Chapter 11: The Daniels Family, home to a psycho.

"My mum and dad, Lorraine and Jack Daniels, died when I was eight so I was adopted and Kat came to live with us when her parents died-"

"Wait, you're older than Kat? I thought she was older than you?" Remus interrupted.

"No I'm older than her by 5 months, anyway, my paternal uncle, Lloyd, died when I was ten and his wife, Roxanne, moved to New Orleans with her new boyfriend after social services took away their son because she couldn't care for him properly and he came to live with us because he was my cousin. He was called Ellis but he moved away to Georgia when he was 16... You know it's been 20 years today since my dad died? I had totally forgotten until now!" Ali said, tears falling down her face.

"Oh baby, are you ok? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked" Remus said pulling her into his arms.

"No Remus it's fine, it's just I haven't thought about all this in a while and it's a bit much bringing all back at once... I think I'm gonna go for a walk in the park, clear my head"

"Do you want me to come?" Remus asked, concern evident in his voice.

"No thanks, I'll be fine" Ali smiled. She grabbed her coat and crossed over to the park but at the last minute changed her mind and walked to the cemetery to visit her dad's grave. The cemetery was empty as Ali pushed the gate which creaked as it swung open. Ali walked over to her father's grave and knelt in front of it, brushing the dirt off the words and letting it fall into the leaves that lay at the bottom.

"Hey daddy, it's been a while. I'm a big girl now, I turned 29 five months ago and I'm getting married in 4 months and three weeks time to a really good man who I've loved my entire life. His name's Remus Lupin and he's my whole world daddy. Kat's just turned 29 and she's getting married as well to Sirius Black, we live next to each other, me and Remus live in mine and Kat's old apartment and Sirius and Kat live in his house. It's a magic house dad because, believe it or not, you and mum were right. I'm a witch and so is Kat! Remus and Sirius are wizards and we work at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry which is where we all went for school. Sirius works at the Ministry of Magic and guess what? I'm an animagus! Just like mum!"

Ali smiled as she got up and turned to go... only her path was blocked by Ellis Daniels.

Ali stopped dead and backed up a bit because Ellis didn't look too steady on his feet and he had an odd sneer on his face.

"Hello again Ali, I hoped I would see you here" he spoke, his voice deep and tainted with a heavy Georgian accent.

"Ellis! It's so good to see you again!" Ali cried, trying to sound genuine as she was terrified. He laughs.

"Wish I could say the same cousin, I really wish I could but I need to teach you a little lesson first. I need to show you how you made my life torture"

Ali turned and broke into a run, thinking that if she could get far enough away, she could disapparate back to her house. But Ellis was much faster than her and he soon had her trapped in a corner. Ali tried reasoning but Ellis was having none of it and he swiftly blind folded her and dragged her roughly for god knows how long until Ali heard the sound of a door being opened and she was unceremoniously thrown into the mystery room and the door clanged shut. A light flicked on and she was once again dragged across the floor and one hand chained to something, the other left free.

Ellis removed the blindfold and Ali squinted as everything became bright. She saw Ellis crossing the room and called out for him to stop but he just chucked the blindfold on the floor and left, locking the door as he did. Ali looked around and saw she was in some sort of warehouse that had been defiled by years of neglect. She was chained to the wall by a hand cuff that was similar to the ones Remus chained himself to during transformations. There was an old mattress a few feet away but it looked in pretty good shape so Ali stretched out her leg, hooked her foot into a tear and dragged it over to her to sit on. She cursed herself quietly for not having her wand with her and sat against the cold wall, waiting for Ellis to return.

Meanwhile, Remus was going crazy waiting for Ali to return. He finally couldn't wait any longer and grabbed his cloak before going next door to see if Ali had returned there. Sirius opened the door, Kat on his back and giggling like a teenager.

"Hi guys, look, Ali left the house over an hour ago to have a little walk and she still hasn't returned. She said she was going to the park opposite but I can't see her there. I was just wondering if she was here." Remus said. They shook their heads and Kat dropped to the floor, concern etched onto her face.

"Ok, I'm gonna go look for her, I'll let you know if I find her" Remus said. They nodded and Remus set off to the park. After a thorough search and finding nothing, he started to go through the possibilities in his head. For some reason, their conversation came back to him.

'You know it's been 20 years since my dad died?'

Remus' eyes widened and he set off towards the cemetery at top speed. He arrived and began to search up and down the aisles until he came to the grave that had the name 'Jack Daniels' carved on it. He searched around and found nothing so continued to search until a glint caught his eye. Remus stooped down and picked up the object. It was Ali's engagement ring! Remus brought it to his nose, his wolf senses kicking in, and was soon rushing down the street, pausing every so often to check the direction the scent was in. He finally came to a street 7 blocks away and was about to start searching the other way when he picked up someone's muffled shouts. Ali's muffled shouts. He followed the sound until he came to an old derelict building that had light coming from the other side. He tried the door but it was locked however the rattling noise has caused the shouting to stop. Remus kicked at the door until it swung open and he stormed in.

"Ali!"

"Remus!"

Ali's face lit up as Remus closed the door and rushed over to her, kneeling down and hugging her while the tears fell and her sobs echoed around the room, relief washing over her like water.

"Oh my god, I'm so glad I found you!"

"Remus, it was Ellis. My cousin, he's come back to England and he's gone psycho! He said he was doing this to make me feel the torture I caused him but I don't know what he's on about... how did you find me?"

Remus held up the ring and Ali broke into another huge smile as he slipped it onto her finger.

"Come on, let's go before your cousin gets back" Remus said, grabbing her hand.

"Remus I can't, he's chained me to the wall and I don't have my wand"

"Fuck! Neither do I!" Remus cried.

"Well that should make it easier" a cold voice sneered from the door. Ali and Remus turned to see Ellis in the door way looking very angry. Remus stormed over to him.

"Let her go Ellis, I fucking mean it or I will make you sorry you even came back to England!" Remus yelled.

Ellis smiled before kicking Remus full blow in the chest, sending him flying.

"NO!" Ali screamed. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD, I'LL KILL YOU!"

Ellis dragged Remus' body next to Ali's and chained him to the wall just as he came to.

"Ellis, undo these chains or I will fucking beat the living shit out of you!" Remus hissed. Ali shrank back against the wall having never seen Remus this mad but it was also because Ellis came storming over to them.

"Yeah? I wonder how you're gonna do that since you're chained up like the lonely pathetic werewolf you are?"

Remus' eyes widened and he suddenly kicked Ellis hard in the stomach, knocking him to his feet.

"How the fuck do you know about that?" Remus growled.

"Never mind, you're gonna pay for that!" Ellis snarled. He pulled out a little remote with two buttons on it. He flicked one and Ali crumpled in agony as a strong electric current surged through her body.

"Ali! What did you do to her you prick?!"

"Just something to teach her and you a little lesson" Ellis sneered. Ali was lying awkwardly on the mattress sobbing. Remus shifted over and pulled her into his arms, glad that the chains were close together so he could at least comfort her. Ali cried and cried into his shoulder, making Remus' heart shatter into a thousand pieces. Remus curled an arm around her and stroked her hair, placing small kisses on her temple to try and calm her but it was no good.

"Ali, baby, I won't let him get away with this, just please try to be strong, show him he can't get to you. I know you can do that and I'll help you... I love you Ali, with all my heart which is breaking to see you like this" Remus whispered into her ear. Ali stifled her sobs and lifted her head a little. Remus smiled down at her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Ellis sneered and left the building, locking the door behind him. Ali began to cry again so Remus used his free hand to tilt up her head and meet hers lips with a passionate kiss which she gladly returned. Remus pulled the mattress over so he too could sit on it and continued to kiss Ali, each one stronger than the last until Ali found herself pushed up against the wall and a tingling sensation in her groin.

"Remus, I love you too, more than anything and I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I had no idea that Ellis was back or that he was like this and because of my actions I've put us in danger... it's something I will never forgive myself for and I understand if..." Ali trailed off as tears began to flow freely and she cried herself to sleep, Remus constantly trying to calm her. She fell asleep against his shoulder and there was nothing to do but curl his arm around her and wait for the sick fucker to come back.

Hours later, Remus jolted awake and to his disgust, they were still in the cold, derelict building. He looked around and flinched slightly when he saw Ellis sitting only metres away, Ali still asleep in his arms.

"Get off her you bastard!" Remus snarled. Ellis sneered.

"You want her out of here well don't you?" he said coldly. Remus opened his mouth and shut it again, puzzled.

"What do you mean Ellis?" Remus said. Ellis looked at him, as if surprised that he was being called by his name, but quickly took on a look of concentration again.

"When I came back, you were both asleep but Ali was coughing and her forehead and lips were really dry so I'm making her better... I always helped her adoptive parents make her better but I was never treated the same, they always favoured her. Ali this and Ali that. Oh Ali's going to Hogwarts! Pathetic"

He spat out the last word as if it he had just eaten something nasty. He grabbed the water bottle and put it to Ali's lips, gently tipping in some water and rubbing her throat to make her swallow. The wolf in Remus came from nowhere, seeing Ellis as the ultimate threat, and he pulled on the cuff to try and get to her, to his Ali, but it was no use. Ellis wiped her forehead with a damp flannel and checked her temperature. He sighed with... relief... and he sat Ali back on the mattress, chaining her back to the wall. Remus shifted her so she was leaning against his shoulder and watched as Ellis put the water bottle and flannel into a bag before sitting back in his place.

"How do you know about Hogwarts?" Remus asked. Ellis looked surprise but he still answered.

"I'm a squib. I know about the magical world as well as the muggle one but I never got accepted to Hogwarts" Ellis muttered.

"What do you mean by Ali's adoptive parents favoured her?" Remus pressed, trying to understand some of this lunatic's mind and motive.

"She always got the upper hand. Her adoptive parents were so understanding when she told them about her magical ability even though they were Muggles and they would always drop what they were doing to listen to her stories about Hogwarts. She would always be top priority whether she was sick or not and when she turned of age and showed my parents all the magic she could do, well, they were over the moon. She didn't even have to try, if she wanted something she would get it! They were idiots and by 16 I'd had enough so I packed my bags and left for Georgia because I was so sick of everything being about Ali" he snarled.

"You are ruining her life because her parents were more attentive to her than you? Are you fucking insane?! She was 10 years old! She didn't know any better! You could have done so many other things but you decide on holding her and me against our will until what? She apologises? She calls her adoptive parents and tells them that you want attention? You've got no good reason so why don't you just let us go you fucked up psycho!"

Remus pulled against the cuff, the metal digging into his wrist but he didn't care, he was too angry. Ellis slipped his hand into his pocket and pressed down, Remus crying out in pain as the electric current coursed through his veins. Remus slumped against the wall, his shoulders shaking in pure fury. Ellis pressed down again and Ali's peaceful body twisted and writhed in agony.

"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!" Remus yelled, his voice echoing off the walls as Ellis released his finger and Ali laid on the mattress, gasping for air. Remus shifted her so she was resting in his lap and soothed her until she was fine. Ali shot a dark look at Ellis and laid her head on Remus' shoulder, wanting to close her eyes and let go. Suddenly, a loud crash jolted Remus, Ali and Ellis to their senses as Sirius stormed into the room and magically tied up Ellis. He undid the chains and Kat rushed over to give Ali the hugest hug ever.

"Are you ok? What the fuck am I saying, of course you're not! Not properly at least! Shit, what did he do to you Ali? Remus?" Kat babbled on but a look from Ali clearly said "Please shut up".

"Come on, I'm taking you guys home, Sirius is gonna deal with your prick of a cousin. He's got a nice new home in Azkaban" Kat took Remus' and Ali's hands and they disapparated back to Grimuald Place while Sirius first deposited Ellis at the Ministry before returning home. Remus and Ali were curled up on the sofa, Ali crying quietly into Remus' shoulder as Kat gave them a simple draught to calm their nerves and a hot drink each.

"Thanks Kat" Remus muttered, more occupied with calming Ali who had finally stopped crying.

"Yeah, thanks Kat, you too Sirius, I really don't know what we would have done if you hadn't have found us"

"It's ok, we'll give you two some space" she said, looking at Sirius. He slowly got up and shuffled towards Kat, laughing when she scowled at him. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway, closing the door slightly. Sirius turned around and plunged his hands into Kat's hair, pulling her close as his mouth crashed against hers.

"You ok kitten? You seem a little ... cautious" Sirius murmured into her ear.

"Well around you I have to be-"Kat said with a laugh as Sirius' eyes widened and his grip around her waist tightened.

"-but I'm fine, just shocked that Ellis would do something like that" she whispered. Sirius trailed kisses up to her ear and gently bit down on her ear, making her gasp but smile.

In the other room, Ali was still resting her head on Remus' shoulder, his arm still around her in a protective manner.

"Ali, what-"

"I don't want to talk about it Remus" she said, her voice clipped and scared. Remus sighed and pulled Ali into his lap, both his arms now wrapped around her.

"I thought I'd lost you when I woke up and saw you in his arms" Remus muttered.

"What?" Ali snapped, sounding harsher than she had intended to but she was so shaken.

"I woke up and you were ill, really ill, so Ellis was trying to make you better but the way you looked, just seemed too peaceful at first to be asleep but you were breathing so..."

Anger and fear rushed over Ali once more and unwelcome tears sprung to her eyes for the millionth time that night.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" she yelled, jumping up and looking down on Remus.

"I don't know... you were so upset, I didn't want to make it worse, I figured I'd give you some time first!" he yelled back, standing up suddenly. Ali took a tentative step back. Drawn up to his full height and an angry look in his eyes, Remus looked so intimidating but she wasn't about to back down just yet.

"Remus, we are getting married in 4 months time! I need to know I can trust you and that includes communicating! It doesn't matter how you string your words, your basic plan was to wait until I was fine and through the shock and then tell me... that! Well great thinking!"

Ali's scalp prickled with anger and Remus' eyes went wide with alarm. He stepped towards Ali and gently hugged her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think of it like that. Please, let's not fight; I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... I love you" Remus whispered into her ear.

"I love you too, you're just so... frustrating sometimes" Ali murmured against his chest. Remus pulled back and grinned at her.

"I'm frustrating? Look who's talking!" He laughed. Ali slowly grinned back. Remus kissed her gently but it turned into something stronger and when they broke apart, Ali's lips were slightly swollen from all the kissing but she didn't care.