For A Better Day PV Henry Llewellyn Closed

#008040

If Henry looked clearly at Eden's expression, he'd easily take note of the confused stature on the boy's face. He didn't expect to be forgiven so easily. Did this mean that all the practising in front of his mirror and the conversations he had with himself were completely unnecessary? Ed was baffled but still felt like something was wrong. He shook his head and tilted it to his right, his eyes narrowed cynically. No, just no. This was not how situations like these were meant to go.

"Alright?" He asked in a rather confused manner, as if he hadn't heard Henry right the first time, "no it's not alright." The fact that the red-head even bothered to ask Eden how he was after that bump spoke levels of which Little Ed realized he, out of all people, was going to target and play mind games with Henry back when he had first met him - someone who had shown more empathy in the span of a minute than the fellow students Eden had come in contact with.
"No no, listen, I'm alright, I probably deserved that," Eden confessed, a sniff let loose from his nose, his eyes poking at his corners as he emphasized the word 'probably.'
"But this isn't about me. This is about you. Do you understand why?" There was clear concern in the way he spoke, and Eden wanted to make his point clearer than the colour of his pale skin.

The Hufflepuff couldn't even keep his gaze locked on Henry. He felt such tedious shame that almost felt like he was being eaten and torn apart from the inside. He was just a boy. Twelve years old, and he had the burdens of a man. Had his mother been there, she'd make things so much easier; she'd hug him and let him cry on her shoulders like the baby boy he was. His father on the other hand, would have commanded him to act up like the man he was growing to be.

But Eden let off such thoughts and focused on the matter at hand.
"Henry," he was going to remember that name for the entirety of his life. Not that it was hard to forget, but now every time he heard, said or thought of that name, all he could visualize was red hair.
"I shouldn't have said what I said. Or done what I did. Had I not been stopped, I'd assume we'd both be in places where we couldn't even imagine of ending up at. I'm sorry. I really am."

Eden was shaken and confused, in his mind, he battled the idea and thought to call the absent-minded boy either complete fool or far too kind for his own good. Which part was so difficult to understand? And how he stated that Eden didn't deserve to be hurt - it forced Little Ed to cackle in a rather wicked manner. Had pumpkin-head known the fouls that Eden committed, he'd be running away from him the second he heard the list of evil notions. If that was not enough, the Gardeners had a rather eerie reputation and the only reason Henry hadn't sprinted of yet was because he was a Muggle-born, and most definitely unaware of diplomacy in the community of noble families.

Eden took a couple of steps backwards and distanced himself from Henry. He couldn't even look at the boy - it shamed him, forced his backbone to crumble and shiver. He could feel the stress paining his neck as if a block of stones was weighing him down. In the meantime, Eden was paranoid enough to take a quick immediate look around and make sure that the corridors were still clear of any curious ears. He might have not been seeing anyone, but he couldn't help but think that there was still someone hiding behind the walls. Regardless, he proceeded to speak up.

"The word that I used," he started to speak up quietly, but loud enough to be heard by the fellow student meant to hear him, "it's a historical slur used to dismiss the capabilities of the likes of you. Mudb-" he bit his tongue, "Muggle-borns. It's offensive, and if you have a keen interest in history lessons, you'd know that there were even wars defending the rights of your kind. It's evil and cruel, and it's forbidden. Hence why I should have never ever used it." Eden couldn't handle this. Him having to admit his unacceptable behaviour, the guilt and shame, the fear. He closed his eyes and felt his lids coming in contact with water. He was crying, but not obnoxiously, and proceeded to remain facing the other way so Henry wouldn't catch such a pitiful sight.

Quickly, Ed smudged his eyes using his knuckles, roughly pushing away the wet feeling running down his cheeks, and then dried it using the sleeves of his black and yellow robe, leaving marks on the cloth. Once he felt little but any feeling on his face, he turned around swiftly. His hair flowing in the process.
"Does that clear things up?" Eden asked with hope. He genuinely would have not been surprised if Henry still didn't understand him, and to be frankly honest, he was not about to break everything down to be digestible for him. Eden might have been, for once, humble enough to admit his tragic mistake, but he wasn't blessed with the virtue of patience. If anything, he was short-tempered and had the colour of his hair been capable of reflecting his emotions, he'd be redder than Henry.

Being unaware of how the wizarding world worked was something Henry was used to. Since starting at Hogwarts, Henry had been completely lost on the culture and social expectations. The whole bloodline thing was entirely new, as well, and he had no understanding of what it was to be discriminated against. Still, the desperation in the other boy’s eyes was enough for Henry to kind of have an understanding of the severity of what he was talking about. If the way he spoke had any indication, perhaps it really was a big deal. Henry didn’t feel that it was in his bones, the way he did about other things. However, this boy was clearly very passionate about making him understand. It would just have to be something he thought of every now and then, as it would never come naturally to him.

Watching the boy back away, Henry tilted his head in curiosity. Even if he was starting to have a slightly better understanding of the issue at hand, he still didn’t get the way the boy was acting. Henry scanned the area as well, not sure if he was supposed to be seeing something. It made him feel a little better, though, since the other boy had done the same thing. Still, there was no one else around. Were they going to be late for class? He had kind of forgotten where he had been headed when he got pulled aside.

Henry listened to the next explanation, nodding a little bit. If he had grown up aware of the wizarding world, perhaps he would have a better understanding of it all. He did vaguely remember something along these lines in History of Magic, but it was a fleeting memory. “Oh,” he said when the boy was done. He thought of what to say, but nothing really came to mind, so he stood in silence a bit longer, fidgeting with his hands. “I guess,” he finally spoke, “I’m just not used to it, is all. It’s hard to really get the true meaning when it’s new to me.” It almost sounded like he was asking a question, but he was really just hesitant about what he was saying. Was he even supposed to be talking? The other boy seemed…upset.

Was he…? Henry almost jumped when the other boy turned around, having been too focused on the way his hands had moved to his face. It had almost been like he was crying, but Henry left this out. “Erm, yeah, I guess it does.” He said, feeling like he should say as much to make the other boy feel better. “Are you okay?” He asked, hoping that asking as much would make him angry. It seemed like he got angry when Henry switched the subject of the conversation, so hopefully he wouldn’t get mad this time. Henry just wanted to make sure he was fine.

@Eden Gardener
color code = #5A8697

No one ever asked how Eden was doing. More so directly as Henry just did. Only his mother checked on him, but not by speech, but letters. And although he appreciated her writing to him as much as she could, it was barely any use, and if anything, it made him cry evermore so often. So no one could blame the boy to feel rather shocked every time Henry cared enough to ask. Especially when taking into consideration that he was the victim here. And this was the second time.

Eden rolled his eyes - he was not annoyed, admittedly, he was just bugged that Henry kept on giving attention to the least important part of their dynamic. How Eden was doing shouldn't have concerned him. Yes, he did cry, but that was just a rapid reaction that fled Eden's resistance. His father thought him that boys were not meant to cry, whimpering was for little girls. And Eden was trying his best to stop flushing water from his eyes every time something didn't go his way.

But... it was so hard. His heart ached and if he were brave enough, he'd let it all out. But he didn't want to. Not in front of Henry, not in front of anyone. Maybe his mother, she'd understand, but she wasn't with him, so no. He kept it all in.

"It's okay, I understand," Eden somehow managed to empathize with the redhead's status as a muggle-born, who as he stated, had to get used to it first in order to completely understand what Eden meant. He decided to ignore Henry's concern like a fly in Summer and shrugged the question off.
"Point is, if you hear anyone say it, or get called that, you come to me. Or your friends, or anyone you know who would be willing to name the harassers." Ed liked to think he was courageous enough to face those who made him angry. Henry had made him angry when he decided to not take his side back when they first met, but here he was apologizing to him. There were countless situations and past occurrences that made the Hufflepuff mad, but he never did anything about it. But maybe, just maybe, he could redeem himself by helping out pumpkin-head here.

Whereas usually, Eden's resting face was his lips freezing still and his eyes nearly shut, looking like a furious cat raging for its food, he caught himself gloomy and looking miserable, he somehow let himself loose. His face changed as if the sun had set and the moon had made its way up into the night sky in the split of a second, made a few steps closer to Henry, close enough for the tip of his hair to brush against the muggle-born's forehead.
"This doesn't mean I'm going soft, talk about this little meeting to anyone and I'll regret my concerns, and I don't like regretting things." Said Eden, who for a boy of twelve had already so much to regret, and as hypocritical as he was, never actually did anything about it. A smile that was anything but a smile crossed his face.
"Now, I suggest that both of us take separate ways onto our next destination. I've already had enough this month, I don't want to be ratted out about the company I keep."

Henry had been taught to care for people. His parents raised him to think about others before himself, so it was natural for him to ask how the boy was doing, even if he was confused about everything. If he knew anything about the other boy’s upbringing, he might have understood why they seemed to have such confusing interactions. Since he didn’t know, he remained confused about why the boy acted the way he did. This didn’t stop him from asking how he was doing, since everyone’s emotions mattered.

Another way their upbringing differed was that Henry’s parents had told him that crying was a natural response to strong emotions. Holding in those emotions could be dangerous. This meant Henry cried when he felt like he needed to. Occasionally he would try to hide it, though, because there had been some children back home who did tease him a bit for it. Still, he trusted what his parents said. Still, he didn’t know this about the other boy, so the idea that he wanted Henry to not acknowledge that he was crying didn’t cross the red head’s mind.

When the other boy said he understood, Henry actually felt a little hesitation in his heart. After everything that had happened between them, he wasn’t entirely sure he believed the other boy. Still, he didn’t say anything. If the other boy was trying, then that was all Henry needed. Still, he did notice that the other boy didn’t address his question. Perhaps he wouldn’t push it, though. Henry had experience pushing it with people who didn’t do well being pushed. This boy seemed like one of those people.

“Really?” Henry lit up just a little bit at the offer to help him if anyone used the word toward him again. It didn’t seem like something the other boy would offer, but he committed this sentiment to memory. “Thanks,” he said with a smile, knowing that he would immediately go for this boy if it happened again. Sure, he had other friends who would willingly help him, but any chance to make friends with this boy was perfect.

Henry watched as the boy’s expression shifted rather suddenly and had to fight the habit to ask if he was alright again. He needed to stop pushing with the blonde. If he wasn’t alright, then he wouldn’t answer anyway. Of course, he didn’t have long to dwell on this, as the other boy approached him and stood way closer than anyone had ever stood to him. Besides his parents. Henry had take a deep breath to try and calm the odd fluttering in his chest at the proximity. Now a little red in the face, Henry’s brow creased in confusion. He apologized and offered to help and now he was saying to not talk to him again. “Erm, okay,” he said hesitantly, wondering if he should step away. “Oh!” Henry realized something amidst the odd feeling of panic in his chest. “Before you go: what’s your name?” Their first meeting, Henry had introduced himself and then the discussion of bloodline started immediately. The blonde had never mentioned his name. All Henry remembered was Gardener, which must have been his last name. He wanted to know the boy’s first name.

@Eden Gardener
color code = #5A8697

By the time Henry had asked for Little Ed's name, the silver-haired boy had already spun around on his heels and made a couple of steps forward away, but stopped at a freezing halt the second Henry's voice had boomed a final question. He stood astounded, for he did not expect such a minimal question, yet a question that did not fit Eden's idea on their awkward dynamic.

Why would the red-head want to know the name of someone who meant him harm? Did he plan to bring the situation to authority at Hogwarts, regardless of Ed's apology? Eden couldn't help but think that was what's in store for him. Detention for a month straight, expulsion, or some sort of punishment that would make everything twice as miserable. How often did Eden get sent to the household's graveyard every time he and his sister were caught doing things they were not supposed to do. Because they were Edward Gardener's children, and no child of his would behave like a... child. Elaine, his sister, was always simply sent to her room, and Eden got to pay for both of their consequences. One time, he was asked to dig up his own grave for when he grew older and died. The other, he had to accompany his scary uncle down the crypts of their holdfast. A blazing endless corridor, pitch black and that made one feel as if they were blind.

Even the thought of them scared him. He could feel his hair stinging against the top of his head, and arms shivering as if he was outside in the cold. He snapped out of it in mere seconds and faced Henry's innocent question without further contemplating possible outcomes.
"Eden. My name's Eden." He finally replied with a solid tone, his back still facing Henry, but his head angled to the side so he could get a weary look at the boy as he answered him.
"You best make sure you remember that, pumpkin," Eden grinned, dismaying his sad tone, "for I plan to write you a letter, and what's the point of a letter if you don't know the name of the person who sent it?"

Then he proceeded to trot off in a rather hurried pace, his robes flowing in the process, his hands playing at his hair as he gazed upon it to fix it, even though it required no such treatment.
"Though I'm sure you'll remember it." He whispered to himself at last, waving his hands as a sign of his final departure.

They might have had lost their chance for adventure, but that didn't mean they could never come across that opportunity again. Words were good as wind, and actions spoke louder than anything. Eden might have been a vicious, wicked brat at times, and he admitted that to himself every night, but honour laid inside of him just as much as it did in knights of old. All he needed was a solid plan. A place where the two of them could not be spied on, further protecting Eden's association with muggle-borns, and on top of that, they needed something to do, but what? Bless the upcoming lesson he had next because he was going to spend a solid hour thinking about such plans.

Henry was aware by now that him and this boy were completely different, but knowing his name would make Henry feel better. If they were to ever interact again, Henry wanted to know what to call him, rather than referring to him as ‘the other boy.’ He was glad with the other boy stopped in his tracks at the question. He was unaware all the thoughts that ran through the other boys’ head just because of one question. In most instances, it was a simple question. In this case, it was a little more to ask of him. Still, Henry would start following him around if he refused to answer.

About to thank Eden, Henry’s mouth opened but no sound came out as Eden continued to talk. A letter? Huh, interesting. “Oh, okay.” Was all Henry could manage after that. It was only a second later that he registered Eden calling him ‘pumpkin.’ It was kind of weird, hearing someone say that. He didn’t have time to ask anymore questions, though, as Eden was off as soon as he had finished. Henry watched him go, still a bit lost on the meaning behind their relationship. When Eden finally disappeared from view, Henry turned down a different corridor. He did have somewhere else he needed to be. Despite this, his thoughts were elsewhere, remaining on their conversation. This would remain true until Henry fell asleep later that night.

@Eden Gardener
color code = #5A8697