As Miss Dippet reached for her own wand Rufus brought his own out of his pocket. Surely between the two of them they might find something, anything, that would work. He cast a glance at the maid, or perhaps even the maid might have something to contribute as she wanted her mistress struggle. But it appeared like there would be no help from that source as the maid remained waiting the two like a confused owl waiting for a letter and glancing back at the festivities. Rufus sighed and got to work.

He'd been a moderately decent student in school but Alvin had always been the one who had succeeded in such matters. Charms had been a decent course, he'd even pulled decent marks in it - that was until he was offered his position and decided he really didn't need the last half of his seventh year after all. Now transfiguration, he actually could hold his own. But it wasn't like he could transform their hands into something else. One, the lady might not handle that well, and, two, likely they'd end up still stuck together - or even causing worse harm to their hands. Rufus needed his hands for his job, he couldn't jeopardize that. No, instead he began going through charms that he could remember, starting with alohomora.

He didn't really notice as Miss Dippet attempted the same until they both appeared unsuccessful and their frustration had begun to rise. At her suggestion he noted her increasing agitation in the slight tremor in her tone and almost sighed. What did an old man have to do with solving anything unless he too was good at charms. But as he had no further ideas and could hardly think of an objection if the old man were able to get him out of this particular predicament. "Well let's see if he knows a fix to this one, then." Rufus tried to coat his tone with patience. It was going to be a long day.