Dear Lily,

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for everything, for being a complete arse to you all year, for being a stupid prat in general, but especially for what happened with Snape. If I could change anything in the world it would be what happened that day. I never meant for you to be hurt by what happened, I never meant for you to lose a friend.

I suppose I've always be jealous of Snape, angry that he got to be your friend and I didn't. I'm not afraid to admit that I was a spoiled child and I'm not used to not getting what I want, and I've wanted to be your friend for as long as I can remember. What was worst is that I could never understand why you would want to be his friend, how you could remain friends with him even after he fell in with Mulciber and Rosier, especially after what happened to Mary. But you never owed me an explanation, I wasn't entitled to your friendship and its your choice who you associate with, even though I can't understand how someone as kind and good-hearted as you can stomach being around someone who hangs around with those wretched blood-purist bastards.

I've realized that all the anger and resentment that I've had inside me turned me in to what I hate; someone cruel, someone who takes pleasure in others pain. I know me and my mates have always caused trouble, but I'd like to think that we weren't that, not until this past year at least.

I truly do apologize from the bottom of my heart for the pain I know I've caused you. All I can say is that going forward I'll try to be a better person. Perhaps some day I can make it up to you.

James Potter

James sighed after reading over his latest attempt at an apology to Lily Evans. Much better than his previous attempts, but he still didn't think that it was worded as elegantly as he would have liked. Whenever it came to Lily Evans it seemed he was either completely tongue tied or acted like a prat. He'd never meet anyone else who got him flustered like she did.

Maybe this letter could set things right between them, or at least begin to set things right. He wasn't naïve enough to think that after everything that had happened the past year Lily would be willing forgive and forget after a letter in the post.

He wished he'd said something before they had left for summer, shown her how sorry he was for what happened. But after that day by the lake she'd done her very best to avoid him, and he hadn't wanted to push the issue for fear of suffering even more of her wrath.

James was interrupted from his thoughts on Lily by movement to his left. He looked over to see Sirius leaning against his door frame.

"Done wallowing Prongs?"

James frowned "I'm not wallowing Padfoot, just thinking." Sirius snorted and shook his head "Will, if this is how 'thinking' makes you try not to do it too often. I don't know how much more of this moping I can take."

James let his eyes drift away from Sirius and back towards the letter on his desk. "I'll try to make sure it doesn't become a habit. Is there something you wanted?"

Seeing that his friend didn't seem likely to brighten up he got to the point. "I'm leaving" seeing James' confused look he continued "Going to Moony's remember"

"Ah, that. I didn't realize you were leaving today. Will, have a good time" a smirked appeared on James' face "and try not to cause too much trouble." Sirius gave him a matching smirk. "Me? Cause trouble? Prongs if I didn't know better I'd say you didn't know me at all. I'm the closest thing to an angel in all Britain!"

James snorted. "Right, will I'll see you in a week."

Sirius nodded and started to walk out of the room when he stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"And James? Send her the bloody letter already"

James turned to him with a confused look on his face. "I thought you didn't think there was anything to apologize for, change of heart?

"No, I just know that sending that letter is the only thing that will put an end to your current mood, and I want it over by the time I'm back." When he saw James rolling his eyes at that he continued "I mean it! No more moping, I'm sick of it." With that he walked away and left James to his thoughts again.

James picked up the letter and read it over again and deciding that it was probably as good as it was going to be threw it in an envelope and left his room to get Icarus. Sirius was, for once, right. He needed to get that letter in the mail if he was ever going to get out of this funk. Now all he could do was hope that the girl receiving it could find it in her heart to forgive him.