Disclaimer: Don't own Seamus though I wish I did. Harry Potter/A Song For a Ragged Boy. For this story to work you kinda have to ignore the fact that these sort of places were shut down in the 80's ok? If you can't handle that, don't read. Starts before

Hogwarts but then It'll just to after k?

R for child abuse, rape and plain angst. Don't like, don't read-don't say I didn't warn you and if you flame me I will be given no choice but to find you and...I'm calm, I'm calm. But I did warn you.

To Save A Raggy Boy

Chapter One,

"Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to Seamus, happy birthday to me," Seamus sang quietly as he scrubbed at the floor around his bed. "4 more years and then away I go." Father Green strode in and all the boys were silent as they scrubbed, not wanting to be hit with that dredded strap. Great birthday so far, but if only Seamus knew it was going to get allot worse...

Pain, pain everywhere but especially where that man was thrusting into him viciously. He tried to scream, a hand covered his mouth, the other hand keeping him pressed to the wall. Tears leaked down his cheeks, this was worse than a flogging. The pain, oh the pain.

James heard sobbing from behind a door and slowly opened it, gasping in shock as he found Seamus curled up on the floor, his trousers at his ankles, tears flowing down his cheeks.

"Sea!" he gasped, crouching by his best friend. Seamus turned away from him but James pulled him into his arms and let Seamus cry into his shoulder. He didn't have to be smart to realise what had happened to his friend, and on his birthday too. "Oh Sea, who was it?"

"Brother O'Keafe," Seamus mumbled into James shoulder. James held him tightly and rubbed his back as he sobbed. But both knew neither could change what had happend or even stop it happening again.

"Letter for you Finnigan," Father Harold held out an envelope and Seamus took it, murmering his thanks. He sat at his desk and read the address.

Mr Seamus Finnigan

Number 824

St Christopher's Correctional Facility For Wayward Boys

He opened it slowly, unnacustomed to getting letters, especially such strange ones.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZADRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr Finnigan,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Seamus blinked, this had to be a joke! but there was a list and it certainly looked real, with the wax stamp and all. He decided to send it to his parents on Saturday and see what they thought of it.

"Finnigan, you've got visitors," Brother O'Keafe said as he entered the classroom. Seamus couldn't look at his rapist as he was led to the dining hall where sat at a table were his parents, his younger brother, an old man and a woman in a long green dress. "Sit boy."

Seamus sat on the seat oposite them, not meeting his parents eyes. His brother, only 6, waved at him while sucking his other thumb. Seamus smiled and waved back discreetly. Brother O'Keafe stood behind him and placed both hands on his shoulders, Seamus couldn't restrict a flinch.

"How are you Seamus?" his mother asked.

"Well mam," Seamus muttered, knowing that if he said anything other than that he would suffer later.

"Could we have a bit of Privacy Brother?" the old man asked Brother O'Keafe who looked reluctant to leave but did so politely, giving a painful squeeze to Seamus's shoulders as a warning before he did so. "I am Albus Dumbledore Seamus."

"We're here to see about sending you to another school, our school," the woman said.

"Your from the place that sent me the letter?" Seamus asked amazed.

"Yes we are. I am Minerva McGonagall," the lady said kindly.

"Do you want to go to this school?" his father asked. Seamus shrugged. "Do you or don't you? Answer me straightly boy or I swear I will..."

"Yes I'd rather go to that school," Seamus answered coldly.

"Why?" Dumbledore asked.

"Why not?" Seamus replied.

"Don't talk to your betters like that boy! I thought this place would teach you..." his father snapped. Seamus scoffed, quickly checked that Father O'Keafe wasn't there before answering.

"Teach me what? What did you expect them to teach me?"

"The basic's obviously Seamus," his mother said kindly.

"Along with respect," his father growled.

"Well, hate to dissapoint you but I have never been taught maths or science or any of those. My English lesson's were pointless until Father Howard came and taught us to read. And respect, no respect is learnt here, just fear," Seamus snapped. His mother looked shocked, his brother and the two 'guests' looked confused and his father looked angrily.

"This is one of the best schools for boys like you!"

"If I may interupt," the woman said meekly. "Seamus obviously has some magic in his blood and if it does not get trained it may become dangerous to those around him."

"How much is it going to cost?" Seamus father asked.

"You can apply for a special scholarsdhip, then all you need to buy him is his wand," McGonagall said kindly.

"What about punnishment? What do you get at this fancy school of yours?" Seamus's father asked. Seamus sighed, what his father was asking was 'do you beat them?'

"Detention's and point deductions," McGonagall answered. Seamus's father scoffed.

"Far too leanient, Seamus, what was the last punnishment you got here?" he asked Seamus. 'Rape?' Seamus thought coldly. "Well, answer me."

"We're not allowed to talk about things like that here," Seamus mumbled.

"Answer me boy or by God you'll feel my hand!"

"Fine then, I got a whipping for answering Father Green back," Seamus said the second to last one. The two teachers looked shocked, his mother surprised and his father pleased. Oh if only that sick bastard could know what had happened on his birthday.

"That is a propper punnishment, not detentions," Seamus's father sneered.

"I'd prefer detentions," Seamus mumbled quietly before catching himself and staring up at his father whose look had grown dark. Before anyone said anything his fist shot out and sent Seamus tumbling from his seat to the floor.

"You don't have a choice in the matter!" his father shouted loudly. "This is the best school for you and you shall go here until your time is up. We're going," he snapped at his son, then his wife. She stood and took her younger sons hand, then followed her irate husband out of the room. Seamus gave a slight sobbed and rubbed a hand across his eyes, one of which was already turning purple. He looked up at the two teachers and looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry to have waisted you're time but as you see, I don't have a choice in the matter. Here is where I am and here is where I stay. Anyway, I couldn't abandon John, I'm the only friend he has," he told them quietly before getting up and walking to the door slowly. "Goodbye."

Albus turned to Minerva and they both said at the same time,

"We need to get that boy out of here."

A/N There we go, I've been meaning to post this for a while, sorry.