Percy had bristled at the knowing look from George, but had maintained his concentration on his food. He knew that if he didn't make a sufficient dent in it, his mother would fret terribly. She didn't know about the nightmares - neither the recent ones of dismemberment, nor the longer-lasting ones of Fred's death - and he planned on keeping it that way.
He nodded to Ron and Hermione as they each entered and were given plates from Molly, who shortly thereafter left to answer an owl. Seeing her gone, his Dad politely excused himself for a couple of minutes so that he could 'attend to something' in the shed.
Percy assumed he'd gotten some sort of new Muggle item that he simply couldn't wait to disassemble.
"So Hermione," he began, addressing the one member of his 'extended' family he had the easiest time conversing with, "have there been any new developments in your department?"
Only after he asked the question did he wince and glance at Ron, remembering what his brother had written the day before.