This time, Alexandra was sure that no mistake was involved. Tom had called her young-grandfather not Starling, but 'Blackwood'. She tried to make up an excuse and tell herself that it was probably just a nickname, but she couldn't possibly ignore the fact that Professor Slughorn too had called him 'Mr. Blackwood' in the other memory.

It was all becoming too much already. Last week, her grandfather had sent Alexandra a warning letter, saying that she was in grave danger and that there was something he had to tell him about her parents. But when she had returned back home, Edna had said that five wizards had broken in and had murdered Marcellus Starling.

And now that Alexandra was watching her grandfather's memories of his Hogwarts days, she came to realize that everyone kept referring to him as 'Blackwood'.

Where have I heard that name before? Alexandra tried to think hard, but she couldn't put a finger on it. Her mind was racing far too much for her to be able to focus.

Although worse than all this, was the horrifying feeling that Tom gave her as he spoke of these Horcruxes, and as he spoke of murder like it was the easiest thing in the world. But more shocking than that, was when her grandfather had called him 'Riddle'. Alexandra was sure that she had read that name before in a book called 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts'.

And then, the realization suddenly hit her. She took a step back and shuddered in horror. Could that young, handsome, and charming boy possibly be Lord Voldemort...?

Although before she could come to herself and try to make more sense out of what was going on around her, the scene changed and everything went black.

Alexandra had now entered another memory.

When she looked around her, this time she found herself in a small village. It was pouring rain and the night was darker than she could ever imagine it, the moon and the stars covered by grey clouds. Although seeing as Alexandra was just in a memory, the rain did not soak her and it went through her, as if she were a mere ghost.

Just then when she paid attention, Alexandra suddenly saw three dark and hooded figures walking up the village, their wands drawn and in their hands. They were wearing silver masks that covered their whole faces, and Alexandra knew exactly who those three were.

Death Eaters.

If Death Eaters already existed, this meant that the Dark Lord was out of Hogwarts by this time and the war had begun; which meant that this memory belonged to years after the night at Slughorn's office.

Again, Alexandra tried to remind herself that she was in her grandfather's Pensieve and that this was his memory, meaning that he had to be present in this scene.

She glanced back at the three Death Eaters who were all wearing black cloaks, walking up the village in the silence of the night. One of them had to be her grandfather, Marcellus.

With a deep and shaky breath, Alexandra followed them up the village through the rain, trying to catch up with their fast pace. They walked and walked, looking unbothered by the rain, until the three finally came to a stop when they reached a certain house.

Alexandra looked up at the little house, her heart pounding in her chest. There was a bizarre feeling in her stomach that she couldn't understand, and yet she could not shake away.

"This is it," said the man who was standing in the middle of the other two, taller than them. "Don't do anything without my command. You will wait for my orders. Do you understand?"

The other two Death Eaters nodded and bowed their heads lightly. The tall wizard who was standing in the middle looked to be their superior, and Alexandra had no difficulty in recognizing that hoarse voice, which was drawn with a sense of authority.

The tall man standing in the middle was her grandfather.

Although he had no cane in hand and was walking with no difficulty, which meant that Marcellus Starling was slightly younger in this memory.

With that, Marcellus raised his wand toward the house's door and with a effortless flick of his wand, the door burst open. Marcellus walked forward, the other two Death Eaters following right behind him. Alexandra nervously walked inside the house after them, holding her breath.

"Ah... what a lovely surprise," Marcellus croaked as they walked into the hall, and Alexandra heard a scream.

  Alexandra then tried to move away from the three Death Eaters to get a better look at what was inside the hall. But she felt her breath get knocked out of her chest as she saw a man and woman on their feet, staring at the three Death Eaters with horror. The room was dark and it was hard to see their faces, but she could tell that they were both wandless and looked extremely terrified.

"Please," the man tried to speak softly, his gaze fixed on the Death Eaters as his wife held onto his arm for dear life, "I-I'm sure w-we can come to an agreement — please don't act rashly —"

Marcellus laughed and with a lazy move of his wand, he took of his mask and pulled down his black hood. He looked younger than Alexandra remembered him, and yet his brown hair was almost grey. This memory couldn't have been for more than twenty years ago.

Alexandra stared at her grandfather in horror. She had never seen him this cold. This heartless. The man and woman didn't seem to recognize Marcellus's face, though they were still terrified all the same.

"The agreement was already made by the Dark Lord," said Marcellus, looking back at the couple, "he had asked you to join him, but not only did you refuse, but you also tried to run. The Dark Lord is merciful, but you drew the line. You have accepted the fate that now awaits you. You must face the consequences."

"No, please —"

"Kill them," Marcellus said coldly and so the other two Death Eaters raised their wands, shouting,

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Alexander screamed and looked away as the man and woman both fell to the ground lifelessly with a loud thud. Alexandra broke into tears and clapped a hand to her mouth in shock, feeling sick.

She glanced back at her grandfather. As emotionless as she had ever seen him, Marcellus put his wand back in his cloak, his blank eyes set on the couple. Alexandra still couldn't see their faces because of how dim-lighted the room was and couldn't recognize them, but the tears were rushing down her face nevertheless.

"That was easier than I expected," said Macesllus, scoffing. "I had already told the Dark Lord that I didn't need assistance, but he assumed that just because the Starlings came from a powerful bloodline, that made them powerful and unbeatable... But I guess he was wrong."