He had had a particularly trying year, with the idiotic Charles Weasley sneaking off into the forest at midnight to find a dragon more times than he could count. Albus and Lucius had been indirectly pressuring him to vote on their side during the Wizengamot issues. Of course, he was never stupid enough to reveal to the whole world that he received the Prince seat from his mother and that he was the Lord of the Prince bloodline. As was his wish, no one knew, and he stayed inactive during those sessions by simply not attending.