A/N I hadn't originally been going to write another chapter, but I've had enough reviews complaining about my treatment of Snape and my characterisation of Lily that I thought I'd clear a few things up.
Snape: I hate Snape. He deserves everything Lily said to him, and although he ended up being good... In no way was he a hero. He made Harry's student life miserable... This is how I think Snape would be in the Afterlife. This is how I think he would act, and I'm the writer, I'm not going to suddenly change my beliefs just to suit everyone else. My story wouldn't be my story then, and it wouldn't be very good because I wouldn't be passionate about it. This is my version of Snape, and if you don't like it.. Tough.
Lily: I've been told my Lily is a bitch. Right... Firstly, Lily is partly being my voice here. I still think she'd say that stuff anyway, but telling me the way that I've written Lily is wrong and that she is a bitch is not fair. One, because I'm not a mind reader, this is how I see Lily, and two, calling Lily a bitch is calling me a bitch. I have, however, allowed every review through because I don't want people to think that they're the only person who hates my characterisation, or that everyone loves my story. It's not perfect, I accept that, and it's a controversial topic, I knew that when I wrote it. But it has been wanting to be written for months now, just floating around in my head, and eventually ended up on paper, then on FF, and then got a load of abuse flung at it. (Thanks for that, by the way) you have to remember, while Lily is off talking to Snape, someone who has been controlling to her since day one, and then called her a mudblood.. (She still wanted to thank him, she's not ungrateful), the Final Battle was still going on. Remus and Tonks had just died, Harry had lost them, and Harry himself was in mortal danger. She is so unbelievably stressed that I think she had the right to be mean to Snape, who did just make a move on her. I'm not taking back what she said, but this chapter is going to explain that, or I hope it will anyway.

It had been a week since Severus had died. His small dark bungalow had morphed to fit his personality. It was slightly larger, with a potions room nestled inside. The summer outside, however, barely seeped in. His dark atmosphere had stayed after his death, and now his house and the outside world were as separate as his dungeon rooms and the warm cozy staff room at Hogwarts had been.

When he was sitting in his front room that day, a week after Voldemort had finally been defeated, a slight movement caught his eye. Two women were making their way up his garden path, each supporting the other. One had shining, glossy auburn hair, the other, drab brown hair. While his heart leapt at the sight of Lily, he was confused as to the identity of her companion. Until the woman lifted her head. Tonks. Severus had not been aware that she too had died. As he moved to open the front door and beckon his (unfortunately two) guests inside, Tonks noticed him and with a fleeting glance at her companion, moved her head in the slightest of movements, but a definite 'No' nonetheless. The warning in her gaze was clear: 'don't come out'. He was disappointed, but having been on the receiving end of Tonks' wand once, did not want to face her again, not in front of his precious Lily, anyway.

While Lily walked up to his door and bent down, presumably depositing something on his doorstep, Tonks waited where she could still see Snape. When Lily returned to her side, they slipped their arms round each other's waist in a gesture of mutual support and the two grieving mothers moved away.

When they were out of sight, Severus slipped to his door and opened it cautiously. On the step was a letter, written in Lily's familiar cursive hand. Returning inside, he settled down into a chair and opened it.

Severus,

Thank you again, for looking after my Harry. I can never thank you enough for the work you did for the Order and at Hogwarts to protect him. I would like to apologise for the way I behaved last week, I was angry, and I believe rightfully so, but I should not have treated you like that, we should have had a mature discussion, like we used to, when we were friends. I miss those times, you know, and I always will. James and Sirius would like me to convey their most humble apologies in this letter, they have apologised before but would like me to reiterate them. They are truly sorry for the way they treated you in Hogwarts, and are both so grateful to you for what you did for Harry. As is Remus, and Tonks. They all know I am writing this letter to you, hence the thank you from all of them, and Tonks will come with me to deliver it.

But back to last week. I was wrong to shout at you like I did, but please understand. While you may have died, so had Remus and Tonks. My son had just lost the both of them, two people who he admired and loved greatly. And my son himself was in mortal danger. I did not have time to be gentle with you, my son nearly died. In fact, my brave boy put himself in front of a killing curse from Voldemort himself to protect the people fighting in the school. He survived, but so many have died. He found the Resurrection Stone, and shortly after you left my house, he summoned myself, James, Remus and Sirius to join him on what he believed was a walk to his death. It broke my heart once more, just to see his face, his fear apparent.

So my son was in peril. I had no time to be patient with you, I had no time to spend with you, as I needed to return home and ensure my son's safety, my Harry's life. Please believe me, while everything I said last week I meant, it was in a fit of anger, and I bitterly regret how I said it, and how I left it. But not what I said. Never that.

I forgive you for calling me a Mudblood all those years ago, and I forgive you for calling me a Mudblood last week. And I am so, so grateful to you for protecting my boy. But I am still less than pleased about how you treated him in his time at school. You hated him from the minute you set eyes on him, even though you had never met him. Harry is my son, I carried him for nine months, and he knew my love for just fourteen. I loved him when I gave birth, I loved him every day we shared, and I loved him when I put myself in front of Voldemort for him. I will always love him, and he will always be my priority.

I do not want to be friends again, Severus, your behaviour prevents that. I have people in my life now that are more important to me; James, Sirius, Remus, Tonks and Marlene. And I am waiting for my son now, though I hope it will be many years yet before I see his face again. But I would like to be civil, I do not want to avoid you, I can't avoid you. Whether I like it or not you were a part of my life for several years.

But your actions after that day in Fifth year, I can't, Severus, I'm sorry. It hurts too much. I am glad you lied to Voldemort for so many years, so, so glad, but you initially were willing to sacrifice a baby.. And for that I wonder how much of you is the part of you that was my best friend. Where has that Severus gone? Time has changed you, you cannot deny it. You are not the same boy that explained Hogwarts to me, those long ago days in the park near my house. Even when working with the Order, that does not release the dark that you did. You are good now, but you are not the same boy.

I do not want to be friends, Severus, but I do want to thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for protecting Harry all those years.

Lily Potter

Severus stared at the letter in disbelief. It held what he had hoped for, had been longing for for so many years. Lily's forgiveness. But it held it in such a way that it spiked at his heart. She had signed it Lily Potter, clearly showing that she was married to that awful man and would never be his, and she had refused all signs of friendship. He stared at the letter for a long time, his hands shaking. Her references to her son bit him every time, the mention of him being her priority especially so.

He wondered where he had gone so wrong, that he could ever have believed that Lily would place him more important than her own son. Her apology to him, now, seemed tainted by her references to her family and friends. Her handwriting that he had missed so much, seemed unfamiliar and alien.

Severus' last hope of reconciliation was gone. He thought it had gone with the letter's arrival, but Lily knew it had gone the minute he bullied her son on his first Potions lesson. It would take time, but eventually Snape would realise it too.

In his heart, sitting by his window, he apologised to Lily. He knew now that he had expected too much of her, had always expected too much of her. The day he died, he should have understood. And he apologised for not doing so. For being angry.

A/N in writing this... Yes, you can feel sorry for Snape. I have written it to be so. I have not forgiven him and will never do so, but I can feel sorry for him having to spend eternity on his own, even if it was his own fault.

Also, quick point, for some reason while writing Lily's letter, her voice kept veering off and becoming Laura Main's in my head. That's for all you other Call the Midwife fans out there.. I've probably inflicted you with it now too!