Despite the fog of panic in her head, Loq mustered enough wherewithal to conclude that this young man was unfortunately a squib. It was the only way to explain why he was rummaging around a bunch of rats with a foot instead of a wand, and offering her a piggy-back — an offer that she downright ignored. She would rather suffer a few rat bites and scuffs than the scandalous indignity of being carried away by a strange man.

But she took a breath and made an effort to quell her frustration; for it wasn't his fault that he was a squib. And besides, he was trying to help. So Eloquence glanced around frantically for her wand as well.

"Oh — there!" she squeaked, pointing wildly towards the corner of the cobbled street, where a rat was not just sniffing at her fallen wand... but picking it up in its teeth!