1st September, 1976

Sirius and James arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters together. They were there early, and the crowd was much lesser than usual.

Lily was already there, saying goodbye to her parents. Her infamous sister was standing apart from them, looking around with envious disgust on her face.

"Bye, Tuney!" said Lily, as she was boarding the train. Her sister didn't answer. As their parents looked at her sternly, she said ungraciously, "Bye."

James saw the hurt look on Lily's face, the same one he had seen when Snape called her Mudblood.

Lily turned and disappeared inside the train, a defeated droop in her posture. James suddenly felt like a complete prat for having driven Snape away from her, because Lily had clearly lost two people she had cared about.

Peter had arrived now. Sirius was greeting him noisily. James quietly darted into the train to find Lily.

She was sitting alone in a compartment, looking out of the window.

"Evans," said James nervously.

Lily looked around wearily. "What d'you want, Potter?"

James unconsciously raised his hand to his hair and messed it. "I just—I just wanted to say sorry for what happened last term, Evans."

Lily stared at him in obvious shock. James Potter and apologizing were two separate entities altogether.

"And—and for everything I did to annoy you since—since first year. I'm really sorry."

Lily wondered if this could really be James Potter.

"So...so, do you forgive me?" asked James, going red.

Lily smiled at his nervousness. "Yes, sure."

James fiddled with his glasses awkwardly. "Thanks...I guess. See you around, Evans." He disappeared quickly.

--------------------

"Where were you?" demanded Sirius, Remus and Peter when James came into their compartment, dragging his trunk.

"Just went to have a word with Evans," muttered James.

"What for?" asked Sirius in genuine astonishment.

"To apologize."

"What? You apologized?" asked Sirius indignantly. "After she publicly yelled at you and blamed at you for what Snivelly called her?"

"Shut up, Sirius," said Remus. "James did the right thing. What'd she say?"

"She forgave me."

Sirius shook his head in disgust. "I'll never forgive you if you go all goody-goody like Moony and Evans, Prongs."

Remus looked hurt, but James grinned. "Don't worry, I won't." He pulled the Charms book from his trunk. "We're almost done with these charms," he added.

Peter leaned over to look at the book. Remus crossed his arms and stared outside the window.

"Don't sulk, Moony, I didn't mean it," said Sirius, prodding him on the back.

After that, Remus cheerfully joined in too.

"We'll finish the map in a week," said James.

They played Gobstones like they were still little kids, until Remus glanced at his watch and jumped up in alarm.

Groaning, he said, "I'm late again. Can't any of you remind me of my meetings?"

With that illogical rhetorical question, Remus dashed off, his friends' laughter following him.