Of course, his lack of presence only meant students felt more at ease to gossip.  It was tedious.  His character was called into question for "allowing" his parents to divorce.  (Because somehow as Head of the family he could stop that?)  Betty was ridiculed for not mentioning Malfoy’s Death Eater status, which of course led to a whole section of people complaining that he was even allowed into the school for the year with that mark on his arm.  Ironically, no one mentioned how he’d intentionally kept it covered, kept his head down, and certainly didn’t try to be the center of attention.