"It's about Severus. I ... we were friends, once upon a time and then circumstances changed ... we drifted apart. Your father and the other Marauders were right bastards to him," when James wanted to protest, she cut him off with an impatient gesture. "And though that did not give him the right to insult me, I was wrong not to accept his apology. For years I have felt like I have pushed him at Voldemort and asked myself if I could have spared him all this suffering, had I only taken his hand. He made a horrible mistake, and it cost our family everything, but ... but he felt honest remorse when he realised what he had done. He even went to Dumbledore to request protection for our family. The headmaster used Severus guilt against him, forced him to become a spy. The day I died Severus swore that he would protect you. It hurts him to see your father in you, but he still kept his promise. Please, try to at least respect him for that."