew felt some regret for his treacherous, heartless betrayal. In 1998, Pettigrew 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. Lily 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 Lily to Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

During her time at Hogwarts, Lily 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, Lily 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 Lily 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

Lily 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 Lily 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 Lily's sacrifice, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Albus Dumbledore was Lily's Headmaster when she was a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Dumbledore invited Lily 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 Lily found to be "*very kind*". During Lily'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 Lily and her friends graduated from Hogwarts, they became members of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation Dumbledore founded and led. When James and Lily became targets of Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore offered to be their Secret Keeper in an attempt to protect them, but the role went to Peter Pettigrew instead, at Sirius' suggestion. This turned out to be the couple's death sentence, as Peter 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

> Lily and James... I can't believe it... I don't want to believe it....
>
> McGonagall on hearing about the death of Lily and James, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Minerva McGonagall was the Transfiguration Professor and also the Head of Gryffindor House while Lily 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. McGonagall became a caregiver to Lily while at Hogwarts, and often it was McGonagall, Lily would go to for adult advice. After Lily 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 Lily and James' death, to which she actually broke down into tears. Professor McGonagall was fond of Lily's son and protected him as best as she could throughout his time at Hogwarts.

### Order of the Phoenix

During the First Wizarding War, Lily was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and fought alongside many of its members during the First Wizarding War. Due to her friendly nature she was great friends with many of the members such as Rubeus Hagrid, Elphias Doge, Gideon and Fabian Prewett and Benjy Fenwick.

## Etymology

The given name *Lily* comes from the name of the flower, which is a symbol of purity. The flowers continue to be representative of purity and love in Europe. Specifically, the lily is often associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary; one type of the flower is known as the Madonna lily. Greek mythology also links lilies to the Muses and to the goddess Hera. In China, lily means "forever in love" and were thought to be capable of averting evil.

Lily's maiden name was Evans. "*Evans"* is a Welsh or English surname derived from the given name "*Evan"*. As a Welsh name, Evan means "young warrior". Interestingly, this could have been foreshadowing the birth of her son, Harry, who was described as a "young warrior". Lily herself was also a young warrior, having fought in the First Wizarding War at age 21. "Evan" can also be considered a form of the name *John*, (named after the apostle John), meaning "God is gracious and merciful".

## Behind the scenes

* Lily is portrayed by Sophie Skelton.
* In the novels it is often mentioned that Lily had bright green eyes and that Harry had the same eyes. In the films it is often remarked that Harry has his mother's eyes, but it is never stated what colour they are.
* Lily's initially negative opinion of James is not shown in the films, and the purely strong and close romantic attraction between them seemed to develop much sooner.
* In *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, there is an additional sequence after Aragog's funeral where Horace Slughorn describes a gift given to him by Harry's mother, Lily. One day, he'd found a bowl in his office with a small amount of water in it, upon which floated a single petal from a lily. As he watched, the petal sank into the water, and just before it reached the bottom, it transformed into a fish. Slughorn was delighted by what he considered a beautiful piece of magic, and kept the fish for many years, naming it Francis. On the night of 31 October, 1981, the night Lily Potter died, Francis disappeared from his bowl, and Slughorn knew right then and there what had happened to Lily.
* In European folklore and in the infamous treatise on witchcraft, the combination of dark red hair and bright green eyes was considered the mark of a witch, thus it is notable that Lily Evans possesses this exact colouring.
* Lily's name continues a pattern of flower names in the series. For instance, in the generation during the First Wizarding War, there was her and Petunia Evans. A lily and a petunia are both flowers. In the generation of the Second Wizarding War there was Narcissa Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Fleur Delacour, Poppy Pomfrey and Lavender Brown, and, although likely just a coincidence, Hannah Abbott's first name sounds almost identical to the Japanese word for flower, "Hana" (花). In the generation after the war there was Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger's daughter, Rose Granger-Weasley. There was also Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley's daughter, Lily Luna Potter.
* Other than Minerva McGonagall, Lily is the only known Head Girl. It can however be assumed that, like prefects, one head girl is chosen out of the 7th years every year by the headmaster.
* Rubeus Hagrid revealed that Lord Voldemort tried to recruit James Potter and Lily Evans before they left Hogwarts. While this is understandable for James, it was revealed by Rowling that Muggle-borns such as Lily *can* be permitted to join the Death Eaters, but only in extremely rare circumstances.
* When asked if Lily knew the effect she would have standing in front of Harry, J. K. Rowling stated in an interview; "*No - because as I've tried to make clear in the series, it never happened before. No one ever survived before. And no one, therefore, knew that could happen.*" Additionally, when asked if Voldemort or anyone else using the Killing Curse ever gave someone a choice, and they took the option to die, she said "*They may have been given a choice, but not in that particular way.*"
* Lily and her daughter-in-law Ginny are very very similar to each other. They both have red hair, they both were popular in school, both weren't afraid to stand up for their friends (Lily when the Marauders harassed Severus Snape, and Ginny when people ridiculed Luna Lovegood by calling her Loony Lovegood) and they both married a Potter: Lily married James; Ginny married Harry.
* Lily and her grandson Albus Severus Potter are also very similar. They are both the second born child of their families. Albus inherit her bright green eyes through her son Harry who also has her green eyes. Both have been antagonised by their older sibling, Petunia was jealous of her magical abilities and called her a freak, Albus is picked on by his brother James.
* So far, Lily is the only named muggle-born in canon who was offered to join the Death Eaters, which is known to be rare.
* Lily and James are one of two pairs of relatives killed by Voldemort. The second is that composed by Gellert Grindelwald and Bathilda Bagshot. However, unlike the latter, they were killed on the same day.