Aggie frowned, but had to agree.

"I [i]have[/i] noticed Barrel rarely interferes when his older sister is up to something..." she said. "And he just as rarely [i]plans[/i] a trick."

"And toying with other monsters' feelings, well, that [i]is[/i] rather cruel," Agnes said.

She grinned, almost a little too eager to assist.

"Shock doesn't seem to...[i]relate[/i] to such matters, so we'll just have to communicate it on [i]her[/i] terms. After all, nothing would be more [i]heartbreaking[/i] to her than a trick not going [i]quite[/i] according to plan, hmm?

"Mm-hmm," Aggie agreed.

"Just a minor inconvenience," Agnes said, "but one that will affect her for a little while."

"[i]We[/i] certainly wouldn't know anything about that," Aggie said, with a glance to the doorway where their brooms rested.

She glanced over Agatha's notes.

"You may not know [i]when[/i], but do you know [i]where[/i] she intends to strike? Because the simplest solution would be to hex her boots, then place the activation charm at the threshold."