Remus nods in understanding; he’s not overly informed of Marlene’s family life, but he’s at least picked up that relationships with her mother are strained. Awkward dinner is enough of a hint in itself. "That’s a good way to do it."

When was the last time he had dinner with his parents? It’s been a while, he’s been busy trying to stay in a job... Well, now he feels like a bad son.

"Actually, I meant to ask-- I recommended your shop to a young woman by name of Hermione. Did she stop by?" He needed to get back in contact with her-- and Ron-- and apologize for his impatience the day he’d run into them. It’d just been bad timing. Besides that, he was curious what she thought of the situation with the Displaced, and this seemed as good a way to start that conversation as any.