"Yes." Dumbledore hummed lowly, steepling his long fingers in front of his face before looking up.
Well aware of the thoughts of failure running through the younger man's head, Dumbledore wasn't sure whether to feel sorry for the potions master, or pleased: Perhaps this show of incompetence would remind the man who was capable of orchestrating great plans and who wasn't. "Now, Severus. You know that Rodolphus is not Tom Riddle, and Tom's favor to you most likely shall not pass on to Rodolphus. I believe you will most likely have to work to receive his trust. Afterall, Rodolphus belonged to an elite clique with Lucius and Rabastan, and trusted no others."