Harry's Parents: The Other Big Book 4 Discussion (spoiler)
by Jemima Steptoe
There has been a LOT of discussion round and about on the order in which Harry's Parents come out of Voldemort's wand during the climactic battle in Book 4. Supposedly, the wand is regurgitating (ew, can I use that word?) the last several spells it cast, in reverse order. James comes out before Lily, but it has always been implied that James died first, therefore he should have been last out of the wand. Inquiring Minds are now debating whether this means that the deaths of Harry's parents happened somewhat differently than we've been led to believe.
I'm not sure what this is going to mean, but trying to second guess JKR, I think it's more dramatic/emotionally resonant to have Lily be last to appear to Harry - there seems to still be more mystique surrounding her (I feel like we - and Harry - are pretty well acquainted with James after Book 3). So, did JKR go for immediate dramatic impact, and figure she'd clear up the confusion later, or is this part of a vast plot twist yet to come... ? (And people wonder why these books are addictive.)