Bellatrix twisted her face into a crazed grin.
"Yes… such a pity. I remember it clearly. It was your first birthday party. If not for that wretched Narcissa, you would've been dead already!"
Karmit chuckled. "Unfortunate, really. You failed to kill me then, and you won't get another chance now."
Bellatrix's laughter turned eerie, broken, and sharp. "The Dark Lord will return. And you, bastard child of a traitor, will die by my hand!"
Karmit smiled pleasantly, unfazed.
"I look forward to the attempt. Now then—let's get down to business. Where is the key?"
Bellatrix blinked, then burst into wild laughter. "So that's it. You came for the key. I won't give it to you!"
She retreated back into the corner of her cell, eyes filled with manic defiance.
Karmit sighed.
"I knew it wouldn't be simple."
He lifted his hand and gestured casually.
Bellatrix was ripped off the ground and slammed against the bars. Her hair scattered, her eyes widened—not with fear, but surprise.
"So, you do have some spine," she sneered. "Stronger than that pathetic traitor of a father you had. What now?
Planning to torture me?
I face Dementors every day. You think you can frighten me?"
Karmit tilted his head. "Your mind may be broken, but your willpower… I will give you that."
Bellatrix smirked coldly.
"But instead of wasting time torturing you…" Karmit said, "…perhaps I'll just let you tell me what I want."
A faint blue gleam flickered in his eyes.
He cast Legilimency.bBellatrix's expression froze.
But only for a moment.
She snapped back to awareness with a snarl. "You dare use Legilimency on me?
Foolish child. My Occlumency may not match Severus Snape, that half-blood vermin, but it is far beyond your reach!"
Karmit sighed.
"As expected. I didn't think you'd bother learning Occlumency. I assumed your brainpower went entirely into Dark Magic."
He raised his hand.
In a flicker of motion, the wand of elderwood and basilisk nerve slid into his grip.
Bellatrix's eyes went wide. "You… you actually retrieved that wand? Damn it!
I was going to present it to the Dark Lord!
If not for Ollivander refusing to hand it over, I would've delivered it myself! You filthy little bastard—you have no right to wield it!"
Karmit ignored her ravings.
The Black ancestor who forged this wand had added his own blood into its making. Blood that ensured only a true Black could command it.
It was a security measure as much as a power amplifier.
Voldemort using this wand?
As if he'd even know where to hold it.
Karmit tapped the wand gently against Bellatrix's forehead.
Legilimency surged forth.
Bellatrix's mind opened like a book—pages exposed, thoughts whispering, defenses crumbling under the wand's immense power.
Within seconds, Karmit found the memory he needed. He lowered his wand and flicked his wrist.
Bellatrix was tossed back into the same filthy corner of her cell.
"So she hid it in the vault," Karmit murmured. "Troublesome."
He turned.
"Come. Time to find Sirius."
Belinda's voice was sharp with fury. "Master, should we not kill her? She insulted you!"
"Leave her," Karmit said. "She's still useful. Let her rot a while longer."
Belinda obeyed, though not without a parting glare at Bellatrix.
Two quick Cruciatus Curses cracked through the corridor.
Bellatrix screamed.
Karmit didn't bother stopping Belinda. He simply walked on.
They reached another cell.
Inside, a large black dog lay on the stone floor. At the sound of footsteps, it rose and shifted, reshaping into the gaunt, hollow-eyed form of Sirius Black.
Sirius examined Karmit carefully. "You're… Regulus's son?"
Karmit nodded.
"And why are you here?" Sirius asked.
"There's a key," Karmit said. "It's in your possession. I need it."
Sirius hesitated only a moment. "I do have it. And yes—I heard Bellatrix screaming. That was your doing?"
"Why?" Karmit replied. "Planning to avenge her?"
Sirius snorted.
"Hardly."
He removed a pendant hanging from his neck— and inside it, the second key.
He held it out without hesitation. "Your father was a hero."
"That doesn't require your validation," Karmit said coldly.
Sirius froze, momentarily speechless.
Karmit added, "Since you're still technically family, I'll share this:
Harry Potter is about to start Hogwarts.
And soon, you'll receive a surprise of your own. I expect we'll meet again."
Without waiting for a reply, Karmit turned and walked away.
Behind him, Sirius's eyes lit with sudden hope at the mention of Harry—
only to dim again, clouded by guilt.
Because of him, James and Lily had trusted Peter Pettigrew.
Because of him, Harry was left alone.
He curled back into the shape of the black dog and lay down silently in the shadows.
....
Karmit, Belinda, and Bilair stepped back into the icy corridors.
Belinda asked, "Master, where is the final key?"
"In Bellatrix's vault," Karmit replied.
Belinda processed this instantly. "After she was imprisoned, her wand was confiscated by the Ministry.
Master, I can retrieve her wand, brew Polyjuice, disguise myself as her, and enter the vault to take the key. I can go pluck her hair now."
Karmit raised a hand.
"No need."
Belinda stopped mid-step.
"We'll just take it," Karmit said.
"If they won't hand it over, we'll rob them."
In truth, he had considered Belinda's plan. But there was no time— he'd be leaving for Hogwarts soon.
Brew Polyjuice?
Break into the Ministry? Too slow.
Better to simply walk in and take it. As for Gringotts being "one of the safest places in the world"…
Please.
It had been attacked more times than anyone cared to count.
And Hogwarts?
Look at Harry Potter. If not for plot armor and Dumbledore babysitting him, the boy would've died ten times over.
Belinda hesitated. "Master… attacking Gringotts sounds… risky."
Karmit's lips curled into a confident smile. "Don't worry. Someone else will draw their attention for us."
__________
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