Severus advanced slowly. He didn't want to scare her more. "Hermione," he whispered when he was still a few feet away from her. It was a disadvantage that her back was to him.
She visibly jumped, but swung around instantly. The look of pure terror on her face pushed aside any residual anger. She pushed away from the tree, and at first he thought she was going to run from him again. Instead, she ran at him.
He allowed her to crash into him and wrapped his arms around her in comfort. "It's okay. It's okay," he tried to soothe.