"WAIT" James called out, while running after a dark retreating figure, fleeing down halls and stairs trying to desperately get away from his pursuer.

"Will you. Please. Stop. Running." Panted James still running, it had been about 10 minutes roughly now that he had been trying to catch up and it really wasn't working.

The boy in front stopped.

"What do you want from me?" he asked, quietly, his dark eyes assessing James, suspiciously "Have you come to torment me some more? Is this what you're doing? Haven't bullied me enough for one day?" he spat.

"I'm sorry." Said James, staring at the floor. The other boy, Severus, simply stared at him. "Say something?" pleaded James.

He looked sorry, observed Severus, his facial expression was pained and he didn't look cocky or as full of himself as he usually did. He looked guilty, like a little boy who'd pushed over one of his friends by accident but didn't know how to say sorry.

"You're sorry?" asked Severus, incredulously "When have YOU ever been sorry? When have you ever apologised for what you've done for me? Felt any remorse for your actions. You're a coward, you hide behind your status and front as the big tough guy and what is this? Running after the boy you've been torturing since the first day of school. Bollocks. All of it. Bollocks."

"I am sorry. I didn't realise. I didn't- I don't- Fuck it look I'm sorry I'm not good at apologising I've been thinking recently and I'm ashamed of the way I've acted and I never want to be that person again. I'm sorry. Really." James said, eyebrows furrowed.

"That's nice. I'm glad we've had this conversation. Now kindly fuck off and never talk to me again." Severus sneered angrily, and tried to push past James.

James, being a seeker, had fast reflexes so grabbed his hands to stop him escaping. Severus flinched as James reached for him, expecting to be hurt.

"I don't want to fight." James muttered.

"Then don't." Severus replied, shortly, before trying to make a break for it again. James stepped in front of him.

"Please?" James asked, eyeing him beseechingly.

Severus huffed and sat down on a nearby bench, and James sat next to him.

"Well?" asked Severus.

"Can we be friends?" asked James, too quickly to be heard.

"What?" asked Severus, frowning.

"Well only if you want to." James said, quietly, going pink.

"Want to what? I didn't hear what you said." Severus said, clearly confused.

"Can we be friends?" asked James again, this time clearly. Severus looked at him startled.

"Why would you want to be friends with me? I'm nobody remember." Severus mumbled.

"No, you're a nice person and a damn sight more decent to me than I'd ever deserve, after how I've acted towards you in the past." James replied.

"Well, I suppose we could be." Severus then said.

"Thank you." James said.

Severus suddenly realised the proximity of the other boy, he looked up at James, questioningly. James stared back at the boy; a smile played across him mouth.

Severus went to leave, believing the conversation to have finished.

"Wait," James said, once again holding onto Severus' arm, "Don't go." So Severus sat down again. They sat in silence for a minute before either boy realised that James was still holding onto Severus' arm. Severus coughed and James, called to attention noticed and went bright red.

"Oh I'm sorry." He said pulling his hands away, looking awkward.

"Oh no, It's okay I don't mind." Severus replied, looking equally as awkward.

James stared at the other boy a moment before processing what he had just said. But James was fast and he caught on quite quickly.

James closed in the space between the boys and leaned in to kiss Severus, who, surprisingly enthusiastically responded. That was the first of many stolen moments on the grounds of the most famous wizarding school to ever exist.