This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Word Count: 514

Title: A Slytherin By Another Name

Note: AU- Slytherin!Harry, who befriended Draco, set during Firenze's time as professor.

Warnings: Prejudice maybe?

Beta:

International Wizarding School Competition:

[School]: Durmstrang

[Prompts]: (Dialogue) "How many centaurs does it take to light up a single wand?" / "Two… one to say the spell and the other to keep remarking how bright the wand is tonight"

[Theme]: compound word-type

[Position] Exchange 1

The four friends were sitting beneath the trees next to the lake. Hermione's nose was borrowed in Ancient Runes; lying on her stomach; and the boys were chatting about their recent lessons.

"I still believe Father is going to complain about this," Draco said, referring to the situation with Firenze.

"Mate, you don't even take Divination." Ron rolled his eyes. It was no secret to anyone that the family feud had left some residual bitterness, yet both of them made a conscious effort, especially since they both wanted to be named Harry's best friend (although Harry knew he would never choose between them, hence using his intelligence to not only keep the group together, but avoid more bitterness to fester). "Your father really has no say in the matter either."

"Of course my father has a say," Draco said, raising his eyebrows at the redhead.

"Regardless," Harry interrupted quickly. "For now, Dumbledore can still appoint teachers, so he can choose however he deems fit." Harry let out a soft chuckle. There was no doubt that despite the man's best intentions, Dumbledore has made some questionable choices in teachers before.

"For now," Draco repeated. "Let's just hope the Pink Toad doesn't manage to take over entirely," he shuddered. "What if she becomes Headmistress?"

"Let's not think about that just yet," Harry said with a small smile, he had learned a lot from his house, and Draco, about controlling his emotions, and despite Umbridge's constant attempts to bait him, he didn't once lose his temper and give her the satisfaction of knowing she was in control, Ron, however, had not been as lucky.

Silence fell over the four friends for a while, and Draco wondered how best to resolve the situation. Harry looked tense, Ron slightly scared, and despite her pretence of being engrossed in her reading, he knew she was afraid, and perhaps slightly annoyed too, Draco knew how much she hated bad teaching.

"Hey Hermione," Draco said, causing the brunette to look up from her book, Harry almost laughed, as he could see the strain it took not to comment on being dragged away from her studies. "Want to hear a joke?"

"Alright then," she said with a small smile, and propped herself until she was sitting up. "Let's hear it."

"How many centaurs does it take to light up a single wand?" Draco said with a smirk.

Hermione glared at him. His upbringing still caused problems with him making insensitive comments, despite having learnt to call her Hermione, to his father's dismay.

"Two… one to say the spell and the other to keep remarking how bright the wand is tonight," Ron surprised them by finishing.

"Ron Weasley, it does seem I may have underestimated you," Draco said, and they laughed.

"That is horrid," Hermione exclaimed angrily, slapping her Ancient Runes book shut with a thud. She jumped to her feet, stuffing her book into her bag. Harry watched, but he knew Draco had gotten the response on purpose, it had distracted her, and that was his aim. They weren't called cunning for nothing.