[An hour goes by-- maybe longer. Severus is, after all, a busy person whose business William tends not to presume he knows.]

Well if that was it then--

[Was it? Would Severus actually respond (non-respond) similarly if William was actually entirely off-base? William's best guess is that he wouldn't, but it's really only that: a guess.] I am sorry. I appreciate your work and your effort and your confidence. If it weren't that or you're not cross, [which is also a possibility, William imagines, glancing back over the series of texts received and imagining the extraordinarily busy wizard rolling his eyes at his neurotic imagination in between saving lives.] I'll keep trying to figure it out.

Cheers, professor. [He flips a wave at the camera and then disconnects.]