To Bite Without Fangs

'I'm Andromeda the most different of the three,

There's many things in my house with which I don't agree,

I should not be saying this but I don't feel like a Black

It's crossed my mind to run away and never look back,'

'Black Family Anthem' - The Parselmouths

I sometimes wonder why I was put in Slytherin. I was not sly, nor was I cunning, and I had no desire to be part of the crowd who placed blood status over personality. My blood is 'pure', if you wish to bring that into questioning, as I was born on the 17th June 1955 to Druella and Cygnus Black, two members of the most prestigious pure blood family (not that I was particularly thrilled to be associated with them). I had power and money and influence, though I cared for none of them.

My sisters, however, are perfect Slytherins, if you wish to be given an example. My younger sister, Narcissa, was a beautiful young girl. Cissy was only a year younger than myself, though she seemed much more fragile and quiet than she should be. She was sweet, until she learnt her status amongst wizard kind, and had always been popular amongst her friends in Hogwarts. She was, naturally, sorted into Slytherin. She grew up to be icy and perfect, like a statue carved out of ice. Anything but the girl who loved to play dress-up when we were children. A Slytherin.

My elder sister, Bellatrix, was probably as Slytherin as you could get. Looking back, something was clearly wrong with her even then. I think Ted used to suggest it was a 'Multiple Personality Disorder' but I suppose it was passed off as rebelliousness and attention seeking back then. She was smart and witty, but temperamental. She epitomised an ideal Slytherin: pure of blood, attractive, sly, manipulative. No wonder she soon fell into the Dark Arts. I wish I could have helped her.

Still I am placed under the green banner of Slytherin. Does that define me even now? Do people still see me as a woman placed in a house that is 'evil'?

Saying that I'm not a Slytherin is complicated. I can't see myself anywhere else. Its common room was my home throughout my young life and, despite my wonder at why I was placed there, I wouldn't change it - at least, I don't think I would. I'm not loyal like a Hufflepuff or I wouldn't have left my family to shatter and fall without anyone to pick up the pieces. I'm not brave enough to be a Gryffindor or I would've joined the order like Dora. I'm not logical enough to be a Ravenclaw or else I wouldn't have made half the mistakes I have during my life. No, I fitted nowhere else. My ancestry and blood called for the Slytherin house and the Sorting Hat answered it.

I also believe he placed me there to protect my sisters. I failed that task. Narcissa was manipulated throughout the war and her husband was taken to Azkaban for being involved with the Death Eaters. And Bella... she was lost. It just wasn't her who tortured Alice and Frank. It wasn't her who killed her cousin and niece. She hadn't been my Bella for a long time.

And I just ran away. A snake without a bite.

Authors Notes: This was written in about 30-45 minutes and was just a quick drabbly thing to get me writing again. Odd, that the two characters I write the most are Andromeda and Narcissa, but Bella is my favourite xD This was written for the 'Sometimes I Think We Sort Too Soon Challenge' over at the HPFFC forums. Go there NOW! And be challenged my friends.

Virtual cookies for reviewers! Ellie x