I also got the impression that they were famous before they died.

I'm just wondering... why did Harry never ask Sirius, Remus or Dumbledore what were his parents occupations? I mean, being in his position, that would have been one of the first things I'd have asked.

I sure with all the other crazy stuff going on with or around Harry he never had the chance to ask those questions.

We'll have to wait until book 7 to find out the importance of what Lily & James did for a living.

Based on their ages they wouldn't of had time to complete very much formal training after they graduated from Hogwarts.

James and Lily graduated from Hogwarts in 1978.
They married shortly after 1978.
Harry was born July 31, 1980.
James and Lily died October 31, 1981.

According to Professor McGonagall, to be accepted for Auror training, one has to have a minimum of five N.E.W.T.s (and no grade lower than "Exceeds Expectations") in subjects such as Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms and Herbology. Then, prospective Aurors are required to undergo a stringent series of character and aptitude tests to show they react well under pressure and have very high skills in practical defence. Once accepted Aurors must train extensively in advanced magical fighting, and must have excellent academic credentials before they are accepted on a rigorous training program (which normally lasts three years). They might have been in training but would not have been full fledge Aurors or any other MoM job for that matter.

This information combined with the facts that James had inheritied a large sum of money from his family, both James and Lily were members of the Order and fighting in the frist war, it is unlikely that either of them had a job outiside of the Order. They both worked for the Order full time.

However, that could be the importance that we will learn in book 7. Lily & James defied Voldemort 3 times before he targeted them that night in Godric's Hollow.

The ways that Lily & James thrice defied Voldemort is the important information Harry will learn. This information will help him defeat Voldie in the end. Why else would JKR have kept this information a seceret soo long??

nice info....I happen to think that they might have worked for Dumbledore....who knows what secret businesses Dumbledore could have.....and i'm not talking about a job at your local sock shop! LOL

I agree with everything you wrote, i have nothing more to add

I think they were Aurors.Bcoz they had left harry quite a fortune.they were very famous people nd they were important.

Yes, but I think that either one or both of the parents were Aurors.

Hmmm, Ive always wondered what they did, but quite frankly Im stumped.
I thought it was something to do with the Order.. but thats not really an occupation is it?? Maybe something to do with the Department of Mysteries... but I couldnt really imagine them working at the MoM.. now Im confusing myself. Like I said.. Im stumped.

I agree Lily must have been an unspeakable, but James is a mystery. We know his wand was good for transfiguring and that he was an unregistered animalgus. I don't think he was an auror in training because this ability would have been uncovered during training. I'm sure what ever he did, Sirius was his partner. If we knew what Sirius did, we could figure out out James. I don't think James worked solely for the order, because even the members of the order turned on Sirius after the event in the street. I do agree it had to do something with tracking the dark arts, because they surely came to the attention of LV. If they were undercover in LV's organization, a lot of questions would be answered, but would Snape or Malfoy have known this? I think the hatred between Snape and Sirius escalated after they left Hogwarts, because Sirius blamed Snape for the death of James because he felt Snape had found out that James and Sirius were deep undercover for the order and betrayed him, not knowing Snape was also undercover. As support for this theory I offer the following: 1. Lupin said the difference between Harry and James is that James would do things just for the adventure. 2. This would explain why DD trusted Snape unconditionally. 3. LV had to know about about the existance of James, because he had been thrice defied. 4. Peter would have followed James and Sirius anywhere and thus had the opportunity to betray them. 5. Sirius, because of his lineage, could easily have been recruited as a Death Eater.

Yeah, ^ I agree, because they were working for the Order and they were very intelligent people.

I'd say it wouldnt be a job at the ministry, maybe something different..any ideas?

yup! We know for sure that they both worked for the order!

Harrys paraents were full time members of the OOTP and as they were only 21 when they died, I dount they would have had any other jobs.
They must have inherited the large amount of gold themselves because the OOTP is a volentry program.

I dont think it matters how they got their money.... I think its a good way to leave our minds wandering. I think JK purpose ly did that so we could form our own parts of the book. It is a great mystery though, unless it told us, we just dont remember.

Yeah, it's obvious their occupations aren't important to the story, as they haven't been mentioned.

I think they didn't have time to train to become Aurors seeing as they died so soon after leaving school. I think they just inherited the money from family and were fully committed to the order and keeping their family alive.

I really didn't think they had jobs and if they did i think they would have had muggle jobs for some reason :]

James was a pure blood and inherited a lot of money which according to JK he wouldn't have had a well paid job cos he had so much money. With Lily I don't know, she was smart good in potions. Maybe she was the potion's professor before Snape after Slughorn retired.

Lily was an Unspeakable and James was the best auror ever!