"I think Minerva always preferred the ones who got into trouble. She was always more adept at discipline than tea and sympathy," he said dryly. "Unless the sympathy was to be brisk and the tea was replaced with Firewhiskey. She was fairly adept at that." He snorted. "That and the castle is more aware that anyone or anything else the kind of damage untrained children can do."
"He had his mother's protection the first time," he said absently, wondering if he was curious enough about this to want to ask the boy. Or man, depending on how old Potter was. "The second time, I don't know. I only know he needed to die in order to destroy the Horcrux within him. Though that may well explain why he survived. Horcrux magic is not well understood and the Dark Lord pushed it to extremes."
He smirked then sobered. "I sometimes think that is why He often trusted me above others. Because He knew I was a half blood like him." He paused. "Well, as much as he trusted anyone." He gave a small laugh. "I doubt he would have done more than be irritated. I was his favourite..." The word was spat out with great bitterness. "...at the time." He waved a hand dismissively, not really wanting to get into the reason for that bitterness. "But yes, He is dead and so is Albus. I am... free. I'm not sure I know what to do with that."