Chapter Twenty:
( the story of daniel gray )

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             BEFORE DANIEL GRAY BECAME known as Daniel Gray, the FBI agent and author, he had been first known as Daniel Montague. The only son and child of Glorious and Oliver Montague— except at the end he truly is not the only child. Growing up as a kid, he had been spoiled, kisses being splattered into his cheek by both his parents, gifts occasionally given to him free of charge. He was supposed to be the 'perfect' child. Though, that slowly began devolving when Glorious and Oliver noticed how he always read a book and would repeat the same story to them afterwards. It was odd for a child to read in an early age and also for them to have done it quick and remember each word afterwards. Which is why his parents took him to St Mungo's to get checked over in case something was wrong with him. The news they received was the day they began to spoil him less.

             Their child had an ability that usually muggles tend to have— muggles. Upon realizing that, their affection lessened and they hoped that in time their son would still grow up to become the perfect Montague. Except then he continued reading those 'awful muggle books' that gave awful ideas to their child's brain. Imaginations, knowledge, philosophy, a look into the muggle reality. At the age of eight, muggle books became banned from being brought in their manor by his dear mother. Only those already bought were left behind.

             He could still be formed to be their perfect child, right?

             It was that mentality that let the parents discipline their child in what he should and should not do. Don't go play with the muggles, they don't like you. Do make sure to straighten your back and look superior. Don't read that filth. Listen to what we say only. Everything that pleased them was allowed. Anything that would make them look bad is not. Simple as that. If Daniel Montague gets into Slytherin then their plan would finally start.

             However, Spencer Montague was not the first one to disappoint the family routine— except that is a secret only a few should remember. In the year 1975, Daniel entered his first-year at Hogwarts. He was expected to get into Slytherin, but when the Sorting Hat yelled out Ravenclaw instead, the young boy knew his parents would never be the same. Daniel had been correct. His parents being overly proud of having belong to the Slytherin house gave him a Howler of how utterly disappointed they were for having such a no-good son. The years after that did not get any better. Forming his own small rebellion in his household while growing up, Daniel would go out to the muggle neighborhood and at one point even end up dating one of them. It was a perfect rebellion, wasn't it? Proving to his parents that love can shimmer even in those they do not believe?

             Estela Gray, a muggle girl he met in the summer of his fourth year while he had gone into one of his acts of rebellion. If there was one sentence to describe what she had meant to him; it would be 'someone he would not want to live without'. Daniel did not believe in soulmates, but he could not find the words to compare how he felt about her since the first time they met. She had a dream to travel to the States and work her way up to be known as one of those field agents she so desired to become like. Fight for the families of victims. A determined girl that deserved to have lived her life to the fullest— one that he had been undeniably in love with.

             Although, they could not see each other during school time, summer had become their world. If they did not see each other, letters would be passed to one another (even if she was confused why an owl would be their messenger). Lovesick fools. Idiots in love. Anything between have the same meaning applied to them. Glorious Montague did not like it one bit. And thus, her complaints would gladly be listened to by her little sister. Her very gruesome sister who for years has been whispering in his year, "Join me."

             Join her on what? Daniel did not realize what it had been until he entered Hogwarts. Since then he always denied her easily enough, unbeknownst to him, angering her for years. Upon hearing that he had gain a muggle girlfriend, his Aunt Mordra grew vengeful.

             "Join me to become better than anyone else, my dear nephew," were the exact words his aunt had used in a bright, sunny day. It was April meaning that Daniel had gone home for the holidays. His sixth year is one to be exhausted about with his NEWT level classes— Professor Flitwick had gone out of the way to help his favorite student. And still even in the midst of stress, he would hang out with his girlfriend.

             That was the last time Daniel refused his aunt. And not for good reason. A day later after his refusal, his Aunt Mordra had gone out to who knows where. After having eaten dinner with his awfully quiet parents, they were interrupted of cleaning up the moment someone bursted into the manor and he heard a familiar cry for help.

             His only love, his everything, his girlfriend was being held tightly by his own aunt. A wicked mad grin was on her face and he hated— he hated how his wand rested on the top of his bed which was upstairs. Daniel hated how his mind gave him access to all the spells he could use and yet nothing. Fear flashed on Estela's face as she spotted the wand pointing at her throat.

             "I love you," Estela spoke with a trembling voice, her eyes staring at him in both loving and pain. Those were her last words before Mordra casted, "Avada Kedavra" and not even his running had been on time. Bruises had already been formed in the girl's body, making him realized she had been tortured.

             She fell dead to the ground and he bent down with a cry. All meanwhile his parents watched. They watched with cold eyes and did not bother to help.

             "Look what you made me do, Daniel," his aunt had said coldly and with a sigh. As if what she did was not her fault but his. "You made me kill her."

             He returned to school different. With the help of Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick, he changed his surname and ran away from his manor immediately after sixth-year ended. He finished school completely (already living some place else for seventh year) and then entered the Academy of Wizard Profilers like how Professor Flitwick recommended. Daniel Montague no longer existed in the system— he was now known as Daniel Gray, a name he took in for his first and only love. He made Professor Flitwick swear that the two names would to never correlate with each other because to him, the Montagues were dead. Through his work as a wizard profiler, he transferred to the United States as a 'muggle' profiler and began to follow the dream his dead girlfriend had through the connection. Working as an undercover muggle and a wizard profiler had been challenging, but he was not one to let it damage.

             When the news of what happened in the Triwizard Tournament arrived to him, more updates about Europe became to overlap his work in the FBI. He made contact with Dumbledore and told him that at any time he will be willing to help in anyway. Soon enough, Dumbledore contacted him shortly after the battle in the Department of Mysteries and found an ally in Remus Lupin— a man he heard of since he was in his Hogwarts years. Remus is four years older than him and Daniel knew of him because of his whole friend group, but the older man did not (which is why he was also surprise to have find out the truth).

             And now, Daniel walks around the Burrow where the Weasleys live, stirring himself a cup of tea to drink for the morning. He is in his own thoughts that traveled from one idea to the other. Remus decided to stay with him finding the whole scene far insane and yet true as he begins to note the similarities. The werewolf sits opposite of him, watching carefully with a look of concern.

             "What happened yesterday..." Remus begins to say quietly. Daniel sighs and places his face within his hands.

             "I know, I know. I messed up and freaked her out even more, but I couldn't just not say anything— when my mind is busy overthinking I need to figure out what's going on and well..." Daniel explains, motioning to nothing but air as an example. Remus gives him a look of understanding.

             "I get that, Daniel, but you two need to talk as soon as you can. Spencer is a brilliant young woman," the werewolf tells him. The younger man nods in assurance before taking another sip of his tea. Their attention wanders to the doorframe where the said brunette girl stops and stands awkwardly. She glances at Daniel before turning to Remus as the older man acknowledges her directly.

             "How are you, Spencer?" Remus questions, his brows furrowing curiously. The young girl gives him a polite smile and does well in preparing her own cup.

             "Better, I suppose. Thank you for the potion," Spencer appreciates, stirring the cup clockwise and then counterclockwise. Daniel stares at her intensely before realizing that if she notices it would be classified as creepy. "I do miss it when you taught us lessons, Professor Lupin," she continues a conversation.

             The werewolf blushes in embarrassment and shakes his head. "I wasn't that good. Especially with you. Always knowing about the subject before even talking about it," the man chuckles light-heartedly. He raises an eyebrow a few seconds later. "I'm assuming you've done wonderfully in your OWLs?"

             Spencer scrunches her nose up. "I hope so. It is not the first where I had to teach myself, but Harry really helped in casting Patronuses. He told me he learned it from you, right?"

             Remus smiles at the fond memory and nods in agreement. "Yes, yes, I wanted to help him with his dementor problem."

             "See, we need you. Umbridge could've care less about us," Spencer rolls her eyes as she remembers the pink toad-looking woman. Sometimes, instead of having nightmares about Voldemort, she would have them about Umbridge. What a fucking nightmare. "I'm surprised she did not find a reason to expel Harry and I."

             The werewolf grimaces. "The two of you had many detentions with that blood quill of hers, didn't you?"

             Spencer nods while Daniel raises his eyes in disbelief. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't blood quills... I don't know... illegal?" He questions with a scoff.

             The young Montague glances at him once more as he asks the question. "Uh— yeah, definitely. Didn't really matter to the High Inquisitor. You know, I heard from Filch that they gained permission to whip students," Spencer shudders in disgust.

             Remus spits out his tea. "What?"

             She continues without a care, "Doesn't actually surprise me, however. I mean after making me write the same sentence exactly one-thousand six-hundred eighty times with that quill of hers." The young girl rolls her eyes, holding out her hand to have them look at the faded scar that is still eligible to read. It does not surprise her that she remembers the exact number of times she wrote it down. Remus leans forward and he pales slightly as he notices the words.

             "'I must be like Morgana'?" Remus says out loud with a frown. Daniel narrows his eyes and sneakily leans as well, his eyes widening in shock as he notices the words as well. "I'm sorry," the werewolf apologizes.

             Spencer purses her lips and shrugs. "I've seen and heard it a ton that it doesn't really have meaning anymore," she waves off as if that is completely normal. In a way, it has become something casual. Words printed in her hand that would never leave— the ones she will remember writing countless of times that she still remembers exactly how much the width and length it was.

             Daniel taps the desk repeatedly before he hesitantly asks, "Morgana is your sister...?" Two sisters. He has two sisters that he does not even know.

             "Yes," Spencer answers honestly, her eyes scanning his face curiously. "A year older than me."

             Seventeen years ago... Daniel last saw his own parents during the break on April in his sixth year. After that, he had run away himself. And since the girl— Morgana was born yesterday seventeen years ago... his mother was already pregnant during that time. Yet, he never knew about it. Though, to hear how the girl wants the Mark is not what he expected to hear.

             "She really wanted the..." Daniel does not finish his next question as he thinks about how she may react. Fortunately, the brunette seems to appear somewhat better than last night and easily converses with him. He is not a profiler for nothing, he can see how completely shock she is to hear about him, but she puts herself up together good. She stares at him with curiosity and even a tad of anger— but he does not take any offense to it partially because he can see how much she wants to understand what is happening.

             "Yes. I don't doubt that she has it now. Voldemort was supposed to make an appearance," she informs to the two older men. Remus leans back in surprise.

             "Wait, but you were with Harry... how?"

             Spencer takes a sip of her cup before answering, "Harry lives close to the manor. I warned him to not go outside and I felt bad cause it had also been his birthday." A small frown takes over her face.

             Daniel glances down at his own cup. "They still live in the grand hill?"

             "Uh— yeah," Spencer stammers. A small frown crosses her lips before she slowly calls him, "Agent Gray...?"

             "Oh, Daniel is fine," the man nods, pursing his lips before urging for the girl to continue. Spencer mimics his expression with an awkward smile.

             Nervousness passes through her facial expression. "I was hoping we could talk. In private?" Her eyes wander to Remus with an apologetic glance. The werewolf lets a smile form on his lips before nodding in acceptance. The older man stands up from his spot and went off to find Mrs. Weasley. This leaves the two of them undeniable alone with one another.

             "In the Department of Mysteries, Mordra had wanted me to join her before realizing that I had made up my mind on whose side I am standing by... she mentioned that I was just as pathetic as 'my brother'. I thought she was just insane," Spencer reveals, before glancing at him with watchful eyes. He frowns at her words before straightening himself up. The way she shifts in her seat reveals that she wants to say more so he does not speak up. "I want to hear your story because I don't want to be angry when I don't know you."

             Daniel gives her a kind look. "You seem very thoughtful of your surroundings," he points out calmly. He drinks the rest of his tea before giving her full attention.

             "It began at the age of three..."

             SPENCER LISTENS CLOSELY TO his story, letting her gaze fall to her cup as she begins understanding him. She used to think all the abuse whether physical or emotional had gone to her— thinking back to his words, they had definitely increased, but it had started with him. He was able to gain a little bit of their attention, except as always, they wanted the perfect child. Morgana won in that area. Spencer? Never that. She could see the underlying pain building up in his system. They've been sitting in the same place for about an hour or so as he made sure to explain detailed information about what happened.

             A small smile appears in his face when he begins to talk about his fourth year. She is not familiar with love and especially in the romantic scenario, but there is a tinge of happiness and sadness all rolled up in one that interests her. Spencer frowns as he keeps reusing the past tone 'was'. Not is. Was. Deep inside her she knows that what happened to Estela Gray had been a tragedy that her family had been involved with.

             She is correct.

             "I tried telling the Ministry that Mordra had killed her, but my own parents had gone against me and defended that woman," Daniel tells her, closing his eyes in anguish as he thinks back to it. Spencer lets herself place her hand in his for comfort, ignoring the fact that she still is not sure how to act. All in the same, he deserved to be comforted. "They announced her as guilty the last I heard of her but by then I had ran away already. It was a little after when they caught her torturing some other muggles..."

             It is somewhat interesting that Spencer ran away at fifteen years old (but she is turning sixteen soon!) while he ran away at sixteen (but almost seventeen). Ignoring that connection among others, Spencer continues to listen as she figures his life still very much continues. Isn't he the one that became a wizard profiler and interconnected with the United States? The author of a book she has read countless of times? Oh man, would it be odd if she asked for a signature?

             "Dumbledore called me to return after what I'm assuming you kids went through," the man finishes, awkwardly parting his curls out of his eyesight. He stares at her like if he has found something new to look forward to and the look alone scares Spencer. Part of her knows he already is not like her sister, but she is scared... scared that if she lets him in then he will leave too. That she is the disappointment her family has always told her. Wouldn't that hurt even more? A well-respected figure being disappointed in her?

             Spencer gives him a thin smile that does not match her worry. "I'm sorry for what you've been through. We somehow both ended up as the odd ones, didn't we?"

             He chuckles at her comment but does not have a chance to respond as Molly Weasley enters in the room with an apron around her waist. Her eyes widen in surprise before gently smiling. "Did you sleep well, Spencer?"

             The young girl turns and nods to the woman. "Yes, thank you, Mrs. Weasley. Your kindness is truly appreciated."

             Mrs. Weasley blushes at the compliment and waves it off. "Oh, don't thank me. It is all my pleasure, now please, call me Molly."

             Spencer stands up from her seat and heads beside her. "Would you want any help? I can be of very use around here," she offers patiently, tilting her head curiously.

             "Don't be silly! Go hang out with the kids, I will call all of you when lunch is prepared," Molly tells her instead. The young girl purses her lips softly before accepting the answer and slightly padding her way to the awaiting twins. Daniel lets his eyes follow her before sighing to himself. He wonders to himself what would have happened if he stayed? Based on her reaction, she seems to understand why he didn't. Even then, if he had stayed then perhaps this Morgana person would not want to be involved with Voldemort... oh, he wondered.

             Spencer, however, left the room unsure of how she feels. Part of her completely understands the man before her. He had also been a kid feeling trapped inside the manor for so long and then cold trauma slapped him in the face. Hell, he did not even know that he had two sisters. So, she could not blame him for not being there and truthfully, part of her is glad. The selfish side of her, however, hates it. It is a tiny part but still clearly visible as she longs for the love of a family— maybe he could have been the figure she wanted for so long. Either way, Spencer knows it had been best for him to have not been there. Her family are still the same cold-hearted bitch as always.

             Upon noticing George slamming a pillow in Fred's face, she laughs lightly gaining their attention upright that even Fred does not bother to smack his brother back. The twins grin at her in response and fixes themselves rightly. Fred runs his hand through his hair, fixing it to make it look better while George leans back and offers her a spot beside them. However, before she can reach the place, Ron runs out of nowhere and quickly jumps into the spot.

             "Ron!" Ginny yells angrily. The twins share a look of amusement before holding Ron down and the younger boy realizes his mistake.

             "Help me, Spencer!" The redhead in the same year as her groans as he struggles to get out of their grasps. She chuckles in amusement before saying, "Everyone, calm down. Ron needs his pretty face for our sixth year."

             Fred raises an eyebrow at that. "Do you hear that? Ronniekins has a pretty face!"

             The younger male Weasley turns red as his hair. "Shuddup," he mumbles altogether, hiding his face under his long hair.

             Spencer feels a pressure lifting from her chest, as if she can breathe properly without getting attacked.

             "Thank you for taking me in," she brings the attention away from Ron and towards her. All of them look at her in surprise before shifting into a lively grin.

             "Of course, you're basically an honorary Weasley like Harry—" George starts.

             Fred continues, "Can't get away from us now."

             "Even though you just found your brother that you didn't even know existed until like yesterday—"

             "RON!" Ginny exclaims with a glare, smacking her brother with a pillow.

             "PILLOW FIGHT—"

             Molly quickly bursts through the door with a pan in her hand. She stares at them suspiciously and Fred quickly throws out the pillow he found. Even as she returns to the kitchens, the kids kindly waved innocently before then quietly competing with one another as she heads back.

             (Yeah, Spencer finally lets herself enjoy the moment).

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
    daniel 🤝 spencer
disappointing their parents
and becoming a victim to
their cruelty ❤️

daniel is similar to spencer because the
montagues basically copy&paste their relatives 😹
i mean— mordra & morgana (pyschos) AND
then we have daniel & spencer (eidetic memory) 😭🤚

daniel and remus r gonna be like bffs because
they're cool like that tho

anyway, if you have questions about him just
ask cause he's here now 💆‍♀️

also ps im writing the battle of hogwarts omfofmfn