The Power of Love

This is just an idea I've had floating around in my mind for a while. It will probably end up being quite long, I just hope you're patient with me and like it.

Now, this is more than likely going to fit with the Alternate Universe setting, but it will still hold some canon. This does not take in account HBP or DH. There is also a different version of OotP mentioned.

Summary: Harry Potter was a boy that grew up knowing neglect and some abuse. When he finds out he is a wizard, he hopes he can finally find a place where he belongs. But what he doesn't realize is that not only is he famous, he's probably going to find a lot more than he ever bargained for. Will he live up to his destiny or will some truths be enough to cause him to fail?

Author's Note: I own nothing so please don't sue! =)

Another Author's Note: It will be a while before we get to Harry because I'm going to give quite a bit of backstory. Hopefully you'll be patient with me. There's a possibility there won't be a whole lot of surprises as you read through it, but I'll try to leave a few here and there.

Chapter 1

Lily Evans was out shopping for a few things to take with her on her honeymoon. She had two of her best friends with her as they browsed some of the shops in Diagon Alley.

Mary Tibbens (formerly MacDonald) and Remus Lupin were trying to help her decide on a few things to buy when the clock in the store chimed 2 p.m. Mary gasped and said she had to leave because she had left her twins with her husband and he had to go to work shortly. Remus then looked at Lily and said that he really didn't want to be caught in the lingerie department so they decided to go and grab a bite to eat.

"I still can't entirely believe how he did it. Of course, he told us what he was going to do and trust me, I told him you'd kill him if he did. Sadly, I think that persuaded him even more to propose like that." Remus admitted while starting to cut up his food.

"I'm sure it did, but it's alright. Granted, I'd have preferred the romantic way, but it did get the point across when he sonorus'd his voice after the pick up Quidditch game." Lily replied while laughing. Remus, however, noticed that her laugh didn't quite reach her emerald eyes.

"The bludger to the head after you shouted back yes was quite amusing. I'll never let him live that down ... and neither will Sirius for that matter." Remus chuckled lightly.

As Lily ate, she let her mind wander slightly. She was less than a week away from her wedding, yet she couldn't help but feel slightly sad. She loved James Potter very much, but as much as she wanted to deny it, truly her heart belonged to another. Even if he couldn't return it back.

"Lily ..."

Lily started and looked up. "What?"

"I've been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes or so. What's wrong?" Remus asked, leaning toward her a bit.

She started absent mindedly tearing at the napkin on her lap.

"Lily, we've been friends for ages. You know that I can keep a secret from James if it needs to be kept from him. I'm far better at it than they think I am."

Lily snorted softly before smiling at her friend. "I'm just afraid at how or what you might think of me ..."

Truthfully, Remus had a sneaking suspicion what this could possibly be about. But he also knew not to press her ... that if she wanted to talk, she would.

"Look Lily, I'm here if you need me. You don't have to say anything that you don't want to."

Lily looked up and gave him a genuine smile. "It's just ... er ... I miss ... well ... the closer I get to the wedding, the more and more I miss Sev." Lily looked down and blushed furtively. "Does that make me a bad person?"

Remus gave a half smile. It turned out his sneaky suspicion was correct.

"Lily, thinking about Severus does not make you a bad person. You and he were close for many, many years."

Lily made every conjecture that she was about to interrupt but he held up his hand to prevent her from doing so.

"It's alright to let your mind wander in the 'what if' scenario. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had intervened that day before it got as far as it did. This could even be yours and his wedding." Remus let himself shiver slightly before letting out a chuckle as he thought of the strong objections that James and Sirius both would present at the wedding ceremony. "But what you must remember is that you made your choices and he made his, even if you don't like them."

She sighed. "You're right ... as usual. I just wish I could talk to him before the wedding. Afterwards, it's bound to be impossible because I'm sure that if James or Sirius even glimpsed him, he'd be hexed into the next century. I wish I could just spend a few hours alone with him, just to ask him why ... as well as a few other things."

Remus raised his eyebrow slightly. "I do believe I'll draw the line at you describing what 'a few other things' might mean. I can keep secrets from the others well enough, but even I would be hard pressed to hide the fact that you had a snog-fest with Severus the week before marrying one of my best friends." He winked at her while he finished off his food.

She scoffed at him before sticking out her tongue, which she knew would make him roll his eyes.

He did not disappoint.

"Thanks Remus. I know actually seeing him before the wedding is slim, but you do make a good ear to talk to." After a moments pause she added, "You do know that I love James though, right?"

"I imagine you would have told the 'arrogant little toe rag' no if you didn't love him."

That made Lily burst out laughing which caused a few glances to be cast their direction. With the war in full swing, laugher in public was a rare thing.

"And I also know that you love Severus, no matter how mad he probably makes you, because I know it's a different kind of love."

"Remus Lupin, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were really a female in guy's clothing for all that insight you seem to possess."

He snorted which caused him to choke on his drink.

"Come on. Let's go see if I can find some clothes that you can point out to James, otherwise it's hard to tell what he'll wear during the honeymoon."

As they paid and turned to leave, Lily had a prickly sensation on the back of her neck ... one that made her feel as if someone was watching her. Turning and scanning the crowds, she didn't see anyone paying her any special attention.

But what she didn't realize was that she was right. Standing less than 20 feet away, under a disillusionment charm, was a very shell shocked Severus Snape.

A/N: 7/28/11 - Edited wording and such ...