Chapter V

Apoligies

((Lily's POV))

December came with six inches of snow. The castle looked like a winter palace, all frosted and glazed, planted in a blanket of sparkling snow. Two weeks before the end of term was another Hogsmeade visit, and the school was bubbling over with excitement.

James and I hadn't talked since I had yelled at him, and I was thankful that he was keeping out of my life. I was a little regretful that I had yelled at him in the first place, also. I kept pushing the thought into the back of my mind every time it disturbed me, saying to myself, Well, he was being an arrogant prat, so you had every right to tell him off like that. Guilt still tugged at me, but maybe a Hogsmeade visit would cheer me up. There was no way I was going to apologize to James.

Pansy, Rose, and I loaded up on more sweets at Honeydukes, and I also bought a new quill, some parchment, and a couple of ink bottles. I kept running out; perhaps I was a bit too dedicated to my Charms homework. It was, after all, my favorite class.

In the Three Broomsticks, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were sitting at a table near ours. James looked a little sullen, forcing laughs to all of the jokes the others were making. I put my head in my hand and prodded the table with a finger.

"What's the matter with you?" Rose asked, watching me. "Does it have to do with James? And your little spat?"

I nodded.

"Just apologize to him, then!" Pansy said in exasperation, gulping down some more butterbeer. "You're just a stubborn, hot-headed redhead."

I glowered at her. "I am not apologizing to him for telling him he was being cocky! It's his own fault that he can't get off his high horse and be sincere with me." I slammed my butterbeer down on the table, receiving a reproachful look from some Slytherin fourth years.

"But he is sincere with you," Rose said in a small voice.

"You have to give him credit for trying," Pansy put in. "He just lost it that night, is all. You shouldn't have tackled him for it."

I sighed, removing my arm and allowing my head to fall onto the other arm. "I guess you're right. I'll wait until after the holidays, when he'll be more willing to forgive me."

"He'll always be willing to forgive you, Lily," Rose reminded me.

A week before the end of term, Professor McGonagall was passing around a clipboard that we had to sign if we wanted to stay for the holidays. I declined; my mother and father always wanted me home at Christmas, and mum always made the best Christmas pudding.

Days passed quickly because we had fun in classes. The teachers were excited about the holidays as well, and weren't stressing over N.E.W.T.s like they usually were. In Flitwick's classes, we just took turns levitating each other around the room.

Finally, it was time to board the Hogwarts Express.

I passed James in the Entrance Hall, but he didn't look at me. I shrugged and walked on, out to the horseless carriages and to the Hogsmeade train station.

((My POV))

James and Lily went to their homes and celebrated Christmas and the New Year. Lily ate loads of Christmas pudding. She didn't get fat though, because she also spent the whole of Christmas Eve morning chucking snowballs at Petunia's window.

So, in conclusion, they had loads of fun. And lots of snow. I am describing this in a brief matter because I am the author and I have control over this story, and also because this is a James/Lily fic, and you don't really want to read about what goes on when they're not at Hogwarts.

((Lily's POV))

We all came back a little reluctantly, everyone else more so than I was. Petunia's boyfriend, Vernon, came over for Christmas lunch, and he nearly made me sick. My parents hadn't told him I was a witch yet, and Petunia definitely wasn't going to tell him. Their relationship must have been getting serious, because I once walked in on them kissing in front of the fire in the living room.

We all got out of the horseless carriages and into the castle. I stayed back, trying only halfheartedly to troop everyone in a little more quickly. Finally, James and I were the only ones left.

"James—" I called as I walked through the Entrance Hall doors. He was already halfway to the marble staircase, and upon hearing my voice, he turned around and walked back.

"You called me James," he said in a dazed sort of voice.

I opened my mouth to utter a sarcastic comment, and then closed it again. "Er—sorry. I meant to call you Potter."

"Maybe," he said with a smile, taking a step closer. I took a step backwards in turn. "But I don't mind."

I nodded, grinning crookedly. "Well, I just—just wanted to apoligize for yelling at you after the Quidditch match. It was really rude of me, and—and you played very well."

He smiled again. "It's no problem. I was being a—what word do you like to use?—git."

"Well, maybe a little," I said, smiling. "But I would too if I had caught the Snitch that quickly!"

And we discussed Quidditch tactics all the way up to the Fat Lady.

A/N: Review, please!