Harry had been right, Hermione thought. School was different this year. Hardly a thing was as it was in years past. She was happy to be back, but it was like coming back to a different place.

Hermione no longer slept in her old chambers or even in the Prefect chambers she had been inhabiting for the last two years. She and Draco, as Prefects, had their own chambers at the top of one of the older towers. Her rooms were extremely beautiful, she had to admit, but it meant she was farther away from Ron.

It was only tolerable because of the bond. In the long hours of the night when she yearned to see and touch him, he would suddenly be there, in her mind, sending her warm thoughts of love and contentment. It was only when he did this that she was able to sleep, and dream of him.

Dumbledore had asked that they delay their marriage until after things settled down. It hadn't been an order, of course, but it was as strong as one. Neither Ron nor Hermione would do anything against their Headmaster's wishes.

Hermione believed that Dumbledore's misgivings stemmed from not wanting Ron and Hermione to set a new precedent in school. Hermione knew that an epidemic of marriages would be enough to bring Hogwarts to state of pandemonium. The other students would see Ron and Hermione together and think it was good idea to get married. Hermione agreed, but it didn't stop her from wanting to be with Ron all the more.

Hermione looked down at her schedule with trepidation. She, Ron and Harry still had their general classes together, which included Transfiguration, Charms for the Achieved, Advanced Potions and Care of Magical Creatures. Macgonagall still taught Transfiguration, but Hermione doubted that she would let up on the students as a result of recent events. She would always expect perfection.

Flitwick had always been a push-over and Hermione bet that they would be learning more battle oriented charms. Hermione had no idea how Hagrid might change his class, if he did at all. Snape had returned from undercover, after being caught spying. He had barely escaped with his life and had returned to Hogwarts pricklier than ever.

Hermione was also taking many more concentrated classes. Arithmancy was still a main subject in her schedule, but it had been joined by Delving, Rune Interpretation, and Education in the Wizarding World. Hermione had always hoped to someday return to Hogwarts as a teacher and she would need the class to apply for the job.

Hermione tucked her schedule into her bag with a sigh and made her way toward the Grand Hall for breakfast. Ron was there, she knew, and her first glance of him was always the most breathtaking.

Hermione walked through the archway and spotted Ron immediately. Then again, she could have walked to him blind-folded. He was sitting at a table with Harry, Ginny, Neville and Kathryn, Ron's younger cousin who was attending her first year at Hogwarts. Kathryn was a pretty girl with the trademark Weasley freckles, but her hair was a coppery brown instead of ginger. She had been Sorted into Gryffindor and Ron had cheered the loudest. She was trying her hardest to appear at ease in the presence of Harry Potter, but from the way she was looking at him, Hermione guessed that Harry had nabbed the heart of another Weasley.

Ron turned as if she had spoken aloud. He smiled brightly at her and Hermione felt her heart quiver.

(Good morning, Hermione.) he sent. The thought was surrounded by the warmth of his love and Hermione received it eagerly.

(Good morning.)

(Grab a seat. I think my cousin's in love with Harry. She'll have to go through Ginny first, though.)

Hermione laughed out loud and some people looked at her strangely. (She's a pretty girl, Ron. I think she'll soon forget about Harry and run circles around the boys her own age.)

Ron laughed, as well. "Of course she will." He said aloud. "All of us Weasley's are magnets for the opposite sex."

Harry and Ginny had long gotten used to Ron and Hermione starting their conversations mid-way, but Kathryn looked puzzled.

Ginny moved closer to Harry to make room for Hermione. Harry didn't seem to mind. Hermione squeezed in next to Ron and reached out to touch his hand. When their skin touched, she couldn't help but smile. Electric Love, she had once called it. That's what it felt like when she and Ron touched. Their bond was like a conduit for the magic that connected them. She could feel it every time they touched.

Hermione turned to Kathryn, who was staring wide-eyed at Harry. "So, Kathryn, how are you liking Hogwarts, so far?"

Kathryn eyes whipped from Harry and she blushed deeply. She looked down at her hands. "It's an awfully big place." She said in a small voice.

"Don't worry." Ginny said. "You'll get used to it. Once you start class you'll meet some people your own age and make some friends."

"Yeah." Harry said with a whimsical smile. "Believe me, Kathryn. No one could have been more out of place in their first year than I was. You'll make the best friends of your life." He reached across the table and patted her small hands. "You've already made one friend."

Hermione smiled at the small gesture. To Harry it had only been a motion of a good heart, patting her hands. But Hermione doubted Kathryn would be washing her hands, at any point that day.

A hush fell over the Great Hall and Hermione turned to see what had caused it. She soon saw Draco striding his way over towards the table. Hermione looked across the Great Hall and saw that every eyes was either on Draco or Harry.

Draco and Harry had become legends for their hatred for each other and in the past, their first contact was especially nasty. As neither had ridden the train, everyone was thinking this was their first meeting since last year.

Draco marched over to that table and sat down next to a bewildered Karen, who must have heard horror stories about the Malfoys all her life. She stared at him with nothing less than terror.

The reaction of the rest of the Hall was little better. There had been a collective sucking in of breath when Draco had sat down and everyone was waiting for the Gryffindors react to the insult. How could a Slytherin think he could sit at a Gryffindor table?

A few of the Gryffindors did react. Some of the fourth and fifth years stood, murder in their eyes. Colin Creevey was amongst them. Colin would never be a big boy, but he had grown as tall and as skinny as a stop sign. He seemed to want to set Draco straight.

Draco ignored it all. He reached across the table and grabbed an apple from one of food baskets and bit into it loudly. The crunch could be heard echoing across the Hall.

Harry turned to the Gryffindors who had stood. "Sit down." He said quietly, but Hermoine was sure that most of the Hall could hear.

Colin's eyes widened. "But Harry-"

"Sit down." Harry repeated.

It seemed being a sixth year did have its perks. Then again, it was Harry and he had always a degree of influence. Colin slid back into his seat, a bewildered expression on his face.

Excited voices broke out over the Hall as students began to talk about what had just happened. Was it a trick? Had Harry and Malfoy finally called a truce? They couldn't be friends, could they?

Harry turned to Malfoy and smiled. "From the way that went, you'd think the school had come to rely on our fighting as a source of gossip."

Draco smiled back. "It certainly had kept things regular. You sure you don't want to start it up again just to appease the masses?"

"I'm sure."

"Good." Draco said.

"At least this way you don't have to worry about a Gryffindor tripping you in the hallway or cursing you in the middle of class." Ron pointed out.

Draco sighed. "Yeah, but now I have to worry about Slytherin. Look." He said with a jerk of his chin.

Hermione turned and saw the Slytherin seventh years glaring in Draco's direction. Crabbe and Goyle, bigger than ever, were cracking their knuckles as a promise.'

"Your old gang has it in for you?" Harry asked.

Draco shrugged. "Crabbe, Goyle and a few of the others would hate me for deserting Voldemort anyway. The rest will hate me for consorting with the Gryiffindors." Draco shrugged again. "At least I don't have to sleep in the dungeons anymore. I'll be harder to get to in the Prefects tower."

"Things will probably get out of hand before long." Ron muttered. "If you need any help; let us know. We'll help you set things straight."

Draco smiled a crooked smile. "Thanks, but I don't want them in body bags. I've seen what you do to people that get you angry."

"What class do we have first?" Harry asked. "I haven't even looked at my schedule, yet."

"Transfiguration." Ron said, unhappily. "Followed by Advanced Potions."

"Potions?" Harry said. "I thought we were done with that stuff."

Ron sighed. "I guess not. Dumbledore saw we hadn't chosen a schedule and he did it for us."

"Well, I hope he has a good reason for putting me in a class with Snape and the rest of the Slytherins." Harry remarked unhappily. "I'll probably bomb the class and be out of it within a week, anyway."

"You and me both, friend." Ron said. "Dumbledore usually has a good reason for doing things." He said, almost a question.

"What else has he stuck us with without us knowing about?"

Ron looked down at his schedule. "Education in the Wizarding World and Prophesies Revealed."

"What?" Harry exclaimed. "I didn't think we had the prerequisites for those classes."

"We don't." Ron said. "Looks like Dumbledore pulled some strings with the departments."

"Oh, man." Harry sighed. "I hate getting special treatment."

Ron laughed. "Well, I'm just getting used to it, so you should stop whining."

"Yeah. Prophesies? I've had enough of prophesies to last a lifetime."

"Maybe you'll study the one about you." Hermione said brightly.

Harry snorted. "That's the one I want to stay as far away from as possible."

"You could always change your schedule." Ginny remarked.

Harry shook his head. "No. Like Ron said, Dumbledore usually has a pretty good reason for doing things."

"What's up with this Education in the Wizarding World?" Ron asked. "Does Dumbledore honestly want us teaching at this school?"

Harry thought about it. He had always imagined himself becoming an Auror and helping bring down Voldemort. But it looked like the climax was coming long before he had ever thought. Life as a teacher suddenly looked pretty appealing. "I wouldn't mind teaching here at Hogwarts, as long as I didn't get some stupid class and there were no students like myself."

"I'm taking that class, too." Hermione said brightly. "Dumbledore suggested it."

Ron brightened at the idea of having another class with Hermione, but he said, "Hermione could teach any class even without taking this class and Harry could easily nab the cursed Defense Against the Dark Arts, but what could I ever teach?"

"Your grades have always been at least as good as mine." Harry said. "They made you Prefect, after all. I'm sure you could teach anything you wanted."

Harry and Ron had always complained loudly about school, but the two of them had always done far better than average in everything except Potions.

Draco was looking down at his own schedule. "Hey, I've got that class, too."

"Say hello to Professor Malfoy, the future Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Ron said.

"This is pretty weird." Hermione said. "It seems like Dumbledore is shaping our lives for us."

Harry snorted and stood. He stretched expansively. "What's weird about that? He's been doing it for years." He turned to Ron and Hermione. "You guys ready for Transfiguration? We don't want to be late. I've heard this class is usually the back-breaker for Sixth Years."

Everyone stood and Draco said. "I'll see you guys in Potions."

"Yeah. See you then." Harry said. "Hey, Draco!"

Draco stopped and turned. "What?"

"Watch out for your old mates. By the look on their faces, they would like to roast you slowly over a campfire."

Draco turned towards Crabbe and Goyle, who were still glaring fiercely. Draco smile innocently and showed them his middle finger. Hermione could almost hear their teeth grinding from across the room.

Ron gave a low whistle. "That seals it. They'll definitely be gunning for you."

Draco shrugged. "It was going to happen anyway. Maybe I can make it happen on my terms."

They said their goodbyes and Harry, Hermione and Ron made their way towards Transfiguration. Halfway there, they spotted a strange couple walking through one of the courtyards, hand in hand. With a closer look, Hermione saw a blue shield shining on the female's cloak. She was a Sentinel on a stroll with her bond-mate. The Sentinels could be seen everywhere around school, swords on their hips. It had brought up more than one question from the students, but as far as Hermione knew, the truth about them wasn't public knowledge yet. When she saw Ron, she bowed slightly, barely bending at the hips. The Sentinels had been told to not kneel when Ron passed, but the group was far too traditional to forget all of their manners.

Ron nodded in return and the woman and her bond-mate walked slowly in the opposite direction. Ron, who was only sixteen years old and not even considered a true adult, was one of the most powerful beings on earth.

Yes, things were certainly different.