"This," he said with a vague gesture towards the table. "— is alcohol. I rather thought you were familiar with it," he joked dryly. "Don't tell me you've gone all innocent because this bloke wants to marry you. You won't be any fun at all."

He was teasing, of course. He knew what she meant. She hadn't expected this, because she'd expected everything to be different, after their last conversation. Best to dispel that notion right away, though, because it was the last thing on earth that Alfred wanted.

"I invited you for drinks, remember," he pointed out more quietly. He didn't have any hidden agenda or ulterior motives, here. He just wanted things to be like they used to be, before they'd gotten complicated with silly magic spells and sarcastic letter exchanges.