Heh, interesting communications and I do rather like the way the friendship between Harry & Hermione is intensifying through these letters. I rather hope that this process continues and negates some of the nastier aspects of canon Sixth Year. It would be amusing if the new, more aware, Harry did catch on to potions being used (if they were_ and managed to negate them before they could cause problems for him and Hermione.
Author's response
This sixth year will be VERY different than HBP. I didn't like HBP very much, and have no desire to recreate it. There may be a few things from HBP and/or DH that pop up, but by and large, things will be going decidedly AU from this point on.