Title: A Mother's Hope Challenge: Motherhood Team: Order of the Phoenix Words: 100 Rating: G Characters: Severus, Hermione, Mrs Granger

What is a mother's hope?

This dark, saturnine man whose eyes speak of pain, of regret? Whose face bears witness to years of struggle, whose words are measured and controlled? This man, who has hurt and been hurt?

This man, who looks at my daughter through eyes that speak an ancient language of devotion. This man, whose voice is a velvet caress; whose face lightens when she is near. This man, who knows what it is to love and be loved to depths and heights unimaginable.

He carries her dreams in his heart.

This man is a mother's hope.