Cherokee Camp by grugster
Summary: After two weeks of torture by Death Eaters, Draco and Harry have to find a way to cope with all their memories. Severus, as their guardian, tries to help and spends some time with them at a therapy camp in the USA. Draco and Harry friendship
Categories: Parental Snape > Guardian Snape, Healer Snape, Teacher Snape > Trusted Mentor Snape Main Characters: .Snape and Harry (required), Draco, Original Character
Snape Flavour: None
Genres: Drama, General, Hurt/Comfort
Media Type: None
Tags: Alternate Universe
Takes Place: 4th summer
Warnings: Character Death, Torture
Challenges: None
Series: None
Chapters: 66 Completed: No Word count: 195045 Read: 233008 Published: 09 Jun 2009 Updated: 15 Apr 2012
Chapter 10 – The Feast by grugster

"It's okay, my boy," White Cloud said while hugging the sobbing wizard tightly, drawing soothing circles on his back. "I'm here, just tell me."

Those words were the last straw, and Severus gave up his fight completely. He lay in the arms of the woman he loved like his own mother and confessed everything that had bothered him lately. He told her how guilty he felt for not finding the boys earlier; for not protecting them more careful while the Death Eaters had still been on the loose; for not being able to help them after the torture in the dungeons. He confessed that he had started to drink again and that he had lost control several times, resulting in him injuring himself. It spluttered out of him, and he felt a heavy weight lift from him. He wasn't alone with his problems any longer. Someone else now knew and would take care of him.

~*~

The others were already sitting around the fireplace when White Cloud and Severus arrived. Even Harry and Draco were there, but they sat on opposite sides. It was a depressing mood, which worsened when Severus arrived. Everyone stared at his bandaged hand. It looked all the more horrible because the ice package made it look large, as if swollen terribly.

Light Arrow eyed Severus closely, and when Severus avoided eye contact, he went over to him. "We will speak later, Severus. Now let's start the feast." He turned to the group around the firepit and said, "Today, we welcome Harry and Draco to the Camp. I want every one of you to remember how hard it was for you on your first few days here, and I hope you will help them to adjust. I'm sure you all are hungry, so let the feast begin."

Ken and Brian were the first to run over to Rose and Crying Horse who were holding bowls of sausages and bread dough. "I'll take one for Harry as well," Brian said as he took a second carved osier stake.

"Okay, but show him how to do it," Crying Horse said.

"Sure!" Brian went over to Harry, who was lost in thought while he sat on a trunk which had placed near the fire for such use. "Hey, Harry, I brought you some bread and a sausage."

After the hard work Harry had done that day, he was hungry even he didn't emotionally feel like eating anything. "Thanks."

"Look, I'll show you how it's done." Brian took the sausage and impaled it on the end of the stake. "You have to push it far down on the stick so you can add some bread, too," Brian said and wrapped the bread dough around the stick. "Now you have to hold it over the fire. Be careful that you don't hold it too low, or you will burn it."

"Okay," Harry said and did as Brian had instructed. He looked over to Draco. He was sitting with White Cloud, who was showing him how to put the bread on the stick.

"Hey, Harry, watch your bread," Ken said and lifted Harry's stick. "You have to concentrate." Ken followed Harry's glance. "Why don't you go over and talk to him? I'm sure he didn't mean what he said."

"Of course he meant it," Harry said sadly, looking into the fire.

"Do you know what happened with Severus?" Brian asked in an attempt to distract Harry.

Harry looked in Severus' direction. Severus was still sitting next to Light Arrow and looked grimly in the fire. "No, when I left, he was okay."

On the other site of the campfire, White Cloud was speaking with Draco. "You could go over to Harry and explain him that you don't really hate him."

"He won't listen to me," Draco said sadly.

"You cannot know that before you have tried," White Cloud said reassuringly.

When White Cloud went over to Aiden, Draco eyed Harry shyly, but he didn't dare to go over to him. Eventually he plucked up his courage and stood. Unfortunately, his braveness left him the moment he was standing, and he went over to Severus. It was much easier to apologize to Severus than to Harry.

The moment Draco reached Severus, the Potions Master looked up. Severus looked sad and broken, and Draco felt his heart sting. "I'm sorry for what I said, Severus," Draco said shyly.

Light Arrow patted Severus' shoulder and stood up. "In case you leave before we speak again, we are starting tomorrow, after breakfast." With that, Light Arrow left the two of them, and Draco came and sat down on his place.

"Can you forgive me? I'm really sorry. I know you tried your best. I shouldn't have shouted at you. I'm glad that you were there for Harry and me. You are still here for us, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. I shouldn't have told you I fear that Harry is too lost in his hate to recover. I'm sorry, as well."

Draco looked at Severus' hand. "Do you want half of my bread and sausage? Or should I make a fresh one for you?"

"Half of yours would be great," Severus said, relieved that the issues between him and Draco were settled now.

While they both ate their food, Draco shyly asked, "What happened to your hand?"

Severus had hoped that nobody would ask but knew the chance for that was very low. "Nothing serious, but as the rules forbid me to use any type of magic, I can't heal it."

"Do you remember how you refused to heal my broken toe last year? You said that you are miserable with healing spells. So I would say it's good they have this kind of rule."

"If you say so," Severus said grumpily.

"So you will see a doctor tomorrow?" Draco asked curiously.

"Yes, it seems so," Severus said and looked at his swollen hand. "Have you spoken with Harry since our little dispute?"

"No," Draco said sadly and stuffed a piece of bread in his mouth.

"Then go over there and do so. You two can't be angry with each other for long," Severus said encouragingly.

"I don't know," Draco said as he looked sceptically over to where Harry sat.

"Go, Draco; he will forgive you."

Hesitantly, Draco stood up and made his way over to Harry. "Can I speak with you?"

Harry looked up and finished his last bite of his sausage. Brian made space for Draco to sit down next to Harry. "You don't have to apologize. I understand that you're angry with me."

"No, it was unfair of me, and I didn't mean it. I'm just so scared that you are going to leave me, and I was angry at Severus because I thought he has given up on you."

"Yes, I heard him, too," Harry said sadly.

"Rose says he has his own problems, and he feels guilty about not being able to help us on his own," Draco explained.

"But he has helped us," Harry protested.

"I know, but Rose meant he wanted to help us alone - without needed to turn to others for assistance. He wanted to bring you away from your hate and stop the revenge plans."

Harry just sighed. How could he respond to this?

"Are you okay?" Draco asked insecurely.

"I don't know. Light Arrow gave me a lot to think about, but, before you ask, I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Time for the drum; who wants to beat it?" Crying Horse said as he carried a big drum with Red Horse's help close to the fire.

"Me!" Brian and Ken shouted both as they ran over to the two adults.

Light Arrow and Melissa also went over to the drummer's group. Each of them took one of the large drum sticks, which had furs tied around the head of each mallet.

They started to beat the drum in a slow, monotone rhythm. From time to time, they increased their speed. Harry and Draco stared into the fire. When Red Horse, Crying Horse and Light Arrow started singing to the drumbeats, Harry again felt a shiver down the back of his neck. The beating was something he could loose himself in.

Again, he heard the sound of wings from a large bird in his ears, but thought he must be imagining it. He was tired from that day's work. The wood chopping had taken its toll, and Harry's head started to buzz. When he again looked into the fire, he was sure he saw two eyes looking back at him. Eyes of a large bird: a bird of prey. Harry shook his head, and the eyes were gone.

The drummers were at their fastest rhythm now, and Harry had the feeling his heart was racing along with the beat of the drums. The moment he thought he could no longer take it, the drummers beat the drum with hard yet slower-paced beats and finally stopped. The silence was amazing. All around the firepit, people were staring into the fire; only the drummers looked at the big drum, sweat dripping from their foreheads.

I wonder if they all hear their own heartbeats now? Harry asked himself in thought. He had the feeling he could still hear the drums in his mind. When he finally was able to look around, he saw that Severus wasn't at the campfire anymore, and Draco looked deep in thought.

"The feast is over now. The last one to leave puts the fire out," Light Arrow said and left the fireside.

"Do you still want to stay, or do you two want to come with me up to the house?" Rose asked.

"I'm tired," Harry said and stood up to follow her.

Draco stood up too and asked, "Can I stay with Harry for a while? I would like to tell him about Hermione."

"Okay, but don't fall asleep in his room, Draco. You know the rule." Rose eyed him closely.

"Yes, I know the rule," Draco said grumpily.

In Harry's room, they both sat down on the bed. "I wrote Hermione, and she's already answered me. She said she is waiting for a letter from you," Draco said.

"Oh, yes. I will write to her tomorrow; I'm too tired at the moment." Harry let himself sink backwards on his bed. Karim jumped up and started to purr while rubbing his head against Harry's head. Harry laughed and stroked the cat on the head. "Hey, Karim; it's nice to see you as well."

Draco looked sad. "Great, and I have to sleep alone."

Harry immediately felt guilty for being so happy that he wouldn't be alone that night. "I'm sorry."

"No, you don't have to be. I'm glad you aren't alone. I just wish I could have a pet as well." Draco looked longingly at the black cat.

"What did Hermione write to you?" Harry asked to distract Draco.

"Oh, she said she wants to ask Dumbledore if she can visit us here, and that she wants to send us a camera. Damn, I forgot to ask Rose about the camera. Do you think it is alright to take photos here?"

"I don't know. Maybe, if you don't take photos of the other people. Just ask Severus or Rose." Harry absently stroked Karim and became more and more sleepy. "Hermione wants to visit us? We are here for only one day and she can't stand not seeing you." Harry chuckled.

"She wants to see both of us," Draco protested.

"Sure," Harry said sarcastically.

"What are you talking about?" Draco asked, confused.

"Merlin, you really are blind, Draco. Hermione loves you. She couldn't keep her eyes off you when we were home." Harry shook his head in disbelief of Draco's ignorance.

"As if she would want me," Draco said bitterly.

Harry sat up abruptly, causing Karim to look up, annoyed. "Of course she wants you! Damn Draco, not all people are so stupid that they just see your scars. Stop wallowing in self-pity." Harry suddenly started to grin. "Maybe she even thinks your scars are sexy. You know, some girls like scared men."

Draco stood up and pushed Harry's chest, causing him to fall back onto his bed. "You are stupid, Harry."

Harry laughed. "And you are damn blind, Draco!"

"I'm going to go to my room and sleep. I'll see you tomorrow," Draco said and opened the door.

"Draco!" Harry called after his friend. When Draco turned, Harry said, "I hope you will sleep well. If you have trouble, just call me. I don't give a damn on the rules here if you need my help."

Draco smiled. "Thanks. Sleep well."

"You, too," Harry said, but Draco had already closed the door.

The house was silent, and Draco was a little scared. The door to his room creaked when he opened it, and that didn't lighten his mood. He thought about not changing into his pajama and just jumping into bed and hiding under the covers until next morning, but when he opened the door, he saw a white, fluffy animal on his bed. It was a cat, and immediately Draco was no longer scared. I'm not alone, he thought, relieved as he went over to the cat.

The white cat looked up, and Draco was stunned by her blue eyes. She had long, fluffy fur and looked royal. "Hey," Draco said a bit insecurely. Cautiously, he reached for the cat's head and pet it. The cat purred, stood up, and rubbed her head against Draco's hand. "No, I'm not alone," Draco said happily.

To be continued...


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