Do have a seat, my boy," Dumbledore said mildly, watching as Severus Snape paced his office for the hundredth time.
"I am pleased you find this whole situation to be of such little concern," Snape snapped.
It had been several days since the incident in Lockhart's duelling club and the headmaster had, up until this time, managed to successfully evade his attempts at discussion on the matter.
From behind his desk, Dumbledore pushed down his spectacles to regard the potions master.
"What is it you would have me do, Severus?" he asked.
"You don't seem at all surprised to find out the boy can talk to snakes," Snape observed. "If I didn't know better, I'd say it was almost like you already knew."
"On the contrary, I find myself most surprised by the revelation," the headmaster said, running his fingers through his beard thoughtfully. "A revelation which is as surprising as it is curious…"
"It must mean something, Albus."
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Harry would not be the first wizard with such a gift, you understand?" Dumbledore pointed out.
"Yes, but why him? Why Harry? A Gryffindor," Severus hissed, a familiar frustration at the headmaster's apparent nonchalance rising within him.
"Surely you know by now that we are defined by much more than simply our houses," the older man said. "You yourself are proof of that."
Some of his initial anger waning, the potions master came to rest against one of the stone pillars which stood either side of the headmaster's desk.
"What did Harry have to say about it all?" Dumbledore asked.
Nothing, Severus thought. I have evaded him, as you have me.
"The boy has failed to seek my company since the incident."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "What is it you really wish to say, Severus?"
Behind him, Fawkes chittered.
"There are… some who will be less than pleased to hear about my arrangement with the boy," Snape said eventually.
Dumbledore simply inclined his head.