It shouldn't have surprised him. Most of the Slytherins had similar stories. But did all of them have to follow in their parents' footsteps? He could just imagine what would make Anthony say something like that about someone. It wasn't much in the way of an answer or an insult, but it said enough to make Ioan bristle. Ire rose in him and his shoulders bunched. There was nothing he could do at the moment, but once they were on the train, or back at school...
"I should've been here," he muttered, mostly to himself and hoping Anthony didn't hear. He knew better; there was nothing he could've done. It was let them kill his parents or let them imprison him. He couldn't protect everyone, and he knew that, but there were moments still when he felt utterly helpless.
"That's shit, Ant," he said, louder this time. "I'm sorry. He seemed nice. I even spoke with him through the journals the other day. If I'd known, I - I wouldn'tve."
Ioan ran a hand through his hair and finished the last half of the firewhiskey in one long swallow.
"Christ, I feel like I've missed everything. It's like I stopped living for seven months or something. I know I said I didn't really want to talk about it, but I need to know what happened last year while I was gone. If not now, soon."