[a/n]Compliments of polarbear20000 "What if Umbridge's hate-on for werewolves here was because she fangirled werewolves when she was a younger-"

Harry Does Different DXIVb

Dogged Denial

During the Christmas break at Grimmauld, all the kids were complaining about their latest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Of course, Mr. Weasley's recovery came first, but Ginny dropped the starting bomb "Umbitch is a psycho-bitch from hell!"

"Ginevra!" Mrs. Weasley scolded, sharply.

The twins seemed to reinforce it "Quite, Gin-Gin." But then "Rather repetitive of you. Variety is the key to a good smackdown."

The youngest of the group huffed in annoyance.

"Who has raised such ire?" this from Sirius as he led Remus and Harry in from the Black Tree room, taking his place at the head of the table and seeking answers.

The name from the young witch's mouth was a curse "Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Delores Jane Umbridge."

***cough*cough*splutter*hack*hack*** Remus sprayed butterbeer all around, punching himself in the chest several times "Say that again?!"

"Dumbledore couldn't hire anyone, so Fudge appointed this toad-face to your job." Answered Harry, completely contemptuous of the woman. "And, by the way, bitch utterly hates werewolves."

Remus' sniggering started then only increased when Molly cuffed the boy on the shoulder.

"Something Marauder motivated?" asked Ron, pausing between swigs from a goblet.

Sirius guffawed into a full-on belly-laugh and gestured helplessly "No-no! Leave that tale to its proper hero. Mooney, please regale us."

"The math doesn't fit." Hermione observed "I read all about her. Professor Umbridge graduated when you all were Second Years. Even now, we don't mix much with the Sevenths."

The werewolf's automatic reaction was to demur "I don't know if it's wise."

"Not like we got much else to do tonight, Remus." Harry gave a verbal poke, then added some pleading eyes "Come on Moooniiiiiiiie."

Sighing he began "The date was November 7 1967. Mum had finally accepted I was permanently cursed- - -"

Abcij

"Professor Dumbledore? Do you really think you can help my little Remi?" the young mother smiled at her son while at the same time expressing anguished hope to the Deputy Headmaster.

The middle-aged wizard patted her shoulder "While Professor Dippet is virulently anti-werewolf, I exercise most senior administrative functions, including that of admissions. Regardless, he likely will retire before the end of the decade. And seeing your lad's potential, it would be a crime to not offer every opportunity."

"Come here Remi!" she called him over.

The Deputy Headmaster placed a gentle hand on the boy's small shoulder "Tell me, young Remus, would you like to come to school here?"

"Really? Can i?" he looked up hopefully "Cause Daddy says I got this bad thing in me. Makes me dangerous."

Dumbledore knelt down "Well what both your parents say is true, my boy. Being a werewolf is a terrible burden, but nothing that is your fault. Unfortunately, it is you that must do most of the work. What I plan is to use magic to give you a place to transform safely. Both for yourself and to prevent harm to others. We do need to start now."

"What are you asking, sir?" the boy pleaded, giving a worshipful look to the castle in the distance.

The Deputy stayed level with the boy but looked up at the mother "Well Hope, you will need to bring young Remus before his transformation night each month. And Remus, you will need to spend it in the tunnel yonder, enter by that tree. It is warded to keep you there without any harm, for the night. And leads to a house in Hogsmeade, which I will similarly protect. I imagine it will just become another haunted house. So your wolf will get used to being in this place before you come to school. And we'll keep your classmates safe in the coming years."

"Oh yes sir! Please!" little Remus enthused.

Abcij

"Magine that Mum, the rulemaker being the rulebreaker." Fred commented into the pause.

Mrs. Weasley scowled at her twins.

"Although I do not KNOW if it was my first transformation at Hogwarts" Remus did not allow his story to be interrupted by redhaired antics "and I do not know the precise details, a VERY young Mooney encountered a teenage Delores Umbridge."

Abcij

Delores Umbridge's Fifth Year had started off most disagreeably. She had done everything, and more, to get the Prefect title. Yet stupid Slughorn gave it to that undeserving Fiona Shaw wench. Well they would all pay someday. Typically alone, she wandered the edge of Hogsmeade, passing an abandoned house. Of course she ignored the KEEP OUT sign.

Mooney was smaller than an Irish Setter at this young age, grubbing around through his new home, when the Human appeared. He reared up immediately in threat. The response was not what the canine mind expected.

"OH! Aren't you the most precious thiiiinnnng?" the teen in Slytherin robes squealed in delight and ran into the outstretched claws. She embraced it, and spun around …dancing… and singing gleefully. She squeezed with all her might.

Mooney wilted as his lungs all but collapsed between his ribs. He urinated all over the crazed Human, but even this did nothing to provide freedom. He was petted, stroked, prodded, played with like an overgrown ragdoll. He was too small to do anything but suffer. Remus himself was spared the memory of these sessions. Sometimes, over the next two years, the calendar favored the werewolf pup and the evil abuser did not appear. When the full moon occurred on a weekend, Mooney hid as best he could, not always successfully. But mostly, permanent relief only obtained with Delores Umbridge's graduation from Hogwarts.

August 1973

"Smells, my young friend, are forever." Silas Crump was something of a mentor for teenage Remus, occasionally chatting with the Hogwarts boy over the years "And if you learn the language, they truly speak. Listen with your nose. Omigod! The monstrous one!"

The Second-Year boy followed the older werewolf into a side alley of Diagon "What? I don't understand, Mr. Crump." His eyes followed the man's gaze. "Who's that?"

"You're the victim?" pitying eyes fell on the student "You poor boy. What happened to you was a sin and a shame. I probably shouldn't, but if you don't know, breathe deep. All our brothers and sisters avoid that witch like a plague. Think of it as happening to someone else, if it helps. But even transformed none will approach her. Ever!"

Abcij

The former professor concluded "Everything and everyone I have ever seen of this woman is monstrous. I don't remember the interactions themselves. But that smell will haunt me forever. Even if I think of it as not happening to me. And old Silas wasn't lying. Umbridge tortured Mooney. Those articles about her wanting to become a werewolf and any of the British packs fleeing her presence in the 70s are all true."

"I still dislike the notion of denigrating a professor's reputation." Mrs. Weasley shook her head. And she was very put out a few days later when the kids were returning on the train "And now I see them connecting with Luna? Susan Bones and Lavender Brown? News and the niece of the Head of the DMLE? Was this Sirius' idea? I did not even know Harry was friends with her."

Padfoot barked and wagged his tail. While Remus answered for his canine friend "All pretty girls. Maybe he's just having a little fun with matching. Good variety. Who else was it? Miss Zabini? Miss Greengrass?"

"Do not be pugnacious, Remus." Though she glared down at the grim "The children will all be getting warnings from me to pull in their horns on Professor Umbridge."

He just tipped his hat to her and tugged on the leash "Come along Padfoot."