Inspired by xCaramelle who was again inspired by a tumblr post.

What happens if Hogwarts started up an exchange program between houses?

Set in Harrys fifth year. Non-Voldemort AU.

Chapter 1

McGonagall and her inter-house-unity. They were all great friends. I mean, sure, not everyone knew everyone's first name, but it's a big freaking school! Who would?

Harry looked down at his hands. It was the opening feast, but he wasn't feeling all too hungry. Ron was sitting on the opposite side of him, and Hermione was on his right side, leaving the spot on his left open for Neville. Next to Neville sat Ginny and Luna, they'd been dating for the last year and a half or so, so Luna was always eating her meals with the Gryffindors.

See?! Inter-house-unity.

"Are you thinking about signing up Harry?" Neville asked, looking up from the letter he had been writing to his mother, asking her to send his Defence against the dark arts book to him by owl, as he had forgotten it at home.

"No, I don't think so. I mean, it sounds fun, but I like being in Gryffindor. I have all my friends here, you know" Harry answered back. His whole family was Gryffindors. Even Uncle Sirius, Remus and Peter.

"Oh, I don't know Harry, I think it would be good for you." Luna's dreamy voice butted in.

"How?" Hermione asked, putting down the book she'd been reading. Even Ron seemed to take interest in the conversation and slowed down on his 'eat as much as you can, as fast as you can' thing he had going on with himself.

"Of course, all of us are your friends, but other than me you don't really have anyone from outside Gryffindor. Even I have more friends that you Harry, and I'm a bit odd." She answered as if it was rather obvious. Sometimes Luna made a good Hermione impression without really realizing it.

"Gee, thanks Luna. And anyways, I have the week to decide if I'm going to do it, and if I am going to do it, you'll be doing it too." Harry said with little enthusiasm, not expecting the course of 'ok's and 'yes's he got.

"Are you serious? You really want to spend a whole year away from each other?" Harry asked, eyebrows up disappearing under his long black curly mess of hair.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic mate! We'll see each other in class, at lunch and at dinner. And we have Saturdays and Sundays off. We'd have plenty of time to get together, eh?" Ron spoke up, clearly getting into the idea. "Be a Gryffindor and jump into it"

It wasn't the fact that he wouldn't see his friends every day, he already knew they would easily figure out something, he was more worried over the sorting part of it. McGonagall had explained that anyone who wanted to participate couldn't simply just say where they wanted to go, but they had to do the whole hat thing and get sorted again, and Harry already knew he wouldn't be able to talk the hat out of putting him in Slytherin again.

"Who other than us do you have as friends anyway Luna?" Harry asked instead.

"I sometimes meet up with a girl in Hufflepuff and we help each other with homework. Draco and I are great friends too."

Harry scoffed. He couldn't really see the blond Slytherin ice prince being friends with anyone, let alone Luna. "Really? I didn't think Malfoy had any friends."

"Oh, really Harry!" Hermione spoke up before Luna had a chance to say anything, "We've talked about this! We're now in our fifth year! Why can't you ridiculous boys just lay this childish feud behind you?"

"You can't really just stop disliking someone Hermione! Especially if they don't like you back!" Harry said, not registering how he had sounded a little hurt.

"And he's a right ass that one too!" Ron spoke up again.

"And I'm sure you've been nothing but nasty back Ron, Harry." Luna said, again taking control over the conversation. "And you haven't gotten to know him, you know. I'm sure you'd be great friends if you just gave it a chance."

"Doubt it" Ron muttered. Both knew arguing was a lost cause. Luna was good friends with the guy, so Ginny had spent some time with him too, becoming familiar and even borderline friends. Neville had become more confident in himself and had started making friends with everyone willing to, and Hermione and Malfoy had even started to become friends over their study craziness, spending time in the library together every now and then.

"Well, if everyone is in, then I suggest we sign up for it tomorrow after class." Neville said, breaking the silence that had fallen upon the group.

"Which house do you guys think you'll end up in?" Ginny asked.

As his friends jumped into predicting where they would end up, Harry went back to his thoughts. What would his parents say if they heard he ended up in Slytherin? Uncle Sirius would certainly be mad, but he wasn't too worried about him, Uncle Remus had him under control. It was his dad he was thinking about. Mom had been friends with Severus Snape, the head of Slytherin house, but his dad had loathed Slytherins.

"Harry, eat your food." Hermione commanded, but still in a soft voice. She probably knew what Harry was worrying about. That witch is smarter than her own good.

OoOoOoOoO

Mom,

How are you? The train ride here was fine as always and the opening feast was… interesting.

I don't know if you have heard, but the school has arranged for this exchange program of sorts where you can get sorted into another house for the year.

I don't know what to do, because Hermione, with the help of Luna, roped me into doing it, but… I'm just scared about how dad will react. You remember our secret right? The one where I was supposed to be sorted into Slytherin? Dad would lose it, and I'm sure both uncle Peter and Uncle Sirius would be mad too. Even Uncle Remus will probably be a little mad!

What should I do? I can't just back out of it!

Anyways, how are all of you? How's Moo- sorry, I know you've told me not to use 'those ridiculous nicknames' as you've named them. How's Remus? I know it's a full moon tonight, but after Snape agreed to help out with that potion you told me about it seems like it's going better each full moon. Especially with dad, Sirius and Peter helping him too.

It's getting late now and classes start up early tomorrow. Good night mom. Love you lots.

Your son,

H.J.P

Harry cast a quick drying charm on the letter and rolled it together. Tying a red band around the scroll, Harry slipped over to the window where he called a school owl over, tying the letter to her and sending her off, hoping for an answer as fast as possible.

OoOoOoOoOoO

The answer didn't come until right after the last class of the day. A lump had formed in the pit of Harry's stomach by then, and he couldn't help but sigh in relief as the school owl landed on his shoulder nibbling softly on his ear. He stroked its soft feathers as he untied the letter and shooed it away after explaining he had no treats.

My darling boy,

You're such a thoughtful boy. I promise you, if any of the fools make even the smallest comment about this, they'll have to deal with me. I've already talked to your dad, and if I'm not mistaken, he's writing a letter to you now. If it's nasty you send it back to me and I'll make him eat it.

Everyone is fine and the potion is working perfectly. Last night went quite smoothly and no one got too hurt. Your Uncle Remus is recovering fine too, don't worry.

I'm glad to hear that you're stepping out of your comfort zone. You are quite a brave young man Harry, and you have proven that up through the years, but I think getting to know this other side of yourself will be good for you too. And Minerva is right in the fact that the School could use some more inter-house-unity.

I hope this reassures you and lets you see that your father and I are behind you no matter what Harry, and I hope you remember that. Love you more,

Your mother,

L.P

As soon as Harry was done reading the letter from his mom, he saw the Potter family owl flying towards him. It was a beautiful snowy white owl named Hedwig, that Moony had bought for Harry's 11th birthday. He would've taken Hedwig with him to the school, but she got too anxious leaving the house over a longer period of time. Usually she felt more comfortable sleeping in Harry's sock drawer, as she had done since she was little, so Harry had left her behind.

And sure enough, a letter from his dad was attached to Hedwig's foot. It was quite short, but it soothed Harry's doubts. James Potter might've had his school boy feuds with the Slytherin house, but it was all in the past, and he was proud of Harry. Harry was surprised to find himself getting excited about this as soon as he knew his parents were fine, and got up and made his way to Gryffindor tower.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Harry was surprised to see that so many people had signed up to do this. The line stretched for multiple corridors, but no-one seemed to be too bored. People were sitting on the floor playing exploding snap, friends were chatting loudly, and groups of people were laughing just as loud. Harry stepped over some people, not really thinking about anything, just letting his thoughts wander. He would've fallen on his face if he hadn't been playing quidditch for years, as he lost his balance when someone he was stepping over grabbed his foot. He somehow managed to flip himself over in the air and landed hard onto someone's lap.

The first thing Harry registered was that Pansy Parkinson was the one who was still holding his foot. The second thing was that he was sitting amid a group of Slytherins. And the last, the worst one in Harry's opinion, was that he indeed was sitting in someone's lap.

Harry was frozen in place as the too familiar scent of potions and some flowery soap filled his nose, and a cold voice whispered in his ear "You know, for being so small, you are quite heavy.". The words seemed to drag Harry out of his frozen state, and he scrambled up as fast as one could with only one foot to stand on.

"Parkinson, you seem to have grabbed my foot" Harry said, the resentment he had tried to lace the words with, overpowered by his embarrassment.

"Yes, it seems so." Was all Harry got as a response.

"Would you care to explain? Or at least let go?" Harry snapped, this time some anger showed in his words. Parkinson looked at the foot she was holding, as if debating if she should give Harry back the advantage of having two feet to balance on instead of one.

"Well, since you asked so nicely," she said as she dropped his foot.

In frustration Harry lifted his head and saw that they were causing a small scene. Most people were still focused on their business, but some people had taken interest in the commotion Parkinson had started. Harry noticed his friends standing a little further down the hall, particularly Hermione and the look she was giving him. 'Right,' Harry thought to himself 'civil.' He looked down at Parkinson again.

"Well, since I doubt you did it to gain my attention or to invite me to sit down with you, I'll leave." He turned and faced Malfoy, not really looking him in the eye and said, "My apologies for using your lap as a pillow to land on."

He stepped over Malfoy and out of the circle, feeling their eyes on him as he made his way over to his friends.

"Well done Harry!" Hermione said when he placed himself in the open spot leaning up against the wall.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked.

"I honestly don't know Ron." Harry said hopelessly. "I mean, I did ask, but Parkinson didn't seem to be very interested in chatting, and I didn't really feel like standing around."

"I think they were playing truth or dare." Ginny said. She too was sitting on the floor, with Luna sitting behind her braiding her hair and conjuring small flowers in multiple colours that she stuck in.

"How do you know that?" Harry asked.

"I heard them challenging Greengrass to charm streaks of red in her hair." Ginny said. And true enough, when Harry looked over to the circle again, he saw that red streaks were mixed into Greengrass' originally blond locks. When Harry actually looked, he could see that almost everyone in the circle had some sort of altered appearance, varying from colour change in clothes to physical features. Harry couldn't believe he hadn't noticed when he stood face to face with them. He really was as bad at noticing things as Hermione told him he was.

Parkinson's eyes were shifting between different vibrant colours, Malfoy had somehow lost his shoes and robes, and was wearing bright yellow socks and matching suspenders, Greengrass had her hair, and Zabini's usually black robes were bright pink with purple hearts on and he was sporting some pink heart sunglasses. Crabbe and Goyle didn't seem to be participating, but they were sitting there too, sporting two very bright orange hats.

Harry couldn't not stare at them. They didn't even seem to mind that people were giving them odd looks, they just continued laughing and playing. He wondered if they were going to sign up too. He saw out of the corner of his eye that his friends started to move, so he shifted his attention back to his group and saw that they were next in line. As the door closed behind them Harry caught grey eyes looking at him, and for a second, they had eye contact, but then the door closed.

Notes:

Haya there!

I started a new story `\('-')/´ Hope you likey :D)

Before anyone says, I do know that Daphne's blond hair is fanon, but since she has no confirmed appearance, I thought it worked fine with how I see her:)) Honestly all of the appearances in my stories are more how I see the characters :P