~Chapter 6~

Lily fumed in Severus' mother's bedroom. She had never felt like this since fifth year, when Severus had called her a Mudblood – the nerve of him! And she had only done him a favor – sticking up for him – and she had done it every single time, sticking up for him – because he was her friend. And this is how he repaid her? This? Calling her Mudblood and part of the plot to kill her husband?

"Ugh!" Lily just wanted to smash something: especially the photographs that hung lopsidedly on the grey-flower-print wall. The grinning, moving woman depicted in the photographs looked too much like Severus. Same hooked nose, same jet-black hair, same sulking look, long pallid face. Carved in the photograph with a blunt quill was, 'Eileen Prince, Captain and Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team.'

'His mother is Eileen Prince,' Lily muttered. 'That explains his old Potions textbook – the one he had covered all over with scribbles of new potions. On the inside cover, it said, 'Property of the Half-Blood Prince. I suppose – he was proud of being half-blood and having the last name Prince. He didn't want anything to do with Muggleborns. He didn't want anything to do with me!'

"I bet his Muggle-born father abused him and his mother. He probably thought wizards and witches were freaks, like Petunia. She probably heard on the – what do you call it – television by now about the house in Godric's Hallow being blown up… She's probably dancing a jig on the front lawn because of the thought that I got blown up." Lily shook her head in disgust.

Lily rubbed her stomach – where the eight-month forming baby was inside. Then, she picked up Harry from the threadbare rug and looked at him. "He's beautiful," Lily cooed. "His feet and arms were so tiny… and his eyes are just like mine."

"Wait, what's this?" she touched Harry's forehead gently. There was a small, lightning-shaped scar. "How did that get there?" she whispered to the baby, tickling the imperfection.

A wrapped box was slipped under her door. There was a small pop as presumably Severus Apparated. To where, she didn't know. She didn't care to find out – let him talk to Dumbledore or the Death Eaters – double agent, indeed.

Lily glanced at the label, 'To Lily Potter, from Severus Snape. Please – just open it at least. You know how much you mean to me – the stars and the moon – more than that. You know how much I valued your friendship – and I only ask to rekindle it. Please, Lily.

Her heart throbbed. She felt warm inside – and her eyes filled with tears. Then she blinked them back; there was no use of crying now. Lily tore apart the package – and saw a small leather picture album, several phials with silvery-white liquid, and a letter.

Opening the album, she saw pictures – pictures that had been cried over, she could see. She could see the tear stains and she saw Severus' loving finger tracing over each and every one of the pictures. Pictures of Severus telling her about Azkaban, pictures of Lily and Severus on the train to Hogwarts, sitting down on the limbs of a tree, smiling, laughing, and in the last picture: 'Friends forever.'

Looking at the phials closely – she saw they were Penseive memories. She looked around Eileen Prince's room – almost no trace of her magical heritage besides the photographs. No Penseive – but she looked at the labels written in ridiculously small handwriting. On several of them, there was, 'First Days at Hogwarts,' on few of them were, 'Life with Lily,' and on only one was, 'My Worst Memory.'

His worst memory. Lily could only imagine what that was. Being humiliated in Hogwarts, maybe? No… Perhaps his worst memory was being with his father – she had heard from many conversations that Severus was abused and tormented by his Muggle father. Still, that would have happened many, many times – she was seeking for one special memory. It struck her.

"Oh! Oh…" The day he called me Mudblood. The day I never forgave him. The day…. She closed her eyes – thinking of so many things that had gone wrong for Severus that day. She regretted never taking his feelings in mind – she regretted calling him a Death Eater and ignoring him even now.

Sighing heavily, she pulled open the letter, written on old, crinkly paper. The paper was old and soggy from tears and the ink had bled through: she could see her name traced many times with a quill.

Dear Lily,

I know that by the time you read this letter, you will think of me with disgust or pity, like most wizards do. Only truly wise ones know my true thoughts – and the truly accepting. One of the many qualities I like about you is that you are stubborn and determined – like many Slytherins. I was surprised when you were sorted into Gryffindor – but now I realize – your heart is pure and noble. As is your husband – I truly regret his death – but it was an honorable sacrifice – he wanted you and Harry to live life fully. I am so sorry that he will not be there to see Harry and your future daughter go to Hogwarts.

When you saw me in the park – a mess of a boy, who was poor and selfish and lived in the horrid part of town – you were kind. Your kindness amazed me – I had never had a friend before – and I was amazed at your magical talent. I had been taught differently – that Muggleborns had no magical talent and did not deserve to attend Hogwarts.

In fifth year, when I called you a Mudblood – I remember I begged for your forgiveness outside the dormitory door. You refused – as any human being would. My insult should not be deserved to be forgiven. So I cried – selfishly. I cried and cried and cried myself to sleep for days and days and days. I didn't realize then – that I shouldn't have taken your friendship for granted. You always stuck up for me – whenever I caused trouble, you defended me – and you gave me your friendship. I valued it, more than anything in the world – but I couldn't realize it then, because I was blind.

The only thing I ask for is your forgiveness, Lily. Please rekindle our friendship – because you mean the moon and the stars to me.

And even though I am a true Slytherin at heart – I do not fit the ideals that Salazar Slytherin designated for his students. I am different. I am unique. Like you are.

Always,

Severus

"I forgive you," Lily whispered, tears dropping onto the letter and into her lap.