There was a weird atmosphere in the room — something between excitement and nervousness. Oh, well, maybe he was also imagining things. He had had a similar feeling while going up to the fifth floor even though he was perfectly allowed to be here. Atha’s assurance that this would not be about chess was somehow making him feel even more on edge. He decided to stop glaring at Nick, giving him the benefit of the doubt that there was a reason to have them all gather in a classroom. Nick could hardly have told everyone present as little as he had told Vi and him. There was no reason for the others present to follow Nick blindly, prefect or not. Was there a reason for him and Vi to do so, though? Apparently he trusted Nick despite having told himself that he couldn’t trust anyone but his own family? But then, there was also no reason not to trust his friends.

At first ignoring the students that arrived after him and sat down before the chess boards, he finally noticed that the chess pieces looked as if they were in the middle of a game; they certainly weren’t where they usually stood at the beginning, that much even he could tell. Also, nobody payed the chess boards the slightest attention but looked up to where Nick and some plum little girl stood. They were expecting something… something cheerful? Maybe he was going crazy. Or his mood was so bad that he thought everybody else was full to the brim with cheer. His temporary alleviated annoyance at Nick returned. Would it have hurt so much to tell them what was going on?

Busy with sulking, he almost missed what Nick was saying. His head snapped up, and he looked quickly to Nick, then to Vi, repeating the action until he felt that his face was turning red. He looked down at his feet. This was about them. Nick wanted to help. Sure, it wasn’t only Vi and himself who were concerned, but apparently Nick had planned this also as a surprise for them. He wasn’t quite sure whether he thought that was an extremely stupid idea or whether it was very thoughtful. Still, it had been wrong to be as rude as he had been. He tended to forget that Nick’s mother was also Muggleborn, and though he knew she was safe, it still had to be hard. “That… I guess… it’s… thanks,” he told some point behind Vi’s head. “Does anybody… have we all… lost someone?” He really shouldn’t speak in public, he only ended up embarrassing himself.

That was a more difficult part. Lost-- he was sure some of his friends had died. Justin was who-knows-where, but it. . .it wasn't the same as the Stroud twins, who had lost their mother. Friends were different-- friends moved on, friends drifted, teens sometimes did stupid things, got caught up in messes and duels. Accidents, usually.

Not murder, like what Arthur was referring to. Athazaz couldn't speak to that, couldn't speak to the same feeling that must come with losing a true parent, much as Justin was his dad. Guilt twinged in him, because while he was sure Justin loved him, it wasn't the same. He'd known life without Justin; Arthur and Violet hadn't really known a life without their mother. Unofficial stepfather who had been rich enough to get his parents gone too, had holed up on some island last time verses Mum, missing for months, and a public face in the magical world-- it was easy which one was greater.There wasn't the same community about it. "I think a fair amount of us have somewhat, but. . ."

He took a breath. For him to say, or not to? He wasn't sure. He never knew. Best for Nick to say it, maybe.