Her traveling companion's shoulders relaxed. A hint of a smile appeared on his lips. Whoever was announcing their arrival calmed him down considerably. She felt slightly more at ease as well. At the very least, she knew that it wasn't a Death Eater. None of them could cast a patronus worth a damn. It was all part of their chosen profession and the darkness that was required to fulfill one's oath to the Dark Lord. Once upon a time she'd been able to cast one. A happy, carefree otter. Her poor decisions and the blackening of her soul ripped that ability from her. No matter how many times she had tried over the years, she hadn't been successful. Clearly, there wasn't much about her life that was joyful enough. Knowing that they were about to see someone who hadn't allowed Darkness to take root in their soul took away some of Hermione's anxiety.