"...Communing," Merlin answers after a pause, not knowing quite how to put his intentions into words and finding the prospect of doing so a bit embarrassing. He knows how it sounds. He thinks that it makes a certain amount of sense too, though, so he squares his shoulders and continues with all the confident certainty he can muster. "I've been wondering if being a snake Animagus might come with certain...perks," he clarifies, nodding toward the serpents, "Other wizards can understand Parseltongue. So it's worth a shot. So I'm listening."

He exhales a tense breath, puffing out his cheeks for a moment in exasperation before he adds, "...Nothing yet, though."