Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and I never will. If I did, I wouldn't be posting this on fanfiction; I'd be actually publishing this into a book!

Ch.3

Forgive and Forget?

Words fall out of my mouth

And I can't seem to trace what I'm saying

Everybody wants your time

I'm just dreaming out loud,

I can't have you for mine and I know it

I just wanna watch you shine.

Saving Jane: Come Down to Me

Lily slid the compartment door closed and plopped down on the seat. She folded her arm and stared suspiciously at Snape.

"Well?" she said, trying to keep all emotion from her voice. "Why are you talking to me after I specifically told you not to?" Lily narrowed her eyes. "If you're here to warn me about Potter again…"

"No, it's not that," Snape replied quickly.

"What is it then?" Lily glanced down at her watch. "Alice is expecting me back in our compartment and I have patrolling duties."

"I-I want to apologize for everything that has happened," Snape began nervously. "I was a total git and you were right about everything, including my …friends. We're…not friends anymore."

Lily's face softened a bit when he apologized but she did not uncross her arms.

"Will you forgive me?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Lily paused, her face suspicious. "Why are you apologizing now? It's been almost a year since…the incident," her voice trailed off.

Snape scratched his head thoughtfully. "It's our last year," he replied finally, "and I want to start over."

He looked questionably at Lily but her face remained stony. "Look I don't expect us to best friends again, but I do wish you wouldn't hate me so," Snape told her quietly.

"I don't hate you," Lily said stiffly, though her expression proved otherwise. She sighed loudly. "You know I couldn't possibly hate you. We've known each other since forever."

"So, do you forgive me?" Snape asked, his voice filled with hope.

Lily looked out the window while Snape's eyes darted around the room anxiously.

"Okay yeah, I guess I forgive you," Lily replied at last, a tiny smile creeping on her face. Snape sighed in relief.

"But that doesn't mean I will forget everything that happened between us. You can't expect me to act like nothing happened," Lily stated. Snape opened his mouth, but Lily cut him off, "and don't you dare ask me if we can start over as friends." Snape closed his mouth, looking slightly disappointed.

"Let's just act normal," Lily decided. "We will never be best friends again but we don't have to avoid each other."

Snape agreed solemnly.

"EVANS! Wait…I mean LILY!" A voice called from outside the compartment. Lily rolled her eyes and opened the door only to find James staring at her, outside.

"Evans!" James said in surprise then corrected himself. "I meant, Lily."

Lily frowned. "Why are you calling me 'Lily', Potter?"

"Lily Potter, I like that!" James grinned at her but stopped at her deadly glare. He shrugged and answered her question. "Remus thought it might be more polite to call you by your first name."

He peered around her, into the compartment. "Is that Snape in there with you?" James said incredulously. "What's Snivellus doing with you? I thought you hated him."

"Well, that's between Lils and me," Snape drawled out as he exited the compartment. Lily frowned at the casual use of her nickname but said nothing. James looked livid.

"You stay away from her!" James snarled.

"What if I don't?" he replied lazily, clearly relishing in James's fury.

"Why you insolent-!" James pointed his wand at Snape's throat.

"POTTER!" Lily screamed as she smacked him on his head. "Don't you dare threaten him!" James lowered his wand, a sheepish expression on his face. "And you!" Lily turned on Snape. "Stop picking fights!" Lily gave both of them a glowering look and stormed off, fuming. "Bloody gits…they will never change," she muttered under her breath.

"Hey, hey! EVANS! WAIT UP!" James ran after her, leaving a very annoyed Snape in his wake. He caught up to her and started wheezing. "Listen…I….need…to talk to…" He took a deep breath, "…you."

"The hell you are," Lily ignored his protests and continued her search for Alice. James, seeing that she was about to walk away, grabbed her arm. "Let go!" She struggled but she was no match against James. "What do you want?" she asked him, thoroughly irked.

"Your forgiveness," he answered simply while Lily gaped at him.

"Why is it that everyone wants that from me?" she wondered out loud while James looked confused. "And no, Potter, I will never forgive you. Now let go of me."

"Not unless you say you forgive me!" James held on tight.

"Now that's not the most clever strategy, is it now Prongs?" Sirius smirked from behind them. "If you want Evans to forgive you, I highly recommend that you don't abuse her."

"I'm not abusing her," James said darkly, glaring at his best mate. Lily's face was slowly turning red and her arm (which James' had a tight grip on) was beginning to bruise.

"Huh, of course you aren't," Sirius observed dryly, "and that's why Evan's arm looks like a Picasso painting." James dropped Lily's arm quickly and saw, to his evident horror, that Sirius was right. Lily's arm was a mixture of green, purple, and blue. Lily swore under her breathe and immediately healed it with a flick of her wand. She slowly turned her furious gaze to James.

James back away slowly, with his hands up in the air. "I'm sorry, Evans. Please don't hurt me…" he pleaded in a whiny voice. Sirius rolled his eyes at his friend's childish fear.

"Prongs. Prongs. Oi, PRONGS!" Sirius bellowed, causing a few nearby second-years to jump in fear. "Your pleading is ruining the Marauder's image."

"I can't help it! Evans is so scary!" James protested.

"That's what every girl wants to hear," Lily commented sarcastically, as she stuffed her wand back into her robes, "and don't worry. I'm not going to do anything to you. Yet." She muttered to herself. James sighed in relief and Sirius groaned at his behavior.

"Brilliant! Then let's get back to what we were talking about before," James grinned. "Your forgiveness."

Lily turned back and stared at him, surprised. "I thought we already talked about this," she replied.

"But I'm serious," James said slowly. "I know I've annoyed you for several years," Lily snorted at this, "but I really want things to be different this year. I mean, I don't hex people that much anymore…and I don't think I'm that arrogant anymore…" Sirius chortled. James told him to shut up. "Do you think…we can start over, Lily?" he said her name pointedly.

Lily thought about what he had said. She supposed that most of what he said was true…and it would be rather nice to have a fresh start seeing how this is the last year. She looked at him and her emerald eyes met his deep hazel ones. Something in his eyes had changed, she was sure of it. They no longer had that childish glint; instead there was something serious there. Sirius cleared his throat loudly. Lily dropped her gaze and flushed. What was wrong with her? She never blushed…unless she was angry.

Lily felt very uncomfortable at James's intent staring, and she too, cleared her throat.

"O-okay," she tried to keep her voice steady. "Fine. I forgive you. I-I'm going to …go." She hurried off, trying to hide her flaming cheeks.

James looked bewildered. "Did Evens just-blush?" He wondered while Sirius smirked.

Alice glanced up as Lily walked in.

"What happened to you?" Alice asked, noticing that her friend looked very flustered.

"Oh, what?" Lily said, startled. She ignored Alice's look of curiosity and sank back into her seat. "This year is going to be so different…"

A/N: Well there you have it! The lovely third chapter! I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review when you're done reading. Reviews always brighten my day!

XOXO

Cynthia