He could tell Anders was a very happy man and he was pleased about it. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like having this hanging over him for so long and then suddenly for it to be gone.

The Broomsticks was fairly empty as they entered.

"You are still one hell of a flyer Anders! Thinking about returning to it professionally?" Marcus asked as a barmaid brought drinks to them.

Anders rubbed his nose thoughtfully as he sipped at his drink. "I don't know, really," he said, eventually. "There are so many options...and I think if I were a little honest, I'm a bit afraid of playing Quidditch again...the accident...you know, it's a lingering memory..."

He shuddered. "I don't know. There are other things to consider...maybe I'll see what happens and let it be. What do YOU think?"

"About the Quidditch? Well, it's a short-term career even for the best player and I can appreciate with the memory it might be hard to give yourself completely to it. Or did you mean about other things"

Anders grinned. "Everything, really. I mean, I've found out so much...that I'm not the son of that lunatic Dafydd Grimalkin...that I'm actually the same age as you after all - imagine. I lost two years somewhere along the line...on top of all that, Emrys Hawkwood has publicly approved me as a suitable match for his daughter - in time...I'm exhausted!"

He sipped on his drink again and momentarily the smile faded. "But I don't think I'll have a job past the end of term. And that's worrying me some."

"I don't think I can really comment on that point. I know you realised there would be consequences to falling in love with Nimue even given the chaste nature of the relationship."

He looked at his friend his eyes obviously full of kindness, "Look, I don't judge either of you. Love such as yours is a rare thing. There are those that would though."

"However, as so much else has worked out for you - have a little faith that something will present itself. How are you feeling now with regards your memory following Dafydd's full withdrawal? I know you said before you felt as though you'd lost a fair amount of knowledge."

A look of fear flickered across Anders' face. "I'm not one hundred percent certain as to exactly how much I've forgotten," he said. "There are huge gaps in my knowledge. I think I'll have to take several tests to see just where the gaps lie. They seem to be mostly in the charms area, which isn't TOO bad, plus I was never any good at Transfiguration anyway. I don't think I'll be getting much of a magic-dependent job, to be honest."

He fell silent for a few moments. "I have one very real career option to explore, but that will involve even MORE studying. Not that there's anything else I could be doing with my time." He drained his butterbeer and leaned towards Marcus. "How about something a little stronger than butterbeer? Just to toast my freedom, our friendship, and the rest of our lives?"

"Anders, I have every confidence you'll regain your knowledge. Plus, the Ministry will be paying you compensation that I expect will be quite generous and give you the breathing space you need.

I won't press you for details on your other option. You obviously are putting in a lot of time thinking things over. I will however be happy for us to have something stronger with which to make some fine toasts!"

"Let's do it!" Anders grinned. "Why the hell not? I haven't had a good drink for what seems like ages."

That's because it WAS ages: Anders had tended to steer clear of alcohol knowing that it had a habit of reducing him to a giggling schoolboy, and he'd wanted so hard to impress in his teaching job...

...Well, if now wasn't a good reason to celebrate... ...when was?

"You know neither have I.," said Marcus. "After the tension of the last few days I think we really need to as well."

Anders got to his feet and walked across to the bar, returning soon with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. He poured Marcus a glass, then one for himself.

"To freedom," he said, starting the toasting.

Marcus clinked glasses with Anders, "Freedom!" "You know it's weird that we're really the same age. When's your birthday?"

"February 13th," said Anders, "although who really knows? I know what YEAR I was born now...and I guess I could figure it from when Sirius and my mother...uh..." Despite himself, he blushed furiously. "Y'know."

He drank the wine in one pass, suddenly so thirsty for it that it was ridiculous. He motioned to Marcus to do the same and poured a second glass.

"To friendship!" he said, with another toast.

"To friendship!" said Marcus thinking this was an excellent vintage. "I think the date is right from what Emrys was saying but the year had him baffled until Sirius popped over to see him about another matter. Strange how life works out isn't it?

Anyway, yes I guess I am still slightly younger than you. My birthday is in March."

"Very strange," agreed Anders, not so much noticing the vintage as the fact that his head was already starting to become muzzy. Two pieces of toast represented his entire repast for the past day and a half, and as a consequence, the alcohol was going straight to his head. He poured them each a third glass of wine, emptying the bottle with a faint noise of disappointment.

"Right. Well, as the older and therefore wiser of us, I suggest we get ridiculously drunk." He raised his glass. "To Nimue. The girl I love."

Marcus also had been too pre-occupied the last few days to think about eating or sleeping and was already a little light-headed.

"To Nimue!" he said this rather loudly clinking Anders glass with enthusiasm. A pretty barmaid, the one whom Marcus had been carrying on a flirtation with for some time, made a derisive remark plainly aimed at him.

"Ouch!" Marcus said, wincing slightly.

"You know," said Anders, leaning forward a little conspiratorially, feeling exceedingly drunk and barely noticing the fact that the barmaid had deposited a second bottle of wine on the table. "You know, I think I'm a bit jealous of you, Marcus."

He picked up the new, full bottle and registered his surprise before pouring them each another glass. "You and Nimue are...really close...you get to spend all that time with her...and I'm not allowed to..."

"There's no need to be Anders. If I had the sort of feelings towards her or she towards me that the two of you share, I dare say I wouldn't be allowed to spend time with her either for propriety's sake. I'm family anyway so it's natural that I feel like she's my little sister."

Marcus smiled, "One day I hope I can feel for someone what you feel for her and receive that kind of love in return. You're a very lucky man and believe me it won't be that long until the two of you can spend time together. Emrys has invited you to spend some time with them over the summer hasn't he? What more could you ..? No, I shouldn't ask that but you take my meaning?"

"I think I'm a bit worried about that," admitted Anders, up-ending the empty bottle a little sadly. "I mean, I love Nimue very much, of that there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever. But to meet with her whole family...I dunno...I guess I'm a little intimidated by that."

"You make it sound like some huge extended family. As far as I am aware there will just be Nimue and her parents, maybe a few family friends dropping in and of course myself for a couple of weeks or three depending."

He poured them another glass. "Though maybe you mean her Mother? After all she was the engineer of the betrothal and Rose Ward is her best friend. She's a lovely lady as you might guess knowing Nimue and I am sure she'll be very welcoming. Plus she's bound to be up to her eyeballs in finishing her project on the development of the Tarot."

Anders stomach rumbled loudly and he blushed. "Want to eat? Soak up some of this alcohol? Or shall we..." A wicked very un-Anders-like grin. "...just carry on with the drinking?"

He smiled at the suggestion of food, "Well we could do both you know. Even on this much wine I don't fancy we'd be welcome at table tonight! Yet I don't dare order anything here but you might get away with it. My name being currently mud!"

Anders grinned again, hugely. "In that case..." He got to his feet, a little shakily, and wandered to the bar, where he placed an order for another bottle of wine and then returned to the table, two menus in his hand, and a strange expression - somewhere between confusion and triumph on his face.

"Madam Rosmerta says she read about my 'success' in the Daily Prophet and that we're to have whatever we like from the menu - on her - not to mention the bottle of champagne she's sending over to the table. People...actually believed in me all this time, Marcus! It's so hard to get used to!"

He handed his friend a menu, a faintly befuddled look marking his features.

"That's fantastic! And of course people believed in you." Marcus took the menu and scanned through it and had another hit of wine.

Then he started, the alcohol somewhat delaying his response time, "Gods - Anders! I hadn't thought about The Prophet!" said Marcus. "I haven't seen the papers today. One has to wonder what Miss Skeeter might have said or insinuated. I mean it must have been overall good about your freedom and being cleared of all charges but.."

"Maybe we should find a copy," Anders said, rubbing the end of his nose thoughtfully. Then he grinned broadly, taking up his glass.

"To hell with Rita Skeeter and her stupid poison pen. Let's just enjoy ourselves. Before Dumbledore gives me the sack." The words were serious, the tone was not. He cast a perfunctory glance over the menu. "I'm going to be dull and have the chicken," he declared, waving his finger around. "And when I've eaten the chicken, I'm going to have dessert. And when I've had dessert...I'm going to...er..."

He hesitated, having forgotten mid-sentence what he was going to say. "Er..." He blinked. "More wine?"

"Agreed." said Marcus cheerfully, "We can find a copy of the paper later. No point worrying about what's already been said."

He accepted the wine with thanks. "I'll think I'll have the salmon and...yes dessert .. this is a fine menu lets' have starters as well shall we?"

They were obviously settling in for a very enjoyable evening!

************

As to what the Paper said: