The truth." Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.

I am not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. "I am with you.

It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.

Like the fact that the person Sirius cared for the most about in the world was you," said Dumbledore quietly.

"Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.