Marek really didn't mind his tie being played with, even though he realized vaguely he might be leading Duke on somewhat. He wasn't sure how much the other man wanted him, whether it was enough for him to be genuinely upset about Marek being taken, but he thought there might be at least a slim possibility. Probably best to get that out there, then.
"People's families got attacked," he said, getting the worst out there first. Worst to him, anyway - and by people, he obviously meant Death Eaters in that sentence, though he used it for rebels next. "People coming off the - you know, and being angry about it." He was sort of being purposefully vague, just in case someone could overhear them.
"Others started using the journals as their own personal free speech movement. Melinda's friend and her boy buggered off somewhere. Some people got their hands on get out of captivity free cards." He took a sip of his drink, trying to remember if there was anything he hadn't covered in that vague summary of what had happened while Duke was gone. "Oh, and I met a girl that's making an honest man out of me."