Braeden had to bite at his bottom lip to keep from chuckling at Theo's greeting. Oh, his little curlytop was always so clever, showing off that handsome brain and quick-thinking ability of his. But, as much as he wanted to laugh, he had to hold it back. He was Ruby! Ruby never laughed, unless someone was dying, and even THEN it wasn't really a laugh but more like… a mocking song of death or something. Either way, Brae had to do his best to remain serious and mean.

Brae nodded his head as Theo threw some options out there of where he, Braeden, might be. Those sounded perfectly possible, his curlytop knew him well. Without saying anything, the boy just looked Theo up and down.

The Ravenclaw looked so adorable, with his I-didn't-do-it-please-don't-hurt-me natural expression and that Braeden-esque hair. Brae felt a terrible urge to throw the disguise out the window and just hang out with his best mate, but he couldn't do that to Ruby.

HMMMMMMMMMM.
What ifffff…
The boy looked around cautiously. No sign of Ruby anywhere.
What if he got a little out of character?

"HEY. I have a test I have to take in a few minutes… my class is on the way to the library, conveniently enough," started Braeden, scratching at the back of his head in a most awkward-Brae-esque kind of way that most unlike Ruby and rather boyish for a girl, really. "Do you mind accompanying me?"

Alfie had just stepped out of the girls' restroom, about to head in another direction when she caught the sound of Ruby Blair's voice echoing through the corridor. Whipping around, the blonde's eyes widened before she ducked behind a suit of armor, successfully hidden away from the pair of people a few yards away. She watched curiously as Brae!Ruby addressed none other than Theo, her smile appearing at the sight of the latter. Brae really needed to get to class, or Ruby really would punch him a few times... Biting her lip softly, the blonde was debating whether or not to break up this little shindig when she began to get distracted by the conversation. Hmm...Brae was actually being a pretty good Ruby. She remained undetected in her hiding spot, listening as Theo explained politely where Braeden might've been, adjusting the straps of his bag adorably. An endeared expression suddenly crossed over Alfie's features, and she momentarily forgot entirely about going to interrupt them. Theo was such a gentleman... But this lapse in attentiveness resulted in the suit of armor getting leaned on, which was a bad idea, because moments later the entire silver metal mess tumbled to the floor in pieces.

The little blonde Ravenclaw beside it gave a squeak of alarm, her large blue eyes widening further as she jumped inches into the air and away from the catastrophe, luckily not having tumbled down with it. It was only then that she realized her cover had been blown and her gaze found Ruby!Brae and Theo, wide as ever. Shoulders up near her ears in shock, her blonde eyebrows rose and she flashed them a weak, innocent smile. "Hi."

This week was getting stranger and stranger. First, Theo snagged a girlfriend which really wasn't strange but rather fantastic but was still surprising to the gangly lad. Then, there was the polyjuice potion final for Professor Lafay's class, which was an adventure of it's own. Then, the girls had been introduced to the bromantical hangout in the kitchen, where no female had ever tread before. Now, Ruby freaking Blair was being as sweet as pie to him and asking him if he wanted to walk her to class. What was this nonsensery?! Shouldn't she have insulted him somewhere in the midst of her smooth inquiry?

He side-eyed her for a moment. He side-eyed her hard. Theo being Theo, he couldn't help but feel the love that was itching to burst out of Ruby. So, he gave in and flashed her a small grin.

"Ye-Yeah!" He nodded a bit too vigorously and excitedly. Blinking a few times, he wanted to make sure that he wasn't imagining things. A world without Ruby Blair would have been preferable a few months ago, but a world with a friendly Ruby was just as well. "What test are you tak-?"

Crash, BAM, boom!

Had Theodore not have seen the wide-eyed girl or the remains of the suit of armor, whose helmet creaked disgruntledly, he would have thought that there had been an accident in the potions laboratory. "Alfie!" He grinned, barely noticing the dust rising from the carpet and enveloping them all after the catastrophe. He froze, wanting to make his way over to her but not quite sure. Ruby would glare at them both, Alfie would cower along with Theo although he would try his best to save her from the wrath of the Blair witch, and the suit of armor would creak noisily until someone put him back together. Glancing down at what now looked like a hunk of junk on the ground, he spoke to it, "Um... I'll get the caretaker to fix you up." The helmet clanked loudly, disgruntled but appreciative. Looking back up at the girls, glancing between them, he prompted, "Well... look who it is!" He spread his arms wide, like a magician who had just revealed his lovely assistant, and slid over to her side. "You guys know each oth--... yeah." He mumbled, losing the theatrical vibrato from his introduction of Alfie.

Alfie couldn't help but be distracted from her catastrophe as Theo greeted her with her own name, grinning at her in that way that instantly got a smile onto her own expression. "Hey Theo," she said softly, glancing down at the suit of armor with a guilty smile. "I'm really sorry," she added after Theo assured the many pieces of metal that a caretaker would fix it. She gave a bit of a grimace to the suit of armor before returning her gaze to Theo and Ruby!Brae as Theo mentioned that they both knew each other. "Y-Yeah, we do," Alfie agreed, flashing the boy at her side with a weak smile before turning her gaze to Ruby!Brae. "Ruby..." she started with a friendly smile, though there was a bit of urgency behind her tone. "Don't you need to...get to..class?" she rose her eyebrows just barely, flashing the Ruby imposter a weak smile. She knew very well that Brae probably would've much preferred to hang out with Theo all day, but she didn't want the Gryffindork to get punched later on. Obviously, during the clangs and bangs of the armor fall, she hadn't heard when Brae suggested they walk together to class/the library.

Ruby could not stay in that bathroom for the hour (or more) that the Gryffindork would be taking her exam for her because she was very anxious about the whole situation. Biting her nails, she stepped out, only to hear a very loud CRASH; metal clanging suggested that a suit of armor had fallen down. Straining her ears for any more sounds, she distinctly heard Alfie and...CURLY?! Listening harder, she heard another voice that made her heart fail. Brae!Ruby was there as well, most likely chatting it up with his boyfriend.

Fuming, Ruby haughtily walked down the corridor to the scene, her red hair flying behind her. She walked right up to Brae!Ruby, ignoring the looks of shock from Theo and hopefully Alfie; she didn't the blonde to give the game away to Curly just yet.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing, wasting your time with him?!" She hissed angrily in Brae's ear. Maybe the stupid boy had forgotten all about the plan or MAYBE he planning on sabotaging it! In which case, she'd feed him to the giant squid. The redhead chanced a glance at Theo, biting her lip as she did so. How could she explain the situation to him?

Brae wasn't exactly sure when it happened, but… everything. Was. CHAOS.
First a suit of armor fell to the floor making all the noise in the world (and making the Ruby-disguised boy yelp in surprise), then Alfie came out of nowhere, then Theo got all flustered, and then… and then… Braeden felt himself descending straight into hell.

Ruby Abigail Blair - the REAL one - had just arrived into the scene.

As she came his way, fuming like a dragon ready to attack, Braeden took a couple steps back on instinct. The frightened look on his expression looked so strange on Ruby's features. "I--I was just leaving! I just… I--I--I th-thought… I thought Theo might've-- could've maybe-- I mean, he was going the same way-- I just thought--" eventually, the boy gave up at trying to explain himself. Why did the girls have to show up and harass him?! He was doing a perfectly good job of being Ruby and he would've probably been arriving to class right now in the company of the lovely Theodore Dumble if it wasn't for them interrupting the bromantical scene! Aaaahhh, girls.

Coming to the sad realization that he wouldn't be getting anywhere with his precious Theo, Braeden let out a sad, disappointed sigh, his new green eyes staring at the floor like a scolded little boy girl, as he mumbled, "Fine… I'll be on my way… I'll be back in an hour…"

Dragging his feet on the stone floors of the castle, Brae!Ruby made his way down the corridor with an air of gloom around him.

Theodore nearly swallowed his tongue but settled for suddenly swallowing, and nearly choking on, his gum. It had been great, with Ruby being a sweetheart and Alfie joining in, but things had soured faster than you could say 'polyjuice.' Two Rubies? Two Rubies?! If Theodore wasn't so terrified, he would have instantly figured out what had happened. It would have been just like her to clone herself to suit whatever need that Ruby wanted to fulfill.

Alas, Theodore stood there, hand over his heart and one hand reaching out for Alfie for moral support. "What," He panted, "In-Merlin's-name-" He had no words for any of this and backed away, as if he had just happened upon a colony of mutant vampires. The boy really did scare too easily.

Alfie's eyes widened as the real Ruby quickly made an appearance, starting in on the second Ruby with fury in her eyes. Uh oh. She simply watched as this happened, giving a bit of a sympathetic smile to Braeden as she watched him try to defend himself. But she was quickly distracted from this as she felt Theo reach out for her hand, suddenly registering that he was still completely unaware that Polyjuice had been used at all. Alfie's gaze quickly fell on him, walking with him the couple steps as he backed away and flashing him a weak, rather endeared smile. And the blonde honestly didn't know what to tell him, glancing back at the real Ruby and knowing that it wasn't really her secret to tell.

So she turned back to Theo and flashed him a soft smile, trying her best to think of something to tell him. "Y-You know," she started, deciding to simply change the subject. She gently stood before Theo, between him and the multiple Ruby situation, and lifted one of her delicate hands to absentmindedly touch his curls. "Your hair's really growing back fast," she noted, locking eyes with him and flashing the boy a weak smile. "Yaaaay," she added softly, biting her bottom lip.

Ruby cocked her eyebrows at Brae!Ruby as he tried to explain the situation--something about Theo going the same way as he was--and then give up completely. She let out a breath as he finally dragged his feet towards the end of the corridor, looking completely non Ruby-esque. "That's right!" She yelled after him, not really knowing what else to say as he was already halfway down the corridor by now.

And then she turned around, ready to make her way back to the bathroom where she was going to wait for Brae but found a very bewildered Theo, who was clutching Alfie for support. The lioness looked down the hall at her look-alike and then back at Theo, not knowing how exactly to explain to him. She did not want to tell him the truth but Alfie was here and surely she would spill the beans on Ruby, right? Wrong. It seemed the girl had said nothing about the odd situation and--could it be?!--she was trying to change the subject. Surprised at yet another kind act from Alfie, Ruby raised her eyebrows once again--clearly, the blonde was not at all what she had suspected. She was even starting to like the girl, if that was possible!

But Ruby could not ignore the situation in front of her so she wrangled her hands before speaking directly to Theo. "Hey Curly, nice to see...er, see you here," She rambled, looking more at his hair than his face. It looked kinda odd, as it wasn't curly in some places. Maybe he had shaved part of it off?
"I see you met my...twin sister." And now she looked directly at the Ravvie, wondering how he would take this news--or lie. Because she obviously didn't have a twin sister. If she had, the world would perhaps be in their possession. Sadly though, there was only one Ruby Blair in the world.

Theodore was momentarily brought back to reality by the feeling of Alfie's hand on his mess of hair. Blinking a few times, he turned and dreamily gave her a soft smile, although he wasn't completely recovered. Was she trying to hide something from him? Did she know something about the horrific phenomenon that was Ruby: Number Two? Breaking eye contact with the blonde beside him, Theodore reluctantly gazed at Ruby, the one who had the perfect amount of sarcasm etched in her features.

As the lioness gave him a penetrating stare, as if willing him to believe her impossible words, Theodore simply stood there in shock, gulping. She had a twin?! This was news. Then again, it wasn't news; the Ruby in front of him must have been the evil twin... but wait!

"B-But," He began, surprised that his ability to speak had returned, "Why did she... she act like you? If she's your twin and we've never met... why did she act like she knew me?" Alas, although the Ravenclaw was able to get this far in the thought process, he still hadn't smelled the smelly smell of smelly polyjuice potion that stunk up the situation. It was up to the girls to continue the lie or to come clean.

Alfie gave a bit of a grimace as the boy before her seemed still insistant on understanding the double Ruby situation, knowing that she couldn't really successfully distract him. But she didn't want to lie to him! In fact, the simple act of trying to divert his attention already made the blonde feel a bit guilty. And so, as Theo asked Ruby why her "twin" acted just like her and claimed to know him, Alfie had nothing to say. She'd just feel bad trying to distract him once more, and so she took her place at his side rather than in front of him, her hand still entwined with his own.

She locked gazes with Ruby and flashed her a sympathetic smile and a shrug, knowing the girl didn't want to share this situation with everyone. But Alfie wasn't going to say anything, it wasn't her secret to tell. And she certainly couldn't start distracting Theo once more, he was too curious about this situation. It was up to Ruby to come clean or lie.

As Theo brought up a good point, Ruby cudgeled her brain for an answer. It was true, her fake twin couldn't really know Theo if they had never met. However, an answer occurred to her that seemed as good as any and so the redhead stuck her chin out in confidence. "I've obviously talked about you a lot, so she knows who you are, DUH," She said rather crossly, as if it was most obvious thing in the world. As she said this, her eyes slid over to Alfie, who smiled and then shrugged at her. Ruby gave the blonde the quickest of grins, hoping Curly wouldn't catch it. She wanted to be the cause of his first heart attack.

Deciding that this was all the information Theo would need, the lioness slowly started walking towards the bathroom again; she didn't want Brae to meet her here, where Theo was still suspicious. "Well, if that's all, I'll be going..."

Theodore was still too shocked to completely understand what was going on. He was also to scared to question the lioness on the truthfulness of her words. However, he was surprised. Ruby talked about him to other people? Her twin sister, of everyone that she could have mentioned him to?! That was interesting, to say the least. Or rather, terrifying. Did she detail the multiple ways in which she would like to torture, maim, and/or kill him to her equally ginger sister? He didn't even want to ask.

"Oh," Theo simply breathed, his voice coming out monotonously as he attempted not to let his nerves become apparent. He nearly slumped over and exhaled with relief as Ruby went to make her exit. "Yeah, okay," He spoke up, raising a hand to wave her off, "...S-see you... whenever." Gulp.

Alfie listened as Ruby informed Theo that her twin sister knew of him from stories, a quick lie that got the blonde's eyebrows to raise, slightly impressed. Before the boy at her side had a chance to ask any further questions, Ruby was already starting back towards the girl's bathroom and flashing the little blonde Ravenclaw a grin as she went. Alfie returned the smile before giving a brief wave, "Bye Ruby," she said softly before Theo stuttered out his own goodbye, successfully gaining the spotlight that was the large blue eyes of Alfie Port.

She turned to the boy at her side with raised blonde eyebrows, an amused and almost endeared smile on her expression as she watched him practically slump over with relief as the redhead started to leave. "Theo..." Alfie started softly, a smile growing on her face. "You're all anxious," she observed, obvious interest on her features. She couldn't deny that Ruby could be intimidating, but she'd never actually seen Theo around the lionness before. How interesting!

Gwen couldn't help rolling her eyes. I don't think I can stand talking to you much longer, she thought. WAIT- from where do you know my name?, the young ravvie thought, not even looking upset. She actually felt proud of herself. Meh, that girl knows who I am and we've never met. I must have done something remarkable in some class and she might have remembered me from there, she thought. So...shall I give up or go on pretending I'm Selina. Ehem- I never give up- I never stop....

'Fine... but i don't need to follow you', the ravvie said coldly. 'I know where the common room is', she went on talking while walking towards the stairs. 'Seventh floor', she mumbled while climbing the stairs. Tee hee... I know thet 'cause it's on the same floor like my common room. But... this might end badly...

'Well, then, Gwen! What's the password?' Rose asked, coldly. This girl is just... well... I can't describe her! Rose thought angrily. 'Everyone knows where it is, but you can't know the password!' Rose said, smugly. Even if she did know. She knew she was Gwen

This Polyjuice thing complicated life at Hogwarts unnecessarily, Ariadne thought. While on the second floor, Ari saw two fellow Gryffindors chatting. Only, one of them might have not been a Gryffie at all. The girl remembered that her best friend, Gwendolyn, had told her she would be Polyjuiced as Selina. If this here was indeed Gwen, she needed help. Ari to the rescue!

She approached the two girls, thinking of a way to check if that was indeed Gwen, because she didn't know Selina directly, and it would be weird to talk to her out of the blue. But seeing the way 'Selina' frowned convinced her it was Gwen. So she had to do something quick.

'Hi, girls. Sorry to interrupt.' she smiled sheepishly, 'but Selina, do you have a moment? I really need to talk to you.' Hopefully this'll work.

'It's not Selina!' Rose told this new girl. 'This is Gwen!' Rose said bitterly. 'She's not very nice, is she? She just completely ignored me when we were speaking, and isn't interested in anything anyone says unless it's her speaking!' Rose told the girl. 'Right, I'm gonna go to the Common Room!' Rose said, as she left.

Ari didn't like this at all. She hated lying, but on the other hand, Gwen needed her help, and she couldn't neglect a friend. Caught in the middle, the Gryffie was rendered speechless while her housemate talked, saying uncomfortably true things. Yes, Gwen wasn't a good listener, but she was genuinely nice when she wanted to.

'How do you know it isn't? And even if it were Gwen, what's it to you?' Ari couldn't help but ask. 'What's going on, anyway?' she felt that she needed to make peace.

'We've been chatting, haven't we?' Rose told her. 'I was telling her about myself, and she just rolled her eyes, and was like 'When's this going to END!' and I knew Selina wouldn't act like that, as I'm on the Team with her, so I know how she acts and Selina's a nice person... Plus, Gwen here was bragging about jinxing Wiliam...' Despite the situation, Rose smiled at this. 'And he did deserve it whatever happened...' Rose grinned

Hmm... shall I run away? Pretend falling down the stairs... end up in the hospital wing and get away with it. Or... should I admit I'm just not Selina? Nah... maybe it's not the best idea, the girl thought and looked around desperatley. Then, while scanning the place, Gwen noticed Ari coming towards them. Perfect! Hopefully she'll recognize me. 'Hi Ari!', she grinned in a way her bestie would definitely recognize her. Merlin, good you came around... 'Suresure', the young ravvie nodded.

Then, she heard Rose talking. She isn't so bad..., Gwen thought. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be nice, that would be a great effort for me. 'She's not very nice, is she...?', Gwen repeated. 'I'm standing right here!', the girl said, not really sounding upset. Meh... Feeling she needed to excuse... ehem- explain herself, she turned around to Ari. 'I was only rolling my eyes because she was talking about William', Gwen announced, accentuating his name. What? Is it so wrong to hate him? 'Sorry', she mumbled to Rose. There- I said it! Happy now?

Why did I even act like this?, the Ravenclaw asked herself. This polyjuice thing is harder than I had expected, she decided, trying to figure out some excuse for her. But still- shall I admit I'm not Selina?

'Yeah, William is a bore, isn't he!' Rose laughed. 'Apology accepted, and if I did anything worth apologising for I'm sorry!' Rose grinned. 'Ah, I know you're Gwen now, as William knows Selina, and they like each other enough, I think!' Rose grinned. Terrible judgement! 'So Gwen, why don't YOU like William? I don't like him 'cause he's a git!' Rose said bitterly. A stupid, selfish, nonoriginal, cheating, lying git... Rose thought coldly

As much as Gwen didn't wish to sound nice, she couldn't help laughing. 'We could go hang William upside down in the Whomping Willow some time...', she suggested, trying not to laugh. Meh, not because it wasn't funny (duh), but because it would be stupid to laugh at her own joke... 'Ehem...?', Gwen almost choked. 'Why do I hate him? Do you want me to make you a list?!?', she asked surprised. Hehe.... that's funny, she congratulated herself. That would be a long, long list. Just like the one I wrote with the 'use this insults on William'. When I use one of them, I cross it out. Hmm... as I think about it, I think I have that piece of paper with me right now!, the young ravvie thought happily and grinned evily. She then searched in her robe pockets. 'Nonononon....', the girl said surprised. I just hope Selina doesn't check the pockets of my robes... WHY did we have to change them...?

'Yeah, I'd join you in that!' Rose laughed. 'A list isn't needed... If you hate him, you're automatically an, in need for a better word, friend! Or acquantancies! I don't mind!' Rose grinned. 'My list would be miles long...' Rose said darkly.

Everything seemed to have happened in a flash. One moment Rose and Gwen-ahem-Selina were angry at eachother and the next they seemed like best friends, over a single word, or better say name. William. Ariadne didn't quite get how that happened, but she was pleased the conflict was averted. Impressed by her housemate's argumentation that it was indeed Gwen they were speaking to, polyjuiced as Selina, she finally spoke again.

'That was brilliant, you must be very smart.' Ari smiled. 'I don't think we've officially met before, though I remember seeing you in the Common Room and dormitories. I'm Ariadne Marchbanks, pleased to meet you.' the girl extended her right hand for her housemate to shake.

Then Gwen was saying something about William. Ari was trying hard to keep a straight face, as she didn't like conflict and didn't exactly hate William (though he was cheesy and kind of annoying most of the time), but she ended up laughing out loud. Not very nice.

'Wait, is this suddenly turning into a 'Let's hate William' club?' the Gryffindor asked, still highly amused of the situation. The one thing that would make her roll on the floor laughing would be if the boy himself showed up next.