Personality: Lily is a friendly, open-minded young woman. She doesn't discriminate: 'blood status', species, race, gender, whatever - none of these matter to her. As a muggleborn witch during the time of Voldemort's first rising, she has had a fair amount of experience regarding what it means to be hated for something she couldn't change. Instead of hiding or denying her heritage, she chose to be proud of who she is, which is something she tends to encourage others to do as well.
To her, every person is equal. She is able to see something good in everyone and she would be the last person to deny someone a second - or maybe even third - chance, no matter a person's flaws. As long as she knows that they have their heart in the right place, she will be by their side and defend them fiercely. However, she isn't naive. If a person refuses to change for the better, or willingly changes for the worse, she won't reach out to them forever, she won't take every new lie they tell her, and she will leave them to their own resources eventually. It takes a lot until she gets to that point, but once she's reached it, there's no easy way to go back.
She is a brave woman. This is a statement that requires repeating in her case: she is a very brave woman. She joined the Order of the Phoenix shortly after leaving school, which meant that she was willing to fight wizards and witches who were older and far more experienced in fighting than her - not to mention far more interested in murdering her. She did it because, in her eyes, it was the right thing to do: defending and protecting others, fight back, ending the war as soon as possible. She didn't care about becoming a heroine, her main concern were the people suffering at the Death Eaters' hands. In the end, she had the choice of surrendering her son, which would mean death to the child, or sacrificing herself to save him, and she chose to die. Thus, saying she would do anything for those she loves isn't an overstatement by far. The point the books keep driving home is how the ability to love is Lily's greatest strength, and there is no point in denying that. The people she loves give her strength, they keep her going, and she goes ways to support, help and protect them, it's as simple as that.
However, 'loving' isn't her only skill, and she surely hasn't prevailed in fights against Death Eaters because of it. She is a brilliant witch, highly skilled in potions as well as charms, and, while she isn't an arrogant person per se, she is aware of her talents.
That aside, she isn't all sunshine and rainbows. She can be self-righteous, she can be judgmental, and she often has a hard time accepting other people's opinions when they drift away from hers. While her ideals are all nice and well, she is very set on them and has a hard time simply backing off and letting things be. Accepting as she may be, it wouldn't be impossible for her to judge someone a little too harshly if something they do or say could be tied to something she would call unjust.
While her preferred course of action would seem to be negotiations, she does have a temper. And that shows, occasionally. It isn't entirely impossible that she draws her wand against someone during an argument in anger, but she is unlikely to actually use it unless she is attacked. What is, however, truly likely is her sharp tongue getting her into trouble on such occasions - she has little inclination to keep her opinion to herself. She does know the difference between 'a good time to say what I'm thinking' and 'a bad time to say what I'm thinking', but it is rare that this actually stops her.
As stubborn as she can be in these cases, she isn't prone to risking people's lives. She went willingly into hiding, as it was the only way to keep her child as safe as possible, and it is indicated that she had an easier time dealing with being hidden than James did. Despite her temper, she can remain level-headed, patient - and even optimistic. That doesn't mean she isn't hurt by the messages of loved ones and strangers alike dying on a daily basis, but overall, she focuses on the positive side: that the war will be won eventually and that Voldemort stands on chance in the long run.
As she is taken immediately post-death, she will have a hard time adjusting at first. She just lost her husband (even if only temporarily) and, in a different way, her one-year-old son to boot, which robs her of two of the people she loves most. She is a strong woman, she can take a lot, and she will be able to pull herself together sooner rather than later, but the very beginning of it will not be easy for her.
[CANON] Lily Potter || Harry Potter || Not Reserved.
To her, every person is equal. She is able to see something good in everyone and she would be the last person to deny someone a second - or maybe even third - chance, no matter a person's flaws. As long as she knows that they have their heart in the right place, she will be by their side and defend them fiercely. However, she isn't naive. If a person refuses to change for the better, or willingly changes for the worse, she won't reach out to them forever, she won't take every new lie they tell her, and she will leave them to their own resources eventually. It takes a lot until she gets to that point, but once she's reached it, there's no easy way to go back.
She is a brave woman. This is a statement that requires repeating in her case: she is a very brave woman. She joined the Order of the Phoenix shortly after leaving school, which meant that she was willing to fight wizards and witches who were older and far more experienced in fighting than her - not to mention far more interested in murdering her. She did it because, in her eyes, it was the right thing to do: defending and protecting others, fight back, ending the war as soon as possible. She didn't care about becoming a heroine, her main concern were the people suffering at the Death Eaters' hands. In the end, she had the choice of surrendering her son, which would mean death to the child, or sacrificing herself to save him, and she chose to die. Thus, saying she would do anything for those she loves isn't an overstatement by far. The point the books keep driving home is how the ability to love is Lily's greatest strength, and there is no point in denying that. The people she loves give her strength, they keep her going, and she goes ways to support, help and protect them, it's as simple as that.
However, 'loving' isn't her only skill, and she surely hasn't prevailed in fights against Death Eaters because of it. She is a brilliant witch, highly skilled in potions as well as charms, and, while she isn't an arrogant person per se, she is aware of her talents.
That aside, she isn't all sunshine and rainbows. She can be self-righteous, she can be judgmental, and she often has a hard time accepting other people's opinions when they drift away from hers. While her ideals are all nice and well, she is very set on them and has a hard time simply backing off and letting things be. Accepting as she may be, it wouldn't be impossible for her to judge someone a little too harshly if something they do or say could be tied to something she would call unjust.
While her preferred course of action would seem to be negotiations, she does have a temper. And that shows, occasionally. It isn't entirely impossible that she draws her wand against someone during an argument in anger, but she is unlikely to actually use it unless she is attacked. What is, however, truly likely is her sharp tongue getting her into trouble on such occasions - she has little inclination to keep her opinion to herself. She does know the difference between 'a good time to say what I'm thinking' and 'a bad time to say what I'm thinking', but it is rare that this actually stops her.
As stubborn as she can be in these cases, she isn't prone to risking people's lives. She went willingly into hiding, as it was the only way to keep her child as safe as possible, and it is indicated that she had an easier time dealing with being hidden than James did. Despite her temper, she can remain level-headed, patient - and even optimistic. That doesn't mean she isn't hurt by the messages of loved ones and strangers alike dying on a daily basis, but overall, she focuses on the positive side: that the war will be won eventually and that Voldemort stands on chance in the long run.
As she is taken immediately post-death, she will have a hard time adjusting at first. She just lost her husband (even if only temporarily) and, in a different way, her one-year-old son to boot, which robs her of two of the people she loves most. She is a strong woman, she can take a lot, and she will be able to pull herself together sooner rather than later, but the very beginning of it will not be easy for her.