There was no way to prove to her the subtle ways he had tried to protect her over the years. There was the quidditch world cup, he’d tried to warn her to leave when he learned the death eaters were coming. His approach had still included a slur or two, but it would have been outright suspicious if he strayed too far from expectations. And the night of Dumbledore’s death, he ensured she’d be far away from anyone who wanted her dead. 