She calmed considerably when she found out that she wasn't going to get one of these intelligent - if thoroughly irritating - birds killed, and she calmed down even more when this stranger helped her with the remaining birds. Heart still racing, she breathed out, "Yes, thank you," and was about to ask after whether he was in some sort of archery club before she noticed his appearance.

Or, well, until she noticed his ears. Those were definitely the most distinctive feature amidst all of the other distinctive features.

If nothing else, though, Hermione was polite enough not to stare, and not to bluntly ask after what he was. So though she visibly faltered for a moment, she managed a small, only slightly awkward smile as she commented, "I suppose this would be a good spot for a bird feeder, if they're as ravenous as-...oh. I suppose that's where the word comes from."