"They hardly need a reason." Just like Alfred had never needed one, but bullies rarely did. At least, at the end of it all, Alfred was occasionally nice to him and didn't do things like hex his hair different colours in his sleep.

But the American was trying to be nice and Arthur bit back what he wanted to say in favour of muttering something along the lines of 'and you'll be the one to do that I suppose'. As nice as having someone would would actively keep William and Phineas off his back would be, he wouldn't have asked anyone to face them down. They were both intelligent, capable wizards for all their other (obvious) flaws and neither of them would hesitate in petrifying someone and leaving them in the middle of the street.

"Don't be so ridiculous. Besides, I told you, they have better things to do. I'll not have anyone hurt by them on my account, not even you."