Frog Stickers on Their Ukulele

Chapter 1- Gone

Chapter 1- Draco

Draco closed the door softly behind him before finally letting out a sob. He slowly slid down, trying to take deep breaths but failing miserably. The ground was crumbling below him and the walls were closing in. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't breathe. He needed out. Out of his room, out of his house, out of his toxic family and the toxic people they knew. There was no way out, no way, nowhere to go-

Then it hit him, like a stunner to the chest. An idea started forming in his head. A very, very bad idea, horrible really, but the only one he'd had so far. Slowly, he rose from his place on the floor. Using all his energy, he stumbled over to his closet, pulling an old rucksack out. His brain was in hyperdrive, thinking over what he would do and say when he got there as he threw some essentials into the bag. Much more confident in his plan, he walked over to his window, thanking Merlin his younger self chose a room on the first floor.

Throwing his bag over his shoulder, Draco took one last look at his room, the only safe space in his house. Well, no turning back now he thinks as he climbs out the window.

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Draco had been on the Knight Bus for an hour. It was dimly lit, and smelled a bit stale, but it was his only ride. The driver and conductor had looked him over, but stopped staring when he gave them four galleons.

He had been dozing off in a seat when the conductor called out "Hogwarts!" in a much too loud voice for four in the morning. Draco slowly got up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Throwing his bag over his shoulder, he quickly got off the bus, not wanting to spend anymore time on the rustbucket. Throwing one last glance at the conductor, he nodded, and the bus was gone with a crack.

Draco stared at the looming castle in front of him, taking his time to muster up the courage to knock on the gate. Merlin help me, McGonagall's going to eat me alive, he thought as he knocked three times on the protective wards around the gate. He waited for the gates to open, one minute...two minutes...five...ten...

Guess no one's coming, Draco thought as help turned to leave. He was three steps away from the gate when it cracked open, a silver cat patronus strutting right up to him. The cat beckoned him to follow, so he shuffled past the gates behind it.

The pre-existing pit in Draco's stomach expanded with each step he took towards the castle. He could feel Professor McGonagall's presence before he could even see her, but it didn't make it less scary when he saw her foreboding figure in the Grand Entrance. He quickly looked away from her sharp, piercing gaze, his feet suddenly becoming more interesting. The pit grew, which didn't seem possible, as he climbed the last few steps, finally finishing his walk of shame. Warrily, Draco looked up to meet McGonagall's eyes. They said annoyance and exhaustion, but also something different... sadness? The cat patronus had disappeared.

"You'd better have an extremely good reason for being here at this hour of the morning," McGonagall sighed, looking him up and down, like she was checking for injuries. "Come on then," she sharply turned around, and started off towards where Draco assumed was her office.

After walking what seemed like a hundred flights of stairs (these Gryffindors really get their leg workouts), they arrived at the Professor's office. It was cozy, a dark wood desk on one side, a gently lit fireplace with some floo on the other. There was a bookshelf with books like Transfiguration Through the Ages and Advanced Transfiguration for the Intelligent. There was also a picture of a woman holding a cat, gently looking down at the sleeping creature. Oddly enough, the picture wasn't moving. The whole aesthetic seemed warm and cozy, something he was not expecting from the sharp professor. McGonagall walked around her desk and sat, gesturing for Draco to sit opposite her. He gingerly sat on the edge of the cushioned chair, not wanting to show any sign of doubt.

McGonagall leaned forward, putting her face in her hands. Draco stayed silent as she silently gathered her thoughts. "There are many professors who would've left you outside for the night, so be glad I was awake," McGonagall sighed. "Now, explain," her firm gaze settling on Draco.

Draco took a deep breath. "I would like to stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of the summer holiday, if that would be alright with you," he stated with as much of his remaining dignity as he could.

The professor's look seemed to shift from stern to...caring? "That can be arranged, but on some conditions," she said. "You will not go wandering the castle, bothering the professors, do you understand?" Draco nodded. "Good. You know where the kitchens are?" He nodded again. "Alright, just go there when you're hungry, I'm sure the house elves will be happy to have an extra mouth to feed. Lastly, if you have any questions, come to me. Anything else?"

"No ma'am," Draco responded, both of them moving to stand up.

"Dumbledore will be wanting to see you, but he won't be back for a few days. Shall I floo your parents to tell them you're staying here?"

Guilt pummeled him like a train as Draco responded "No thank you, Professor."

"Alright, let's get you to the Slytherin dorms for some sleep then," Draco nodded, following McGonagall back down the many flights of stairs. They passed her classroom, then the Great Hall, where the sun had started to taint the sky orange, walking past to descend into the Slytherin's dorms in the basement. As they approached the hidden door, McGonagll slowed to a stop.

"Draco," she said, addressing him by his first name for the first time, "I know you probably don't want to talk about why you left, but I want you to know that I, and the rest of the staff at Hogwarts, are here for you, whenever you need," the concern in her voice had made Draco start to tear up. He just nodded, not wanting to let his mask slip.

"Well then," McGonagall said, patting Draco's shoulder in comfort, "Don't do anything stupid. And you're welcome to the library, just not after curfew," and with that, she was gone. As his head hit the pillow, Draco prayed to Merlin he hadn't just fucked up his whole life.