Alan was sitting on his bed in their ship-like tent, legs crossed as his eyes scanned over some older articles the Headliner had published throughout the past school year. Mostly for research, as to find a story or thing to explore, but also because he was bored and the sun outside too excruciatingly hot, that he preferred to stay inside. The same went for Howard, who due to his heritage had inherited some sensitivity to the sun even more so than people with red hair seemed to be. It was only then that he noticed a story he had rather forgotten about, an article published a long time ago and that had haunted his friend, a shadow crossed over Alan's face as he stared at the page in distaste. As if the newspaper print had anything to do with who was behind this. "This T.Ruth still annoys me to no end," he muttered and glanced over to Howard to see what he has been doing.

Alan was happy that they were sharing a tent, it would probably the closest they would get to being dorm mates during a school event. It also made Alan realize that the both of them had never really met outside of school, which just added another layer of awesomeness to this tent constellation. However some of it also seemed just a little chaotic, which was kind of fun. His gaze also found Tiger, who had found a perch on a shelf and was using his high vantage point to watch the two tent inhabitants lazily. Alan grinned at the feline, before directing his attention back to Howard. "Actually speaking of T.Ruth... there has been something I have been meaning to ask you, well not necessarily about her but more about... someone else," his voice suddenly sounded heavy, which was just a little unlike him, because Alan was rarely serious. However it was an important but unpleasant subject to discuss, hence why Alan had been avoiding it thus far. But the article had kind of reminded him of the event and he did not want to let it rest any longer, as a looming shadow in the back of his mind. Though he was not even sure if it was something Howard would be comfortable to discuss with him in the first place. But the both of them were pretty good friend and had shared many secrets. There was something about their connection that just spoke of calmness and deep understanding. They had found one another at a point in their life where both had struggled to accept parts of who they were and had managed to overcome those feelings in their own way, alone yet together and it had been the start of a truly beautiful friendship Alan would never want to miss out on ever again.

@Alan Vanes

Howard laid back across his bed, long legs draped over the side as he stared up at the ceiling. Only a pile of sweets next to him his only worry at the moment. The harsh summer rays had kept him and Alan seeking refuge from the inevitable sunburn that days like this had to offer, but he didn't mind. Anytime spent with his very close friend was no waste at all. The very fact that they would roommate for the entire month was still so awesome! Howard's Gryffindor buddy had busied himself rummaging through some old papers and he paid it no mind until Alan muttered something or another about T. Ruth. Any mention of this author or the school paper was enough to motivate this lazy teenager to sit up from his comfortable bed and look further into what his friend was preoccupied with.

"Don't let it rile you up." Howard said before playfully tossing a sweet at Alan. A big smile hiding the twinge of guilt that the Dhampir suddenly felt. He had yet to tell his friend about the letters that he and this T. Ruth had exchanged before summer break and now that it was mentioned it just didn't feel right to keep it in the dark any longer. However, just as Howard was about to pipe up, Alan's tone shifted to one that was quite unusual. For the most part the duo were rarely serious with their conversations, but the relationship was deep enough to go there when needed and now seemed like one of those times. "Yeah, dude. You know you can ask me anything." Howard agreed.

With that he would fully sit up from his bed. The subject at hand was one that Howard rarely spoke of and although Alan was on top of the list of people he actually would speak about it with, he still took a deep breath the prepare himself. Any question could bring about deep regret, perhaps even a bit of guilt and shame depending. There was so much Howard had wished he had handled differently, but he at least knew he was in a safe place. No matter where the conversation went he could trust that Alan would still care for him.

Alan took a couple of seconds in which he just sat on his bed, trying to come up with a way to word what he was going to talk about. It was somewhat of a relief to him however, that Howard was obviously willing to speak about it. But perhaps his opinion would change once he found out what exactly it was that Alan had wanted to talk to him about. Alan took a deep breath before he shifted on his bed to face Howard, sitting cross-legged. "Do you remember the incident in the room of requirements? We never really spoke about it again, but it is still very confusing to me, you know..." he offered with a slight grimace, worried that this could upset the boy, before he forced himself to calm down a little. Howard was his best friend, he shouldn't have to worry about the kind of topics he discussed with the other boy. After all they were friends and they could trust one another and he trusted Howard!

"What happened in there? And what is the history between you and Aurelia? Because at first I thought it was a coincidence, but she also approached you in the Great Hall while I was under disguise," he added more concrete questions. He called over Tiger by capturing his attention with rubbing thumb against his pointer and middle finger, causing the feline to trot over and use his lap as a cushion. Alan welcomed the familiar presence of the feline, kinda like an anchor of comfort and gave the cat some pats. Alan couldn't remember ever discussing such a serious topic with Howard, but it was good to speak about it. He didn't want there to be anything between them. Especially because Jake had been involved in the situation somehow, who was also a friend of Alan.

@Alan Vanes

Howard's shoulders would slump along with his head as Alan asked about the incident in the Room of Requirement. Right away he knew exactly what his friend was talking about. The images of Jake's terrified expression flashed through his mind before he shook them away. Though shame and embarrassment were the first feelings that would fill Howard's chest, there was also a sense of slight relief as he picked his head up and made eye contact with Alan. His very best find that he no longer wished to avoid these hard subjects with. If redemption were to be his why not start with here.

"Yes. I remember." Howard's tone carried a slight shake to it as he was about to share some of the darkest part of himself with Alan, but as he continued he would find his voice. "Aurelia and I have a very dark and complicated history. Shortly after I was turned...I bit her." He paused for a moment as he remembered that dreadful night. "It was really bad, Alan." Howard had thought he was ready to speak openly, but to speak of his dark nature made him feel afraid that his friend would turn his back on him. A fear that he should have been able to overcome yet he couldn't help it. The wetness in Howard's eyes would stain his eyes red as he took a deep breath and pushed those doubts from his mind. No matter what he had to trust Alan more than his fears. "Sorry, don't mean to be a crybaby." A weak grin came to his face. "Anyways. Ever since then I have just had this dark connection with her. It's like every time I'm around her I just can't stop my darker nature and that's what happened with Jake. I've apologized to him since then and I think we are alright, but I wish I hadn't ruined a chance at being his friend. He seems so nice. Does any of that make any sense?" Howard didn't want to dominate the conversation as he could sometimes do when dumping his emotions. So, he paused after that question.

Alan knew that this would be an incredible tense subject, but he was glad that Howard did not simply brush it off or pretended it had been an unimportant moment of his life. It made Alan think once more, that Howard despite some of the darkness that surrounded him, was a good person and a great friend. "How old were you, when you were turned?" he asked softly. He hadn't talked much about this topic with Howard before. He couldn't imagine growing up normal and then being ripped out of your world as you had known it. Perhaps he got the Muggleborn experience, just that instead of getting a world full of magic and wonder, he got a curse of the night, forcing him to rely on the blood of his peers to survive. Alan couldn't stop the shudder at the thought alone. It terrified him, to think his friend has been cursed with such a fate. He was pretty strong in that regard and Alan was happy that he was unwilling to relinquish control to that side of himself.

He saw the tears form in Howard's eyes and was almost willing to drop the topic alltogether, but he knew it was something they would have to talk about eventually as the issue at hand wouldn't simply disappear by pretending the incident never took place. "You're not a crybaby and I know of Aurelia, I've seen her jump into the path of another dhampir, practically offering her blood," he muttered, shaking his head. "I know it is none of my business, but being around her doesn't seem good to you, she's been baiting you, which is the opposite of good for you," he explained slowly, the obvious, but perhaps something that Howard needed to be told anyway. Perhaps it would upset Howard to be told who and who not to spend time with, but Alan cared for Howard's well-being and perhaps he was inclined to not trust Aurelia for personal reasons, but he didn't trust her with Howard either. And what were friends for, if not to stop you from making bad decisions?

"As for Jake, I thing he is one of the nicest and most forgiving souls I have met, he is one of my closest friends and I am sure he has it in him to forgive you and perhaps even be your friend with time, so I don't think you have ruined your chances at friendship just yet... just show him you care, you know? Make an effort to make things right, or something," he offered with a awkward shrug. Alan would have liked if two of his best friends would get along, but he was glad that Howard had since apologized to Jake and seemed fine around the younger boy now. It also made Alan happy to find out that Howard did regret the incident and was trying to set things right just on his own, it showed a lot of strength and courage to admit one's faults.

@Alan Vanes

Howard let out a long breath as he let the conversation shift back to Alan. As tense and frightening as the topic could be, there was also a sense of relief that came with discussing it. Confession really was a cathartic experience and who better to share it with than his best friend. Even the fear that Alan may judge him slipped away as the words escaped his lips. He really was lucky to have found such a bond in his life and he hoped the Gryffindor knew how much it meant to him.

He didn't blame Alan for his curiosity about when he was turned. In fact, they had never discussed it before and why shouldn't his best friend know everything about him. "Happened the summer between second and third year. I was being careless and chase after something I happened upon down by the lake. Little did I know it was a freakin' dhampir. I tried to defend myself, but she got me." Howard chuckled a bit at the memory. Perhaps an unexpected reaction to remembering the night he was technically killed, but the mental image of him trying to hold off a full grown dhampir now seemed silly. To think he had tried to intimidate her! "Sorry..." He let the small smile slip away as he wiped his eyes. "I was so stupid...now look at me." As much as he had come to accept what he was, even to find pride in it, there was still a part of him that perhaps would always mourn the partial loss of his humanity.

Howard would nod along as Alan warned of further interaction with Aurelia. There was no arguing against it. The two of them had even discussed how bad they were for each other. "I don't think we will be seeing much of each other anymore. We met up not long ago and she did something really kind for me, but at the end we agreed to give each other distance. It's for the best." They would not so easily leave each others lives, but in this moment he did feel that they might not speak again. However, as much darkness as he had felt towards Aurelia he couldn't help but to have a newfound soft spot in his heart for her. "I know you must see her pretty often." They shared the same house and probably classes too. "But try not to hold it against her. She's as troubled as me sometimes, but there is good in her too." If Howard deserved some grace, surely she did as well.

Howard would slump ever so slightly again as Alan brought up Jake. How on earth could Howard have been so cruel to him. The sweet little badger deserved nothing but kindness and friendship, but then he shook his head. There was nothing he could do about it now except to try and make it right. Even if Jake never wanted to interact with him again, Howard would forever try to make up for it. Whether the little Hufflepuff forgave him or not he would try his best to remember his transgression against the boy and use that memory to keep him on the path of good. "What can I do though? I'll never do something like that again, but how can I show him how sorry I am? I mean...should I get him something? Write him a letter?" Howard shrugged as he looked back to Alan.

Alan hummed, absentmindedly chewing on his lip as he thought about what Howard was telling him about. It was quite the concern really and he had to fight to push the anger down that tried to overwhelm him. Not at Howard mind you, but at whoever that mystery person Howard had encountered that fateful day appeared to be. "How did that happen, like on school grounds you mean? That's insane!" he finally snapped out as it just simply got too much to handle. "Do you have any details or tried to find out who she is? This is a crime, isn't it? Shouldn't she get punished? Have you told like anyone really about it?" He felt a little bit bad about asking all this, fearing all the questions that kept bubbling up in his mind did not overwhelm or push his friend away. Or even worse, made him regret about opening up to him.

"I am looking at you and I see nothing wrong with you," he insisted, "You are my friend Howard and I appreciate you no matter what you are!" Alan couldn't help but get a little bit upset, knowing full well the bias against creatures or 'special' talented people and the scorn they often received simply for existing. Can't trust a Metamorph, they will steal your identity. Can't trust a seer, less she curses you with misfortune. "You are human as much as you are dhampir.... Say, if you weren't born like this, how did your family react? I mean, you don't have to answer of course, but I hope they reacted well enough," he said in barely a whisper. He know how encouraging his own parents could be, but they had struggled immensely when he was growing up and even now they failed to relate to certain issues only he would be facing. He now imagined what Howard would be going through, Alan could at least do a pretty good job at hiding what he was but one look at Howard would make whatever he was obvious.

Alan winced when he tried to make him see good in Aurelia, it had been increasingly different to see the good in her. He could at least admit she was quite ambitious, especially with the club she has been setting up, though even that had fallen into his and Flash's lap eventually. But he failed to see the good in her, what she had done and the pain she had caused two of her friends in his opinion was unforgivable. Not only two of his friends really. Well, Alan forced a smile at Howard, "I can try, but I don't think it will be easy to see her in a different light," he admitted with difficulty. Alan was usually one who could see the best in almost everyone, but blood baiting and bullying seemed rather unforgivable to even him.

"I think Jake is pretty nice and a gesture could be cool, or some kind words in a letter really. He isn't one to hold grudges but I guess he was quite overwhelmed with the situation and can you blame him?" he shook his head and then gave it a little bit more thought, "He really likes cute things and plushed animals, perhaps you could find him one?" Alan hoped that Jake didn't mind him saying this to Howard, but Alan was aware that Freddie was a constant companion of the Hufflepuff even though he no longer carried him around as much as he used to.