The girl, even though she was looking at his lips, took a while to assimilate his words. To understand their meaning. It was like a blow to the head. As if he had shaken her to bring her back to reality. She raised her eyes to study his. His face had lost any hint of surprise. He was serious. More serious than Hermione had ever seen him in her entire life. There was no slyness or malice in it, just a slightly rabid composure. The flaps of his nose were vibrating. He seemed capable of screaming at her for how dare she touch him, but he also seemed to know that it had been his fault.