To Be a Slytherin

by LujayneForge

This is about a character that I made up, Jessica Lestrange, who is the daughter of Bellatrix Lestrange. She's a Slytherin, but doesn't act like it, and it gets her in trouble a lot. Not much about Harry, but a lot of Sirius, Draco, Remus, Tonks.

1. Chapter 1

A/N: Okay so this is my first FanFiction, so if you have any suggestions feel free to tell me)

Detention. On the first day of school. How does that even happen? And to me, the person who never gets detention. Jessica Lestrange knew that this teacher was going to be bad because of the whole she was sent by the ministry sent her to interfere, not to educate thing. But no magic in Defense class? That is just ridiculous. And to give a detention to a student simply because she speaks her mind…okay so I very loudly spoke my mind, but still!

Jessica was quiet for the rest of the class period. She read her book and took notes just like all the other Slytherin students around her (although she suspected that most of them were more likely passing notes to each other, they were just really good at hiding it). But just because she read it like a good student, didn't mean that she liked a word that stupid book said. This has got to be the worst book I've ever read. It's full of crap, not even worth looking at let alone reading.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the bell rang for class to end. Jessica had Potions next, but before going, she had a matter to discuss with Ms. Toadface, which was now Umbirdge's official nickname in Jessica's mind.

"Yes Ms. Lestrange," Umbridge said obviously expecting her to complain about the detention she was given. But of coarse Jessica would definitely not be giving her the satisfaction. She was much more mature than that.

"First of all, Professor, I would like to apologize for my outburst in class today." The surprise on her teacher's face was evident, but she hid it quickly. "It was uncalled for and immature and I will keep such opinions to myself in the future." Mostly that meant that she hadn't meant to yell, but reserves her right to call her Toadface in private, but Umbridge didn't have to know that.

"That is very mature of you. Thank You. I accept your apology." Umbridge started to turn away, obviously thinking that Jessica was done. Which is why Jessica saw the need to raise her voice just a little when beginning her next sentence, though not quite to the pint where she sounded angry.

"I understand that discipline is necessary and I will serve as many detentions as you see fit, but I can't do them after school."

"Ah yes, I knew we would be coming to this." Umbridge smiled overly sweetly. "You may sound mature, but inside you're just like all the other teenagers at this school. So let's hear it, what's the excuse to be. Qudditch practice, gobstone club, choir practice. Because whatever it is, I assure you Ms. Lestrange, it will not make a difference."

"But Professor Umbridge-"

"I will not stand for students dictating when their own punishments should be. In fact it's better that you miss something that you really want to do."

"But you don't under-"

"Please Ms. Lestrange I am the teacher here and I will not hear one more argument out of you. The detention is set to when I set it. End of discussion." She started to turn around again, but Jessica wasn't about to give up until she told her side of the story.

"My turn to speak?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well I was just wondering if you were done with your little power trip there so that I could actually tell you why I can't do detention after school and tell you what I am willing to do to make up for it." Okay so maybe I shouldn't have said that. Oh well can't change that now.

"Ms. Lestrange-"

"I have class." That stopped Umbridge in her tracks.

"What?"

"Class, after school. Everyday I have to go to tutoring at West London High. It's a private high school for wizards and they teach muggle subjects. You know like math, English, and chemistry. I signed up their independent study program this year and so I have to go to see a teacher every day after school for two hours."

"And you go off campus to do this." Obviously Umbridge didn't like where this conversation was going.

"I got special permission from Dumbledore and Snape and my aunt and uncle. They all said that it was all right for me to go off campus for school. And work."

"And work?" Jessica cringed. I really shouldn't have said that. Not helping my case at all.

"Yeah I work at a diner as a waitress and my shift tonight starts at seven."

"I see. And you said Dumbledore authorized this?"

"Yes. And Snape and my aunt and uncle."

"And you want to get out of detention because of this?"

"No I would be perfectly willing to serve lunch detentions or weekend detentions or detentions on my days off, which happen to be Wednesday and Thursday if those days work for you."

"And you think that this is fair?"

"Yes."

"Well I don't."

"But Professor-"

"No Ms. Lestrange. Detentions are not given for the students convenience, they are for punishment." Jessica could sense that she was not going to win this one and so decided to back down for now instead of missing any more of potions class.

"Fine." She said. And she left without another word. "Then don't expect me to show up tonight." She mumbled into the closed door.

After classes that day, Jessica hurried to her room, changed in to jeans, t-shirt, and sweatshirt, grabbed her muggle books and flooed home. She wasted at least five minutes looking for either her aunt or uncle before finally finding Aunt Narcissa. After a quick greeting and check-in basically to tell her she was leaving, she went back to the nearest fireplace flooed to 12 Grimmauld Place. Jessica didn't know where the address would take her and was only sure of one person that would be there. Professor Snape had pulled her aside before the feat the night before and slipped her a piece of paper, telling her to floo to that address and check in with that man. Don't be scared of him, he's harmless…mostly. That's what Snape had told her last night right before telling her not to pass this information or any other information concerning that man or that location on to any one. DO NOT TELL ANYONE was the basic message.

And so she was now following those directions, if only because she trusted Professor Snape not to be leading her anywhere dangerous or life-threatening and that it was truly important that she check in with Sirius Black, who was apparently harmless. I really hope my trust isn't misplaced.

The kitchen was empty when she got there. "Hello," she called. A man came down the stairs seconds later. Although ragged looking, he still had the shadow of good looks long lost, probably from years in Azkaban. And he's sad, Jessica realized the second saw him. Very sad. And she could only take a guess as to why, being an escaped criminal only one of the many possibilities.

"Sirius Black?" Jessica asked, although she already knew the answer.

He nodded. "Jessica Lestrange?"

"That's me," she said, sounding more confident than she was. The silence was deafening, and awkward. "So I guess I'm supposed to check in with you."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What exactly does that entail?"

"Well I guess it means that you come in and say something along the lines of 'I'm alive'." They both grinned, not so awkward anymore.

" Oh, well in that case…I'm here, I'm alive. Wasn't attacked by Death Eaters or members of my own family. Which is actually pretty much the same thing. But either way, I'm alive."

"Yeah, I kinda figured that when you showed up not dead and in one piece."

Jessica smiled and jokingly said, "Well aren't you the observant one."

"Yes I have been known to observe things on occasion." Now they were both being sarcastic, but at least most of the awkwardness was gone. "For instance, every morning I observe the empty refrigerator and the one box of cereal that probably expired two months ago." He said it sarcastically, but Jessica could tell there was some truth to it.

"What you don't ever go grocery shopping?"

"No the whole, 'I'm a mass murderer' thing kinda puts a damper on things like that."

"Oh yes I can see how that could really cramp your style." At that moment they were both thinking the exact same thing, I could really start to like the guy/girl. It was the first time in a long time that either of them had been able to have friendly, sarcastic banter with anyone. No one else understood their sarcastic humor, and it was nice to know that they weren't the only one's.

"Well, I should really get going, don't want to be late for my first day of tutoring."

"No you wouldn't want to miss that." He was being sarcastic, Jessica didn't mind.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah see ya."

"Although you might see me sooner."

"Huh?"

"This place seems like a good place to hide." At Sirius' confused look, Jessica elaborated.

"I'm skipping out on a detention tonight with the new teacher, Professor Umbridge, and I might need a place to hide for a while, while she cools off."

"Normally I would ask for more information to fulfill my curiosity, but you're gonna be late so I will save them for next time, it will give me something to look forward to."

"Yeah well I have tons of questions of my own so don't think you're getting off telling me what this place is and how exactly you're harmless."

"And here I was hoping that Dumbledore or Snape or whoever sent you actually gave you information before making you come here. Won't ever make that mistake again."

"Now when have you ever known that to happen?"

"Well, there's a first time for everything."

"As much as I would like to stay and chat, I have class to be getting to, so I will see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Over the next week Jessica and Sirius got into a rhythm. Everyday at around 3:15, Jessica would pop in for a quick five minute check-in. Sirius hadn't had any food yet, so snacks were out of the question, but they chatted for a little while about just about nothing at all, and then Jessica left for tutoring. She would come back sometime between 5:30 and 5:45, which is when they would get the real talking done and when Jessica would finish her homework, or at least put a dent in it.

For the first two days, they talked a lot. Jessica learned about the Order of the Phoenix and heard the whole story of Sirius' escape and his innocence. And Sirius learned of Jessica's childhood and how different it was from his. He never thought that a child who grew up loving and being loved by Death Eaters could turn out so not a Death Eater. He learned that Draco Malfoy of all people was like a brother to her, but that her best friend, Katie Vance was half muggle and actually the daughter of an old friend of his from Hogwarts, Emmaline Vance.

That first day after their short meeting, they talked for hours. Jessica almost missed the beginning of her shift, they talked for so long. And they were fast becoming good friends. How could they not? They had the same sarcastic sense of humor, the same hate for everything their family stood for (they are related so technically it is one family), and they have the same taste in music and movies (at least they do now that Jessica made Sirius watch a couple movies with her and listen to some of her favorite bands).

"I've been caught." Was the first thing that Jessica said when she entered the kitchen Friday afternoon. "Umbridge finally tracked me down."

"It shouldn't have been too hard, after all you do live in the same school. Not that I actually know what you're talking about."

"Remember on Monday I mentioned that I had skipped out on a detention?" Jessica started her story as they sat down at the kitchen table.

"Uh-huh."

"Well I've been avoiding her all week-"

"How do you avoid a teacher you see in class practically every day."

"I was getting to that, if you would just be patient and let me finish my story you would know.'

"Right sorry. So you've been avoiding Umbridge, go on."

"Right so I've been avoiding her, escaping class right when the bell rings, not going past her office at all during the day, and basically just keeping a low profile."

"Right no exploding the toilettes or anything."

Jessica gave him a look that clearly said 'shut up and let me finish'. "So anyway, today she actually pulled me out of defense class and told me that she would see to it that I get suspended if I don't show up to detention tonight."

"So I take it your plan is…"

"To bring it up with Professor Snape and of coarse not show up to detention tonight."

"Right because that would be the smart thing to do." Clearly Sirius wasn't getting it.

"I already talked to Snape today and he said that she can't pull me out of an academic activity for a detention, but she can pull me away from work, which honestly I can really just get someone to cover a shift for me, it was the tutoring that was set in stone. But she wouldn't hear of it when I talked to her. She has a death grip on that detention time and won't move it back even a half an hour so that I can actually go."

"Oh so you actually want to go to this detention." He was joking but Jessica answered anyway.

"No, I just want to get it over with. It's been like this cloud hanging over my head for almost a week now and I just want to finish it."

"Not unreasonable."

"Yeah. Anyway I should go. I'll be back after class and we can list the many different ways to separate the Toad's head from her body."

"Sounds like fun I'll see you then." And she flooed to school like always.

She kinda reminds me of me when I was her age. Sarcastic, fun-loving, and unfortunately the problems with the family are mostly the same. Sirius was definitely growing to like this girl. At first he hadn't been so sure. The last name didn't strike him as the muggle-loving type, but she was getting off campus to take muggle courses so he thought he'd give her a chance.

And he was glad he did. He's beginning to look forward to seeing her, god only knows it gets lonely with just Kreacher to talk to. And her sometimes bubbly, always sarcastic attitude and sense of humor is a nice change to the house guests he had over the summer. Not that he doesn't love having his godson and his friends over. It's just that sometimes they act too grown up, too serious, Tonks doesn't act that serious and she's an auror. Harry may look like James, even have glimmers of the James attitude, but somehow Jessica has more than glimmers. She sees the good in every one and in every situation. She can make a joke out of anything and always manages to lift his spirits. Depression doesn't seem like a possible emotion for her. All this he already knows about her and he's only known her a week.

And he could definitely see not only James, but himself and Remus in Jessica. Maybe it was because he was looking for his best friends everywhere, especially when they aren't around, but he really can see himself and Remus. Remus because of the way she studies hard and takes her school work seriously. Until this year she had never gotten a detention. And she is so smart, without even working on it. Which makes her ten times as smart because she really does work hard. Doing every homework assignment, studying for every test, and still going to work, tutoring, and finding time to keep an old man like him company.

And she reminded him of himself when he was that age. Young, carefree, every door open for her, and yet a lot of times, all she wants to do is hang out with her friends and waste time (and then her Remus side kicks in). And of course she inherited the Black family genes. Curly black hair, seemingly flawless skin, bright blue eyes, slight of stature but a much bigger personality (common among the Black women, small on the outside, big on the inside).

However, unfortunately, she is not like most of the Blacks in one way, something she and Sirius have in common. She definitely doesn't agree with her families ideas about Voldemort and this pureblood mania. She grew up differently than he did, getting into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor being the main point, but Sirius knows from experience that Jessica has some tough years ahead and he knows that they won't be pretty.

Damn, I left my potions book at home. I guess I have to stop by there before going back to Sirius'. Jessica had been avoiding her house for the last few days, the stench of disappointment was not pleasant and so she stayed away. Her aunt and uncle didn't speak to her much anymore, and she was almost fine with that. She sometimes missed talking to them, but lately all conversations ended in an argument and she could tell they were getting frustrated with her. At least her relationship with Draco was still mostly in tact, but even that was beginning to develop ragged edges.

She looked every where for her book, and still, after fifteen minutes of searching, she could not find it. She was about to give up and just borrow Draco's when she got back to school, but her uncle found her and he didn't look happy.

"Oh. That's not a happy face." When in doubt state the obvious.

"That's because I am not happy Jessica."

"Just in general or something specific." He looked angrier. Jessica decided to forgo any more attempts to lighten the mood.

He pulled what looked to be a letter out of the pocket of his robes. "I received this by owl today, do you know who it's from?"

"I'm gonna guess it's not Santa Clause." Okay so she couldn't help that one but she's really pushing the limit now. Lucius' glare used to scare her, but recently it's lost it's charm, probably because of the multiple times it's been directed at her in the last couple of months.

"No it did not come from Santa Clause. It's from Hogwarts."

He opened the letter to reference. "A Professor Umbridge writes to tell me and your aunt that you have received a detention and have knowingly and purposely not attended said detention. It states that Professor Snape has informed her that she can't legally make you skip your tutoring for a detention, but she thought we might want to know what is going on in your academic life at Hogwarts."

"Oh so I'm not going to be suspended, that's a relief." Oops, I should not have said that. Uh-oh there goes the vein in the forehead, he's really mad now.

"SUSPENDED. YOU WERE GOING TO BE SUSPENDED!"

"She told me if I didn't show up today that I was going to be suspended, but I went to Professor Snape and he said she couldn't so I didn't worry about it."

"I knew it. I knew that this letting you off campus thing was going to bite me in the ass. I shouldn't have let you and Professor Snape and Dumbledore of all people talk me and your aunt into letting you do it."

"What?! No! This has nothing to do with that." But it do no good as her uncle was too angry to even respond to her.

"This should not have happened."

"I know I'm sorry."

"I should not be getting letters from teachers about you skiving off detentions, hell you shouldn't be getting detentions."

"Did I mention I was sorry?"

"Sorry won't cut it. I knew I shouldn't have let you start studying that muggle stuff it's obviously done something to your head."

"What thought process could have possibly brought you to that conclusion?"

"Well nothing else has changed this year so it's got to be the new classes."

"Or maybe it could be because that new teacher doesn't know what the hell she's doing and is not even teaching us she's just making us read this stupid book! No magic in defense class! How could I not say something?"

"Oh no, don't you go blaming the teacher for your detention and your decision not to go to the detention. Take responsibility for your actions, isn't that what I've always told you? You've also never had a problem remembering that little lesson before either. You can see now how I can draw my conclusion to these new classes you're taking?!"

"No because I was studying those muggle subjects for years before now!"

"You what?!"

"It doesn't matter now." She probably shouldn't have mentioned anything, and this fight could be over by now, but Jessica didn't care anymore whether their fights ended or not.

"Oh yes it does. You've been going against all this family stands for, for years now and I didn't even know."

"It's no different now that you know so why should it matter."

"What's happened to you?"

"What are you taking about?"

"You used to agree with everything I said. You were convinced that what I said was the truth and wouldn't hear anything else. You were proud of this family. Or were you just pretending then too?"

"I was a little girl uncle, I grew up."

"Draco was little then too, he didn't change." In other words, 'Draco's the perfect child and we want you to be exactly like him and all his other pre-Death Eater friends. It was particularly upsetting for Jessica to hear that. They might have gotten into fights before, but Lucius had never until now stooped so low as to suggest that Draco was better than her, or to even compare them.

"I have to go Uncle." And without another word, she left her very sad and very disappointed uncle standing in the hallway. Her uncle may think that she doesn't care about this family anymore or that she doesn't care about his opinions anymore, but the truth is she does, it's just that they don't really agree with what she thinks, and sometimes the only way she can let that be known is by making it seem like she doesn't care anymore.

But she does care. To much sometimes. She cares so much about the direction her family is going that it hurts sometimes to think about it too much. But it's fights like this that seem to leave her with nothing else but her family to think about.

Jessica arrived at Headquarters late that night, and through the front door, her arms filled with grocery bags. She had gone on a grocery shopping trip more to clear her head and to have the ability to have a smile on her face before heading over to see Sirius than anything else, she didn't want to burden him with her problems. After being careful not to make too much noise in the hallway, she started to put the groceries away in the kitchen.

"Sirius I'm back!" she called up the stairs, now out of the 'red zone' as she and Sirius liked to call the area where there is a potential for his mother's portrait to wake up.

"Hey Jessica," he said, coming down the stairs. "I was going to ask why you were so late, but now it's obvious. What's all this for?"

"For you of course."

"You went out and bought groceries for me?"

"Yeah well I got tired of you not having any food when I came over, so I bought you some. And me I guess."

"Oh so this was a completely selfish act."

"Basically."

"Okay so what'd ya get me?" He said as he started to pull things out of the bags on the table.

"Well you got your basic breakfast foods. Pop Tarts in various flavors, frozen waffles, Fruit Loops, and Cocoa Puffs. And then you got your snack foods. Granola bars, Oreo cookies, chocalate chip cookies, some other kinds of cookies I've already forgotten their names, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and I think there are some twinkies in there somewhere."

"I assume you got some food that can be made into a meal that's not breakfast right?"

"Oh no I thought you only ate breakfast." She laughed at the incredulous look her gave her. "I'm just kidding. Of course I got you other food. Let's see we've got frozen pizza, some chicken pieces, and of course tater tots. Oh yeah and I got some bottled water and coffee and milk."

"Just the way I like my groceries. Not a fruit or vegetable to be seen."

"Of course what kind of person do you think I am?" They finished unpacking the food and started to fold up the bags. Jessica took out the Oreos and poured two glasses of milk and they sat down for a snack. Jessica didn't really feel like talking, so that sat in silence for a while, leaving Jessica to think.

"So how was tutoring." It took a little while for Jessica to answer, lost in her thoughts as she was.

"Huh, oh it was fine, same as always."

"You work tonight?"

"Yeah, at seven."

"Have much homework?"

"Tons."

"You gonna tell me what's wrong or do I have to go all the way to twenty."

Jessica looked down at her plate of cookies.

"It's nothing, I don't really want to talk about it."

"Well I can tell it's not nothing just by the look on your face right now. But of course if you don't want to talk about it, we don't have to talk about it."

"Good, 'cause I really don't want to talk about it."

"That's cool, we can not talk about whatever's bothering you, I can do that." A moment's silence. "Okay no I can't. You know you can tell me, I might even be able to help. Please Jessica?"

"It's stupid. I just- I had to go back to my house before coming here because I forgot my potions book, and after like fifteen minutes I was about to give up, but then my uncle found me and he got a letter from Umbridge and he yelled and I yelled, and it got kind of ugly. And it finally ended with something along the lines of 'why can't you be more like Draco' and so I left."

"He actually said 'why can't you be more like Draco'?"

"Well no. But he implied it."

"Well see, maybe you're reading too much into this."

"I really don't think that that's the case Sirius."

Sirius sighed.

"I'm not going to pretend like this is going to get better. I would be lying to you if I said 'all will be forgiven' or 'it was just one fight, you'll forget about it and move on'. With things like these, it's never just one fight and it's never completely forgiven." When he saw that Jessica was looking even more downcast he added, "But if it would make you feel better I could lie to you."

Jessica chuckled a little.

"No that's okay I see what you're saying, I just don't like it much."

"I know you don't. No one ever likes to disappoint their family. Even I had my moments when I regretted the decisions that I made. But it's one of those choices that you have to make, whether to stay true to yourself or to pretend like you're someone you're not for the sake of your family. It's never easy."

"I know, I just wish…"

"I know. Believe me I know. But you'll get through this. Look at me I turned out just fine. Except for that whole 'I'm a mass murderer' thing."

"Well yeah except for that you turned out great." A smile genuinely back on her face, Jessica was back to her old self again, even better than before because now she knew that when things with her family got too hard, she had an adult, and a friend, to go to for comfort and advice. And that was a really good feeling.