Merriman's gaze and voice are entirely flat. 'Do you honestly think that of any of countless possible means and methods of orchestrating the Dark's defeat, I would have deliberately selected a house?'

A beat.

'It was as much of a surprise to Will and I as it was to everyone there. To say that it was an "unexpected turn of events" is understating the fact. But even if we do not understand how or why, it does not change what happened.'

And though he would not say it aloud, the unspoken addition to the end of that remark is And I for one would not have it be otherwise.