He barks out a sob or laughter, it could be either. He's never been perfect for anyone just because. That's pretty much it. Unconditional love, without demands, without hopes and expectations. He's been good, that's for sure, and he has known love from people who care about him. But this is different.

"I will tell you anything you want to know," he says and for once in his life, he means it, every word of it.

"But you did, mum, you saved me so many times. Can we start there?" he asks, hands nervously fingering a lock of red hair. "You gave your life and Voldemort couldn't touch me. He tried but he couldn't kill me. He tried several times but he couldn't." He leans in a little closer, whispering the rest. "Because your love protected me." It sounds so cheesy when he says it like this, but he doesn't care.