A/N: Thank you guys so much for reviewing! This is my first attempt at fanfic, and I was worried that no one would enjoy the story. ^^; So thank you for reassuring me and motivating me to continue.

Chapter Two

Cauldrons

The following night found the infamous Marauders doing decidedly menial work-- scrubbing frog guts out of the cauldrons in the Potions dungeon, to be precise. James would have almost preferred hanging from the ceiling in chains the way Filch had kept threatening.

"It was not my fault," Sirius announced, pausing to push back his hair, then grimacing upon realizing he'd just got frog innards in it.

James, personally, felt he quite deserved it. "Yes, it was. It was your idea."

"But you all went along with it! You're as guilty as I am."

Remus sighed, leaning back and wiping off his forehead. "Whoever's fault it was doesn't matter. You know, James, you're lucky you haven't lost your Head Boyship by now, what with everything we've done."

"I know, I know..."

"So," said Sirius. "I was thinking about the next stage of the plan, and--"

"What?" James cut in, horrified, and dropped his sponge. "You're saying you haven't given up on this yet?"

"Of course not!" Sirius looked highly affronted, and James understood why. When Sirius took it into his head to accomplish something, he'd let no power on earth stop him. Not even Filch and frog guts and failures, apparently. "I am your Official Romantic Advisor, after all. I refuse to stop until I see results, preferably of the snoggy variety."

"You really are an ARSE," Remus observed. Peter snickered.

"So, anyway, I was thinking about what we were talking about the other day, how Evans still sees you as a git."

"Mm-hmm," James replied tersely. No matter what Sirius came up with, he wasn't going along with it this time.

"And I thought that the serenade, romantic as it was, didn't really show her the nicer side of yourself."

"That's true," Remus said thoughtfully, picking frog out from under his fingernails. "What you should do is something that shows her that you've changed over the past couple of years."

"I guess," James said. "But how would I go about doing that?"

The group lapsed into silence for a moment as they pondered this, scrubbing the cauldrons absently. Finally, Peter offered timidly, "Maybe you could apologize to Snape."

James and Sirius choked.

"Please tell me you're joking," James said. "There's no way that I'm going to apologize to that greasy little toad. Wouldn't do it for a thousand Galleons."

"Me neither," said Sirius, eyeing Peter with alarm. "Showing her he's changed is one thing, but apologizing to Snivelly? Isn't that a little... drastic?"

"It's perfect," said Remus, and their heads swivelled as one to stare at him. "Well, think about it. Do you remember that day by the lake, after our Charms O.W.L.? Lily was furious about what you did to Snape, James. After that day, she seemed to hate you even more. If you apologized for it-- in front of Lily, of course-- she'd have no choice but to see you've matured."

James' scrubbing arm slowed and he stared into the depths of the frog-coated cauldron without really seeing it. It made sense, really. Remus did have a gift for putting things into perspective. Would it really be that bad, apologizing to Snape? Sure, it would be rather embarrassing, but if it had the added effect of causing Lily to see him in a new light, well... It certainly seemed worth it. And with that, he nodded firmly, glancing up at his companions, who were watching him over the rims of their own cauldrons. "I'll do it."

"Prongs, no," Sirius groaned. "As your Advisor, I have to advise you against this. The Slytherins will never let us live it down."

James gave him a level look. "Maybe not, but... who cares? I'm sick of this rivalry with them. I'm sick of being immature, I'm sick of caring what they think. Let them be amused or whatever. Does it really matter, in the end?"

They all stared at him. Finally, Remus exhaled, shaking his head with an expression like a proud parent. "Prongs, my boy, I do believe you're growing up."

James ignored this. He was busy thinking. "How," he said slowly, "can we make sure that Lily's in the right place at the right time so that she witnesses the apology?"

"Easy," Sirius said, who, seeing that James was definitely going along with the plan by now, seemed to have figured it was easier to join in than protest. "It will be even more amazing if you do it in front of a big group of people, right? So why not do it tomorrow at breakfast?"

"In the Great Hall?" Peter said, his eyes wide.

"Why not?" Sirius replied cheerfully. "If you're gonna do a thing, may as well do it properly. What do you say, Prongs?"

James nodded. "All right. Tomorrow morning it is." He tried to ignore the twisting feeling in his stomach at the thought of Snape's pale little face when he apologized. Apparently, he realized sourly, he did still care what the Slytherins thought a little, at least. Oh well. As long as it was for Lily, he would have to swallow his pride and just do it.

* * * * *

"Hurry up, Prongs."

"Shut up," James mumbled to Sirius. The four them were seated at the Gryffindor table, the Hall filled with the usual drone of voices that marked each morning at Hogwarts. Breakfast was quickly coming to a close, though, and he still hadn't done it.

He had barely eaten at all. He had spent most of the morning so far staring fixedly across the room at Snape, who was seated by himself at the Slytherin table, absently shoveling toast into his mouth while going over some paper or another. He still couldn't quite dredge up the nerve to make his way over there to apologize, but Sirius was right-- he had to hurry. He didn't have much time left.

"Okay," he muttered, gathering himself and rising slowly. "Okay, I'm gonna do it." Peter gave him an encouraging grin and Sirius clapped and cheered softly. Remus waved a makeshift flag, a napkin attached to a toothpick, which said 'Go Prongs!'

Taking a deep breath, he started to march over to the Slytherin table. Lily looked up as he passed, and he gave her a smile. She scowled in return, but at least she was watching.

The entire Great Hall seemed to fall into silence, an awed hush coming over the room as he strode across it. It was understandable; The rivalry between the Marauders and Snape and his gang was well-known. What did it mean that James was approaching the Slytherins?

"Sni-- Severus," he said formally once within earshot. Snape's greasy head jerked up and his hand flew, automatically it seemed, to his robes pocket to clutch at his wand. He didn't remove it, though; he shot a narrow-eyed glance at the staff table before shifting his glare back to James. "What are you doing?" he hissed. Again, understandable. The only time James had ever approached Snape was to hex him, but by unspoken rule neither dared do it in the Great Hall, in front of the teacher's eyes.

James cleared his throat and glanced at Lily. She was watching, as were most of the students. He raised his voice slightly so it would carry to her. "Do you remember that day in fifth year? After the Charms O.W.L.?"

Snape's eyes narrowed even further. Obviously, it wasn't a very fond memory for him. "What are you getting at, Potter?"

"Well, I wanted to..." He had to stop and swallow.

From across the hall, Sirius' voice, pitched low, reached him: "Do it, Prongs! For Lilmmphh!" That last was muffled as Remus hurriedly clamped a hand over Sirius' mouth. James glanced uneasily at Lily; She hadn't seemed to notice that little interruption, and was still watching James with mistrust written clearly in her features even from across the room. She thought he was going to do something mean again, it seemed. James' resolve firmed. He turned back to Snape.

"I wanted to apologize. What I did that day was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Dead silence. Somewhere in the room a fork clattered to the floor, and James detected no movement from the corner of his eye that might suggest someone picking it up. No, everyone was quite still, staring transfixed at James and Snape. Even the teachers.

For a moment, Snape looked quite as gob smacked as the rest of the room. He quickly regained his equilibrium, though, a delighted sneer spreading across his face. James clenched his fists at his sides to keep from punching him, the smug git. "Are you, now...?" Snape murmured.

"Yes," he replied stoically. "It was unnecessarily cruel and immature of me, so... I'm sorry."

A hushed babble broke out over the room, and one of the Slytherins burst into laughter. "Oh, this is priceless," she said, staring at James as if he were on display in the circus. More of the Slytherins began to titter, and Snape stood slowly. The two of them stared expressionlessly at one another for a moment.

"Tell you what, Potter," he said finally, a malicious smirk now on his face. "I'll forgive you, if you be my servant."

James blinked uncomprehendingly. "What?"

"You heard me. Carry my books, things of that nature. I'd ask you to do my homework for me, but you have all the intelligence of a troll, so I think I'll let you off of that."

James made a momentous effort to reign in his temper. "Sorry, Snivellus, but I don't think I want your forgiveness quite that badly." In fact, he added inwardly, he didn't want it at all. All he wanted was Lily's approval.

"Oh, come now, Potter. It won't be so bad. Here-- let's try your first task. Bark like a dog."

"What's wrong with barking like a dog?" Sirius' voice, quiet though it was, carried easily across the mostly-silent hall.

"I am not barking for you, you slimy little prat."

"Come on, it's not that hard. Why, it would even be considerably more intelligent than most of the things that come out of your mouth."

"Why are you being so petty?" James growled. This was not going well. He had to leave, now, or risk losing his temper, which would undo anything he'd managed to accomplish. He glanced again at Lily.

Snape caught this, it seemed, with characteristic Slytherin shrewdness, and gave a harsh laugh. "Oh, so that's why you're doing this, is it? I suppose it was too much to hope that you'd really grown up at all. No, your 'apology' was for an entirely selfish reason. And you know, it's hopeless, Potter. She's never going to give in. For a Gryffindor Mudblood, she has a reasonable amount of intellect, and no one in their right mind would be attracted to you. May as well give it up, Potter." He leaned in, his eyes shining with malevolence and amusement, and finished, in a deadly soft voice, "She hates you."

James punched him.

"James, no!" came Remus' strangled voice over the sudden yells and shrieks, as well as Sirius' excited cry of, "Yeah! Kill the oily git!" James was barely aware of these things; They were pushed to the background by the sound of the blood rushing and his heart pounding in his ears. Who needed a wand, really? he mused vaguely, finding savage glee in the way his fist connected solidly with Snape's jaw again and again. Really, this way was much more satisfying.

And then he was quite suddenly flying backwards away from Snape, coming to land on his feet a few meters away. He blinked-- he couldn't move an inch. It was as if he had been plunged into thick jelly.

"Disgraceful!" said a decidedly familiar voice. McGonagall was striding down the row between the tables, wand held out towards James, and obviously in a towering fury. "Absolutely disgraceful!"

"Hey, James," called Sirius. "I think that this stage of the plan may have failed."

* * * * *

Except that it hadn't really. That evening, as James was directed by Filch towards twenty or so cauldrons thick with salamander innards, Lily Evans sulkily shambled into the room. He blinked, staring perplexedly as Filch thrust a sponge into her hands and left with a promise that they would be very sorry if the cauldrons weren't spotless upon his return.

"What are you doing here?" James asked, ignoring this threat.

"Detention, same as you," she said, rolling her eyes. She plopped down in front of the cauldron furthest from the one James was working on and began scrubbing, eyes determinedly fixed on anything but James.

"What did you do?"

Her face reddened slightly. "None of your business."

He gave an exasperated sigh. "Come on. Just tell me."

"No."

"Okay, then." Deliberately, James picked up his gut-soaked sponge and threw it at her. The moment it left his hand, he was horrified-- what was he thinking!? Lily, not watching him, didn't even realize he'd done it until it hit her in the forehead with a wet splat.

She let out a shriek of rage and before he could even get out an apology, she'd risen, strode across the room, pushed him over, sat on him, and shoved her own sponge into his face. He sputtered, squirming with a mixture of shock and disgust. Finally, she appeared to take mercy on him, and rose. He wiped the gunk from his mouth and glasses, rising to a sitting position and glaring up at her. She was standing over him, fists planted on hips in a decidedly triumphant way.

"That was disgusting!" he said, yet at the same time was surprised to realize he was laughing. In fact, the corners of Lily's mouth were twitching, too.

"Well, it served you right," she replied loftily.

"I suppose it did, at that," he said. He heaved a sigh. "It's just that you're so frustrating! You barely speak to me."

She studied him for a long moment, so long in fact that James began to shift nervously under the intensity of her gaze. Until he realized just how gorgeous she looked like that, those brilliant emerald eyes of hers narrowed fiercely, and he lost himself in gazing back at her.

Finally, she tore her gaze away from him and stalked back to her cauldron. "I got detention for yelling at Snape during Arithmancy," she said quietly. "I may not like you, but you did apologize, and I think he was being really awful acting that way back to you."

James blinked. "Oh."

They spent the rest of the detention in companionable silence.