Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. However, I do own OC, non-canon and fictional magic.

A/N: Thanks for the suggestions! Y'all's reviews are an amazing boost! I'm writing as fast as I can create, edit, upload. I will not remove the italics then since it did not seem to bother anyone else. *WARNING* this has a graphic Bellatrix Lestrange scene.

Ch. XXIV: Executing

Sirius sighed once he returned finding his House-Witch standing in front of the Hogwarts-styled blackboard, frowning.

"What is it My Lady?" Sirius asked as he released Kreacher's hand.

"I know we've said there are seven Horcruxes." She said slowly as she pointed to the quadrant associated to gathering information. "But something doesn't seem right, Lord Sirius."

Now Sirius is worried. "Well, the four Founders' artifacts," he said slowly as Séraphine adamantly shook her head. "No," she interrupted. "Godric Gryffindor's sword was never a Horcrux." She said as she looked at him worriedly. "The Dark Lord wanted it to be." She reminded him as Sirius rushed toward his desk and opened a warded drawer containing Regulus' final correspondence.

"You're right," he said heavily. "Technically Harry is the eighth Horcrux but really there are still seven." He glanced between his servants. "If we destroyed the Locket, the Cup and the Diadem...and Harry destroyed the Diary and...Quirrell," he winced. My poor godson, you committed murder in self-defense but where was Dumbass in all this? You're just a child. He closed his eyes briefly as he recalled his House-Witch sharing everything she learned from the Ghosts' tale. "Then five are down...which is going to make Moldypants even more dangerous...he might be gathering forces…"

"Kreacher has a suggestion," the House-Elf announced surprising everyone. "Perhaps we utilize...Lupin and send him in with Mistress Cissy...it might incite Mistress Bella and she would be more willing to tell information? Or have Lupin go with Master Moody to Little Hangleton? Either way, Kreacher thinks we need to recruit the Goblins once more."

Sirius stared at Kreacher. "You're brilliant." He said sincerely. "Please go to Lacie and ask her when we can convene since we have new material."

Kreacher straightened, a funny look on his face. It is the first time Lord Sirius said something nice to Kreacher. He thought amazed.

Sirius grimaced once Kreacher left. "Well, Séraphine," he said. "Looks like we have to come clean and move toward finishing off Moldypants." He gave wry laugh. "Maybe we can destroy him by Christmas? Wouldn't that be a charming gift for everyone involved?"

Séraphine nodded. "I wouldn't worry too much about the Goblins, sir." She pointed out. "You could just say you came across the letter and sent me to Hogwarts to verify it and I'll mention I found the Diadem and did away with it. Nothing more needs to be said." She gave a little shrug.

Sirius relaxed. "Thanks," he commented. "D'you think we're getting ahead of ourselves? I do think Kreacher is right with sending Lupin with Moody but not with Cissy."

Séraphine smirked at him. "I think we ought to send Lacie along." she said her dark eyes glittering dangerously.

Sirius raised his brows. "What makes you say that?"

"She was friends with Lady Longbottom," His House-Witch said soberly. "and she's no friend to Lady Malfoy."

The wizard nodded. "Which means she'll keep an eye on things for both parties." He remarked. "And she is a Healer so her presence wouldn't be barred from examining the patient."

Who knows...maybe she'll make things merciful or more interesting for ol' BellaBitch.

Sirius' grin reminded the House-Witch of a Black Grim.

She smiled back.

Lacie listened closely to Kreacher and pulled out her Tapping device, relaying the information and asking for permission to oversee the trip to Azkaban.

She would be somewhat affected. She could not perform a Patronus Charm; however, she did have a few Goblin tricks up her sleeve with getting past Azkaban with the Director's help to the Azkaban Warden.

"It's a go," she told Kreacher.

Kreacher smirked. "Kreacher will bring Mistress Cissy to the Bank's Conference Room, from there we will go together."

"Thank you, Kreacher." She said smoothly as Kreacher Apparated.

She burst out laughing. "Oh Lord Black," she said, wiping a tear. "You're a credit to your Heir."

Remus paced, promptly wishing he did not have breakfast as Kreacher appeared and held his hand stiffly to Remus to take.

The Werewolf arrived as the grandfather clock struck nine o'clock.

"Mister Lupin is here as requested, Lord Sirius." Kreacher announced as Sirius looked up from his papers.

"Thank you, Kreacher." he said simply. "You may go fetch Cissy and Lacie."

Surprised, Remus looked between the civil master and servant as Kreacher fulfilled his order.

"We're on good terms after hashing a few things out." Sirius said airily. "I'll need to bring you up to speed." The wizard gestured to the small, round table and chairs for Remus to sit as Sirius joined him.

"I'm all ears," Remus muttered, glancing at the Hogwarts-styled blackboard interestedly.

"BellaBitch is going to become a Squib due to some financial and House of Black maneuvering." Sirius began without preamble as he tea appeared. Remus raised a brow at both Sirius' candidness and his lack of alcohol. I'd drink myself into oblivion. He thought, trying to rework his features.

"That would...kill her slowly and painfully." Remus commented.

"Torture befitting of my Noble and Most Ancient House," he inclined his head to Séraphine.

She eyed Remus coldly.

"Please sit, My Lady," Sirius gestured courteously.

Remus started at her. "You're a House?" he asked inelegantly, causing Sirius to face-palm.

"Indeed," the House-Witch answered coolly.

"Alright," Sirius said clearing his throat. "To business, please," he glowered at Remus. Really, have some tact, man. He thought irritably. Even after rotting in Azkaban I still possess it. What's your excuse? Are you trying to hit on her, too?

"Anyway," he continued. "We've destroyed five Horcruxes out of seven," he said. "My Lady," the wizard turned to her. "would you mind bringing the pensieve over so we can explain everything first that we've done over the course of several months?" Sirius planned with Séraphine to show everything related to the Goblins, the DMLE and Hogwarts associations without making it personal to Remus. "We figure it will take us a few hours to fully manage it and I assume you'll see something we don't. Then, we would like to have you go visit Moody and Madam Bones and infiltrate Little Hangleton. Her Ladyship will enable you to capture the Horcrux and she will dispose of it here under the House's magical protections." Sirius explained. "After which, we'll decide what to do with Dumbledore and this Dark Witch."

Remus blinked at the information overload. "So, Dumbledore and this Dark Witch worries you more than...Riddle?" Remus found Voldemort's identity laughable. I mean...he's so pathetic being unable to inherit a vault due to his orphan status and then he was so smart before being a sadistic, evil bastard.

"Yes," Sirius said flatly. "I'm not being arrogant. Only factual." he continued shrugging. "He's more or less a done deal with Pettigrew in the mix. Furthermore, I need to have definitive proof of destroying Moldypants and bring Pettigrew alive which should be a bargaining chip and send a message to anyone―notably Dumbledore―not to mess with Sirius Orion Black's kid." He glared at Remus to gainsay him on his paternalistic claim on Harry.

"And...should you bring this proof, you really think Fudge is going to let you alone? Reward you citizenship rights? Or Dumbledore?" Remus pressed. "He might just take it out on Harry."

Sirius grimaced. "Let's show him what we've been doing, My Lady."

"With pleasure, Lord Sirius." The House-Witch replied, her dark eyes glittering dangerously at Remus.

She summoned the pensieve and the three reviewed the whole morning.

Narcissa fidgeted in her emerald-black robes. She carefully pulled her cowl over her distrinctive blonde hair.

She gasped as Kreacher appeared, his pale blue eyes regarding her icily. "Mistress Cissy must come with Kreacher."

"Y―you're alive?" She sputtered.

Kreacher glared at her. "And Kreacher heard and saw everything. Kreacher suggests you do not make anything worse for yourself and treat Kreacher with respect because Kreacher reports directly to Lord Sirius." He glanced at a disdainful Lucius Malfoy from the back and held out his hand professionally toward Narcissa.

Blushing, Narcissa took his hand, her silence an affirmation.

They Apparated to the Bank's Conference Room and after coldly informing Narcissa she would be attending Lacie took Kreacher's other hand.

Normally, House-Elves could not enter Azkaban. However, Lacie represented Goblin interests and requested Kreacher to the Azkaban Warden. The Azkaban Warden looked the other way.

He is not stupid to mess with the Goblins and had no interest in affecting his business relations. One glance at Narcissa made him wish he could have Bellatrix Black Lestrange's gold and assumed this was a Last Will & Testament.

Bellatrix Elladora Black Lestrange* licked her fingernails by the small window bringing in the harsh, grey light from the sea air.

She turned her head toward the sound as she smiled wickedly at the bribed wizard jailer she used with her Black Dowry gold courtesy of her dearest, youngest sister.

Bellatrix half-crawled. Her thick, curly black hair a tangled mess as she held her hands toward the jailer.

She reveled in the jailer's doberman Patronus' light abating the Dementors' influence. Of course it'll be so much worse once it leaves. She thought grimacing. Still, these visits enable me to have shampoo and the like...I can't wait to leave. The Dark Lord must be gathering his forces if my arm is anything to go by for the past five rounds.

The shackles promptly shrunk to fit her too-thin wrists as she rose unsteadily to her feet. Her arrogance replaced as she stared down the jailer from her aristocratic nose. She is not stupid to push it despite her delusions of grandeur and intermittent paranoia courtesy of the Dementor Hotel.

She was led to an empty cell where an invisible Kreacher and Lacie awaited.

Bellatrix smiled in a mocking, loving manner toward her sister.

"Bella," Narcissa said. Her smile forced. Bellatrix internally shrugged. She'd crack in five minutes here.

"Cissy," she said as the jailer stayed next to the door. His Patronus providing relief as he muttered the Mufiliato Charm* about his head per his contract with Narcissa.

"Here are some samples," Narcissa said handing her sister the customary unscented shampoo and soap she brought.

"Thank you," Bellatrix said casually as she slipped it in her ragged dress pocket.

"Bella…" Narcissa trailed nervously. "Has your arm been burning?"

Bellatrix eyed her sister cunningly. "Is Lucy not liking the pain?" She sneered. "It just means the Dark Lord is gathering forces like Barty Crouch, Jr. and Pettigrew."

Narcissa frowned. "I thought Barty died?" she asked uncertainly. Please be lucid. She internally begged her sister. Something useful for Draco's safety.

Bellatrix laughed maniacally. "That's what Senior wants you to think. He let his dear, old wife take Junior's place and slipped him free. He's definitely going to hurt that Potter brat and help the Dark Lord, I only wish I could help him." She sighed and twirled her matted hair to the side. "As for that loathsome rat," she nearly spat. "He'll make his way to him in one of the safe houses for the Dark Lord." Bellatrix said shrugging.

"Oh," Narcissa commented. "Bella, I brought someone to give you a reprieve."

Bellatrix's face contorted. "I bought her off," Narcissa quickly said.

Lacie appeared and courseyed to Bellatrix as a servant to a Pureblood Lady. Surprised and pleased she eyed Lacie interestedly. "You're a Goblin Healer," she made it a statement.

"Please open your mouth," Lacie said as she pulled a toffee from her bag. "This will enable you to rebuild your strength." Lacie kept her face blank and her movements professional.

Sensing no deceit and trusting her sister, Bella obediently opened. Her white tongue flickering for Lacie to see. Dehydrated and unclean gut. She noted automatically.

As soon as the Dark Witch swallowed she knew something is terribly wrong.

Her black eyes rounded on Cissy.

"I'm sorry, Bella," Narcissa whispered. "I'm to give you your Last Rites before you die along with information...he has my son." Narcissa partially lied. Let her think it's the Dark Lord. My son is forfeit if I don't get any information.

Bellatrix's neck snapped toward the Gobliness.

"You're going to die a Squib in the heart of Azkaban along with your husband and brother-in-law," Lacie said succinctly. "You have no choice but to answer my questions because it contained dissolvable Veritserum." Lacie rolled her shoulders back. "That won't relent until I decree it."

Lacie knew Kreacher had stunned the jailer when he rubbed his nose looking down. Now he is deaf and blind to all that transpires. She thought wickedly.

"What are the Dark Lord's whereabouts? Who are his followers?"

"He usually hides in Albania, the Lestrange Manor and the Crouch Manor." Bellatrix said dully. She drooled slightly, as her body went slightly slack. "His followers are all the DEs here and the traitors Peter Pettigrew, Lucius Malfoy and Barty Crouch, Jr."

**WARNING**

"How did you get inside the Black Libraries without being Heir or Lord or Lady?" Lacie asked, surprising Narcissa.

"I had sex with Reggie because the Dark Lord told me to." Bellatrix answered. "Since I took his virginity the House automatically granted me pseudo-Lady Black status because he was considered Heir by my Uncle Orion and Aunt Walburga; and I was able to infiltrate all of the Black Libraries and stole the spellbooks that furthered the Dark Lord's interests."

Narcissa gaped at her sister. On Merlin's blood! She thought wretchedly. The same age as Draco! At that moment what little love Narcissa had for her sister shriveled up and she wiped her tears and glowered at Bellatrix determined to see this through.

"How old was Regulus Black when you had sex with him? Was it his choice?" Lacie asked icily.

"He was a third year," Bellatrix answered dully. "I was 23-years-old* and had been married to Ro for three years and discovered Ro and Rab committed incest so I made certain they became infertile due to the Black Marriage Wards." Bellatrix's neck lolled to the side. "I was very unhappy and tried to make it good for Reggie; but in the end I wanted to have Reggie's child so I could be Black Regent." She looked at Lacie. "I Obliviated him as a courtesy to my malleable cousin."

"Did you have a Black Heir?" Lacie pressed.

Bellatrix shook her head. "Reggie realized what happened and asked Kreacher to take something to Ro. Ro was under Kreacher's influence and the letter I opened and inhaled made me permanently infertile as punishment. I never realized what happened until after Reggie died and the spell broke with his death on Ro who admitted it." She chuckled. "Clever bastard; I resolved to harm Kreacher before I was imprisoned but remembered what use he'd be to me if I was nice to the simpering thing." She scoffed. "Then, I'd kill him slowly since he was the only one Reggie loved besides that blood-traitor Sirius."

Disgusted, Lacie continued with her grueling interrogation. She noted the Veritserum made Bellatrix's nose bleed.

"Your sister will read to you," She said caustically. "You cannot speak or scream or eat. You will be tormented by Dementors in full and your magic will not protect you from Azkaban's effects. You will die an excruciating, slow, inglorious death with no help from the Dark Lord. You will know you've committed treason to him and all his secrets will be used for his demise. You will never know who did what to whom or how. You will suffer worse than the Longbottoms." Lacie bared her Goblin fangs. "Never mess with a Goblin's friends, BellaBitch."

She stepped aside and carefully eyed Narcissa who read Bellatrix's punishment as the dawning horror, rage, and agonized guilt appeared in the shackled Dark Witch's face. You can't take away my magic. Bellatrix denied vehemently, her vengeful expression full of dark promise. The Dark Witch could sense that magical spark flaring in full force. She could feel a maniacal laugh bubbling within her as she recognized it may be unattainable; but it is still there inflaming her magical core. And when I get out, I'll take Draco―only worse than I did Reggie and Make. You. Watch.

"In sum, Bella," Narcissa said softly. "You've been disinherited, disowned, ophaned and disenfranchised with all your monies going to Madam Longbottom for restitution. Furthermore, there will be Line Extinction. It is not considered Line Theft per wizarding law adheres to primacy and supremacy from Lord Black. Merlin's blood, Bella," She swore, shaken. "You committed statutory rape on Reggie of all people. For that alone, I hope you burn." Narcissa said turning from her sister. "I don't want to know what further crimes you've done, Bellatrix," Narcissa choked. "and I will do everything in my power to assist Lord Black as restitution for Reggie's stolen innocence and murder," She shuddered. "The same age as my child." She looked over shoulder damning her eldest sister. "I loved you and realize you never knew what love is." Narcissa spat. "I use to pray that you would be gifted with a child of your own." Narcissa gulped, horrified. "Now, I'm thankful Reggie had foresight; because any child of yours would have suffered unspeakably." Narcissa glowered at her sister. "Lord Black is the fiercest, vengeful enemy to all who harbor ill will toward his child. Your treason to Our House and to Tom Marvolo Riddle, Jr.―a half-blood orphan," She hissed. "will make him rue the day he is born and I will personally celebrate over your grave."

Lacie and Kreacher turned themselves invisible with House-Elf magic startling Bellatrix.

The jailer glowered at Lady Malfoy who passed him several Galleons. "My apologies." She said simply. "This is my last visit to my sister." Surprised, the jailer nodded warily and glanced at Bellatrix, noting her mouth sewn shut by magic.

Didn't know the witch had it in her. He eyed Narcissa with new respect. He led them to the Azkaban Warden's office and pocketed his extra gold. Definitely going to miss these profits, though.

As they passed Rabastan's and Rodolphus' cells, Narcissa's Narcisse snake* Patronus slipped into the cells and shoved the toffees in her brothers-in-law respective mouths. She shuddered as her Narcisse snake left her and moved closer to the doberman Patronus while she heard the Lestrange men choke. She smiled coldly beneath her cowl as she and her invisible entourage are led outside. They portkeyed to the House of Black where Narcissa could convey her findings with Lacie vouching her.

Bellatrix was shoved into her cell and she landed hard on her skinny bottom.

Once the lock shut did it occur to Bellatrix she did not imagine her sister's betrayal or her treason to the Dark Lord.

She tried to tear at her mouth; but she could not remove the invisible bindings. Bellatrix hyperventilated. She wiped her bloody mouth and nose on her dirty clothes and threw the unscented soap and shampoo out the window. She could not feel that spark within her that she always had and always counted on. Bellatrix nearly tore her vocal cords a part trying to scream and curse her defiance and rage.

Her magic returned to the House of Black. Horrified, Bellatrix banged on her cell walls in code to her husband. The more insane prisoners carried the message three cells down as if it were a musical beat and not the DE code.

She listened carefully. He can no longer speak. Neither can Rabastan. They cannot feel their magic either.

Bellatrix Elladora Lestrange died three days later. Not from starvation but Squib status.

She outlived her husband and brother-in-law by two days.

References: mostly creative license.

Bellatrix Elladora Lestrange: Her middle name is creative license taken from the Black Family Tree by Harry Potter Lexicon from an ancestor.

Bellatrix and Regulus: I know...I never write about sexual abuse. I chose to have it laced here because I do not doubt this is in keeping with what Regulus and Bellatrix would have had to do in order to gain loyalty points with Voldemort.

Narcissa's Patronus: I did want to make her a flashy peacock. However, I decided against it and used her namesake (via Harry Potter Wikia) because the Slytherin reference was too good to pass up. As an additional note courtesy of Gman64: The Narcisse snake dens are the mating dens of red-sided garter snakes in Manitoba, Canada. Narcisse was a village in Manitoba, Canada until the owner of the general store there closed up and moved away in 2000. There is no community there now officially. As Narcisse is a village, it should be capitalized and is known as the Wildlife Conservation site for those garter snakes.