Hermione nodded, biting back the 'I've seen worse' some part of her brain kept telling her over and over. "We all are, I think," she sighed instead.
She managed a small smile when he graciously took the heavy bag from her, "Thank you. And thank you for meeting me. I'm sorry to ask it of you, but it's important, and you're the only person I can think of that really sounds like he knows what he's talking about. And I've researched for almost a week straight and gotten nowhere." Her frustration was obvious in her voice as she walked slowly beside him. Her books seemed to have finally failed her, and at the most inopportune time.