Lips curving into a bit of an unbelieving smile— although really, she told herself, she should have known better; since when was anything really out of the question for Walter Bishop?— Hermione nodded, smile quickly widening. She didn't have too much time in her day to spare, but what was available to her often fell in the times when Harry and Ron were both off to class. (The drawbacks of not having communicated well enough during registration, she'd said.) Why not put it to productive use?

"I have the feeling that I'd be more your assistant, sir, but I would be... very grateful for the opportunity," replied Hermione with a widening grin. "If you truly don't mind. I've collected plenty of cocoa beans, and I know where to harvest them, so it's simply making the chocolate that eludes me a bit."