Hermione made a small, startled sound when she felt her chair jerk before feeling that large arm practically envelop her. She liked hugs well enough - missed them terribly, really - but hugs from relative strangers were another matter altogether. Still, she didn't sense that it came from a shifty sort of place, and after a moment of hesitation she agreed to lean into it a bit, even if she was still a little too bemused to properly return the gesture, genuine though it might be.

"That's... very sweet," she told him, honestly appreciating it even if she was still a bit puzzled by his earnestness. "I'll try not to take advantage of such generosity. Especially since so few people here seem willing to offer similar."

Awkwardly patting his arm as she straightened up, she offered him a small smile, showing that she really was trying. "It's rare to find someone so willing to be friendly, even if most of us here have acknowledged that we're better off working together than we are against each other."