Sam looks genuinely touched by the compliment, ducking his head shyly to hide his blush.

"Softhearted, more like; and it's not always a good thing," he says, thinking of his gaffer's admonishments over him being too sensitive. "But it's clear you're the kindest one of us, Miss Hermione; I would've said so even before you told me all that about what you did - going without food, and all!"