Emrys was considering how best to answer her question about what Professor Vorona looked like (he couldn't be too descriptive, because it would mean that he had taken particular notice of her, but he also couldn't be too vague and lead her to describe the wrong woman; he couldn't be too flattering or else he'd tip his hand, but couldn't be too cool or else it would make any subsequent arrangements between the two of them, should they happen, seem too abrupt) when his sister mercifully made the jump on her own and spared him the trouble.

"Russia," he mused. This was a new bit of information, and perhaps explained why he hadn't crossed paths with her before. Presumably she must have been back in England for several years now, because he knew she wasn't brand new to her position at Hogwarts. If she had returned in mourning, however, and then gone straight off to the school after that it was conceivable that she might have missed the sorts of parties he typically attended. He was selective about what he chose to attend, too (or he was when he wasn't surreptitiously hunting for a bride), which made it all the more likely. Before he could ponder too long on this point, however, Tanwen started asking him questions.

"Just making conversation," he answered evasively. "It's not often that I have conversations with your classmates. Most of the women flitting about at parties and receptions are closer to the children's age than ours."

(Yes, he did say the children because he had momentarily forgotten Liliana's name).