Redemption

It was a few days later that Hermione found herself in the park, book in hand. She had agreed to meet Lily here an hour ago, only for the girl not to show up. It was frustrating to Hermione to come all the way here, only to be stood up. Her parents had told her that she needed to make amends with Lily, even though they didn’t realize what a shite friend she had been recently. Still, putting that to the side she had come, expecting to at least talk to her friend. Her parents would be disappointed if she came home so soon after leaving. After all, normally she and Lily would spend hours together.
That was what led her to sit under the tree, reading her book. It should have been a normal day, yet it wasn’t.

About another half hour after her appointment with lily He showed up.

She should have expected to run into him one day this summer, but she honestly hadn’t. She and Severus lived in the same town after all, it would be normal to run into him. Yet, in the 6 years they had known each other they had never once run into one another, until today.

She didn't notice him until he cleared his throat, making her look up at him.
“Severus” she said surprised to see him “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Lily said that you might be here” He responded, sitting down next to her under the tree.

“You’ve made up then?” she asked, feeling a little bit annoyed that Lily sood her up but spoke with Snape instead. All she had done was defend Snape, now it seemed she had lost her friend for good.

“No, I went to her house to apologize again, but she refused to listen. She said she was headed to the park to speak with you but since I showed up she decided against it” he commented “I don;t think she will forgive me”

“Its the first time she was ever called a mudblood” Hermione replied with a shrug, watching from the corner of her eye as Severus stiffened.

“You didn’t seem to have a problem hearing–or saying it.” he commented.

“I’ve been bullied for years because of my blood status as well as my intelligence” she responded to him, shifting her focus from her book to him. “Some of us didn’t get the privilege of protection due to a friendship” she tilted her head to the side, considering Snape for a moment “It probably would do her some good to get called names once in a while, might deflate her head a bit” she commented with a shrug.

“So you are no longer friends with her?” He asked

Hermione moved her eyes back to her book, contemplating for a minute before she answered “I don’t know, on one hand I miss our friendship and would like to make up with her, on the other, she’s shown me what she thinks of our friendship by not showing up” she commented.

Severus frowned “ that might be my fault though, she was pretty upset when I was there”

“You being there shouldn’t dictate her not coming” hermione responded “the question I have is what are you going to do now that you aren’t friends with lily”

“ What do you mean?” He asked

“ I’m not exactly blind you know. It is obvious you have been spending more time with certain blood purists more than others our age” she looked at him “is that going to continue now that you and Lily are no longer friends?” she asked.

“Are you asking whether I hate muggles or not”

Hermione shrugged in response closing her book and looking him in the eyes “You can hate anyone you want, i’m personally not a fan of James Potter, but hatred can lead you down the wrong path” she replied “It can cause friendships to disappear, can leave you isolated”

“Why do you care?” Severus asked, looking more than a little put off.

“I suppose I just don’t want to see you lose yourself” she responded with a half shrug, putting her book in her bag. She watched him quietly for a minute. “I’m not Lily, but if you ever find yourself needing someone to talk to, i’m here to listen, about anything, academic related or not” she gave him a soft smile before getting up.

“I suppose I should go see if I could apologize to Lily” she said with a sigh, brushing grass from her pants.

“I wouldn’t mention I was here” he commented, standing up himself “and thank you, for your offer”

“Anytime”

She left him there in the park, unaware of thoughtful eyes watching her leave.

It didn’t take her long to walk to Lily Evan’s house from the park, about 20 minutes, but that was alright. It was best she figured out if Lily was or was not her friend anymore.

Hermione knocked on the door, watching as Petunia opened the door, giving her a sneer “Great another freak” she said leaning back and calling into the house “Lily your friend from that school is here”

“Nice to see you too Petunia” Hermione said trying not to laugh, the girl was too funny hen it came to her prejudice against magic. She was almost certain the girl was jealous.She couldn’t be blamed, Hermione didn’t know what she would do if she had a younger sister who got into a prodigious magic school and she didn’t, she was unsure she wouldn;t be bitter about it as well.

Petunia rolled her eyes and left Hermione standing there, the door wide open for the world to see. Hermione waited patiently for Lily to show up, about to give up when she heard the voice of her best friend.
“I thought I told you we had nothing to talk about–” she stopped mid sentence “HERMIONE!” she exclaimed “what are you doing here?”

Hermione frowned at her friend, for she sounded a little too happy to see her. “You didn’t show so I came to see what was going on” she replied.

Lily gave her an exacerbated look “Snape showed up to my house as i was about to leave and distracted me” she said “i’m sorry i didn;t show up, will you forgive me?” the girl asked.

“Of course, it's not a pro-” she was cut off by the girl hugging her.

“Oh good! Come in, let's go upstairs and catch up!” Lily said, grabbing her hand and practically dragging her upstairs towards her room.

It was disconcerting for Hermione to be welcomed so warmly, when she was expecting the opposite. Once they were tucked safely in Lily's room she turned around and smiled at her “So what did you want to meet at the park about?” she asked, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

Hermione blinked at her friend, clearly confused. Why was she acting like nothing happened the other day, “I wanted to apologize about a couple of days ago” she started feeling unsure.

Lily held up her hand” why do you need to apologize! It’s me who should apologize for sending you away the other day, but Sirius looked like he was gonna curse you right then and there, plus you took me by surprise!” Lily babbled on “I thought it best for everyone to calm down”

Hermione frowned at her “ I thought we weren’t friends anymore” she admitted.

Lily leapt into action, launching herself at the curly haired brunette and taking her into a hug “Are you kidding? Why would I choose Potter's friend over my best friend in the world!” she said pulling back and looking into her eyes seriously “ I hope i’m not that bad a friend” she smiled at hermione,”We’ve been friends since we were in diapers, I wouldn’t throw that away because of some boy”

Hermione nodded, relaxing a little under Lily’s warm embrace. Perhaps she had been wrong about the girl and had been imagining things. Guilt bubbled in her stomach, even as Lily chatted on happily, moving the topic to what her family would be doing during the break.

It was thirty minutes later that Hermione decided to redirect the conversation, not able to get severus out of her mind.

“You said Severus came by?” she asked as lily took a breath from gushing about how her family was going to France for holiday.

Lily visibly stiffened “yes, “ she sniffed “he came to apologize”

“Did you forgive him?” she asked cautiously, it was obvious this was a sensitive subject, still she continued on, not wanting severus to be left in the dark.

“No! Of Course not!” she exclaimed “How could I after what he called us!” she continued.

“He said it in the heat of an argument, he likely didn’t mean it, and it was likely directed more at me then you” she said trying to soothe her friend.

“Well that's the problem isn't it?” Lily replied placing her hands on her hips “He wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t mean it. Plus, he shouldn’t be even thinking about that with us as his friends!” she sighed “i get that she hates his dad but to seriously call us that– its beyond vile. I won’t be forgiving him” she looked hermione directly in the eyes “and neither should you. We don’t deserve to be degraded like that”

Hermione frowned at the implication of Lily’s words, deciding it was best not to tell her friend about severus in the park earlier that afternoon.

“Lily, some of your friends from school are here” Lily’s mother called up the stairs, causing lily to look at hermione.

“Did you tell him to come back here?” she asked suspiciously.

Hermione shook her head “no of course not.” she responded curious as to who it was at the door. Surely Severus wouldn’t try twice in one day. “Maybe its one of your other friends, the ones from Ravenclaw,” she suggested.

Lily looked skeptical but they both got up from their positions on the bed and headed downstairs.

Hermione was surprised to find that James Potter and his friends were outside the door, looking uncomfortable. As if they were new to this. She noticed how James looked around nervously, his hand fidgeting with a snitch that was closed, thankfully.

“Potter? What are you doing here?” Lily asked, descending the stairs. Hermione stayed out of sight, curious as to how this would play. As far as she was aware Potter had never done this before, showing up at her doorstep. If memory served he lived in London and there was no reason for him to be here other than trying to get with lily. Again.

Still she kept quiet as Potter started stammering.

“Lily, well I– I mean to say–”

“We came to visit you Evans,” Sirius said, clapping his friend on the back “Do you mind visiting with us?”

Lily folded her arms over her chest “You could have owled, I happen to be busy” she said “I have company”

Sirius perked up at this, looking past lily to see who was there behind her.

“Snivvily is that you?” he goaded. Hermione rolled her eyes and stepped down further into view, noticing how the boys attitudes changed.

Sirius was glaring at her his hand twitching as if he wanted to hex her. Heroine gave him a smirk “ can’t get away with that here Black” she goaded him, “Wouldn't want to be expelled would you”

“Shut it Granger” sirius growled, looking at his best friend for support, but found none.

James was staring at her as if he hadn’t seen her all year. “Hermione” he breathed her name and it made hermione feel weird inside, her stomach flipping. She noticed that Lily looked back at her, looking a little confused but Hermione shrugged in response “Potter,Black” she finally said back looking between the two boys.

It seemed like the two of them were having a secret conversation between themselves before Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose “Merlins beard” he said loudly making lily jump.

“What are you whispering about?” Lily asked, looking a little frustrated by this.

“Hey lils, I should probably go since you have other company” Hermione started only to be startled when two pair of eyes found her own.

“No.” Lily and James said in unison,

Hermione turned her gaze to James, confused as to why he would say no. It was better for him if she did leave. One less third wheel. “What?” she heard herself asking

“You don’t have to go, we were impolite, we should have owled” James said smoothly, running his fingers through his hair idly as he looked at her “ How's your holiday?”

Hermione exchanged looks with Lily, uncertainty painting Lily's face. Seemed like she didn’t know what his angle was either. “Alright… uneventful until today it seems”

James smiled at her like it was a compliment even as Sirius scowled at her, his dislike evident.

Hermione stepped down from the stairs standing next to her friend, feeling awkward as the silence around them grew.
It was Petunia coming into the hallway and seeing them all that broke the silence. “ Oh god they are multiplying” she muttered under her breath making Hermione smile, unable to help it.

“Alright then.” Hermione finally said “I’m going to go, I’ll see you later Lily”

“You don’t have to go,” Lily said seriously.

“I’m sure my parents are waiting for me by now” Hermione replied as she started past the boys. James giving her a strange look and Sirius glaring at her. With a wave goodbye to Lily she left, closing the door behind her. She took a deep breath once she was outside, feeling grateful that she didn’t have to deal with those two boys until the start of the school year.

At Least that was what she thought, until later that night she received an owl. She was surprised when the owl flew to her window sill, pecking at the glass pane impatiently as it fluttered its wings. Hermione had quickly launched herself from her bed , opening the window for the creature to come in. The bird flew inside, depositing the letter on her desk before perching itself on her dresser mirror.

“Who are you?” Hermione asked, looking at the handsome owl, curious as to who would have sent her a letter.

Her curiosity winning out, Hermione went to her desk and opened the letter, reading it quietly. It was a letter from James Potter, apologizing again for himself and his friends actions against her and Severus.

Hermione stared at the letter, wondering what to do. Potter did seem to be truly contrite, but part of her wondered if this was an elaborate ploy to get her on his side so that Lily might be swayed.

It would be a brilliant move, because the likelihood that Lily would listen to her, especially about a guy she already liked, was high. All it took was getting Hermione to believe he had changed, The problem with that plan was that she was expecting it. Had expected it the second James had asked to write to her this summer. At first she thought he was joshing her, especially since a week had passed and no letter arrived but now with the letter here, well, she was expecting the contents.

She looked at the owl, who was preening, waiting for her response.

Hermione frowned again at the letter, unsure how she should respond to it. Should she just ignore it? Should she write him back and tell him all was forgiven and let that be that? She wasn’t a hundred percent sure.

After several minutes she took out parchment and a quill and drafted a short letter, letting him know that she didn't hold a grudge and he didn't need to keep apologizing. She signed her name and sent the owl back.
That should have been the end of it. Yet the next morning Hermione found the owl sitting outside her window, looking a little miffed that he was outside instead of inside. Letting him in, he dropped a letter on her desk then flew to her mirror, where he waited patiently for her response.

This letter was different from the last. Where the first had asked for her forgiveness, this one didn’t particularly ask her anything. It was a basic rundown of his summer holiday thus far, how he missed playing quidditch, what classes he was looking forward to ect. She didn’t find it hard to believe that he was most excited to learn to disapparate this next school year, as many students were, well some students, Lily didn’t much care for the idea, worried about spliching herself, a very real concern for those who didn't concentrate enough,

In the letter he asked her how her summer was going, which classes she was looking forward to the most.

It puzzled her that he asked, and she doubted he actually cared, still she decided to write him back.
____

James,

Thank you for your letter. I understand your enthusiasm for apparition—it truly is a remarkable and convenient way to travel. However, I must let you know that continuing to write to me won’t influence Lily’s decision. The only thing that might change her mind is how you conduct yourself moving forward.
Wishing you the best of luck,

Hermione Granger
_____

Hermione looked over the letter, quietly contemplating sending it. On one hand, it was nice receiving letters, even if it was all a ploy to get closer to Lily, on the other, it was a waste of her time to coach James Potter on how to be a better person. It was likely that even if he wanted to change, his friends–namely Sirius– would be resistant. It just didn’t seem like the most practical thing to spend her time on.

With that thought in mind she gave the owl the letter, gave it a quick pet– after all she wouldn't be seeing him after this letter, and sent it on its way.

She watched the owl go, thinking that was that.

How wrong she was.