Ruby watched him laugh, one of he eyebrows permanently raised. Seriously, it wasn't even that funny. Was it? When he looked like he was about to explain, though, she looked at expectantly only to have him shake his head at her. Should she pursue this suspicious turn of events? Maybe.

But before she could think of a way to ask Brae what he really meant, he reminded her where she was sitting. Wiggling on her spot a bit Ruby grimaced. "Now that you mention it, I'm really not. You're too bony," She replied and then got up. Then the redhead pushed Brae's feet to the floor and made herself comfortable again. "There."

Now. To business. "Stonem," Ruby said suddenly as she turned towards him. "I need a favor." She never thought the day would come when she would be asking BRAE for a favor but the world has been known to fall apart at times. Like now.

!!!
Braeden's jaw pretty much fell to the floor when Ruby complained that he was too bony. HEYYY!! He was perfectly aware of that, but it was one thing to hear it told to his face like that! "Well--well--I--I--Well, y'know, that part of the leg isn't supposed to be exactly all that… cushioned!" he said in his defense. And then Ruby was pushing his feet to the ground. It would've hurt, had they not been completely numb from the girl sitting on his legs for so long.

Looking like a little boy who'd just been pushed off his swing by a bully, Braeden pouted and scoot away from Ruby a bit, giving the lioness her personal space.

The boy was stuffing his comic book away in his book bag when, suddenly, Ruby spoke. And asked him for - of all things - a favour.
Braeden's eyes went so wide, you couldn't see the rest of his face anymore.

"Ru--Ruby, I… I've never killed a person before…" he muttered. And he wasn't about to start NOW!

It was with dragging feet that Samira regretfully removed herself from the comfort of her Common Room to head out and meet that Hufflepuff. Contrary to popular belief, having a common room in the Dungeons wasn't as bad as some made it out to be. It was just as cozy as even the Hufflepuff common room, believe it or not. Although Samira wasn't necessarily dressed casually , her clothes were comfortable and stylish, just like everything else she wore. She hitched her designer Crochet Tote bag higher up on her shoulder, and continued to make her way with her head held high, despite her annoyance because of not being able to take advantage of precious sleep time.

The Spinks heir let her bright eyes scan the courtyard, until they landed on a small, lone figure sitting on some bench. Samira gave a small sigh and placed a small smile on her face for the little 'Puff. She moved over in her usual lithe manor, and easily slid onto the bench next to Layla without asking if it was taken. If by some chance the seat was taken, well, they would just have to deal with it, now wouldn't they. "Hello," she said simply, crossing her legs. "I trust you haven't run into any pirates yet, have you?" Samira let the smallest trace of a smirk pass over her face. She didn't know if Layla figured out she was just messing with her yet or not, but either way, it was great fun messing with a gullible Hufflepuff first year. And Layla just happened to be the perfect one.

Janice, after taking the Polyjuice potion in Potions Class, went out to the courtyards for some fresh air. Amazingly, she hadn't puked after taking the potion, which tasted like somebody's puke and cockroaches mixed together with blood.

It was kind of empty, so she sat there and started to read.

Jory decided to sit for a while, after all he had been on his foot for a while. He enjoyed the warm air and sunshine. There were a few students Polyjuiced or not he could not tell. He had done alot of walking around the Castle and grounds. He was surprised his feet didn't hurt. He decided to visit the Whomping Willow.

Hemo nodded. "Of course I do." she said, her head still bobbing. "I wouldn't have said so if I didn't." She smiled and held her head still, remembering that she would probably forget she was doing it if she persisted; her little sister had told her once that she reminded her of that dog off those insurance adverts. She'd done it for over an hour sometime last Christmas; the neck cramp the next morning had been hell. She wrinkled her nose at the memory, suddenly incredibly glad that she'd managed to garner a little more sense since then.

"Ron Weasley?" she said, desperately trying to recall where she'd heard that name before. Or maybe she'd read it? Or seen it? She shook her head, trying to rearrange her thoughts that, funnily enough, were feeling more mixed up than ever these days. She looked down at the floor, then back up at Ronnie's face. "Is he famous?" she said, brow creased in thought.

She laughed then, shaking off her confusion and glad to let the pinkish glow creep slowly up her porcelain cheeks. "Thank you." she said, biting her lip as she smiled. "It's not my real name; my full name's too long - I forgot it a lot when I was little, even now sometimes, so everyone decided to shorten it to Hemo." She shook her head, giggling at her own stupidity before she pushed a few stray hairs away from her face and tucking them behind her ear. "Hester Nevada Monroe." she stated finally.

"I have a little sister." she said with a shrug. "She's six. And as annoying as hell." She smirked and cocked her eyebrows. "How about you?"

Hemo laughed. "Guinea pigs are amazing! Thank you." she said, grinning. "Definitely." She nodded, blue eyes wide with anticipation. "That is, if it's ok with you." she added quickly coupled with a sheepish smile.

Rose laughed. 'Of course it's OK with me! I wouldn't have offered otherwise! Ugh, I'm so BORED!' Rose groaned

Hemo smiled and nodded, looking down at her feet. "Awesome. Thank you." Her smile widened and she looked back up, this time resting her gaze on the sky as the sun beat against her face. She rested back on her hands, taking in the heat, her shoulders hunched into her neck as the cool breeze brushed past her skin. "Life is a bit boring." she said with a small laugh, her eyes fluttering closed. "But sometimes that's a little better than drama and arguments, right?"

'Yeah, I guess... Arguments suck!' Rose grinned. 'I was involved in trying to stop one earlier... It got out of hand...' Rose said sadly

It was a simple wish. Orlando got up, taking the chain from her hand and moving behind her. "It is really what you are, KT" he spoke, unlocking the chain. He moved his hands forward, rounding it around KT's neck. "You deserve it." he whispered, locking the chain.

Moving to face her again, he smiled at her. "When you leave, I want something that keeps reminding you of the beautiful soul, you have" It was true. It had been a pretty emotional week - very very emotional. Orlando did not want more of it, for some reason. It was overwhelming and strange. AND JUST SO EXHAUSTING REALLY.

"It looks lovely on you, KT" he smiled, once more.

Ruby glared at him for a few seconds before speaking. "Well then, now's the perfect time to start!" She said enthusiastically before shaking her head. As if. If she needed something that big done, she wouldn't have come to Brae. But now she looked back at the cowardly lion and covered the space between them in one slide. "Here's the deal," She whispered, checking left and right for anyone who might be listening to them. "As you probably already know, I'm not into homework and going to classes and such. However, I do need to pass so I can move onto seventh year and get out of this place." Here, she stopped and checked for any eavesdroppers again. Having found none, she turned her attention back to Brae.
"I can pass all my finals, no problem (don't ask how)...except for Muggle Studies. Because--well, because I don't understand muggles and their ways. Now. I happen to know that you're muggleborn, right?" She asked him, cocking her head to one side. Maybe Brae could already see where this was headed.

"Basically, I need you to polyjuice yourself as me and take my Muggle Studies final for me." That didn't sound too bad, right?

"Okay, thanks!" Ronnie said with a smile. "And yes, he is famous. He was friends with Harry Potter....does that help?" she asked hopefully. "Oh and that is a really long name! I think Hemo is good enough for me to remember." she said laughing. "And sure I understand your sister can be annoying to you." she said. "I've always wanted a sister, but I was stuck with seven brothers." she said with a laugh. "Let's see...there's Alan, he's 17; Tony he's 15; Malachy who's 19; Ben, he's 14; Robert he's 13; James who is 24; and Rupert who is 22." Ronnie said laughing.

Braeden watched a bit warily, though very curiously, as Ruby closed in the distance between them and began to explain to him her dislike for classes and homework. He could relate. Brae wasn't all that big into studying and that sort of thing. He never missed class, but he might as well, seeing as he never paid much attention and always found himself distracted with the silliest of things.

As Ruby asked for confirmation of his muggleborn status, the Gryffindork grinned proudly. "Why, yes! Yes I am!" he announced with great pride. "As a matter of fact, muggle studies is my best subject!" His only good subject, actually.

And then Ruby asked him to polyjuice himself as her.
O_O
WHAT?!
Braeden Stonem?! Passing off as… as… the Fiery Redheaded Lioness, the queen and fearful ruler of Gryffindor House?!?!?! The goofy boy could barely believe his ears, and he wasn't sure whether to be honoured or take this opportunity to run away. "Uh--uh--uh--uh--I--I--I… I… Uh…" He stopped stuttering for a moment to think about it, then raised one of his bushy eyebrows at the redheaded girl. "What's in it for me?"

Ruby watched his reaction and was not surprised to find him stuttering again. She frowned at the lion, waiting impatiently. There were a billion other people she could have asked but as none of them were likely to be as willing, at least that's what she had thought. What if Brae refused? Well, she'd just threaten him with something horrible, that should straighten him out.

As she thought this, Brae was finally able to make out a coherent sentence--or rather, a question. And boy, was she surprised by it! "For you?!" She said exasperatedly, as if she had completely forgotten that Brae was probably not going to do this for free. As a matter of fact, she had forgotten--being so clumsy and a bit dim, she didn't think he would ask for something in return. Surely the power of being RUBY BLAIR for a couple hours was good enough for him, eh? Apparently not.
So now the redhead thought carefully, her green eyes narrowed in dislike. The lioness certainly did not like owing anyone anything but as Brae was supposedly her friend...

"Anything you want," She said breathlessly. And by 'anything', she meant a bag of multicolored marshmallows or some ice-cream.

Braeden listened with eager interest and a bit of - what was that, mischief?! - sparkling in his eyes as Ruby seemed to think over his question. Clearly, the girl was surprised that Braeden Stonem would ask for some form of payment rather than just jump head-first into the crazy plan. What she didn't know, though, was that even if she didn't give him anything, he'd accept the plan. He got a chance to be THE RUBY BLAIR for a day! How could he turn THAT down!?

But he couldn't tell Ruby that. He had to play it cool and he might be able to get more out of her.
Who would've thought the rather dull little lion could be so sneaky?!

And then Ruby announced her reward to him: anything.
"Anything?" Braeden repeated with raised, bushy eyebrows. Well, now. That was the best kind of something. He tried to smirk but instead it just came off as a weird, lopsided smile. "I'm holding you to that. I can't think of anything right off the bat, but I'll have something ready by the time I have to take the test," he continued, looking rather triumphant. "So, when's this exam?"

Ruby slowly nodded her head as Brae confirmed her words--maybe that hadn't been the best answer to give...Oh well.
"Great," She replied as the lion agreed to her terms, yet she was slightly worried about what he would make her do. As for the exam, she checked her watch and quickly stood up. "In one hour," She said rather hurriedly, checking for eavesdroppers yet again. She didn't care if she got caught but it would be better to avoid all that trouble in the first place.

Well, it was now or never. Ruby reached into her pocket and drew out a small stoppered flask full of mud like potion. It was very convenient that Potions students had to make vats of this stuff for their final--come to think of it, she hadn't done her potions final! Oh well, you can't get 'em all. The lioness unstoppered the flask and then reached up to her hair. Quickly, she pulled at one of her dark red strands and having plucked it out, she dropped it into the flask. It now turned a dark, red color that quite matched her hair and looked almost like blood. "Mhmm. Essence of me. Sweet," She said with her evil grin and then handed the flask to Brae. "Drink up, babe," She now said cheerfully to the Goofball. Thankfully no one was watching them.

IN ONE HOUR!??!?!

Braeden nearly fell over on the stone bench as Ruby told him the test was in only an hour. How was he supposed to prepare in just ONE hour?! Well, at least they still had to get their hands on some polyj-- RUBY ALREADY HAD THE POTION!

Brae's eyes widened as saucers as he watched Ruby pull out the flask, a strand of her hair, and prepare the potion right before his eyes. Geez, did this mean she knew he'd accept right from the start!? Was the poor goofball really that predictable?!

There was no time to be offended right now. Ruby was already shoving the potion to him, and Braeden had no choice but to take it. Throwing aside all caution, the boy chugged it down in less than a second, returning Ruby the empty flask and wiping the excess potion off the corners of his lips. This should be fun… In just a matter of seconds, he was going to be THE RUBY ABIGAIL BLAIR. Oh, this was going to be good.

Braeden didn't have to wait very long, as the potion was quick to take effect. It was only a matter of seconds before Ruby Blair was sitting beside a twin. This twin was dressed in boys' robes, though, and was grinning stupidly to herself himself as he looked down at his new body that fit his robes so strangely.

WHOA.
He'd never been a girl before.

Putting on a most un-Ruby-esque girly smile, Brae turned to the real Ruby. "So, how do I look?" He batted his new eyelashes.

Patience was never Ruby's forte but luckily enough, the Polyjuice Potion worked quickly enough. Before her very eyes, her doppleganger popped up--or wait, was she the doppleganger since clearly she was the evil one?--anyway, her identical twin popped up infront of her, red hair and all. Except that it was dressed in Brae's clothes. Ick.

Ruby took a minute to take it all in, looking Brae up and down. Well, she couldn't have hoped for better, right? OHYESSHECOULDHAVE. Slowly, the lioness was starting to have doubts about this transformation. Just looking like her wasn't enough, Brae had to act the part as well. And, well, let's face it--there couldn't be a better person in the world who could be her total opposite. Sighing loudly, Ruby gritted her teeth at Ruby!Brae. Placing her hands on her hips, she raised her eyebrows at him at he SMILED so unlike her that she recoiled a bit. "BRAEDEN! Don't do that, I don't smile like that!!" She hissed angrily, and actually whacked herself him on the arm. Her doubts were turning into reality, great, just great.

"Okay, seriously, NO TALKING or SMILING while you're me! I mean it, you'll blow everything, not to mention my highly polished reputation!" She hissed again, now holding herself Brae against the wall.

Braeden could not stop smiling.
What, it wasn't his fault! Anyone who knew the doof, knew just how difficult it was to find him not carrying a big, lopsided smile or grin on his face. So, of course, as a frustrated Ruby scolded him for smiling, the boy only grew more amused.

His amusement faded as he found himself shoved to the wall by his angry, violent twin. "Alright, alright! I'll be good!" the boy quickly replied, snaking himself out of the girl's grip. It was a good thing Ruby was small enough to crawl out of tight spaces, as the boy did at that moment. He brushed his robes off and strutted back to the stone bench to pick up his things.

It. Was. THE strangest sight.
Ruby in boys' clothes, walking like she'd just injured her right leg at a failed attempt on a feminine walk, throwing a book bag over her shoulder (did the real Ruby even OWN a book bag?!) in a most boyish sort of way. Even the way she stood at that moment looked more masculine than girly, not that Ruby was all that girly in the first place.

"Y'know…" started Braeden suddenly as he stared down at himself. His hands were exploring his new body with eager curiosity. He was mostly curious by this new chest of his, too, and he couldn't help touching it with the stupidest and most amused of grins on his face. AW MAN. THIS WAS AWESOME. "If we're going to make this convincing…" continued Braeden distractedly, his new green eyes now examining his new red hair, "you should lend me some robes. Unless you don't mind walking around in guys' robes..."

Slightly calmed by Brae's retort that he would 'be good', Ruby backed off only to find herself enraged once more. "I don't strut like that, what're you doing?!" She yelled in disbelief. He looked like he was doing the catwalk or something, almost striking a pose. She continued to watch as he picked up his bag--well, he going to have to get rid of that, she never carried a book bag--and then stare down at himself. And then, Ruby face!palm'ed herself as the stupid boy started poking her--his chest. OH MY GAWD. She could've killed herself, right then and there.

The red creeping up to her face, Ruby slapped his hand AWAY from 'his' chest and looked murderous. "WHAT in the name of MERLIN are you DOING, BRAEDEN STONEM?!" But he brought up a good point; he would be needing her clothes in order to look exactly like her. "Right, right," She murmured and stuffed her hands inside her robes. As she straightened up, she pulled out a pair of skinny jeans, a cute top and HEELS. At this point, she smacked her head once again--HOW could she have packed her HEELS for this klutz?! Groaning loudly, Ruby pulled off her own flats and gave them to the boy in exchange for the heels. She'd be sore all day.
"There, hurry up and change!" She said urgently as she winced--these heels were a bit too small for her. She honestly could not wait for this to be over.

Braeden yelped and jumped a foot into the air in surprise as the lioness-esque Ruby roared at him, slapping his hands away from his new chest. "Wha--?! I--I--I'm just getting to know my new body! If I'm going to be convincing about this, I need to know what I'm working with!" he said in his defense, giving the girl a bit of a pout, which looked so terribly odd on Ruby.

The boy watched as Ruby then went through her robes and pulled out some clothes for him. His eyes widened at the sight of heels, but then sighed in relief as Ruby, at the last minute, decided to give him flats instead. THANK MERLIN. "Uh… Ruby, this isn't the school uniform," said Brae matter-of-factly, raising one bushy eyebrow. How the school allowed the girl to roam around in whatever she felt like wearing, Braeden wasn't sure, but he wasn't about to complain. He'd be lying if he said he preferred to look at the girls when they were in their uniforms and robes.

"Wait-- I-- where do I change?!" asked a flustered Braeden. Did this mean he had to go into the girls' bathroom?! BUT. BUT. BUT. He wasn't REALLY a girl! Who knew what went on in there?! What if the other girls were mean to him!? D:

Siiiiigh. Braeden looked like a puppy who'd just been kicked in the tummy as he reluctantly decided to go change. "Will you come with me at least?" he asked Ruby, now looking like a little boy who needed mummy.

Ruby just groaned at Brae's pathetic defense of poking his 'new body'. How ODD would she look to others if they found her doing that in the middle of the corridors?! GUH. She watched him take and clothes she had offered him and then stupidly tell her that it wasn't that school uniform. "So?!" She said icily, rolling her eyes as she said it. Didn't he already know that Ruby followed NO rules? Pathetic boy, he was going to be a terrible Ruby.

And then another stupid question-- "In a bathroom, duh," The lioness replied, cocking her eyebrows at him. Surely he must have realized that already, unless he wanted to strip in front of her, which she would have a major problem with because he would be showing off HER body. And he wanted her to go with him?! Oh GAWD.
Groaning rather loudly now, Ruby grabbed his hand and started dragging him to the nearest loo. "C'mon!" It was like being his mother, whom she felt sorry for all of a sudden because she had to deal with HIM. And then she thought of how she might LOOK at this moment, dragging her 'twin' who was dressed in boy clothes down the hall. This was going to cause awkward questions, especially since most of the castle knew she didn't have a twin. So the redhead decided to take as many shortcuts as possible in order to reach the girls' toilet.

Evan was actually pretty surprised to realise that he hadn't been to Courtyard even once this year. It was his place with Mina, and even with her he couldn't visit the place... and not to die in shame, he stepped on there now, looking around at the people, because, well... these two months were his last. Finally.

Now, he only lacked one Mina Bennett. WHERE was the girl?!

*Walking out to the courtyard Matty had a book in his hands and reading it but was mostly looking for Marie. Looking up he almost ran into someone.*
"Whoa sorry mate didn't mean to... Evan?"
*Matty was still a little unsure about the guy. Mostly for him walking up behind him and covering his eyes and whispering in his ear. It more than made him uncomfortable that was for sure.*
"Ehh... how's it going? Feeling... any better?"
*Meaning did you get your eyes checked and see that I am a 6'4 guy and not a 5'something girl?*

Evan turned with hope to see Mina there, but instead he backed off a little upon seeing Matty. The guy was still the protagonist of his nightmares... and with a flashback, he also remembered that he would like to punch him someday. With that, he took another few steps back and hoped his badge was visible somewhere. See Matty? Punching a prefect is BAD!

"Hi," he greeted back shortly. This was the first time they were ever talking, and he didn't think any other closeness was necessary, save for being polite. That, Evan never forgot.

...any better? Since what? "Yeah, I'm fine," he said slowly, frowning as the question sounded quite out of the place. Did he know it had been him in Marie's form? Hopefully not, and he couldn't risk asking now.

"How about you?"