This is beautifully characterized, and there's so much emotion in a relatively short piece. I love the insight we gain into Elphias' mind and the background of their long relationship. It's sweet and poignant and hopeful all at once. These lines especially hit home, especially as they're nicely understated:
Albus had always had a wicked tongue, and Elphias supposes he has the German to thank for that, though it's hard to be bitter when he was so often the joyful benefactor of Albus's experience.