"We'll decide before hand what you'll volunteer," Percy said. "No more doing this on your own, Cass. This doesn't involve just us, unfortunately. If we give Umbridge an excuse to replace me, she will and then- I don't even want to think about what she'll do. This is still a separate department and while we do send courtesy copies of reports to the Ministry, we don't have to. This wouldn't be the first time we fail to send one." Pucey's report had been omitted, and Snape had been curtailed just for the Ministry and public opinion. They'd take steps with this as well.
Percy found that dealing with the administrative problems, no matter how unpleasant, was still easier than talking about this personal stuff. Someone else would have known what to say. Ginny would probably hug him. The twins would have probably announced how they should getting drunk. Bill would have talked and talked. Percy found none of those option too appealing.
"I'm sorry about your mother," he finally answered, because it was short, but honest. There was none of that 'I wish I could do something', because the truth was that there had been a possibility. He also wouldn't waste his breath with cliche that meant nothing. He leaned closer and kissed Cass's hair. "You will think clearly for all our sakes."