Even though Billie enjoyed poking fun at him, she would never wish to be part of the reason Jimmy left without a wand. That would just be cruel. After she handed over the box, she silently decided that she would strive to be on her best behavior for the remainder of the time. An unofficial truce. Temporary, of course. Just long enough for the boy to receive his wand and pay for it. Once Fletcher was out the door, all bets were off.

However, she hadn't foreseen the explosion, and she didn't possess enough self-control to keep herself from doubling over with laughter. One look at Fletcher's sooty face and singed hair threw her straight into hysterics. It didn't help that Gideon had also laughed, which she considered silent permission not to try to stifle it. "You look like you were sneaking up someone's chimney," Billie blurted out between giggles. Perhaps, if all else failed, he could take up a profession as a chimney sweep.

While Gideon went to round up more boxes, she allowed her laughter to subside, perhaps feeling a little guilty about poking fun at Fletcher's misfortune, especially after he just been yelled at. To make it up to him, Billie whispered loudly, "Someone caught fire to the counter once, and their mother's handbag with it. So a little soot face ain't so bad." It was meant to be reassuring, but it was possible it would fall flat.