======Lily Potter (née Evans)======
=====Introduction=====
Lily Potter (née Evans) was a Muggle-born witch, the wife of [[James Potter]], and the mother of [[Harry Potter]]. A member of the original [[Order of the Phoenix]], she was an exceptionally gifted witch known for her kindness, bravery, and talent in [[Potions]] and [[Charms]]. Her ultimate significance in the wizarding world is defined by her final act: a loving self-sacrifice to protect her infant son from [[Lord Voldemort]]. This act of ancient magic created a powerful, lingering protection over Harry that became the cornerstone of Voldemort's first defeat and Harry's continued survival.
=====Biography=====
====Early Life====
Lily was born on 30 January 1960 to Mr. and Mrs. Evans, a [[Muggle]] couple. She grew up in [[Cokeworth]] with her older sister, [[Petunia Dursley (née Evans)]]. Lily's magical abilities manifested early in her childhood, causing both wonder and friction within her family. Her sister Petunia, unable to replicate these feats, grew resentful and eventually estranged.
During her childhood, she met a neighbourhood boy, [[Severus Snape]], who recognized her as a witch and became her first friend from the magical world. He eagerly explained the existence of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] and other magical concepts to her. Their friendship blossomed, though it was a source of conflict with Petunia, who distrusted Snape. Lily received her [[Hogwarts letter]] and began her education at the age of eleven.
====Hogwarts Years====
At [[Hogwarts]], Lily was sorted into [[Gryffindor House]], while her friend [[Severus Snape]] was placed in [[Slytherin House]]. She quickly proved to be an outstanding student, particularly in [[Potions]], where her intuitive talent made her a favourite of [[Professor Slughorn]] and a member of his elite [[Slug Club]]. She also excelled at [[Charms]].
Throughout her school years, she maintained her friendship with Snape, though it became strained due to his growing fascination with the [[Dark Arts]] and his association with students who would later become [[Death Eater]]s. She openly disapproved of his behaviour and the company he kept. During this time, she was frequently the target of romantic interest from [[James Potter]], a popular and talented but arrogant [[Gryffindor]] peer. She consistently rejected his advances, largely due to his bullying of other students, especially Snape.
The friendship between Lily and Snape ended permanently near the end of their fifth year. After being humiliated by James and [[Sirius Black]], a furious Snape unthinkingly called Lily a "[[Mudblood]]" when she came to his defence. Despite his later apologies, Lily could not forgive the slur or his continued embrace of dark magic, and she severed their friendship.
In her seventh year, Lily was appointed [[Head Girl]]. By this time, [[James Potter]] had matured considerably and abandoned his arrogance. Lily began to see a different side of him, and they fell in love, beginning a relationship that would lead to marriage.
====First Wizarding War and Death====
After graduating from [[Hogwarts]], Lily married [[James Potter]]. They joined the [[Order of the Phoenix]], a secret society founded by [[Albus Dumbledore]] to fight [[Lord Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eater]]s during the [[First Wizarding War]]. Together, they defied the [[Dark Lord]] on three separate occasions.
When a [[prophecy]] made by [[Sybill Trelawney]] identified Lily's soon-to-be-born son as the one with the power to vanquish Voldemort, the Potters became a primary target. On Dumbledore's advice, they went into hiding in the village of [[Godric's Hollow]], protected by the [[Fidelius Charm]]. They chose their friend [[Peter Pettigrew]] to be their [[Secret-Keeper]].
On 31 October 1981, Pettigrew betrayed them, revealing their location to [[Lord Voldemort]]. Voldemort arrived at their home, killing James first as he tried to buy his family time. Voldemort then confronted Lily in Harry's nursery. At the secret request of [[Severus Snape]], who still loved her, Voldemort offered Lily the chance to stand aside and save herself. She refused, shielding her son and begging Voldemort to kill her instead. By willingly sacrificing her life for Harry when she had a choice to live, she invoked a powerful and ancient form of protective magic. When Voldemort then cast the [[Killing Curse]] on the infant [[Harry Potter]], the curse rebounded off Lily's magical shield, destroying Voldemort's physical body and leaving Harry with only a lightning-bolt [[scar]].
=====Physical Appearance and Personality=====
Lily was described as an exceptionally beautiful woman. She had thick, dark red hair and strikingly bright green, almond-shaped eyes. Her eyes were her most defining feature, and [[Harry Potter]] inherited them.
She was renowned for her kindness, compassion, and moral courage. [[Professor Slughorn]] noted she was vivacious and charming, while [[Remus Lupin]] described her as having a knack for seeing the good in others, even when they could not see it themselves. This kindness, however, was balanced by a firm and spirited nature. She was not afraid to stand up to people she felt were in the wrong, as demonstrated by her frequent confrontations with [[James Potter]] and [[Sirius Black]] over their bullying. Her bravery was unquestionable; she was an active member of the [[Order of the Phoenix]] and ultimately faced down [[Lord Voldemort]] himself, sacrificing her life without hesitation.
=====Magical Abilities and Skills=====
  * **Potions:** Lily was a masterful potioneer. [[Professor Slughorn]] praised her "intuitive grasp" of the subject and considered her one of the most brilliant students he had ever taught.
  * **Charms:** She was also described as being very skilled in [[Charms]]. [[Professor Flitwick]] would have been her teacher.
  * **Sacrificial Protection:** Lily's most powerful and famous act of magic was unintentional. Her loving sacrifice created a magical shield over Harry that repelled the [[Killing Curse]] and offered him continued protection from [[Voldemort]]. This protection was magically maintained as long as Harry could call home where her blood relative, [[Petunia Dursley (née Evans)]], lived.
  * **Patronus:** Her [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]] took the form of a doe. (J.K. Rowling interview). This form was mirrored by [[Severus Snape]]'s Patronus, a testament to his undying love for her.
  * **Wand:** Her wand was ten and a quarter inches long, made of willow, and described as "swishy," making it particularly suitable for [[Charms]] work. (Pottermore).
=====Possessions=====
  * **Wand:** Her willow wand, which was taken by [[Voldemort]] after her death but later recovered.
  * **Letter to Sirius Black:** A fragment of a letter written to [[Sirius Black]] was discovered by Harry at [[12 Grimmauld Place]]. In it, she thanked Sirius for Harry's first birthday present (a toy [[broomstick]]), mentioned their cat, and noted that [[Dumbledore]] was borrowing the [[Invisibility Cloak]].
  * **Photographs:** Harry possessed several moving photographs of his mother, including one of her and James on their wedding day and another of the three of them as a family, which was part of an album given to him by [[Rubeus Hagrid]].
=====Relationships=====
  * **[[James Potter]]:** Her husband and the love of her life. Though she initially disliked him for his arrogance at [[Hogwarts]], she grew to love him after he matured. They were partners in the [[Order of the Phoenix]] and died together protecting their son.
  * **[[Harry Potter]]:** Her only son. Her love for him was the most powerful force in her life, and her sacrifice defined his destiny. She appeared to him on several occasions after her death: in the [[Mirror of Erised]], as a shade during [[Priori Incantatem]], and through the [[Resurrection Stone]].
  * **[[Severus Snape]]:** Her childhood best friend. Their deep bond was shattered by his attraction to the [[Dark Arts]] and his use of a slur against her. His unrequited love for Lily motivated his entire life after her death, leading him to protect Harry and act as a double agent for [[Dumbledore]].
  * **[[Petunia Dursley (née Evans)]]:** Her older [[Muggle]] sister. Their relationship was fractured by Petunia's jealousy of Lily's magical abilities. Despite their estrangement, Petunia's decision to take Harry in was crucial for maintaining the magical protection Lily's sacrifice provided.
  * **[[Sirius Black]] & [[Remus Lupin]]:** Close friends from her [[Hogwarts]] days and fellow members of the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Sirius was chosen to be Harry's godfather, and her letter to him shows a warm, familiar friendship.
=====Etymology=====
  * **Lily:** The lily flower is a powerful symbol in many cultures, often representing purity, love, innocence, and rebirth. Specifically, the white lily is associated with funerals and the concept of the soul's restored innocence after death, which perfectly reflects her pure-hearted sacrifice and her role as a spiritual protector.
  * **Evans:** A very common Welsh surname derived from the given name Evan, which is the Welsh form of John. The name John comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious."
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * J.K. Rowling has confirmed that Lily's [[Patronus]] was a doe and James's was a stag, making them soulmates. [[Severus Snape]]'s doe Patronus was a direct reflection of his love for her. (J.K. Rowling interview).
  * In the film adaptations of the series, the adult Lily Potter is portrayed by Geraldine Somerville. As a teenager and child, she is played by Susie Shinner and Ellie Darcey-Alden, respectively. (film).
  * The film version of //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2// includes a scene, taken from Snape's memories, where he discovers the bodies of James and Lily at [[Godric's Hollow]]. He is shown cradling Lily's body in grief, an emotional moment that was implied but not explicitly detailed in the novel. (film).