History Awesome / ProvenGuilty

* During the trial towards the end of the book, there's a little moment that underscores just how powerfully Harry argued his point. Morgan, the same man who has been executing warlocks no older than Molly for decades in service to the Council, hesitates. For what we are led to believe is the first time that this has ever happened for the man, Morgan hesitates to execute a warlock. And he's convinced by Dresden, a man who has spent most of Harry's adult life hunting.

* Michael spends most of the entire book mysteriously absent and out of contact. He returns at the end for a BigDamnHeroes moment, during which it is revealed he was off on a BigDamnHeroes mission for ''Injun Joe and [=McCoy=]'', who are both members of the Senior Council. [=McCoy=] says that if he hadn't shown up, no one would have survived.

* To get Molly back, Harry, Murphy, Charity, and Thomas have to go through Arctis Tor. Arctis Tor is [[PhysicalGod Mab]]'s stronghold, and the heart of Winter. It is protected by hordes of nasty winter fae. Harry is a wizard, Charity and Murphy are vanilla mortals, and Thomas is a White Court vampire who hasn't been feeding much. All they have is chainmail, a favor from Lily ([[GodsHandsAreTied who's been magically compelled to not help Harry]]), and the knowledge that Charity's daughter is being tortured there. ''They do it''. They storm the heart of winter, risking angering Mab, destroy the fetches who had Molly, and Harry attacks this fountain that turns out to be the wellspring of Winter, which due to circumstances allows Summer to go to the aid of the White Council and save the rears of everyone there.

*** Then when Morgan has him give an OrderedApology, Ramirez does, but then politely reminds the ''entire White Council'' that he, Carlos Ramirez, '''has become the youngest Warden in the history of WC''' ''through sheer talent, bravery, hard work and grit'', and '''''that demands respect'''''. Even Merlin gives in on the spot to that argument.

* At the horror movie convention, Harry takes on , [[CurbStompBattle and destroys]] a freaking '''[[Franchise/{{Alien}} xenomorph!]]''' Complete with quotes from the movie.

** A Moment of Awesome is also awarded to Daniel Carpenter, for attacking the phages that show up at the Carpenter home with nothing more than a fire poker and sheer balls. That it was ultimately futile does not diminish this in the slightest, particularly in light of the psychic beating he took on behalf of his family. Daniel actually ''kept punching the creatures so hard that '''his fists bled enough to create a small pool of blood''''', because [[BigBrotherInstinct ''like hell'' is he going to stand by and lets some monsters take his sister away]].

* To get Molly back, Harry, Murphy, Charity, and Thomas [[spoiler: have to go through Arctis Tor. Arctis Tor is [[PhysicalGod Mab]]'s stronghold, and the heart of Winter. It is protected by hordes of nasty winter fae. Harry is a wizard, Charity and Murphy are vanilla mortals, and Thomas is a White Court vampire who hasn't been feeding much. All they have is chainmail, a favor from Lily ([[GodsHandsAreTied who's been magically compelled to not help Harry]]), and the knowledge that Charity's daughter is being tortured there. ''They do it''. They storm the heart of winter, risking angering Mab, destroy the fetches who had Molly, and Harry attacks this fountain that turns out to be the wellspring of Winter, which due to circumstances allows Summer to go to the aid of the White Council and save the rears of everyone there]].
* A villainous moment. [[spoiler: Harry and team get to Arctis Tor aka the heart of Winter, only to find an unknown HellFire wielder has blasted a hole through every one of the defenses and left the entire contigent of Winter Fae stationed there except for the Fetches StrippedToTheBone.]] Harry's OhCrap is understandable.

** A Moment of Awesome is also awarded to Daniel Carpenter, for attacking the phages [[spoiler: that show up at the Carpenter home]] with nothing more than a fire poker and sheer balls. That it was ultimately futile does not diminish this in the slightest, particularly in light of the psychic beating he took on behalf of his family. Daniel actually ''kept punching the creatures so hard that '''his fists bled enough to create a small pool of blood''''', because [[BigBrotherInstinct ''like hell'' is he going to stand by and lets some monsters take his sister away]].

* Harry vs. the Merlin [[spoiler: at Molly Carpenter's trial]].
** There's also Ramirez [[spoiler: [[CallingTheOldManOut calling the Merlin a senile bastard]] ''to his face.'']]

* At the horror movie convention, Harry takes on , [[CurbStompBattle and destroys]] [[spoiler: a freaking '''[[Franchise/{{Alien}} xenomorph!]]''' Complete with quotes from the movie.]]

*** This is even further enhanced by ''Literature/{{Changes}}'', where we learn that [[spoiler: the Red King's greatest minions are the [[PhysicalGod Lords of the Outer Night]] and that the Red King himself can survive getting his head blown off - meaning Morgan likely had to cut through ''at least'' one of those guys to get so close to the King]], and is considered capable of not only beating the Red King but keeping him dead.

** Give Michael another plug when [[spoiler: the Merlin realizes that even the Senior Council would be unwise to confront the Knight who wields the Sword of Love by threatening his daughter.]]

*** Keep in mind, Amoracchius has another name. [[spoiler: Excalibur. Yes, ''that'' [[Myth/ArthurianLegend Excalibur]].]]

* During the [[spoiler: trial towards the end of the book]], there's a little moment that underscores just how powerfully Harry argued his point. [[spoiler: Morgan, the same man who has been executing warlocks no older than Molly for decades in service to the Council, hesitates. For what we are led to believe is the first time that this has ever happened for the man, Morgan hesitates to execute a warlock.]] And he's convinced by [[spoiler: Dresden, a man who has spent most of Harry's adult life hunting]].

*** Keep in mind, Amoracchius has another name. [[spoiler: Excalibur. Yes, ''that'' [[KingArthur Excalibur]].]]

*** Then when Morgan has him give an OrderedApology, Ramirez does, but then politely reminds the ''entire White Council'' that he, Carlos Ramirez, '''has become the youngest Warden in the history of WC''' '''through sheer talent, bravery, hard work and grit'', and '''''that demands respect'''''. Even Merlin gives in on the spot to that argument.

** A Moment of Awesome is also awarded to Daniel Carpenter, for attacking the phages [[spoiler: that show up at the Carpenter home]] with nothing more than a fire poker and sheer balls. That it was ultimately futile does not diminish this in the slightest, particularly in light of the psychic beating he took on behalf of his family. Daniel actually ''kept punching the creatures so hard that '''his fists bled enough to create a small pool of blood''''', because like hell is he going to stand by and lets some monsters take his sister away.

** A Moment of Awesome is also awarded to Daniel Carpenter, for attacking the phages [[spoiler: that show up at the Carpenter home]] with nothing more than a fire poker and sheer balls. That it was ultimately futile does not diminish this in the slightest, particularly in light of the psychic beating he took on behalf of his family. He actually ''punched the creatures so hard that his fists '''bled enough to create a small pool of blood''''', because like hell is he going to stand by and lets some monsters take his sister away.

** A Moment of Awesome is also awarded to Daniel Carpenter, for attacking the phages [[spoiler: that show up at the Carpenter home]] with nothing more than a fire poker and sheer balls. That it was ultimately futile does not diminish this in the slightest, particularly in light of the psychic beating he took on behalf of his family. He actually punched the creatures so hard that his fists bled enough to create a small pool of blood, because like hell is he going to stand by and take his sister away.
** He escapes the Hammerhead form fetch via simple FridgeLogic. The creature has taken up a form which has sledgehammers for hands, which means no climbing is possible.

*** Then when Morgan has him give an OrderedApology, Ramirez does, but then politely reminds ''The entire White Council'' that he, Carlos Ramirez, ''had become the youngest Warden in the history of WC'' through sheer talent, bravery, hard work and grit, and ''that demands respect''. Even Merlin gives in on the spot to that argument.

* At the horror movie convention, Harry takes on [[spoiler: a freaking '''[[Franchise/{{Alien}} xenomorph!]]''' Complete with quotes from the movie.]]

*** Then when Morgan has him give an OrderedApology, Ramirez does, but then politely reminds ''The entire White Council'' that he, Carlos Ramirez, ''had become the youngest Warden in the history of WC'' through sheer talent, bravery, hard work and grit, and ''he demands respect''. Even Merlin gives in on the spot to that argument.

** A Moment of Awesome is also awarded to Daniel Carpenter, for attacking the phages [[spoiler: that show up at the Carpenter home]] with nothing more than a fire poker and sheer balls. That it was ultimately futile does not diminish this in the slightest, particularly in light of the psychic beating he took on behalf of his family.

*** This is even further enhanced by ''Changes'', where we learn that [[spoiler: the Red King's greatest minions are the [[PhysicalGod Lords of the Outer Night]] and that the Red King himself can survive getting his head blown off - meaning Morgan likely had to cut through ''at least'' one of those guys to get so close to the King]], and is considered capable of not only beating the Red King but keeping him dead.

'''Harry''': Technically? When I killed Aurora.

* Morgan got within YARDS of personally offing the King of the Red Court. Say what you will about his personality, the man is ''{{Badass}}''.

* Harry vs. the Merlin [[spoiler:: at Molly Carpenter's trial]].

*** Moreover, the very fact that Michael ''did'' show up as a DeusExMachina, and under precisely such circumstances as to put the White Council firmly in his debt, is about as overt a WhatTheHellHero from ''God Almighty, Himself'', as the Merlin is ever likely to receive in even a wizard's lifetime. Not easy to rattle the self-righteous rationalizations of the supreme high poobah of all wizardry, but that probably qualifies.

* When Harry is trying to get Molly to appear before the White Council for trial, Charity reverts to the mindset she's had when dealing with Harry in past books. She's hostile, argumentative, distrusting, and says point blank that he's doing this to save his own skin. Molly quietly but firmly asks her mother what would make her think Harry would do that, and lists off every action Harry has ever done in the service of Charity and her children, how he's suffered, risked his life for them, and is now once again willing to die for them. It gets Charity to stop, think, and apologize to Harry, realizing she had let her fear get the better of her. It shows the kind of strength Molly has in her, even at that age.
* During the [[spoiler: trial towards the end of the book,]] there's a little moment that underscores just how powerfully Harry argued his point. [[spoiler: Morgan, the same man who has been executing warlocks no older than Molly for decades in service to the Council, hesitates. For what we are led to believe is the first time that this has ever happened for the man, Morgan hesitates to execute a warlock.]] And he's convinced by [[spoiler: Dresden, a man who has spent most of Harry's adult life hunting.]]