The head boy and head girl walked into the charms classroom. Professor Flitwick smiled when he saw them come in talking to each other enthusiastically, Hermione still holding onto his arm and Draco levitating their bags behind them. They approached the teacher and gave a happy report of their first class as teaching assistants. Flitwick gave one enthusiastic clap of his hands, congratulated them and gestured for them to find seats. They sat on the empty desk in the front row. They didn't have time to look back at the stir that their entrance had caused.

Ginny Weasley was sitting with Neville Longbottom, and she was making big hand gestures while pointing at them and mouthing "what the fuck?" Neville chuckled and shrugged. Class started and there was no more time for gossip.

At the end of the class, Draco and Hermione walked out together but Draco noticed a sudden move at his side and realized that he was walking alone while he heard Hermione's voice say loudly

"Ouch! What the f…" she cut herself off but turned to look at Ginny, who had pulled her back by the hair.

Draco turned on his heel, frowned and said

"Miss Weasley, should I take points from Gryffindor for assaulting the head girl?"

Ginny glared at him and answered

"No, Mr. Big Head Boy, I just want a word with my friend here."

Behind her, Neville gave Malfoy an amused and apologetic shrug. Draco crossed his arms and waited. Hermione said

"Ginny I don't have time right now. We are teaching the first years their first potions class. I'll talk to you at lunch, ok? No need for manhandling."

Ginny huffed but let her go, following her and Draco with her gaze. She turned to Neville and pointing to the parting pair said

"At this pace, they will be engaged by lunchtime! Someone better give me an explanation, since when is it ok to be all lovy dovy with the ferret?"

Neville laughed, offering his arm to the flustered redhead.

"Calm down Ginny. After all, Hermione is part of the reason he is not in Azkaban. The least he can do is carry her books. Heck, he should walk in front of her throwing rose petals for her to walk on."

Ginny laughed at that and took the offered arm. The truth was, she and Hermione found themselves dumped by their boyfriends at the end of the summer, when Harry and Ron decided to join Auror training and they both mumbled stuff about the difficulties of long distance and 'is not you is me' bullshit. So Ginny had assumed that they would be the new hot single girls at school together and somehow their bachelorette lives would be perfectly coordinated. Her plans didn't include an apparently reformed ferret, being all chivalrous to her friend and looking all… hot? Because apparently Malfoy had lost his bottle of hair gel and now was wearing his hair more natural, framing his face in a way that emphasized his handsome, aristocratic features. Holy shite. The ferret was a hot guy. And Hermione liked him.

She thought about all of this while unconsciously running her free hand over Neville's muscular arm. She looked up at him and it hit her. Good old Neville was not a little shy and chubby boy anymore. He was now tall, dark and handsome, all confident and suave. Oh, Merlin. Maybe the bachelorettes won't stay single for long.

Meanwhile, the teaching assistants got to the dungeons for their first potions class. The kids were waiting expectantly. The two young, attractive instructors were a novelty and the first years could not get enough of them. This time Hermione lead the class. She gave a general introduction to potion making and safety measures. Several vials of potions samples had been left for them on the desk, so Hermione took each vial and explain what the content was and they both shared anecdotes of being under the effect of different potions. The last vial was a pink potion and she smiled when she picked it up.

"Does anyone know what this is?"

A brunette girl with her hair in a ponytail bounced up and down lifting her hand enthusiastically. Hermione called on her.

"That's Amortentia. The most powerful love potion in the world. They say it even smells like love."

Hermione chuckled

"Yes, this is Amortentia, and it is a powerful love potion. But it doesn't exactly smell like love. It smells different to each person, depending on what are their favorite things in the world, and usually one of those smells is a reminder of the beloved." She couldn't help a light blush on her face. Draco was leaning on a desk, looking nonchalant. He smirked and added

"Perhaps Miss Granger would like to open the vial and let us know what she smells."

She wanted to glare at him but kept her composure and smiled. She opened the vial and all the girls in the class leaned forward expectantly, while the boys kept their eyes low, feeling weird. Hermione took a whiff and said

"New parchment, freshly mowed grass and… cauldron cakes."

The girls yipped and giggled. The boys kept looking down. Draco gave her a smirk and an eyebrow lift. She shook her head and continued her speech, hoping that her face didn't look all flustered.

When they dismissed the class the kids walked out in small groups, all chatty and excited. When they got to the Great Hall for lunch, there seem to be a group of excitable first-year girls on each house table, looking at them and pointing, not being very good at discretion.

"Mr. Malfoy is so dreamy, like, who has eyes like silver? Do you think Miss Granger is his girlfriend?"

"That would be so romantic!" squealed a girl on the Hufflepuff table, batting her eyelashes very fast while staring at Draco and Hermione, who had walked to sit at the Gryffindor table, unaware of their new fan club.

When they sat, Ginny looked at Draco and said sarcastically

"Mr. Big Head Boy, how good of you to join us."

Hermione swatted her arm while Neville rolled his eyes. Draco started filling his plate, impassive.

"I'm here for the head girl's protection. There seemed to be a few wild creatures loose on the castle, pulling hair and biting."

Ginny glared at him but then smirked

"So, Malfoy, what are your intentions with my girl here?"

Hermione kicked her under the table. Ginny didn't flinch but kept her eye on Draco. He started to slowly butter a dinner roll before answering.

"If you must know, Weasley, I find Miss Granger here delightful to work with. As for any intentions beyond that, well, that is not of your business. Or at least it won't be until Hermione here decides to share with you whatever happens from this point on."

Hermione blushed, Neville was suddenly very interested in his food and Ginny's face opened in a huge Cheshire grin. Before she could retort Hermione said

"We have been assigned shared quarters and also extraordinary duties to cover at least partially for professor Slughorn and Madam Hooch. Add to that head duty and regular classes, we pretty much spend the whole day together, so we behave like civilized humans."

Draco smirked and looked at Hermione in approval. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Whatever," she said and pointed her fork at Malfoy "you better behave Malfoy, and treat her well all the time."

Draco continued eating using his impeccable pureblood manners before answering.

"I assure you, Weasley, I won't be going around pulling her hair."

Ginny rolled her eyes but then looked around when she felt a lot of gazes directed to where they were sitting. She perked up to listen to the first year Gryffindor girls that were all giggling while staring at the group of older students.

"If they make babies they would be so cute! Can you imagine, babies with curly platinum blonde hair? They would be the cutest!"

All the girls squealed at that. Ginny looked back between Draco and Hermione, who were back to discuss plans for the next lesson that they would have with their pupils. Maybe Hogwarts really was starting a whole new era.