the marauders- an inseparable bond

[6] an apology

Though James was sad he wasn't spending Christmas with his parents, there was no doubt about it. Christmas at Hogwarts wasn't quite like Christmas anywhere else. Beautifully decorated firs hauled into the Great Hall by the young gamekeeper, Hagrid, snow hanging off the tips of the tallest towers, delicious food, the warmth of the Gryffindor common room and a feeling you just couldn't explain. The marauders busied themselves with snowball fights, working on their map, exploding snap and wizard's chess. James was having so much fun that he forgot about apologizing to Snape.

It was Christmas Eve when he remembered. He was sitting in a large, comfortable armchair close to the fire in the common room, watching Remus and Sirius play wizard's chess, very full from dinner. He was thinking about how nice it would be if Lily forgave him on Christmas, and then he realised:

"Snape!"

The other boys turned to look at him.

"You're losing your grip, mate." said Sirius, "This is Moony, not Snape. I know the resemblance is striking, but honestly, he's your best friend."

"Shut up." said Remus, smiling, shoving Sirius from across the table.

"No, I meant that I still have to say sorry to Snape."

Remus stopped trying to whack Sirius with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and his expression turned serious.

"You're absolutely right. You should go now."

"Now?" said Sirius.

"Yes, now. To get it over with. So he won't procrastinate any further."

Without a word, James got to his feet, walked across the common room and climbed through the portrait hole.

***

Outside, he wondered where he should start looking. Snivellus was a nerd, right? He liked to study? Yes, he would probably be in the library. Upon arriving, he scanned the large space filled with dusty books. It was nearly deserted. To his disappointment, he didn't see Snape. However, he spotted a Slytherin sitting alone, hunched over a small book. Warily, he approached the boy.

"Um, sup?"

The Slytherin's eyes flickered upwards to James and gave him a once-over.

"Yeah?"

The boy had an odd accent.

"I, uh, was wondering if you knew where I could find Severus Snape."

The boy turned back to his book.

"And you think that I would know that because..."

"Well, uh, you're in the same house."

"Do you know everyone in your house?"

James sighed exasperatedly.

"Look, I just wanted to know if you knew where he was, and if you don't, you could just have said so, okay?"

"I do know where he is."

James looked at the boy in disbelief.

"Well, uh, where is he?"

"Slytherin common room."

"Where is that, exactly?"

"Not allowed to tell you that," he said, as though it were obvious.

"Can you go get him for me?"

They boy shut his book loudly, which was Practical Offensive Spells by Orphelia Portch.