History Heartwarming / SkinGame

** On the same note, despite her extremely limited pagetime and her new status as the Winter Lady, Molly is completely in Harry's corner: chewing out [[ManipulativeBitch Mab]] for deliberately keeping them separated for so long, vowing to help remove the parasite from Harry's head as soon as she's able (and making good on her word at the end), and trusting that he knows what he's doing with Nicodemus and company.

* Throughout the book, Michael's absolute faith that Harry is not a monster and is not becoming a monster.
** In the aftermath of Tessa's attack, he prays over Harry:
--> "Lord of Hosts, be with this good man and give him the strength to carry on."
--> ...Michael still thought I was a good man.
** And note that this is ''after'' Harry had given Michael the idea that he was sleeping with Molly.

* You don't realize it until later, but at one point, Harry accidentally makes Michael think that he and Molly slept together, and doesn't realize that's what he's done. The fact that Michael, though uncomfortable, accepts this and still has the amount of faith in Harry that he does is incredible.
* Butters spends most of the book being heartbroken that Harry's been gone for so long, feeling betrayed and abandoned by someone he looked up to. As soon as he sees that Harry is doing what he has to do, and as soon as it's clear that Harry is back for real and finally getting back to the guy he used to be, Butters is his best friend again, to the point of needing Harry's approval for his plan to take up the Sword of Faith.

* An odd example, but it makes sense when you think about it. Molly mentions that the Winter Fae have been attacking her mentally while she's dreaming. Seems to be cruel, until you remember that the Fae are big believers in "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." There's a lot of nasty things that would and could harm an inexperienced Winter Lady (including Nemesis, among others), and Molly's court is making sure she's strong enough to handle it. Attacking her is their roundabout way of saying they like her, and she has their support.

* Michael offering redemption to Nicodemus, ''Nicodemus'' of all people. The man who willingly allowed himself to be possessed by a FallenAngel. The man who has killed countless Knights of the Cross, including one of Michael's friends. The man ultimately responsible for ''crippling'' him. Michael genuinely offers a chance of redemption to Nicodemus, not just out of duty, but genuine love for a man who he sees in pain - and he calls Nicodemus his brother and means it.

* Though it's PlayedForLaughs, Harry treating Jordan like a person and not a faceless enemy {{Mook}}, even tossing him a cheeseburger, is very much heartwarming when one remembers that Nicodemus recruits from the desperate and emotionally vulnerable-it's probably been a long time since ''anyone,'' especially outside of the other squires, treated him like a person, much less a friend. [[FridgeBrilliance Which probably helps to explain his]] HeelFaceTurn.
* Throughout the whole book, Murphy has complete faith and trust in Harry and constantly reassuring him of it, in contrast to Butters having alot of issues with Harry and thinking he CameBackWrong.

* Harry is afraid of what he's becoming as a result of the choices he's been making, and goes directly to [[IncorruptiblePurePureness Michael]], who immediately invites him in to talk it through. Michael then (gently) calls Harry out on Harry's sheer arrogance, pointing out that [[ItsAllAboutMe Harry never really considered that the reason no one has been coming to see him is less that they're all afraid Harry is becoming a monster and more because he's been living on an island that hates everyone but Harry and where some awful things have happened to people.]] Michael manages to tell Harry exactly what Harry needs to hear to ease his fears of becoming a monster.

** Making this even better is the fact that Michael doesn't give Harry the standard words about God's love and forgiveness, but just gently calls him out on being a pig-headed idiot, because he knows that it's exactly what he hear at that time.

** It's also followed by a CrowningMomentOfFunny:

* For the longest time, both the readers and Harry thought that when Harry was being tortured in that museum on Halloween so many years ago, no [[DeusExMachina Knight of the Cross]] came to his rescue because he hadn't relinquished [[TheCorrupter Lasciel's]] coin. It was Butters who had to save him from Cassius. [[TheSoCalledCoward Butters]], who is now, and always had the potential to be, a [[EmpoweredBadassNormal Knight of the Cross]]. Uriel himself confirms it: [[HeartwarmingInHindsight They did send a Knight to save Harry, just not the one he was expecting.]]

** In a similarly odd and tragic way, Tessa's dogged determination to stop the heist. It only becomes clear after Nicodemus' team passes through the aforementioned Gate of Blood ''why'' she was trying so hard to thwart her husband and daughter. To save her daughter's life.

-->"Protect the offspring," he said firmly.\\

** That ''entire scene'', from the moment Maggie and Harry lay eyes on each other. Maggie is adorable, (Seriously, she likes WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic) and it's also funny seeing Harry not quite be sure how seriously to take things that she says.

* Though it's PlayedForLaughs, Harry treating Jordan like a person and not a faceless enemy {{Mook}}, even tossing him a cheeseburger, is very much heartwarming when one remembers that Nicodemus recruits from the desperate and emotionally vulnerable-it's probably been a long time since ''anyone,'' especially outside of the other squires, treated him like a person, much less a friend. [[FridgeBrilliance Which probably helps to explain his]] HeelFaceTurn.

* In a moment that is touching to everyone moved by [[HeroicSacrifice selfless love]] and especially to those of religious faith, Michael's willingness to deliberately leave the protection of his angel-guarded property and surrender himself into the hands of Nicodemus to spare Karrin and Harry's lives, despite knowing, as Uriel put it, Nicodemus would be "free to inflict upon [him] such pain as even [he] could not imagine." Michael knows this, but is prepared to sacrifice himself because both Karrin and Harry would do the same for him, and because he's "not the Carpenter who set the standard."

* It was in one ''hell'' of a stressful situation, but Murphy openly admitting that she loves Harry when Nicodemus tries to call her bluff as she brandishes a rocket launcher at him in close range is very heartwarming. She's come so far from the beginning of the series and having adorable {{Tsundere}} tendencies with Harry to be his closest friend and trustworthy ally. Barring Butcher doesn't do something heartrending, these two will make an awesome BattleCouple someday.

** When they first meet, Maggie recognizes Harry on sight... because Molly has been telling her stories about how he's a hero who protects good people from "Draculas". This is cute enough on its own, but takes on new levels when you remember that Harry was afraid Maggie would always see him as a big, dark, scary man thanks to what happened at Chichen Itza -- Molly has been doing her best to ensure that this doesn't happen.

** In a similarly odd and tragic way, Deirdre's dogged determination to stop the heist. It only becomes clear after Nicodemus' team passes through the aforementioned Gate of Blood ''why'' she was trying so hard to thwart her husband and daughter. To save her daughter's life.

** In a similarly odd and tragic way, Deirdre's dogged determination to stop the heist. It only becomes clear after Nicodemus' team passes through the door of blood 'why' she was trying so hard to thwart her husband and daughter. To save her daughter's life.

* For some reason, Demonreach's wanting and accepting the name 'Alfred' after Harry jokingly called it that. A running theme in the series is the power of names, and that Harry gives out names and nicknames like candy. One of which, Lash, the name he gives to the shadow of Lasciel, leads her to reject her destiny and ''sacrifice herself for him''. Which was such a powerful gesture of love that it allowed a new spirit of intellect to be born from the both of them. Considering Demonreach was only ever meant to be a guard of unspeakable things and little else, the idea that it might not only be developing a personality but doing so out of the ''want'' for one is just kind of a good moment for me.

* For the longest time, both the readers and Harry thought that when Harry was being tortured in that museum on Halloween so many years ago, no [[DeusExMachina Knight Of The Cross]] came to his rescue because he hadn't relinquished [[TheCorrupter Lasciel's]] coin. It was Butters who had to save him from Cassius. [[TheSoCalledCoward Butters]], who is now, and always had the potential to be, a [[EmpoweredBadassNormal Knight of the Cross]]. Uriel himself confirms it: [[HeartwarmingInHindsight They sent a Knight to save Harry, just not the one he was expecting.]]

* For the longest time, both the readers and Harry thought that when Harry was being tortured in that museum on Halloween so many years ago, no [[DeusExMachina Knight Of The Cross]] came to his rescue because he hadn't relinquished [[TheCorrupter Lasciel's]] coin. It was Butters who had to save him from Cassius. [[TheSoCalledCoward Butters]], who is now, and always had the potential to be, a [[EmpoweredBadassNormal Knight of the Cross]]. Uriel himself confirms it: [[HeartwarmingInHindsight they sent someone to save Harry, just not the person he was expecting.]]

** When they first meet, Maggie recognizes Harry on sight...because Molly has been telling her stories about how he's a hero who protects good people from "Draculas". This is cute enough on its own, but takes on new levels when you remember that Harry was afraid Maggie would always see him as a big, dark, scary man thanks to what happened at Chichen Itza -- Molly has been doing her best to ensure that this doesn't happen.

** All the more touching in that, of all the people who've been hoping for Harry's return, Mister is the ''only'' one with no ulterior motives or agenda whatsoever. Forget the Alpha's hero-worship or Murphy's UST or the Knights' concern for a Sword-custodian or Chicago's need for a wizard protector: to Mister, it's enough just to be reunited with the big goof who pets him and shares his sodas.

'''Harry''' That was you. Seems fair. It was your bed.

* Michael offering redemption to Nicodemus, ''Nicodemus'' of all people. The man who willingly allowed himself to be possessed by a FallenAngel. The man who has killed countless Knights of the Cross, including one of Michael's friends. The man ultimately responsible for ''crippling'' him. Michael genuinely offers a chance of redemption to Nicodemus, not just out of duty, but genuine love for a man who he sees in pain.
* In a moment that is touching to everyone moved by [[HeroicSacrifice selfless love]] and especially to those of religious faith, Michael's willingness to deliberately leave the protection of his angel-guarded property and surrender himself into the hands of Nicodemus to spare Karin and Harry's lives, despite knowing, as Uriel put it, Nicodemus would be "free to inflict upon [him] such pain as even [he] could not imagine." Michael knows this, but is prepared to sacrifice himself because both Karin and Harry would do the same for him, and because he's "not the Carpenter who set the standard."

* Michael offering redemption to Nicodemus, ''Nicodemus''of all people. The man who willingly allowed himself to be possessed by a FallenAngel. The man who has killed countless Knights of the Cross, including one of Michael's friends. The man ultimately responsible for ''crippling'' him. Michael genuinely offers a chance of redemption to Nicodemus, not just out of duty, but genuine love for a man who he sees in pain.
* In a moment that is touching to everyone moved by [[HeroicSacrifice selfless love]] and especially to those of religious faith, Michael's willingness to deliberately leave the protection of his angel-guarded property and surrender himself into the hands of Nicodemus to spare Karin and Harry's lives, despite knowing, as Uriel put it, Nicodemus would be "free to inflict upon [him] such pain as even [he] could not imagine." Michael knows this, but is prepared to sacrifice himself because both Karin and Harry would do the same for him, and because he's " not the Carpenter who set the standard."