Alfred couldn't help but laugh at Evander's suggestion that Zelda's father would warm to the idea given 'time to get to know him.' Time was one thing they'd had an abundance of since his first attempt to ask to court Zelda, and Brannon Fisk had shown exactly no interest in getting to know him. Nor was Alfred convinced that it would do much good if he did; what on earth could the two possibly have in common, other than a fondness for Zelda?

"That's quite charitable of you to think so," Alfred said lightly. "But I'm not as sure. Perhaps he'd only like me less." This was mostly a joke — Alfred was still capable of putting on a nice, respectable show of things. He didn't often feel inclined to do so, of course, but he could likely avoid offending his potential father-in-law.

After they got past this next bit, of course, which would absolutely offend him. But Evander didn't need to know about that — so in response to his comment about Gryffindors, Alfred only said, "Yes, I'm sure you're right. I'll think of something."