DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.

The next day, classes went on as usual. However, one particular student, normally one of the most attentive in potions and very studious, could not wait for that day of classes to end. Yet he dreaded it at the same time. He was so afraid of what would happen when it was time to apologize to Lily and explain everything.

"Will she forgive me? Will she not? What if she screams at me and says she won't accept me? What will I do?" Such thoughts kept on oscillating through Severus Snape's mind. As far as he was concerned, there was no joining Voldemort for him, but what if everyone turned on him and he became friendless. Who would support him when he needed it?

Finally, classes came to an end, and with great trepidation, Snape proceeded to the lake, hoping to find Lily and apologize, even if his worst enemy James Potter was with her. He had decided that it didn't matter whether or not James was there. They were in love anyway.

By the side of the lake, near an oak tree, James and Lily stood holding each other's hands. They looked so happy together. The Head Boy and the Head Girl, who had once not been close at all, were now very close to each other, in love; something that wouldn't have happened if not for a sense of responsibility.

James Potter had once been a spoilt bully. Being the only child of Fleamont Potter and Euphemia Potter who were considered old even in the wizarding world, he had been pampered and petted too much and had become a spoilt brat as a result. He and his best friend Sirius Black would often bully Severus Snape, often pushing him down and calling him mean names such as 'Snivellus'. The worst thing he had done was to suspend him in midair, threatening to take of his pants during their O.W.L.s when Snape had been studying by the side of the lake. He had always been interested in Lily, but she had always despised him because he was such an arrogant person.

However, when it was time for his sixth year, James had taken it as an opportunity to grow up and mature. He had utilized the year as best as he could. Although his silly prankster side had not left him and would never leave him, he had completely stopped being a bully, realizing how wrong he had been. In fact, he had become so responsible that at the start of his seventh year, Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts had even made him Head Boy.

Looking back upon his life, James knew that Lily would never have fallen in love with him had he not stopped being a bully and had not matured. He felt that he had finally gotten the most beautiful woman in the world and was happy to change any flaw for her.

And then James saw an all too familiar figure making his way up to them.

Severus Snape, seeing Lily and James standing by the lake, walked briskly towards them, his heart full of fear. Just as he was one foot away from them, James whipped out his wand in his hand and shouted, "Stay away from her Snivellus!"

To James' wonder, Snape stopped where he was, threw his own wand down and knelt on the ground on his knees. Turning to James, Snape curtly said, "This is between Lily and me. Please step aside." James angrily responded, "No way! I'm not going to stand by and watch you call her a Mudblood or some such thing!"

Suddenly, Lily raised her hand and shouted, "WAIT! James, let him say what he wants to say." Turning to Snape, she coldly asked, "What do you want Severus? Say it." Severus folded his hands, bowed his head and spoke, "Lily, I was wrong to call you a Mudblood that day, whether I meant it or not. I realize now that I was around the wrong people for too long. I don't expect you to consider me as your best friend or anything. All I ask is for your forgiveness and to be able to speak to you as a friend."

Lily, still maintaining her cold expression said, "Can I really trust you Severus? I know you still hang out with your little Death Eater friends like Avery and Mulciber. You can't wait to join You-Know-Who or rather, Voldemort, can you? But you expect me to forgive you just like that and leave James, is it? You're mistaken then."

Severus was now pleading loudly, "Lily, I am no longer interested in joining the dark lord. And I do not consider Avery and Mulciber as my friends anymore. I will not hang out with such people ever again! Please Lily, PLEASE FORGIVE ME!"

Lily looked at him for a long time, her expression becoming slightly softer. Suddenly, James said, "Lily, Snape is probably up to something. I think this is a trick!" Lily raised her hand to silence James before he could say anymore. She then turned to Snape and slowly but still coldly said, "Can I really believe that Severus? If you were so repentant, why did you have to wait for one whole year? How do I know that this isn't some kind of trick to lure me into some trap, just like all those other muggleborns that you all bully? I really don't know if I can forgive you Severus."

Severus looked up at Lily, fighting the urge to cry. He slowly said in a voice filled with pain, "I understand. I should have renounced them long ago. I only pray that tomorrow, day after tomorrow, someday, you will forgive me." With that, he turned and walked away from them slowly and sadly.

James, after hearing all this was quite suspicious. He thought, "I will spy on him using my invisibility cloak and find out what's happening. If he has any sinister plan for my Lily flower, I'll make sure that he pays for it." Thinking so, he gave Lily a hug and sat by her side by the lake until it was time to go back to the castle.

That evening, Severus did not eat anything apart from a slice of bread and a little soup. He was too heartbroken to eat or drink properly. He sat away from his Slytherin friends as far as possible, hoping to prove himself to Lily in some way or the other. After dinner was over, Severus started his walk to the Slytherin common room.

Just as he stepped into a corridor not frequented by many students at this time of the night, he was accosted by two familiar figures, Avery and Mulciber. They went up to him, intending to speak with him. Severus tried to avoid them, but couldn't.

Just then, Avery spoke up, "Hey Snape! What happened to you?! You've been looking dejected all day, and you tried to apologize to a Mudblood that hates you." Snape retorted, "Do not use that word! She's just upset. It'll be fine." Mulciber spoke up, "Hey Snape! Why on earth would you apologize to a Mudblood who's not even worth it?! Come on! We're your friends. We'll help you out."

Severus Snape loudly declared, "Lily is the smartest and kindest witch that I have known since childhood. And don't think about her worth, because you'll never be as smart as her! And don't you dare call my friend a Mudblood! It is wrong!"

Avery tried to explain, "Severus, when we join the Dark Lord, he'll truly appreciate your skills more than anyone else ever has! We'll be able to join him soon. And now, you want to repair your relationship with a mudblood who's going out with the person who bullied you?!"

Severus knew that Avery was referring to James Potter. Oh, how he hated him for years of bullying. But at least he was not a pureblood fanatic. Snape had the sense to know that much. He then said, "I know that. But he is not the reason our friendship was damaged. You all are. For years, you all influenced me in the wrong way, and made me disrespect muggleborns and that's the reason I ended up calling Lily a mudblood that day. But now, I have realized my mistake and I'm going to make up for it. I WILL NEVER JOIN THE DARK LORD, NEVER!"

Then lowering his voice he said, "And all those who wish to join him, you two especially, are no longer my friends."

Mulciber's expression suddenly became hateful and he asked him, "Is this your final decision? To betray us all? Go back to your mudblood?"

Severus responded, "Yes. And she is a smart witch so don't you dare call her a mudblood. It's over between us."

Severus turned to walk away. He heard a snarl behind him but ignored it. Suddenly, Mulciber shouted, "Then take this! Furnunculus!"

Severus whipped out his wand and managed to deflect the spell, but was hit by another Furnunculus spell cast simultaneously by Avery. As Snape reeled in pain, Avery and Mulciber instantly pushed him onto the ground and began to pummel him with their fists.

"How do you like that?! That's what you deserve you traitor!" shouted Avery as he punched Severus in his face and stomach. Snape tried to free himself, but Mulciber shouted, "Incarcerous", instantly binding him with ropes, and continued to beat him with eyes full of hate.

Just as he was about to punch Snape on the nose, where a large boil was located, he was suddenly thrown back even as a figure came into view and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Avery turned towards the source of the voice to find a positively livid James Potter standing over him crying out, "Levicorpus!" and was instantly suspended in midair.

"Liberacorpus!" said James and Avery fell onto the floor on his back.

"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU BULLY A STUDENT LIKE THAT! NO, THIS WASN'T JUST BULLYING! HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!" bellowed James as he looked at the pair furiously. He then said, "As the head boy, I will not tolerate bullying. I was a mean belligerent bully once but I am no longer so! Fifty points from Slytherin for such action! I will make sure Professor Dumbledore hears of this."

Turning to Snape, James slung his arm under him and helped him up. Holding his arm around him and placing Severus' arm around his shoulders in order to support him, he said, "I'll get you to the hospital wing right now. Just hold onto me."

James walked Severus Snape all the way to the hospital wing, holding him on his shoulder throughout.

Little did both students know how much this incident would change their lives forever.