"Again, Happy Birthday," he said rather than saying it was nothing. They both knew that wasn't exactly true and it was best not to bring that point up again. Zacharias glanced over at the boy and the elf again. It was good, he was sure, this was a good thing. A strange thing, but a good one.
He didn't say anything after that. They hadn't strayed far from the front door and he could easily see himself out. His mind heavy with the thought of a child playing with his house elf and how that made him think of his own childhood and the potential childhood he might now be involved in.
At least today would be a fairly standard day for him, the tailing end of the living inferi occupation, and maybe a few other things, but nothing big. It was good, it might even give him time to make some sort of decision as he doubted that Marietta would be patient much longer - if only because she knew it could make him squirm.