History TearJerker / GhostStory

* The way Mort tries to both comfort Murph and spare her pride by simply blocking everyone else's view of her breakdown is deservedly on this book's SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} page, but Harry's thoughts in response to seeing it belong here; "Damn. I wished I'd been bright enough to see what kind of guy Morty was while I was still alive." Harry's had plenty to regret over the course of this book, but while the others were major disasters that were the result of hasty decisions in impossible situations, this minor one is somehow much more personal. Unlike the other decisions, Harry's misjudgment and poor treatment of Mort was caused purely by his disdain for a practitioner who (in his judgement) was not using his gifts properly, and now Harry, in what may be his last moments interacting with the mortal world, realizes he made yet another mistake which he'll never get a chance to set right. The fact that this is the sort of minor, everyday sort of mistake that ''could'' be fixed with something as simple as an apology, and now he can't even do that, makes that line all the more poignant.

** The next scene following Harry's escape is even worse - Now on the lam, Harry starts to [[ItsAllMyFault viciously berate]] and [[UsefulNotes/VictimBlaming victim-blame]] ''himself'' [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids for not having "known better" about Justin and Elaine]]. He'd opened his heart up to someone for the first time since his father's death, and ''this'' is how he was repaid. In this scene, it becomes incredibly clear why Harry has such severe abandonment issues and disrespect for authority figures.

* The flashback scenes showing how a teenage Harry came home from school and discovered how Justin [=DuMorne=] was EvilAllAlong, finding a dazed Elaine sitting on the couch next to a ''straitjacket'' and Justin lording over them both. What makes it especially sad is just how '''devastated''' Harry is about the first guardian who had ever showed him (seemingly) genuine care since his father died showing his true colors as an utter monster. Pretty much ''anyone'' [[AdultFear who has ever had to deal with an abusive caretaker]] will feel Harry's pain here.

** The next scene following Harry's escape is even worse - Now on the lam, Harry starts to viciously berate ''[[VictimBlaming himself]]'' [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids for not having "known better" about Justin and Elaine]]. He'd opened his heart up to someone for the first time since his father's death, and ''this'' is how he was repaid. In this scene, it becomes incredibly clear why Harry has such severe abandonment issues and disrespect for authority figures.

** The next scene following Harry's escape is even worse - Now on the lam, Harry starts to viciously berate ''himself'' [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids for not having "known better" about Justin and Elaine]]. He'd opened his heart up to someone for the first time since his father's death, and ''this'' is how he was repaid. In this scene, it becomes incredibly clear why Harry has such severe abandonment issues and disrespect for authority figures.

* Harry finally realising the depth of [[spoiler: Molly's]] feelings for him and being guilt-ridden over his belief that he can't reciprocate.
* In fact, just how devastated both Murph and Molly are by [[spoiler: Harry's death]].
** More specifically, at the end after [[spoiler: Mort rescues the day]], Murphy breaks down in tears. It's heartbreaking.
*** The way Mort tries to both comfort Murph and spare her pride by simply blocking everyone else's view of her breakdown is deservedly on this book's SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} page, but Harry's thoughts in response to seeing it belong here; "Damn. I wished I'd been bright enough to see what kind of guy Morty was while I was still alive." Harry's had plenty to regret over the course of this book, but while the others were major disasters that were the result of hasty decisions in impossible situations, this minor one is somehow much more personal. Unlike the other decisions, Harry's misjudgement and poor treatment of Mort was caused purely by his disdain for a practitioner who (in his judgement,) was not using his gifts properly, and now Harry, in what may be his last moments interacting with the mortal world, realises he made yet another mistake which he'll never get a chance to set right. The fact that this is the sort of minor, everyday sort of mistake that ''could'' be fixed with something as simple as an apology, and now he can't even do that, makes that line all the more poignant.
* Sir Stuart's [[spoiler: breakdown from being a mighty ghostly warrior to just another shade.]] Fortunately, [[spoiler: by the end of the book he's recovered a measure of himself and agrees to join Uriel's organization.]]
* The entire sequence where Harry finds out just ''who'' he's looking for. [[spoiler:He was sent back to find his murderer, which it turns out was ''him''. He arranged to have Kincaid shoot him and then had Molly wipe his memory.]]
* Related to the above, when Harry [[spoiler:has his memory restored[[note]]In this case, restores means more ''brought to mind'' rather than spliced in from a backup, since "No memory is truly lost"[[/note]], he remembers his conversation with Kincaid.]]
--> '''Harry''', on the phone: Hey, [[spoiler:Kincaid]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Kincaid''']][[note]]Sounding happy to hear from him, based on previous experience [[/note]]: Hey, Harry!
--> '''Harry''': I... need a favor.
--> [[spoiler:'''Kincaid''']]: [[FlatWhat Oh.]]
--> '''Harry''': There's going to be a new Winter Knight.
--> [[spoiler:'''Kincaid''']]: ({{Beat}}) It's like that.
--> [He's an assassin that always completes the job. There's only one reason for this type of call, and one reason ''Harry'' has "inside information" that a W.K. switch will occur....]
* The goodbye sequence, when [[spoiler: Harry asks Uriel]] to show everybody will be okay. Seeing Thomas, cope failing, and his BeautyIsNeverTarnished self all messed up and disheveled was one thing; but then [[spoiler: seeing little Maggie sleeping peacefully in the home of the Carpenters guarded by Mouse]] was enough to turn on the waterworks.
* I literally teared up at Thomas and Justine. In making herself available to him again, she also makes herself vulnerable to every other White Court vampire. And she does it without batting an eye.
** Thomas's love protecting her wasn't a one-time effect. It will be renewed each time he has her, so she's not at any risk unless some other WCV happens to break in right after Justine does it with the girl but before she does it with Thomas. She's as safe as she ever was.
** On the other hand, think about what happened the last time she and he got intimate. She knows that she's risking that every time she's with him, but she does it anyway.
* The point where Harry realizes just how far gone his apprentice is, and the scene in the restaurant where he witnesses her breakdown.
** Molly's just a walking TearJerker. She's so much more broken than even she realizes, as evidenced by her BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind.
** Ensign!Molly's line while watching Kirk!Molly and Spock!Molly fight: [[spoiler:[[WhamLine "I'm sorry. They've been like this ever since she killed you."]] Despite being little more than an accomplice to Dresden's suicide, Molly's been feeling as much guilt as if she pulled the trigger herself.]]

* In this book, we see the reactions of some of Harry's friends and family. Can you imagine how Michael and Ebenezar must have felt?

* Harry finally realising the depth of [[spoiler: Molly's]] feelings for him and that he does not reciprocate.

*** The way Mort tries to both comfort Murph and spare her pride by simply blocking everyone else's view of her breakdown is deservedly on this book's HeartwarmingMoment page, but Harry's thoughts in response to seeing it belong here; "Damn. I wished I'd been bright enough to see what kind of guy Morty was while I was still alive." Harry's had plenty to regret over the course of this book, but while the others were major disasters that were the result of hasty decisions in impossible situations, this minor one is somehow much more personal. Unlike the other decisions, Harry's misjudgement and poor treatment of Mort was caused purely by his disdain for a practitioner who (in his judgement,) was not using his gifts properly, and now Harry, in what may be his last moments interacting with the mortal world, realises he made yet another mistake which he'll never get a chance to set right. The fact that this is the sort of minor, everyday sort of mistake that ''could'' be fixed with something as simple as an apology, and now he can't even do that, makes that line all the more poignant.

** Also, one of the few items Forthill does have in his room is a King James Bible. As Catholics don't use that version of the Good Book, it must have been a gift or bequest from a good Protestant friend, received in the spirit of their mutual Christian faith. Whom do we know of who was a Protestant (Baptist) and a very close associate of Forthill's for many years? ''Shiro.''

* Related to the above, when Harry [[spoiler:has his memory restored[[note]]In this case, restores means more ''brought to mind'' rather than spliced in from a backup, since "No memory is truly lost"[[/note]], he... remembers... what he did to Kincaid.]]

--> '''Harry''': There's going to be a new Winter Knight.[[note]]Harry will be the new Knight, and he's trying to set a plan to avoid some of the after effects of pledging himself to Mab.[[/note]]
-->> [[spoiler:'''Kincaid''']]: ({{Beat}}) It's like that.[[note]]No matter what happens, someone '''''has''''' to die for putting him through this. He's an assassin that always completes the job....[[/note]]

* Mister's reaction to Ghost Harry.
** And Mouse's

** Also, one of the few items Forthill does have in his room is a King James Bible. As Catholics don't use that version of the Good Book, it must have been a gift or bequest from a good Protestant friend, received in the spirit of their mutual Christian faith. Whom do we know of who was a Protestant (Baptist) and a very close associate of Forthill's for many years? ''Shiro.''

** Also, one of the few items Forthill does have in his room is a King James Bible. As Catholics don't use that version of the Good Book, it must have been a gift from a good Protestant friend, in the spirit of their mutual Christian faith. Whom do we know of who was a Protestant (Baptist) and a very close associate of Forthill's for many years? ''Shiro.''

-->> [[spoiler:'''Kincaid''']]: {{Beat}} It's like that.[[note]]No matter what happens, someone '''''has''''' to die for putting him through this. He's an assassin ran hat always completes the job....[[/note]]

-->> [[spoiler:'''Kincaid''']]: {{Beat}} It's like that.[[note]]No matter what happens, someone '''''has''''' to die for putting him through this. He's an assassin ran hat always completes the job....[/note]]

* Relatw to the above, when Harry [[spoiler:has his memory restored[[note]]In this case, restores means more ''brought to mind rather than spliced in from a backup, since "No memory is truly lost"[[/note]], he... remembers... what he did to Kincaid.]]

--> '''Harry''': There's going to be a new Winter Knight.[[note]]Harry will be the one Knight, and he's trying to set a plan to avoid some of the after effects. [[/note]]
-->> [[spoiler:'''Kincaid''']]: {{Beat}} It's like that.[[note]]No matter what happens, someone '''''has''''' to do for putting him through this.[[/note]]

--> '''Harry''', on the phone: Hey, [spoiler:Kincaid]]

** More specifically, at the end after [[spoiler: Mort rescues the day]], Murphy breaks down in tears. Its heartbreaking.

*** The way Mort tries to both comfort Murph and spare her pride by simply blocking everyone else's view of her breakdown is deservedly on this book's CMoH page, but Harry's thoughts in response to seeing it belong here; "Damn. I wished I'd been bright enough to see what kind of guy Morty was while I was still alive." Harry's had plenty to regret over the course of this book, but while the others were major disasters that were the result of hasty decisions in impossible situations, this minor one is somehow much more personal. Unlike the other decisions, Harry's misjudgement and poor treatment of Mort was caused purely by his disdain for a practitioner who (in his judgement,) was not using his gifts properly, and now Harry, in what may be his last moments interacting with the mortal world, realises he made yet another mistake which he'll never get a chance to set right. The fact that this is the sort of minor, everyday sort of mistake that ''could'' be fixed with something as simple as an apology, and now he can't even do that, makes that line all the more poignant.

** More specifically, at the end after [[spoiler: Mort rescues the day]], Murphy breaks down in tears. Its heartbreaking.