“Hm…” said Alvis thoughtfully, peering at the page over Philo’s shoulder. “Ah, I recognize some of those…they’re the same sort as were on the wall of the Temple of the Muses.”

He rubbed his chin as though stroking a non-existent beard, turning over some of the research he’d been accumulating for Casey’s armor. “I planned to pick up some books on old Egyptian and their writing on our way back to the hotel anyway. We put our heads together and I’m sure we can this done. Heck, it can’t be half as hard as some of the riddles the door throws our way.”

Okay, so that wasn’t likely to be true – the Ravenclaw house door riddles were hard, sure, but they weren’t impossible because they were meant to be solved by a suitably bright individual or group. This riddle was meant to hide the tomb of a powerful wizard-king. But they had two of the brightest brains in Hogwarts, the hopeful determination in Philo’s expression and Runner itself. Throw in a little elementary chaos theory (Abby Reid, as the only other person who knew Runner, would no doubt insist on coming along) and their chances seemed pretty good.

“Yeah. I think we can do this. If nothing else, we can try.”

"Sure, I mean, why wouldn't we be able to figure it out?" He hoped so. If they didn't figure out where exactly to return Runner in time he didn't want to think what they would have to do, just leave Runner there before they wouldn't be able to go back or tell a teacher.

As the shopkeeper bowed them out of the shop and encouraged them a lucky journey, Philo felt his mind swimming. This whole ordeal was exciting, in some ways, but he was getting more nervous at every turn. If he succeeded, it would get a clingy floor covering off of his hands. That is what he wanted...

...wasn't it?