Board Thread:Character Discussion/@comment-4075031-20131118150438/@comment-11464223-20131121071242

Regina could've not wanted to use Magic on Henry because every time she has in the past he hasn't liked it and has felt controlled, cheated, etc. She may have been wanting to stay true to him and let him make his own decisions for once.

Think the beginning of S2, where she practically incarcerates him in his room in her house, with the spell on the trees and shit so he can't leave. This time, she may have wanted to do the opposite of that.